Al Lindner leaving In-Fisherman

[WIF]

Just read at Tony Dean's site that Al Lindner is leaving the In-Fisherman TV/magazine group once his contract expires.

[David Anderson]

The downward spiral continues.

[Dave in Mpls]

Gee....go figure

Primedia has done such a stellar job since the purchase.....

[Box]

Just to be devils advocate (and how appropriate given Al's new venture) there is more to the story, or so it would appear, than just a big company doing in a founder.

Check this story out.
http://www.pioneerplanet.com/outdoors/out_docs/039247.htm

I think the Linders are great for our sport and can't wait to see what they do next!

Box

[Ron]

Somehow, I have always felt that Al was in the boat with me. I hope he can do in his new venture what he did in his past.

[One of many Fishers of Men]

Congrats Al! Yes, there are at least a couple of things in life more important than walleye fishing (at least that's what I've heard!) Primedia or not, this may have been one of Al's life goals - go get'em Al!

[Hfawk Eye Mike]

Al leaving In-Fishermen is certainly their loss. He's a class act. Here is my story: About 23 years ago; my fishing budddy and I went fishing for a week at Gull Lake in Brainerd, Minnesota. We rented a cabin to go after walleye and pike.

The first day we went grocery shopping and ran into Al in the parking lot of a grocery store.He proceeded to talk fishing with us for 20 minutes, marked up some hot spots on a Gull Lake map, while his family was waiting (probably impatiently) in the car. I had never met him and he was incredibly gracious to two Ohio guys who just pulled into town.

Lindner's passion for fishing, and his willingness to share what he knows, is what makes him successful. Fishing Facts went downhill over time after its founder and many original contributors left. I hope the same doesn't happen to In-Fisherman.

Good luck, Al, and thanks for being nice to us 23 years ago.

[Old Fisherman]

Would you please send me Tony Dean's e-mail address? rchasb@yahoo.com Thanks

[Scott]

I've relayed this first hand experience on this page before. When I was around 12 years old, while on a family vacation near Peterboroh , Ontario my father and I ran into Al on Rice Lake. We were bass fishing and so was he. His enthusiam to talk fishing with us mirrored his tv personality.

He fished in a tournament that my father fished in yearly. The first year, Al waxed the field by about 12 or so pounds...maybe more. After the weigh in, he hung around and talked with the competitors, the locals, and all kids who came his way.

The next year, the whole thing reversed, and Al didn't fair well at all....but you know what? He hung around, talked with all the folks just like the year before. I found a lot of added respect that day for Al, because I've seen other big names hurry up and leave (right after weighing in)when things don't go their way. He stayed, took his "lumps", was gracious, and just like other class individuals I know, you couldn't tell he'd had a bad day. It was also smart of my father to make sure I realized what Al had done. As a young teenager, Al left a pretty high impression on me.

I never saw him again until about 10-12 years later. I crossed paths with him on Lake Erie. There was a PWT going on and of course, Al was chasing SMALLIES (like any sensible man would-GRIN). We chatted a little while fishing the same break line. I wish I could bottle his enthusiasm and save it for my "bad" days. Nothing had changed in those dozen years since I'd last seen him...he was still a top notch gent to talk to.


It's nice to see guys like him do well. With all the pro atheletes that ##### and cry about every little thing, the baseball players who won't sign autographs for kids anymore, players who are always having run ins with the law...etc. etc....As a father of an "aspiring 8 year old angler/little leaguer", it's nice to have the Al linders of the world around who show that class, self control, graciousness, and "stick-to-it-iveness" are not traits lost by all who are successful. I personally look forward to seeing his next venture and wish him nothing but the best.

[T-Mac]

He'd still do the same.
His head never got big. His enthusiasm never waned.
The guy has lost zero energy.
Hard to believe he is 57, huh?

[firebird]

I'll miss him. While driving through Brainerd every summer headed north, I always look for a sign of In-Fisherman out and about. It won't be the same without him. Thanks Al, and also to Ron, where would the world of fishing be without them.

[WAeyes]

Yes it is hard to believe he is 57 years old. He showed more enthusiasm for his work than anyone I have ever seen. I always had a hard time leaving the home when his show was on. Good luck to him and his family with their new adventures.

[ristorapper]

What a credit to the sport he so loves.

I have had a few run-ins with the man. Just a month or so ago Al and Dan Sura I believe walked through Scheels in Bismarck here. As Dan was up at the counter autographing his fishing license, Al greeted me with a smile and "Nice hat". I was in my work uniform other than my hat. As soon as I get off work off comes the work hat and on goes the in-fisherman PWT volunteer hat we get for helping at the Championship. I extended my hand, greeted the man and let him go about his business. Of course I was in Scheels to pick up a PWT combo for a friend of mine and chatted with the employees that I had seen chatting with Al and Dan. I squeezed the info from them as to which lake they were headed to. Could it be that the last lake Al visited to and possibly shot video from was from Nelson Lake in ND? I respect the man so much that I never told another sole about his whereabouts. The man deserves his privacy. As much as I would have liked to, I would have liked to launch the next day too at Nelson but didn't out of respect. Hope you had fun here in our state Al.

