The Niagara Musky Association's ongoing mission is to protect, preserve and enhance the Niagara River, Lake Erie and Buffalo Harbor muskellunge fisheries.  To accomplish this we need to have a strong membership base.  If you’ve been chasing muskies for years or you just bought your first bucktail, if you are passionate about musky fishing and more importantly muskies, the NMA wants you.  The larger our membership, the stronger our voice and the easier our mission becomes.

Our membership fee is only $20 ($45 for mailed newsletters) for you, your spouse and your children under the age of sixteen.  We provide our members with a lot of events and services for their $20.

Cut your learning curve: If you are new to musky fishing or new to fishing the Niagara River, we will help cut the learning curve drastically.  Our club was founded on the idea of destroying the tight lipped musky angler stigma.  Our members freely share information regarding their catches, spots, lures, colors, techniques, etc.  Our members file release reports detailing their catches and each season we publish a release report that lists every musky caught by our members with all the details included.  This report is made available to members only.  The best musky anglers ever to fish the Niagara are members of our Club and they will help you with every aspect of fishing there.  Tony Scime, Tom Page, Capt. Larry Jones, Joe Wilczewski, Marc Arena, to name just a few, will answer any questions you have.  Their experience and willingness to share it, is alone worth the $20 membership fee.

Newsletter: We publish our Catch & Release Newsletter monthly as a service to our members.  (Click on Newsletter to view past issues)  Our newsletter is more of a mini-magazine than your standard fishing club publication.  In each issue you’ll find “how to” articles, articles on proper release, fishing reports, opinion pieces, member pictures, member submissions, and a little humor from time-to-time. 

Meetings: We hold membership meetings on the first Tuesday of every month except January at the Eldredge Club located at 17 Broad Street in the City of Tonawanda.  Meetings start at 7PM.  At each meeting we discuss the ongoing affairs and activities of the Club.  At every meeting except for December and January, we feature guest speakers.  Guest speakers range from nationally renowned musky anglers & guides, to our in-house experts, to conservation organizations and government organization (NYSDEC and USFWS).  At each meeting we offer a raffle table packed with lures and fishing equipment.  The food at the Eldredge Club is very good and reasonably priced, and their drink prices are cheaper than dirt.

Christmas Party: Our December meeting is our Christmas Party featuring a potluck dinner.  The NMA Christmas Party is free to members and their families. 

Discounts: Because we want every angler that fishes for muskies on the Niagara River and Lake Erie to have the best release equipment, we offer our members deep discounts on release tools and terminal tackle.

Custom Colors & Lures: We have several members who are also lure manufactures, including: Marc Arena (Red October Baits), Hans Mann (Hans the Carver), Joe Wilczewski (Shmo Lures), Jim Reynolds (Mr. Toothy Baits), Brett Cournoyea (Brett’s Baits), Cullen Veiders (Musky Candys) and Mike Fretthold (Fretthold Lures).  If you need a custom colored lure made, these guys are usually more than willing to accommodate.

Tournaments: We hold several musky cash tournaments each season.   While competitive, these tournaments are always a lot of fun.  After each tournament, we get together for a cook-out.  Tournaments are open to club members only.

Banquet: Our Awards Banquet is held annually at the Pearl Street Grill or the Pearl at the Webb.  The Banquet includes a buffet dinner, open bar, awards presentations, 50/50 split, door prizes and four HUGE raffle tables loaded with lures, fishing equipment, guided trips, tournament entries, gift baskets and adult beverages.  The NMA receives a special price for the event and we pass our savings along to members.  Tickets are only $70.

Summer Picnic: We hold our annual Summer Picnic on a Sunday in early August at Stiglmeier Park in Cheektowaga.  The Club picks up the food and beverage tab.  All we ask is that those attending bring a dish to pass.  Our Picnic is open to all members and their family and friends free of charge.

Fishing Partners: If you don’t have a boat and want to fish for muskies, you really need to join the NMA.  Most of our members are more than willing to take a landlocked angler out and show them the ropes.  Just offer to chip in for gas and bring a few extra sandwiches.  If you have a boat, but would like to fish with an experienced member, most of our veterans are more than willing to accommodate as well.

Web-site: Members have full access to our Web-site; the Forum section, Chat, Blogs and pages containing members only content which include: archives of every newsletter we’ve published, release reports since the clubs inception that detail every musky ever caught by our members and our DEC Angler Diary Study reports.   Our Web-site is more than just a Web-site; it is a social network and musky information library.

That’s a lot for only $20.  Print a membership form, submit it with your membership fee to address and join us.  You won’t be disappointed.

On a personal note, I have made some of the best friends I’ve ever had through the Niagara Musky Association.  As far as I’m concerned, my membership fee is easily the best $20 I spend each year.  Join us and I think you’ll feel the same.

Scott McKee

President