A Serious Q&A With PAA’s Dave Mansue

Of course it’s a serious interview – isn’t everything on BassParade? Anyhow, as you may recall, Dave Mansue was recently elected president of the PAA, and for that reason – plus the fact that we’re both from Jersey – I stole his boat and went fishing.

No, no, that’s not it – I ginned up a few questions (not a bunch of softballs either), and got his answers. Here we go:

BP: First and foremost, why are all these Jersey guys such a powerful force in bassin’?

Dave: Tony Soprano is a silent sponsor. Actually, I don’t think any of us set out to be a force in the industry but our passion for the sport and our desire to carry the message beyond previous boundaries has brought us some influence. 

Why did you want the PAA gig?

Why not? I’ve been a proud member and believer in the PAA since its inception. I’m now honored to lead the greatest bass anglers in the world, and I believe the PAA will make a difference in the anglers’ lives not just now but in the future.

I’m also a fan of the sport, and what fan wouldn’t want to get calls from the top anglers in the sport? Of course, I couldn’t tell your children what they say, but at least I get the calls.

This seems to be a job kinda high on the list of “thankless jobs in bassin’.” Would you agree?

Yes and no. What’s thankless today may be rewarded with thanks and praise in the future.

I come from a police background. Being a police officer is a totally thankless job. No one appreciates what you may have to do, that you see the worst in people on a daily basis. Then one day, out of the blue, someone walks up to you and mentions how a decision you made changed their life for the better. Suddenly all the thanklessness goes away and you realize you did something good.

My hope is that the decisions made during my presidency make this sport better and are someday appreciated. It’s all I can ask for.

What are your top 2 or 3 priorities for the PAA during your tenure?

Lower or no entry fees have always been a goal of the PAA. This year with the All Stars event and the TTBC, we’ll have two entry-free events. We will continue to pursue sponsors to achieve these goals.

We need to increase our membership on all levels. Increased membership provides more opportunities to attract sponsors, a stronger voice in the industry and allows us to pursue more benefits for our membership.

And advocating angler rights will always be a part of the PAA. I’d like to strengthen our position in the industry by providing a voice for the anglers.
Personally surviving this year, while keeping my wife happy is a top priority too!

What’s the best thing about the PAA and the worst thing about it?

The best thing is we’re a non-profit, angler-owned and angler-driven organization. We can do for the anglers what others can’t.

The worst thing is rule by committee because although everyone has an opinion, it can be trying at times to get a decision from those opinions. It’s probably a good thing that our board meetings are done by conference call. Everyone seems a bit more calm over the phone. To our credit, this system has served us pretty well, and we’ve made some really good decisions.

What do you think about the Duckett made-for-TV thing and the other, similar initiative rumored to be out there?

I haven’t heard of the other initiative so I can’t comment on that. But my first thoughts about the Duckett Major League Fishing initiative are, ‘How much is Boyd worth?’ and ‘Can a bass fisherman really have that much money?’ Bet his old team partners miss him!

Actually, the PAA will never be an organization that caters only to a small group of anglers. Our mission is to broaden the base of awareness and introduce more people to the sport. It doesn’t appear their model does that.

But we can’t fault our members for looking out for their own best interests. Since all but two [Major League Fishing participants] are PAA members, we’d love to have them working as hard for the PAA as they are for MLF. I wish them good luck and hope to keep them involved in the PAA as well.

Why should weekend anglers join the PAA?

The PAA offers the weekend angler great benefits for a low price. Through our Affinity partner program we have discounts from more than 50 manufacturers, hotels, insurance companies, boat insurance and more. Many discounts are so good that savings on one tackle purchase can be more than your membership cost.

As a general member, an individual can sign up to be an observer at one of our events and give themselves the opportunity to spend a day in the boat with the sport’s best. Imagine what you could learn from a pro in an 8-hour period.

We’re working toward development of some grassroots events as well, and you’ll have to be a member to participate.

Last but not least, if you’re a tournament angler, our PayDay Program pays you to win.

Anything else you’d like to say before this serious interview ends?

Recently both FLW and BASS went through some tough times. For now it appears they weathered the storm. The health of both these organizations is important to our anglers as their livelihood depends on it.

But though their health appears to be better, many question marks remain. Because we’re a supplement to these organizations, in times of uncertainty there’s great interest in the PAA. It’s important to keep our anglers interested in the PAA and believing in the PAA. Until the anglers truly have a voice with these organizations, there will always be a need for the PAA.

I can’t believe you haven’t asked me about the LeBron situation. Everybody else is asked about it. Is it because I’m vertically challenged, Jay, that you think I know nothing about basketball?

Well, since you asked, LeBron doesn’t have, or understand what it is to have, the eye of the tiger. Once he learns what that means, he’ll be everything the experts have projected him to be. For now, he’s too nice a guy on the court. Maybe we could fix him up with Kevin VanDam – he has the eye of the tiger!

Wait a sec: Did you, Jay Kumar, imply that I, Dave Mansue, am “a powerful force in bassin’?” Wow! That’s an impressive endorsement. See, the presidency isn’t so thankless after all.
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Thanks to Dave for being a good sport with good answers.

Maybe Lebron needs to rock this jacket to get the eye….