American Legacy Fishing News Flash December 5, 2010

 

Hi Folks,

You know, raising kids is a tough job. Dixie and I have been married for almost 45 years and we still marvel how we actually raised three girls. I think successfully. It sure wasn’t due to previous experience. We were just kids when we got married. We thought we were mature and had the world figured out, but looking back the over last 45 years we were so immature and so lacking in basic life skills. By today’s standards, we were almost dysfunctional.

Regardless, we married and quickly started a family. I do remember that out first baby, Kristina Elizabeth, cost us a grand total of $500 for the prenatal care, hospital, and delivery. And this was when you stayed in the hospital 3 to 5 days after having a baby. Our second daughter, Jennifer Elise, was born 3 years later and was almost $1,000 in total costs. Shannon Lea, our youngest daughter, was about a year later and the price went up to about $1,200 for everything. Looking back, these was the best investments we ever made. But just an itsy bitsy tip of a huge financial commitment. Little did we know.

It didn’t take long after bringing Kristy home for Dixie and I to realize we needed at least some sort of strategy or plan to guide us raising our new family. Hit or miss just wasn’t a good plan. On-the-job-training was a given, but we had to have some basic idea of what we would and would not do. Between diaper changes (there were only cloth diapers back then), feeding, washing, and all sorts of other necessary newborn distractions we formulated some guidelines that we still adhere to 45 years later with our three girls and their 7 kids (our grandkids). I’d like to think these “basics” were simply common sense, but over the years we have seen hundreds, if not thousands, of instances where we had to bite our tongue as parents did exactly the opposite of what we considered basic, good parenting. As you might expect, I’d like to share some of our “basics” with all of you.

Our first commitment was to always tell our kids we loved them. Not just verbally, which we did at every opportunity, but by our actions as well. When kids reach a certain age acts of affection embarrass them. Tough, we did it anyway. Right through grade school and high school and college and beyond. And guess what? They accepted it and always responded with, “I love you too.” It became second nature.

We agreed to never disagree on punishment for one of our children in any of our children’s presence. If we didn’t agree with the punishment that would be discussed in private. And we had some very “lively” discussions. But never in front of our children. I think this also helped us met out appropriate but fair punishment. The thought “will Tom (or Dixie) think this is fair” was always there. 

We never told any of our three kids that they couldn’t do something. No, I don’t mean we always granted permission. Far, far from that. That’s a different situation. What I’m saying is we never told one of our kids that they didn’t have the “stuff” to do something. All too often we heard other parents tell their kids “you’re too short” or “you’re too slow” or “you’ll never win” or whatever. We never, never did this. Sure, we may have silently felt the task they were undertaking was beyond their talent or capabilities, but we never told them that. And you know what? They surprised us time and time again.

It was forbidden in our home to use the word “hate”. It still is. We will correct any child or adult if this word is uttered in our home or in our presence. No, we’re not aging hippies that tripped in the 60’s, but we also don’t think that word has a place in our society. Idealistic? You bet. But if everyone would abandon this word we are convinced the world would be a better place. So it was “verboten” around Dixie and I.

We agreed to never tell our kids “no” unless we had a legitimate reason. Obviously this called upon our creativity which we employed very frequently, but it also avoided the typical response when a child asks “why” they were told no – “Because I said so” – which is, in our humble opinion, the absolutely stupidest reason you can give and to every child, illogical at best.

Our kids were encouraged to always look for the good in others and realize that the life experiences that they have accumulated are always going to be different from everyone else’s. So, judging others based on your values and experience needed to be tempered. If we heard some negatives from one of the girls we would gently remind them of differences in values and experience. Not necessarily a correction, but just a reminder to consider the other person’s point of view and what helped form it.

My mother had always told us “if you can’t say something good about someone then don’t say anything at all.” I always felt this was great advice and we passed this on to the kids from the beginning. Sometimes it’s a tough charge, but even if you “slip” at least you are aware of what you’ve done. Pretty good awareness training in my book.

Dixie and I were both from homes that put a high value on good manners and consideration for others. We were taught to say “please” and “thank you”, “yes mam” and “no mam”, “yes sir” and “no sir”. Any adult was to be addressed formally. “Uncle Charley, Aunt Sue, Mister Smith, Miss Adams, Misses Jones”, etc. God help you if you called an adult by their first name. We were expected to sit at the table until dismissed and when we were we shared in the meal clean-up chores. No elbows on the table, sit up straight in the chair, look who you’re speaking to in the eyes, and the list goes on. This was just good manners, so we insisted our three kids adhere to these rules as well. They still do today.

