Pot Stirring Time

In my not so humble opinion, the whole issue, isn't. Do we really need more members? Remember how fast Elk sold out last year? Those who choose to participate in group activities, will. Why force membership/participation on those that are on the fringes?

Want to exchange sensitive information, use PM's, email, phone, or (heavens!!) face to face conversation.

Here's an idea (but probably not such a great one).... an AOTY member section where you have to be signed up for AOTY to participate?  Maybe this would get more people to join AOTY and would certainly be a board that separates the serious kayak angler from the power boat lurker. But then again, I'm not sure we need a private section dedicated to AOTY smack talk.

Well, I'm thinking it's not so great. I've never participated in AOTY, and probably never will. My take on it is that I'd just be subsidizing everybody else's fishing, as I need to concentrate my fishing efforts where it is most rewarding. As for using AOTY to define who is a serious kayak angler and who isn't, consider that last year from a kayak, I caught several lings that would have topped the species chart. I literally released two lings that were in the 25 pound range.   I was also releasing rockfish in the 24" range. I dedicated two weeks and a couple thousand dollars for gear and travel. I'll be making the trip again this year, but plan to target Halibut and Salmon instead of rockfish and lings. The only problem, is that I'll be fishing out of AOTY boundaries. But by using AOTY participation as the definition of "serious", I fall short.

Scott

What?  You guys don't know about the 1000 Post Club and all the benefits that are unlocked at that point?

-Allen

My take on it is that I'd just be subsidizing everybody else's fishing,

How So ???

What?  You guys don't know about the 1000 Post Club and all the benefits that are unlocked at that point?

Shhh

What?  You guys don't know about the 1000 Post Club and all the benefits that are unlocked at that point?
Shhh

HuH?????  Whats that Bub..???

Just a great thread!  Nobody's had kayak fishing forums longer than me and honestly, I've been through it all.  There are many views, opinions and positions that emerge in this forum community that itself, is just emerging and maturing.  "Member only" is a clear shift to private and there are sites like that.  I think most of the popular site publishers are looking for readers...we're all selling something to keep it going...and we appreciate our contributors not only for keeping the forums for what they are but for their greater reach to those anglers who "lurk" for information.  You'll always have anglers who think that helping other anglers is wrong.  There is a difference between responsible reporting and "giving up spots" on public forums.
A successful alternative to privatizing your forum to acheive what I think you are looking for, is to establish an email group (yahoo groups) like the "POETS" (Piss on everything, tomorrow's Saturday).  Started over 10 years ago, we're a group of anglers limited to 50, who network the bite via prompt email reports.  All the members own a boat and fish about once a week.  Once or twice a year, a small group might charter a boat together but not every year.  Many of us have never met.  I think the POETS group is a good model for networking the bite to your immediate circle of homies.

My take on it is that I'd just be subsidizing everybody else's fishing,

How So ???

I don't have the job and family flexibility that it takes to place in AOTY. Look at the number of days spent fishing by the  winners in 2006 and 2007. 50+ full days on the water over the course of the year appears to be par for the course. Hence, my entry fee would get me... nada.

Single day tournaments, on the other hand, work for me just fine.

Scott

simple and open wins

If you are worried about someone "stealing" your spot-- then don't post. Communicate the old fashioned way- by smoke signals, phone, IM whatever, just to publish it to the world

Amen!

On NWKA and CKA, board restrictions are not put up to limit information to the general population.  They are put up to enable extra perks for those that contribute.  We have a few features only accessible to posters of a certain level.  We also have private boards for special issues (like derby planning or trip planning for limited sized groups).  I will say that it adds an extra amount of work that certainly doesn't scale well, so I do it judiciously where it adds perceived value.  But it works out well IMO.

BTW, I would say that the majority of the guests you see are Google and Yahoo bots/spiders.  I added some mods to the NWKA site that can identify them easily and it shows exactly this.

-Allen

Code groups such as Spike mentions are a way to trade sensitive information with a certain level of confidence. Even so there are downsides. For one, info will out - someone will blab. The other potential side effect? If people take their reports elsewhere, they may stop posting at public sites.

Take a gander at some message boards hosted down south for examples. The formerly friendly tone is hard to find at times, and post counts are down even as the sport grows. Sense of community is eroded or even shattered. You have a special thing here - I think you know it. Don't blow it.   

A successful alternative to privatizing your forum to acheive what I think you are looking for, is to establish an email group (yahoo groups) like the "POETS" (Piss on everything, tomorrow's Saturday). 

  I love it!  I think I just found my new end-of-the-week status message for YIM.

What?  You guys don't know about the 1000 Post Club and all the benefits that are unlocked at that point?

-Allen

Well, I'd better up my joke posts then, because I can't seem to find enough free time to collect fishing report info...   

What?  You guys don't know about the 1000 Post Club and all the benefits that are unlocked at that point?