Another time I ran into Al was the year Ted Takasaki won the PWT Championship in Bismarck. I was on location where Ted was catching fish in the Cannonball River on the last day of the Championship. I saw his fish go into the livewell that day and felt very good about his chances for a win. Later in the day at the weigh-in at the Bismarck Civic Center I ran into Al. I asked him,"Do you want to know who will win this tourney Al?" and he quickly replied "Oh no!" He wanted it to be a suprise. I have bumped into him at other times and he is more than willing to chat if one wishes to.

Good luck in all your future endeavors Al. I will be following you wherever you go in hopes of course of learning more from the man that has helped his sport I think more so than any other. Best wishes!

BW(ND)

[Homer]

I recently let my In-Fish subscription lapse after 19 years, and got a letter from Al (more likely a Primedia employee) asking why. I wrote a long response about how they were no longer cutting edge, but just another fishing magazine. Seeing this announcement, it looks like I can quit waiting for my response from Al. :-)

Here's wishing Al all the best in his future venture (I know I'll watch/subscribe/whatever), and continued success to those who remain at In-Fisherman as well.

[RJ]

During the final day weigh ins at Mille Lacs my 9 year old daughter went autograph hunting throughout the crowd. When we got back home I was thumbing through her notebook looking to see who had taken the time to sign their name for her (which a number of very notable Pro's had, "Thanks guys",the excitement this generates with the kid's is great to see) and I ran across a signature that I didn't recognise immediately. As I looked closer I realized what it said,"Good luck fishing this walleye season,"Al Lindner". I hadn't seen him around but when I explained who he was and what he stood for, I had one exited young person in my house. What a neat keepsake, especially now!! Thanks for the memories Al and the In-Fish group. Don't let Primedia take this kind of character away from you.

[ufda]

What a class act that man is. The fact that the In-Fisherman will no longer have any Lidners left is a darn shame. Oh well, maybe when it tanks without them Al, Ron, Jim, Bill or Dan will buy it back. I met Al twice and both times was so impressed by his willingness and totally unselfish attitude. He was willing to give me ideas on where and how to fish on a body of water that he was going to fish. Both times it paid off.
I have been subscribing to In-Fisherman since it was a correspondence course rather than a magazine. Their leaving makes me very sad when I should be happy for them. Simply a selfish attitude on my part. I wish all of them the very best and thank them for the enrichment they have brought to my fishing endeavors.
As Greg Knowles always ends in the back of In-Fisherman,
"Thanks Doc"

ufda

[jerryr]

I've always loved Al's enthusiasm on the In-Fisherman show. I'll miss him saying "Nice Fissssshhhhhhh", while putting those sunglasses on and off. Good luck Al.

[Wall-nut]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but did Primedia pull a Don Corleone on Al Lindner and "make him an offer he couldn't refuse" or was In-Fisherman sold as an act of free will? My point is this: For a long time In-Fisherman has been degenerating and had been doing so even before Primedia got their meathooks into it. The Lindners had a great vision and, for a long time, it worked. They became victims of their own success. They were, perhaps, too thorough, too visionary and too good at marketing their idea. Personally, I'll be ****ed if I'm going to spend good money on a magazine that devotes stories focusing on catching carp with a cane pole and a can of corn from the banks of some stinkhole. I hope Al takes a couple of years off, recharges the batteries and comes back with the energy and insight that produced In-Fisherman in the first place.

[Cangl]

Well theres always "Al-Fisherman" pretty sure that would work out for him. In Fisherman without Uncle Al?????????
Say it ain't so.

[SDBear]

You totally miss the point. It was all kinds of fish that In-Fisherman fished for. Yes, Carp too. What an awfully narrow mind you have. You might be surprised at how fun fishing for carp can be.

[Wall-nut]

Excuse me, but what you call narrow minded I'll call focused. And it was you who missed MY point, which is: The last time I looked, In'Fisherman was retailing at $3.99 per issue. For your money you get an 84 page magazine, 40 pages of which are dedicated to advertising and self-promotion. Of the forty, or so, pages of editorial, there are (among other things) fishing articles dedicated to some exotic species of fish (that I very much doubt I'll be fishing for this coming weekend when I get a half day to myself to go fishing). Another article containing a recipe for some fancy dish that takes an hour to fix and includes herbs and spices I've never heard of. And then I've got to read a report about how my tackle box is incomplete unless it includes a can of Green Giant Niblets and a sling shot so I can spend my time sitting on a bank chumming for carp. Every time I've read a carp article, it's only confirmed to me that I'd learned just about all I needed to know about carp fishing when I was 10 years old. If I'm going to spend almost four bucks on a magazine, it had better be a bit more informative than IF has been, lately. It need not be everything to everybody. If it's the carp crowd they are targeting, so be it. Sure, they're fun to catch and a lot of people dig reading articles about them. But are you going to tell me that IF is a better periodical for featuring articles about carp fishing? (Or peacock bass, or sturgeon or paddlefish...) I doubt it. I was a dedicated subscriber for over twenty years. I'm finished with them. I'm glad Lindner's leaving. I prefer to think of him as being part of something more worthwhile than what this magazine has become.

