I haven’t ever really interviewed anyone on my blog before. SO…you can imagine how excited I am that the first person to answer a few questions for this Fisherbabe is none other than Mr. Jason Sealock who is the Editor-In-Chief over at FLW Outdoors. I met Jason recently, and what a NICE GUY!! He was nice enough to send me a few of his amazing magazines to read. I was so impressed that I decided to review them right here on my blog immediately. Annnnnnd…since he is such a nice guy, he agreed to a little mini interview for all my readers!!!

I know…YAY RIGHT??????

So here we go…

The Fisherbabe (FB): Tell us about the magazine and its beginnings. How did this amazing publication come to be?

Jason Sealock (Jason): FLW Outdoors Magazine actually started as a newsletter called CAST in 1980. It was a membership newsletter for anglers fishing the Operation Bass circuit. From there the newsletter became Bass Fishing magazine in the early 90’s. In 2002, it became FLW Outdoors Magazine and was more geared towards teaching readers the tricks and techniques of the nation’s best anglers. In 2006, we split the magazine into three separate magazines – the Bass Edition, the Walleye Edition and the Saltwater Edition. Each magazine was wholly independent. Today we still produce the Bass Edition and the Walleye Edition.

We really try to get in the boat with the best anglers and learn the behind the scenes stuff that you don’t get from regular tournament reporting or even on television. We focus on very detailed aspects that can be expanded in the magazine and then applied to your own fisheries.

FB: How did you become the Editor-in-Chief of the magazine?

Jason: My path is an odd one. I actually graduated from college with a degree in Marketing/Business Management. I went to work in the Information Technology field. I freelanced on the side with an outdoors page for a local paper in Northwest Arkansas (The Morning News). I got to know the staff at FLW Outdoors pretty well through reporting on the tournaments. In 2004, I got a call asking if I wanted to switch careers and come to work full-time as a Public Relations Specialist and Associate Editor for FLW Outdoors.

We took the leap of faith and moved to Kentucky. I worked as associate editor until 2006 when I promoted to Photo Editor. In 2007, the previous editor left for another company, and I took over as editor-in-chief. I have the best young staff with so much talent. We have no preconceived notions on how a fishing magazine has to be made. And we pride ourselves on our hands-on knowledge of the sport, the products and the techniques.

FB: Tell us…what is the most exciting fishing memory you have?

Jason: It’s hard to pin it on one memory, but the most memorable experience that replays vividly in my mind was catching a 42-pound striper in Beaver Lake while bass fishing.

It was 1996. The lake was flooded in early spring, and I was slow rolling a spinnerbait over buck brush. I pulled my spinnerbait over a shallow bush and this huge mouth came out and swirled on the spinnerbait. For an instant, I thought I’d hooked the state record largemouth. The fish shot out towards the middle of the lake. I had a low-profile baitcaster with 12-pound line, and I started to see my spool. So I put the trolling motor on high and chased the fish down to get my line back.

After about 12 minutes, I landed the fish. It took two tries to get the fish in the boat because I needed two hands to grab its bottom jaw and pull it aboard. I remember her jaw felt like a suitcase handle at the time. At the end of the fight, I don’t know who was more worn out, the fish or me.

We shot pictures, and I was going to keep the fish to mount it, but I decided if there was a chance someone else could feel what I did, then I should let it go. So I babied the fish for about 10 minutes in the water until it swam off on its own. Got home to find out the camera didn’t have any film. But I have a witness, a scale, the measurements (44 ¼ inches long with the biggest gut I had ever seen on a fish) and of course the lasting memory.

FB: That is a super cool memory!! What is the best part of working at FLW Magazine?

Jason: The people are the best part of my job. I work with great folks, and I’ve met some great anglers and industry reps that I consider friends all over the country. The folks in the fishing industry are more like a big family than just your peers. And so many folks around fishing will help you, a total stranger, for no other reason than you share a common bond with them. I meet more down-to-earth, good-natured people around fishing than anything else I’ve ever done.

FB: Kinda like you helping me now…LOL!!! We met through twitter, and now you have a great blog that people can follow and be a part of. Are you a member of any other social networking sites? Tell me a little more about your blog and what my readers can expect to see on there.

Jason: I’m still a social-networking newbie, but I think I have a pretty good grasp on it. On Twitter (www.twitter.com/FLW_Magazine), it’s not about selling your products; it’s about connecting with people that share a common passion with you. No one gets on twitter to see what you have to sell. They get on there to be “connected” to people around things that interest them.

Likewise, our blog (http://flwmag.blogspot.com/) is very new. Our goal is to have a new blog every single day. The blog is geared towards more personal experiences with products, at great destinations, and with the top anglers in the sport. We get a lot of great inside information that readers will find here. We’ve started shooting videos and we have a YouTube page at www.youtube.com/flwmagazine. We’re even on FaceBook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/FLW-Outdoors-Magazine/119868703580.

FB: How lucky do you feel to be doing what you do every day?

Jason: I’m extremely lucky to be in this position. I joke with Charlie Evans (CEO) that they’ll have to run me out of here with a stick. I also know that thousands of people want to have my job, so it pushes me to keep improving and listen to what folks are asking for in the magazine. At the end of the day, you’ve got to make a magazine folks want to read.

FB: …And lastly, how lucky do you feel to be getting interviewed by The Fisherbabe…LOL????????

Jason: I’m very excited to share information with you. Like I said before, the people in and around this sport is what makes it so great. Fishing is a blast, and I still enjoy fishing by myself on occasion. I enjoy the sport more, however, with others.

See what a nice guy he is everyone…he even said he was excited to be sharing information with me!!!! Now about the magazine itself…I LOVED IT!!! The October issue is full of amazing and useful information on how to catch that Bass of a lifetime, and although I really was expecting “just another fishing magazine”, what I got was so much more!!

First of all, there are articles that are great for any fisherman or woman…regardless of the type of fish you prefer to catch. For example, in the August – September 2009 issue, there is a small article on “Capturing Photos Like A Pro” which I LOVED. How many pictures do you get where the tail fin is cut off. That is so disappointing after a great trip, and this article helps you fix the details like that. A great read for anyone who loves to fish…or just take GREAT pictures!!!

Another great little article in this issue is one that lists some of the superstitions of some of the best fishermen in the country. It is a super fun read, and who knew bananas could bring such bad luck!!!

The October 2009 cover (featured above) is one of my favorite covers of any fishing magazine that I have ever read. The photo itself is amazing, and reading the article about Greg Hackney was really, really entertaining. In fact, the October magazine is full of great articles and tips on how to catch more bass. I would definitely suggest you go out and get yourselves a copy ‘cuz there is just too much good stuff to talk about here on this blog post!!!

I hope you guys enjoy this post as much as I enjoyed writing it!!! Talking with Jason was informative and great. Needless to say, the professionalism and excitement that comes with FLW Outdoors Magazine has made me a fan for life!!

Happy Reading ~

LIZZY aka The Fisherbabe

P.S. Be sure to check out their main website at http://www.flwoutdoors.com/!! If you want to leave Jason and the others at FLW Outdoors a comment on their new blog, the address is http://www.flwmag.blogspot.com/!!