We trusted our kids to do the right thing. Now this was tough. But we agreed that we had to be trusting with the kids if we were to expect them to always try and make the correct decisions. Expectations drive behavior, and we always expected the best. Were we disappointed? Yes, occasionally. But they exceeded our expectations – frequently. I have always felt trusting them to do the right thing was the reason.

Children are not miniature adults, and Dixie and I agreed early on their chronological age should always be considered. This was surprisingly a tough thing to do and we were constantly reminding ourselves “they’re only * years old.” Of everything I see bad with parenting today, this is probably the most common “error” parents make, at least from my opinion. We weren’t perfect in this area either, but at least we were aware.

We always encouraged “the glass is half full” thinking. We reminded the kids that you determine what kind of day you will have. It’s all about perspective and staying as positive as possible. Sometimes it’s a tough thing to do, but with practice it gets easier and easier. I think this “took” with all three and I can honestly say they are all positive adults.

As we got older and the kids entered their teen years we tried to avoid living our lives through our children. We respected their lives and didn’t try and push our agenda on them nor dictate their choices. Frankly, this was hard at times, especially as they entered college and we just knew what courses they should take. But, we kept quiet unless we were asked our opinion. Later this applied to them buying cars, raising their kids (the hardest silence for me), and other aspects of their adult lives.

Like most parents, we had lots of “house rules” about TV, homework, curfews, and punishment when appropriate. Ask any of our three girls and I’m sure they’ll tell you growing up in our house wasn’t a cake walk, but it was filled with love and lots and lots of nurturing.

Looking back Dixie and I are so, so proud of our three daughters. Our youngest will soon be 40 so we have lots of memories and lots of pride as we look back. All three graduated from the university, all three are married with their own family and great husbands. It’s been a wonderful life for Dixie and me and we can’t wait for what’s ahead.

Enough rambling about our kids. I just wanted to tell you this story as a way of demonstrating just how important our families are. Wherever you live and whatever your circumstances, your family will always be your most important treasure. You’ve been closer to family than anyone or anything else. Whether you’re young and just starting out or an old fart like me, never forget what’s important, especially in this wonderful holiday season. Sure, we would like to sell you something, but we’ll be quite happy just knowing we helped you pause and think about your kids, your siblings, parents, and those you love. Give them a big hug and wish them Merry CHRISTmas for all of us.

We’ve been sending you a newsletter every week during the holidays since we wanted to make sure we stayed in touch with all the latest new products. We also wanted to come up with some great deals that are our way of saying “thanks” for your patronage and friendship this last year. This issue has a great Gift Card offer along with a few other tidbits that we think you will be interested in. We also have some great pictures many of you have emailed us this last week. Be sure you take a look!

As always, we thank each and every one of you for your friendship and trust. We hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season and are getting ready for a most wonderful Christmas.

Tight Lines,

Tom Ashby

Need a Gift Card? It’s TWO-FOR-ONE GIFT CARDS For The Next Week……………..

Need a gift for your employees? Can’t figure out what Uncle Sylvester would like? Afraid your better half will give you another tangerine and fuchsia tie for Christmas? Well despair not. We have a solution!

Gift Cards! Simply put, gift cards are by far the easiest Christmas shopping any of us will do. No concerns about sizes, color, selection, etc. Nope, these little suckers fit every gift requirement to a T. Plus, you don’t have to fight the crowds or traffic to get them. You can stay home, watch the game with your pals, enjoy some good food and drink while others journey to the malls or shopping centers fighting their fellow shoppers and disinterested sales clerks. Hey, it’s the easiest way there is to shop and sure beats the alternative. And guess what? Nobody, I mean nobody, ever returns gift cards!

So here’s the deal: Buy any American Legacy Gift Card of any value and well throw in a second gift card equal to 20% of the gift card you buy absolutely FREE. Say you buy a $50 gift card. We’ll add a second, $10 gift card for free. Buy a $100 card and get a $20 gift card free. Buy a $250 gift card and get a $50 gift card free. Buy a…..well, I think you get the picture.

We’re only going to be doing this for ONE WEEK! This special begins December 5, 2010 and ends promptly at 12:01 AM Central Time December 13, 2010. All gift cards are non-expiring with no hidden fees, etc. All gift cards are valid within 48 hours after purchase. No other discounts are applicable to this offer. Gift cards may be purchased on line, in our store, or via phone and are available in both plastic as well as electronic format. When you place your order only the gift card you are buying will show up on your order, but we will include the second card automatically.

This is one of the best deals we have ever offered, so get going or you’ll miss out!

