Retention Question

Martin, bygone members are the same as my former surfing buddies. Some quit, moved away, or moved away & quit. Now that I've found kayakfishing I've all but quit myself.

I miss some members that haven't been around for a while, Sean White comes to mind, but know these guys are probably busy enjoying their new found activities. Or just kayakfishing off the grid. jim

As we all know, life happens. My yak has been collecting dust for 2 years. I have plenty of reasons (excuses) but most of them seem silly now. Last month one of my boys said he wanted to go yak fishing again and so I checked back in here. Thanks NCKA for keeping the flame alive.

Note to self: Life is short. Take the boys fishing! The yard work, house painting, tv watching, blah, blah, blah can WAIT!

Seems like it would be easy for this to turn into another "What I love about NCKA thread".

I joined up over 5 yrs ago and for the most part haven't joined in on any of the big events, but I have briefly met a fair number of you all at one time or another.

For the first couple yrs after I joined my yak fishing seemed to increase and I was looking forward to doing allot more, but then life got complicated and then more complicated and over the last 3 yrs my yaking has declined to the point that I think I was OTW only 3-4 times in 2010.

On the other hand I have spent a really large amount of time reading and watching almost every post to hit the board and I think I have an insight into what after 5 yrs makes NCKA seem very close to that "Silver or slightly Golden era" it was in when I signed up.

The secret here seems to be a stream of New Members who are willing, able, and eager to get involved, hold events and generally give back to the group more than they get out of it.

I have a pretty good perspective on this as I was a longtime member and even co-chair of a group that died a long slow death. In this group for years we could see what was happening but was really never able to stop it.  After awhile it was apparent that the problem was that we were getting new members all the time but most seemed to only want what they could get out of it, not what they could put into it. That group still exists but it is just a shell of it's former self.

Sometimes I miss the posts of the Old Guys that for the most part have become scarce or nonexistent.  On the other hand, so far, the place is still rockin and keeps me going on the seemingly endless times when I can't get out due to family/work obligations.

Yeah it's different than it was 5 years ago,   

Why others have drifted away, well there are probably a multitude of reasons, but I'm really grateful for the new members who have stepped up and made NCKA as good as it ever was.

Who knows maybe I will put up a report again someday.

Hamachi, that's a good point.  We gotta hit it soon, lawyer-style. 

Mickfish, it didn't even dawn on me that a forum could have a lifecycle.  Interesting.

Regardless of who checks in and out, many NCKA homies to fish and chill with, many new ones still to meet, and yet still others who haven't joined who will surely crack things up.

Jai Boi!   

We gotta hit it soon, lawyer-style. 

This has report of the year written all over it....my buddy butch said the halibut aren't biting but its always open season on lawyers .

NCKA has actually managed to change itself in ways that are directly tied to the energy and compassion of the membership (very seriously, look at the recent AOTY/ESA issue) and because of those good energies the freshness of the experiences here remains as a strong elixir for everyone from long time members to brand newb's or converted lurkers. 

The ESA issue is not a recent issue and has evolved some members right out of NCKA

great thread!

my 2 cents:

- Being one of those who was there from the start, I've seen the changes, good, the bad and the ugliness. But it was never that bad that made me want to leave. I've had my share of head-butting with other members but I've learned to remember the golden rule of "we can agree to disagree". I've had many, many great memories with NCKA and I'm looking forward to many more!

One thing I never get tired about NCKA is reading the newbie reports and simply enjoying their genuine enthusiasm. It brings me back to the days when I got into the madness

LONG LIVE NCKA 

We gotta hit it soon, lawyer-style. 

What's that?  Have solid alibis for not catching shit?   

Sorry, couldn't help it.

Speaking of OG's, what happened to the Godfather, the man who started it all, Bill?  I see a post here and there occasionally, but would be honored to fish with the Godfather!  But, as was previously stated, kids, work, life, they all have their way of rearranging one's priorities.  In Yakuza's first post on this thread he said it may be "cult-ish" to ask, I hope now with my godfather reference I didnt just confirm that! 

I'm still around though I haven't done any kayak fishing (or any kind of fishing) for a while.  I got into it for some excersie while I was recovering from knee surgery and now that I'm healed up I've been spending most of my free time running and mountain biking.  I'm still toying with the idea of getting a scupper pro for exercise and carrying a pole with me to cast out every now and then (the Hobie Revo is a pain to paddle).  I'm also thinking about attending Yakhoppers Clear Lake Event.

Hamachi, that's a good point.  We gotta hit it soon, lawyer-style. 

Lawyer-style, defined as: 1) yakfishing and thinking of a client matter at the same time, and charging client $300 per hour while fishing; or 2) poring over DFG regs to construe statutory interpretations while waiting for the sturgeon bite.

No wonder i haven't caught a sturgeon yet- been missing the bite with my hands and eyes over dfg regs instead of the rod/reel.
Peace, y'all

Ours is not to reason why, ours is but to fish an lie......

NCKA has actually managed to change itself in ways that are directly tied to the energy and compassion of the membership (very seriously, look at the recent AOTY/ESA issue) and because of those good energies the freshness of the experiences here remains as a strong elixir for everyone from long time members to brand newb's or converted lurkers. 

The ESA issue is not a recent issue and has evolved some members right out of NCKA

What do you mean, Mike?

I'm really grateful for the new members who have stepped up and made NCKA as good as it ever was.

Ditto!!!!

The main difference between NCKA and most other forums is that kayak fishing can be dangerous. You need to be able to rely on your fishing partners. This forms a bond that is much stronger than anybody could ever form in some online gaming forum or even in forums for other types of fishing. We depend on each other...we help each other...it makes us family.