[SDBear]

I understand the Primidea factor in this and what this mag has become. What I do not understand is: What the heck is wrong with an article about Carp Fishing? I think I remember that one. There are other points of view out there, besides just fishing for one or two species of fish. The way I took your first message was by the perception that you blasting the fact that In-Fisherman wrote articles about other fish besides the typical "game fish"..again, only perception. I apologize for the narrow mind thing. I think In-Fisherman did cater to the specifics though. All the "In-Sider" magazines that came out, including Walleye In-Sider. Unfortunately, that magazine is not what it once was.

[Fish-on]

I first picked up In-Fisherman magazine back in 1978, the year before I got married. In fisherman television is the only show I have ever set my VCR to record while I was away. I still have a bunch of those old tapes. I have been a subscriber to their magazines and have all the walleye guides. I'm not one to be in awe of sports "heros" and I couldn't care less about famous actors and all that tripe. But Al is my all-time favorite hero. When I look back over the last 20 years, I didn't realize it at the time, but a large part of who I am today can be traced back to Al.

I agree that In-fisherman magazine has deteriorated a little in the last few years. But it's still the best. Remember back in the 1980s when the magazine was so thick it woulnd't fit in your mailbox? A ton of ads, yes, but I loved that magazine. Everything else stopped when it arrived. It's not what it used to be, but still nothing else comes close in my mind.

When I think of Al, I think of boundless enthusiasm and a passion to help others. I think of a man who unashamedly wears his beliefs on his sleeve. I respect that deeply. I can hardly wait to see what he does next, I'll be watching.

[IaCraig]

Well, you did the right thing then. If you are no longer getting any educational or entertainment value from the magazine then you shouldn't buy it.

Personally I have enjoyed the Linders over the years, so I will miss them a bit. Also I think taking my 5 & 7 year old boys fishing for carp so they can learn to fight big fish just for the fun of it is great! Besides I have been known to keep a few carp for smoking.

IaCraig

[CJHughes]

A while back I opened a post on the material Walleye -Insider,(young lady holding some fishing line) ,was using . The only point I was trying to make was that if Al was still at the control this wouldn't be going on. That he would not approve of it.Well guys I still say he doesn't approve ,have you ever notice that symbol that is at the end of all of his viedos.
Maybe just maybe this was a factor in his decision for leaving,maybe him and Ron will start a new walleye tournament ,TRITON TRAIL

[btt]

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[Hoss]

I've got a brother on the other side of the country. We always yuck it up about uncle Al and his Chicago accent. "If ya wanna kech dem eyes, da reely big eyes..ya gotta rely on your electronics." Fix the glasses - tip the hat up on the head. When we do get together its like an Al comedy. "We got em stacked up below us, we're on 'em and da bite is on!" Long live Al!!!!!

[cisco]

Wall-nut -- You are nothing short of eloquent. Your message, in my estimation, is in the very center of the target.

[Jerry/NPAA530]

Al Linder is fishing. There is no mistake. His name will always be synonomous with fishing. Anyone that has ever held a rod in his/her hand owes this man a debt of gratitude. He is an institution. He has also proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that one can turn fishing into a successful career. I have been fortunate to sit in on a seminar or two of his and they are nothing short of sensational and inspiring. I also was fortunate to meet him at the PWT Championship in Madison in '99 of which his autograph on my Lund hat will always hang prominently in my home. Thanks Al and we'll all look for you on the water.

[Jack Benny]

4 whole dollars!!! EEEEEE Gads!

[Allen]

And you are trying to say that no other magazine is like that? There is always some sour grape in the bunch that wants to sour the whole bottle. Those articles on catfish and carp would have never made it to print if there wasn't call for it. Like it or not, many who buy those mags and watch todays tv shows spend two or three days a year fishing. WHy do you think ALL of the tv shows are useless? Because the high tech ones don't sell advertising. They don't capture the larger audience. Like it or not, money drives the whole thing.

Anyone who says that In Fish hasn't taken a nose dive after Primedia came in isn't paying much attention. Show production will go to the low bidders, corners have been cut in the mags, the PWT ain't what it used to be either ( and you can deny that all you want..it's fact). When Al was in charge...all cylinders had his energy, be it the mag, the show or the tournaments. As a spectator, after he got out of it, the weighins lost the punch they once had...because they lack his enthusiasm. The current crop is professional, but they don't have the "gamer" quality that Al did, and I'll bet does.

[WAeyes]

Yea really, 4 whole dollars!!! Who goes to the store and pays retail for it anyway? Even with all the advertisements it has more "quality" information than any other mag out there. But then I haven't seen the WC magazine yet.

[Tough Guy]

Tough Guy sad for In-Fisherman. Happy for Al. Tough Guy go way back with Al. Al was inspiration for Tough Guy. Tough Guy give Al lifetime achievement award for Tough Guy Fishing. Has anyone caught more fish than Al? May all your stringers be heavy Al.