Fishing has finally gone grung, or should I say N Gage.  What is N Gage?  N Gage is fishing products that have edgy street design, its urban, old school cool; however, it is more than fishing products but a movement to engage and motivate youth to spend more time outside fishing.  The leader of the N Gage Nation is none other than A-Mac a.k.a. Aaron McAlexander, age 23, from Charlestown, Indiana.  Make no mistake; Aaron has got that Boom, Boom, Boom!  He has got that rock and roll style, that future flow, that digital split, that Boom, Boom, Boom!

McAlexander's journey to the spokes person for N Gage (www.south-bend.com) all began when he was a kid and his grandfather showed him the “shooter” or slingshot-style casting technique.  The technique was used by crappie anglers casting around cover and boat docks.  Basically, the angler draws back the rod tip while aiming the lure towards the target.  McAlexander is a master at this technique, shooting objects from long or short distances with unbelievable accuracy.  It’s scary how accurate he is.  In fact, you can check it out at www.takemefishing.org.   

Through the grapevine word got out about McAlexander’s casting ability and Take Me Fishing invited him to come out and do a commercial doing the “shooter” style technique.  From there it snowballed, South Bend saw the commercial and asked McAlexander to become a spokesman for their new line of products N Gage.  From that point forward, McAlexander became the leader of the N Gage Nation.  “I love the whole N Gage concept; a kid can go to school with the three piece combo, Tackle Messenger Bag, hang it up in the locker and once the bell rings, can grab his N Gage fishing gear and go off to the lake and fish,” explain McAlexander.  “Not only is the packaging cool looking, it is done with recycled paper, so it’s also good for the environment,” said McAlexander. 

South Bend, who has been around the fishing industry since 1906, developed the N Gage product line to attract more youth into the world of fishing.  Together with Take Me Fish who is featured on the N Gage collection, will give a portion of every product purchased to fund their “Participation through Conservation” campaign. 

McAlexander has many accomplishments for being only 23 years old.  He is past President of the Purdue University Bass Fishing Club, attended Purdue University where he studied fisheries and aquatic sciences, a multiple winner in competitive bass tournaments, featured as a angling expert on ESPN, and now works for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ as a Fishery Biologist.

These N Gage products be bumpin’, bumpin’, these products go Boom, Boom!  What exactly is N Gage?  McAlexander explained it best by saying, “It is a rebel attitude, a kid who walks his own path, but not screaming out, look at me,” he continued, “a scruffy looking, wash out look.”  No, Disney characters on these products.  The N Gage collection includes a first of its kind three-piece rod and reel combo housed in an over-the-shoulder carrying sling, a two-piece seven foot rod and reel combo, a messenger bag, baseball style hats, t-shirts, hooded sweatshirts, various tools, canteens, and collapsible net.  The collection has that urban cool look that integrates distressed and weathered fabrics, buckles, and rivets with worn hand-illustrated graphics.

Aaron McAlexander is so 3008, everyone else is so 2000 and late.  He’s got that Boom, Boom, Boom!  That future Boom, Boom, POW!