-Allen

What I want to know is what Mooch is going to get when he reaches 10,000 posts sometime later this year.  (for those of you about to type "a life", too late, because I already said it)    j/k Joel!  I'm jealous, that's all.

Code groups such as Spike mentions are a way to trade sensitive information with a certain level of confidence. Even so there are downsides. For one, info will out - someone will blab. The other potential side effect? If people take their reports elsewhere, they may stop posting at public sites.

Take a gander at some message boards hosted down south for examples. The formerly friendly tone is hard to find at times, and post counts are down even as the sport grows. Sense of community is eroded or even shattered. You have a special thing here - I think you know it. Don't blow it.   

Code groups such as Spike mentions are a way to trade sensitive information with a certain level of confidence. Even so there are downsides. For one, info will out - someone will blab. The other potential side effect? If people take their reports elsewhere, they may stop posting at public sites.

Take a gander at some message boards hosted down south for examples. The formerly friendly tone is hard to find at times, and post counts are down even as the sport grows. Sense of community is eroded or even shattered. You have a special thing here - I think you know it. Don't blow it.   

Valentine Cove anybody? Just show and I'll show....simple. Hell I'll even take you to where Bill gets his lap dances for free..
Caring and sharing are the reasons I showed up at this site. However, I have learned that even shore fishing for crappie people lurk and then show up the next day with almost the same gear as I used the day before. Duane was the first guy that I meet from this board. His enthusiasm for NCKA was infectious and we have become good friends.
Mobasser invited me to my first fresh water gathering and we had a great time and information galore, especially about homemade brew I don't drink but I used the fishing info.
Jeff showed me his spot and even shared his set up once I showed up which I believe is the point.
 I have even found the Northern boys more than welcoming and very fun to be around when I show up.
The East Bay Slayers however, are the bomb and the most friendly group on this board. Show up in our waters and experience the camaraderie that is common throughout the board. Anyone with a hidden agenda always gets filtered out by their own shortcomings and we as a group let them know eventually.
I know this is a special place for me and as PAL said I do not want to blow it.

Gotta Love this Sport. Frankfishing

Well said Abking!

Sense of community is eroded or even shattered. You have a special thing here - I think you know it. Don't blow it.   

Why does it erode.....why do people speak code....why do people create their own groups? Why are they formerly friendly?  
Overrun by anonymous people perhaps, tired of someone posting up a hot report then a hundred boats are all working the same bank putting the fish down, tired of having an entire fleet fishing the same paddy.  Like I said, how community is it when the contributing community is smaller than the number of people extracting from it? Asking people to register and say hi will not blow it, we have a chance to expand our growth and still be aware of who's out there.  It will continue to get more impersonal if it goes unchecked.  

  

The truth is that if we don't get more people to support and defend our sport, we will be over-run by the enviros who would rather make the whole coast an MLPA. It is kind of intimidating from the outside looking in because everyone knows everyone else and then there are screen names and real names, cliques, open posts, PM's, etc. I was a llurker for 2 years before I met Chuck and Freddie on lake Chabot a few years ago and they encouraged me to join. If I hadn't met them I might still be a lurker.  

I can respect that Scott but I'm not sure how many "guests" are gonna stand up to defend us, how many guests clicked the links to fire off an email when we needed it.  Its probably a whole lot easier for them to blow it off as being our problem not theirs.
You lurked for 2 years before joining and it took the warm embrace Chuck's sparkling personality to persuade you to join  ....I think that lag time would have been eliminated if you had to register and were met by my sparkling personality   while saying hi.  


Regarding reports:
Anyone who's read my reports knows that they're absolutely devoid of usable intel or competence.  

PS Great topic Art....

What I want to know is what Mooch is going to get when he reaches 10,000 posts sometime later this year.  (for those of you about to type "a life", too late, because I already said it)    j/k Joel!  I'm jealous, that's all.

     

We Love ya Mooch!!!!

Take a gander at some message boards hosted down south for examples. The formerly friendly tone is hard to find at times, and post counts are down even as the sport grows. Sense of community is eroded or even shattered. You have a special thing here - I think you know it. Don't blow it.

 This is My Fear... I went to Jim's La Jolla tournament in 06, I arrive the night before and slept in my truck right next to the Beach,  way kool,

But, I got to talk to many as they were arriving, as I was ready to go. Much adversity towards one another

 I'm sure if you put them together, they get along fine, but the Back bitting was Shocking...

 Kind of shattered my " All for One and One for All "Thing ... 

Really made me appreciate what we have here,

 I think what divides the brothers down there is sponsorship, which is crap....

 I've said this before that there is not any money or fame in selling your soul to any of these kayak manufactures or fishing related retailers... I know a bit about this ( see Pic of Hypocrite ....  )

Let them help us with prizes for tourneys and raffles ect... and we will give them their due in return,

 But Keep the faith that it's better to help each other rather than Ourselves....

 and we can can still do what we do on this site, without giving away our most prized secrets....