Who is Southern Fishing News
Prior to the establishment of Southern Fishing News, the publisher and editor, Ron McDonald, aka “Ronnie Mac”, got involved in the bass fishing industry while still on active duty with the Army as a helicopter pilot. A trip from Ft. 
Rucker, AL to B.A.S.S. headquarters in Montgomery, AL to meet with longtime editor Bob Cobb. Cobb’s review of some preliminary cartoon drawings led to the publication of “Billy Bass & Charlie Carp” cartoons in Bassmaster Magazine. Later, the former National Bass fishing organization’s magazine published McDonald’s story and cartoon series called “Anheuser Ambush”.
The present-day Southern Fishing News has roots in the “Southern Fishing” television show in the late 70’s.
The show was broadcast from a local TV station based in Florence, AL. Southern Fishing’s television show ran for two years, first as a thirty-minute production once a week, then as a nightly part of the station’s news broadcast five nights a week.
The follow-up to the television show was the establishment of a large Southern Fishing website featuring stories, fishing artwork, photos, tournament schedules tournament results, product news, lure field tests, cartoons, and more.
That site was southern-fishing.com. The website morphed into an online digital publication over time with email notices sent to anglers in the Southern Fishing database when new stories or pages were added to the digital publication.
The next incarnation of Southern Fishing was in the form of a tabloid, printed monthly publication. The print newspaper was distributed across north Alabama and was published for several years. However, the reduction of available time lead to a suspension of producing the print publication and a general absence of Southern Fishing for several years from the bass fishing scene in the greater North Alabama area.
Re-entry into the world of bass fishing news publishing came in the form of email news to the Southern Fishing database of anglers. That list, and the readership, has grown to over 2000 addresses.
The Email News was the sole outlet of Southern Fishing for several years.
Southern Fishing also created and sponsored popular “All Star Bassin’ Team” and “Top Rod” tournament competitions for area anglers.
Next was a leap into the social networking world with the addition of a Southern Fishing Facebook page. Our Facebook page (now two pages) is a great outlet for story links to our website, announcements, news, photos, and a partner for our email news.
The “News” part of Southern Fishing was added when the new website was established as 
southernfishingnews.com.
Last but not least is our Twitter account, @southfishnews, where we send out headlines and story links about material on our website. We can’t leave out the online Photo Albums and YouTube videos. Also in the mix are the Student Angler Series classes for high school bass clubs.
So from “Billy Bass & Charlie Carp”, we now have a Southern Fishing News website, Southern Fishing News email news/updates, Southern Fishing Facebook pages, LinkedIn, Google+ pages, Twitter, Online Photo Albums, YouTube, Pinterest, MeWe and Instagram, and our Student Angler Series.
The synergy created by these points of distribution is available to you for bass fishing product news, stories, news releases, photos, and videos.
Included here is our 2021 Sponsor Media Kit for prospective sponsors. Read/download our 2024 Sponsor Media Kit.
SOUTHERN FISHING NEWS FAQs
WHAT FISHING INFORMATION IS POSTED?
Bass Fishing Tournament News, Articles, Product News, Stories, Tips, Photos, Graphics, Videos, Youth Fishing, Boating Safety, Clean Water, Conservation, Fisheries Management, and The Promotion Of Bass Fishing In General.
WHERE ARE POSTS AVAILABLE?
Southern Fishing News publishes content on southernfishingnews.com and several other publishing social pages that increase angler impressions and reach. Southern Fishing News synergy is achieved using Facebook (two different pages), LinkedIn, MeWe, Pinterest, Twitter, Google Photos, and YouTube. Southern Fishing News also sends Email News to our database of fishermen.
WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED?
Southern Fishing News is based in Northwest Alabama, the mecca of bass fishing, including
GUNTERSVILLE • WHEELER • WILSON • PICKWICK • SMITH • LOGAN MARTIN • WEISS • MARTIN • EUFAULA • JORDAN • LAY• NEELEY HENRY • and WEST POINT LAKES.
WHERE ARE READERS LOCATED?
Southern Fishing News’ audience has an international reach. Breaking down geographical areas by readership, impressions, and reach, starting with the highest is North Alabama region (into South Central Tennessee and Northeast Mississippi), Southeast U.S., National, and International respectively.
WHAT IS THE EDITOR & PUBLISHER’S BACKGROUND?
Southern Fishing News Publisher and Editor Ron McDonald has been involved in, primarily bass fishing since 1973 providing unique insight and experience into fishing as a hobby, profession and the industry in general.
Background includes:
• Creator of the cartoon series of Billy Bass & Charlie Carp published in Bassmaster Magazine.
• Creator of the cartoon story of Anheuser Ambush published in Bassman Magazine.
• Host of the Southern Fishing television show broadcast to North Alabama, South Central Tennessee and Northeast Mississippi.
• Producer of Southern Fishing and Southern Fishing News website and social pages.
• Publisher and Editor of the Southern Fishing printed tabloid newspaper.
• Created and managed the All Star Bassin’ Team and Top Rod Championship Tournaments.
• Publisher and Editor of Southern Fishing Email News.
• Tournament angler.
• Field representative for several lure manufacturers.
WHO CAN BE A SPONSOR?
Southern Fishing News sponsors are usually (but not restricted to) companies directly or indirectly related to the bass fishing industry. Sponsors select the level of sponsorship to participate in for an annual period of time.
HOW DO I CONTACT SOUTHERN FISHING NEWS?
The fastest and easiest way to contact Southern Fishing News is to send an email to [email protected]. Anglers wanting to be added to the Southern Fishing News Email News database can send the request to the same address.