New Frog Lures Plus Lower Prices on ALL Live Target Lures………………

Just a short reminder. We’ve cut all Live Target prices by 20% or more! Yep, we did some checking and decided that a lure this good lookin’ needs to be in everyone’s tackle boxes, not on our shelves. So we lowered the prices by 20% or more. Even the brand new hollow frogs (like SPRO but better) and walking frogs which we can guarantee you will be some of the hottest lures in 2011!

Now’s a great chance to try some of these as our stock is complete and EVERY Live Target lure is in stock and can ship immediately. They make great stocking stuffers and all come in a presentation box.

Awesome New Product….EGO Nets Arrive………Well, not quite

Well, we were supposed to have the very first shipment of any dealer of the new EGO Slider 2 Landing Nets by this last Friday. Unfortunately this didn’t happen due to a production problem at the factory. We have been promised they will be here by December 15th, so we ask for your patience and understanding. We will ship all back orders the same day these arrive, so you will be receiving your order well before Christmas.

We can assure you they definitely ARE WORTH THE WAIT. These landing nets are truly special and have moved the bar for quality and design. Thanks again for your patience.     

OK, the HOLIDAY BUYING GUIDE was in the Last Two Newsletters, but here it is again in case you missed it……

HOLIDAY BUYING GUIDE

This is our first attempt at giving you some suggestions of cool products that we think are the best-of-the-best and would make great Christmas gifts. We’ve tried to keep the list fairly short and simple. The products below are some of our favorites and include some of the hottest, “just in” items we are all very excited about. As with any product you buy from American Legacy Fishing, there is a “no questions asked” 30 day return privilege just in case. We hope you enjoy our selections!

Shimano Terez Saltwater Rods – Fantastic selection of over 30 models in 5 different colors, one that will most likely match you boat. These rods are just in and are marvelous in their components and performance. Best of all, they have a Limited Lifetime Warranty. Take a look at all of the Terez Rods and we’re sure you’ll find a model that fits perfectly.

BogaGrip – What can we say. Made in the USA and absolutely the best fish grip and IGFA scale available today. We are convinced that any fisherman would love to have one of these Boga Grips in their tackle box. Really best-of-the-best!

G. Loomis NRX Rods – Holy Cow, G. Loomis just raised the bar for a fishing rod! Expensive? Yes. But like nothing you will ever fish with. There are 16 Fly Rods and 13 casting and spinning models. Think of that special person you love more than anyone. G. Loomis NRX Rods are THE rod and we guarantee will not disappoint. No way!

American Legacy’s 40 rod All Wood Rod Rack – After searching all over we commissioned our supplier to make this rod rack for us. We include two G. Loomis stickers that easily fit perfectly on two of the four sides. Got a g. Loomis enthusiast? This is Your Rod Rack!

Shimano Stradic CI4 Spinning Reels – Unbelievable light with fantastic performance to boot. The Shimano Stradic CI4 reels use “Carbon Infused” technology to reduce weight. Add to that the new drive train and better gears and you have one of the very best $200 spinning reels available today.  

G. Loomis TSR Series One and Two Piece Trout-Panfish Rods – Dainty, Oh So Light, and darn near indestructible! These TSR Series super sensitive rods will handle a lot more than just trout. If you are an ultra-light fisherman or just like light tackle this is your rod.

American Legacy’s World’s Best Fillet Knife – Yep, this is or won design and what we think is the Best Fillet Knife you can buy today. Carbon steel, razor sharp, and custom hand-made sheath. And a Limited Lifetime Warranty. Since these have our old web address on the handles we’re still offering these on sale at $49.00

Daiwa Zillion Type-R Low Profile Casting Reel – How about a casting reel with 15.5 lb maximum drag in a 8.5 oz. low profile? That’s the new Daiwa Zillion Type-R. 12 bearings and so well built this is our pick for the “brute handling” award. All Daiwa Type-R Reels are in stock and ready for that special rod.

Engel 5 Day Ice Chest – Simply put, this will change your perceptions about coolers. The Engel Coolers hold ice well over 5 days at an incredible 33-334 degrees. Great constructions, this is what we call a “lifetime cooler”. Forget about those throw away coolers and get an Engel Cooler. Great gift that will keep on giving for a lifetime.

G. Loomis Tournament Jacket – Under $100 the G. Loomis Tournament Hooded Jacket is a real bargain. Great construction and so very warm when the cold wind blows. Comes in Medium to XX Large and makes a fantastic Gift, Christmas or otherwise.

Shimano CORE Low Profile Casting Reels – Just a ridiculous 6.2 to 7.0 ounces, the Shimano CORE reels are the number one choice of all of ALFC’s Pros. Team these up with any lightweight rod and you can fish all day and still have plenty of energy to tell those fishing stories in the evenings. Fantastic performance with Shimano Quality.

American Legacy’s Panama Fishing Hat – Try it and You’ll Love it! Baseball caps are nice, but when the sun beats down and you need to stay cool and shaded our Premium Panama Hat is THE hat. Designed by us with great features this hat is our Favorite hands down. Probably the best fishing hat available today

Shimano Curado 50 Series Low Profile Casting Reels – Just in and ready for your rod! Shimano took all the premium features of the Curado 200 series reels and shrunk them into a smaller 50 size reel. The Curado CU50E and CU51E (Left Hand) reels are super light at 6.4 oz. and probably one of the best buys we have at $199.99 Limited Supply!

G. Loomis Hoodie Sweatshirt – Warm. We like warm on those cold days. The G. Loomis Hoodie Sweatshirts are just the ticket. G. Loomis and the fighting fish are prominent and show everyone just what kind of high end tackle you use. Great gift in sizes from Small all the way up to XXL.

Daiwa Saltist Saltwater Spinning Reels – Probably the very best bang-for-the-buck saltwater spinning reel we sell. The Daiwa Saltist Spinning Reels come in sizes from 4000 to 6500 and sell for an amazing $200 to $230. You will be surprised at their quality and endurance.

Shimano Caenan 100 Series Low Profile Casting Reels – How about a genuine Shimano low profile casting reel for under $100? Designed by the same folks who created the legendary Calais and Chronarch, this is by far the best reel we have seen for under $100 and beats the pants of many competitive brand reels costing twice as much. The Shimano Caenan is a great reel for beginners or as backups. & bearings and world class guts.

G. Loomis Escape Travel Rods – Absolutely one of our all time favorites. Three piece rods that travel when you do. Great selection and great value in a premium G. Loomis rod. WE can’t imagine Anyone not being thrilled with a G. Loomis Escape Travel Rod.

Open Water Tackle Bags – Just in and going fast, Open Water Tackle Bags won the ICAST Product Award for Tackle Management Systems. Truly functional designs with extremely durable materials, these bags will be your favorite for many years to come. Limited Supply.

Shimano Stella FE series Spinning Reels – OK, between $700 to $750 we balked at this reel initially. But, when we actually got our hands on these new reels our tune quickly changed. Simply put, the new Shimano Stella FE Spinning Reels are the Best In The World. Frankly, we don’t see any competitor making anything even close. Uncanny in their smoothness, world class mechanics rivaling the most complex aircraft components, there can only be one “Best” and the Shimano Stella FE Spinning Reels are it.

STOCKING STUFFERS

Shimano Waxwing Jigs – Just out and finding a following in almost every fishing environment, Shimano’s new Waxwing Jigs are a “must have” for every fisherman’s tackle bag. Superb finish and great action.

G. Loomis Hats – Come on, you know everyone loves hats. TheG. Loomis hats are cool and come in a huge variety of designs and models. No one ever returns a hat!

Ardent Reel Cleaning Kit – Good reel maintenance often makes the difference between a mediocre fishing trip and an memorable one. The freshwater Reel Cleaning Kit is $20, the Saltwater Reel Cleaning Kit is $30. Every fisherman need one of these!

Live Target Lures – Read about these super lures above and then just select the one’s for the stocking. We recommend the brand new hollow frog or walking frog models. But heck we have EVERY Live Target Lure in stock so load up!

Power Pro Braided Line – Braided line is today’s line. We are the onlyPower Pro Braided Line dealer who stocks EVERY line test in Every Spool length available. How can you go wrong?

Rite In the Rain Waterproof Notebooks – Fantastic little product that is waterproof paper in a small notebook. Record you way points or other notes about your fishing experiences and rest assured that info will stay legible and readable for the duration. Rite In The Rain Notebooks are a great, unique gift. Don’t forget the water-proof pen!

G. Loomis Stickers – Fun and functional! We carry every G. Loomis sticker in stock. Use your imagination and you’ll find all sorts of uses for these guys.

Stick Jacket Rod Protection Sleeves – Got expensive rods? Well guess what? You need to protect them with this inexpensive yet all functional Stick Jack Rod Cover. Come on, at about $7-$9 it’s a slam dunk!

American Legacy “Fish With Attitude” T-Shirts and Stickers – One word: F-U-N! Use your imagination for the Stickers. The T-shirts are sure to start a conversation. All of ourFish With Attitude Items are first quality. Goes great with beer!
 

G. Loomis T-Shirts – See ALFC Stickers and T-Shirts above. Same scenario, only these are genuine G. Loomis T-Shirts. Pre-shrunk and ready for your fabulous body!