Just me?

[BigC]

I post a lot (probably more than I should) I even post for Mike who could really care less. I've noticed some post get lots of views and comments and others get same amount of views and no comments. It's tough to compete with Andrew or Kevin in quality of reports or size of fish, but I don't think it should be looked at that way. It's an escape, it's a learning experience, a way to kill 10 minutes at work, but more than anything for me it adds anticpation for the next time I get out. If you had a good day or bad day a huge fish or no fish and you feel like posting then have at it, if not maybe next time.

Some of you probably know I've been trying to catch Muskle for a couple years now, and if it wasn't for this site and contacts (and friends) made here I wouldn't be having the best year Muskie wise I've ever had. (and it's only July)

It is what we make it and it seems to be ever changing and evolving which I don't see as a bad thing.

PS I hate squirrels also

[lifeisfun]

Yeah, we post with Mike if something better/unusual happens,
but it most of the time ends up that we tease each other
Perhaps muskie fishing isn't that popular...

[lapointeric]

I used to post about Musky Creek... I'm sure one of my photos had the longs and lats in it... and..... there goes Musky Creek. We went last week, and it was dead. First time in 4-5 years that we've been skunked.

Also, not sure if it's the SQL issue or not, but sometimes I visit the site, and I can't login... That generally makes it tough for me to comment.

Otherwise, I love this place, and hope it keeps going strong.

E

[lifeisfun]

I used to post about Musky Creek... I'm sure one of my photos had the longs and lats in it... and..... there goes Musky Creek. We went last week, and it was dead. First time in 4-5 years that we've been skunked. .....

E

Lets hope it was just bad luck that day

[Moosebunk]

I notice not too many people congratulating or commenting on fishing reports here nowadays. Used to be this place was FULL of fishing reports...

First off.. it's always nice no matter what, for any and all to be acknowledged here after taking any time and effort to report a great catch, or fishing experience had. I have said 1000's of times over, "thank you" to people responding in kind to me, and me paying it forward to them and others as well. This site as far as I'm concerned, has for the most part been great for almost 10 years... so I’ll make that 1001 thanks to good people who try and enjoy it that way.


If what is wanted is to build a better sense of community here online, then you have to participate, and in a friendly way. Easiest is to get involved, be supportive, be kind and follow the site's rules. Quite a simple concept really, and one that all would be wise to subscribe to. And in the meantime, be real.

As far as a declining support of peoples reports, I agree with some of what's been said already. A recent crash of the site, continual errors (still can’t submit a profile pic?), hard feelings between some members, an influx of new members finding their place yet, Facebook, egos and attitudes, moderation, personal choice, and the summer season... are what I believe is at the core right now for Fish-Hawk. But it's not just this site... other's are, or have shriveled up to nothing as well. While searching out scattered members and satisfying a need to feed on info and reports, in 2006 after this place was shaken up, I joined (or participated already, but more) with eight other forums. Between then and now, all but two peaked and are declining, and a couple have folded up. It seems an inevitable reality and it sucks, but always moving forward something else will come along.

My first report here in 2004 was what I thought to be an interesting page long read, about a canoe trip 160km down the Abitibi and Moose Rivers from Onakawana to Moose Factory. There were not any pictures, and so the report got three replies. The next report was a trip taken to the Fraser River for sturgeon and it had about 20 pics. Three pages of replies followed, several guys stating they wanted to go if I did again, and so I organized a trip for Fish-Hawkers serious about going. This spawned a 7-page thread of it's own, and another big report to follow for a group of people who had the time of their lives. Today, I am still in contact with all those involved, and have taken many more trips and fish regularly with members from this site, and others. What if I had given up after that first report? Not added pics? Not tried to write better next time and the next? Or with others, not participated, been supportive and remained honest and kind with them???

You will get back what you put into it. For the most part anyways. This is still a great site, but yes there has been a slightly palpable decline in some respects.

Thanks for posting this up Jimmy. Things like this never hurt to shoot the shiznat about.

[ShawnD]

^ This

The site is only getting better, after the crash there was literally no one online for the longest time... I even thought the site would never be what it was.
Look at her now..
I've recently started making small WeekNight Tournaments to meet some of you and also offering at times an open seat (haven't made reports because of camera malfunction..) I got 4 boats the first time and 3 boats the following week. The guys I met there were guys I've already fished with or against!
All tournament guys.. Renegade/OVSB/ Ultrabass.

I had a blast, it was fun to talk and actually take the time to meet them but when you look at the thread that right now has over 2900 views!! Getting less then five boats is kinda weak..
I don't mind, makes it more personal but it would've been fun to meet some of you *Cough Cprince, tipup, Maverick...
I'll keep doing them as long as the girlfriend doesn't start giving me a hard time about it.

Some tips if you want more replies, pictures will help and a little back ground story doesn't hurt.


To all would-be reporters!
-Don't get intimidated by those guys who make super long posts,short and sweet is fun to read and fish size doesn't matter..
-Pictures! Look and learn how to hold your camera, get a stand if you have to.

Lastly I want to say soemthing... I get so many people tell me "your lucky , you have a bass boat, you get to go fishing, blah blah blah..." Dude, even if I didn't have a boat (I've only had it since January) I would be on the shore fishing..

Seeing people taking the opportunity to get out, maybe bringing someone along. THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT

Shawn.D

[lapointeric]

I used to post about Musky Creek... I'm sure one of my photos had the longs and lats in it... and..... there goes Musky Creek. We went last week, and it was dead. First time in 4-5 years that we've been skunked. .....

E

Lets hope it was just bad luck that day

Man.... I hope so. Totally bummed after that trip. We usually see SOME KIND of action too, ripples of spooked fish, smaller ones cruising under the boat, etc... it was eerily quiet.

E

[Brian]

I notice not too many people congratulating or commenting on fishing reports here nowadays.

Some posts have 3-4 congrats to over 100 views.

Has this place changed THAT much in my abscence?

Not to stir the pot but wow!
Used to be this place was FULL of fishing reports....

oh and....

Moosebunks amazing reports to boot!
(Thats a guy you'd want to wet a line with!)

I'm not sure what this site was like before. I only started lurking around last November/December. While the site does seem pretty slow, and has a lot of SQL errors (which can be frustrating for both people who understand what the errors are and those that are not so computer literate), the content is still an information gold mine for people like me who are getting back into fishing after a lot of years. I think this is why we have a lot more lurkers than posters. A lot of people scoping for information, ideas, etc, and don't really have anything to add themselves. Saying "Nice fish" to everyones post eventually just gets old if you don't have much more to say.

I also agree with the one poster that wrote that you will get more out of the site the more that you put into it. This is true for just about anything. You are always going to have people who want to watch and not participate (I know what you are thinking cprince, but remember this is a family site). It is what it is. I think things would be a lot better if the site speed and errors were dealt with, but as a free site you can't really make that complaint.

For those of us that post, post on! The readers enjoy it. For those of us that read, well, enjoy!

[Bassassins]

Going to be honest we thought this was going to be the first locked thread in a long long time when it started. After checking back in it shows the maturity and passion that people have for this community to talk about the "elephant in the room". There were some amazing points made by everyone - so we won't touch on those but say we agree that you get what you put in and any report no matter how big or how small is ALWAYS worth a post. The point that we agree with the most is this community can bring out the best in you - from the beginning this forum has pushed us to fish more, take better photos and catch bigger fish. To us this is our weigh in... The rush you get knowing you have something amazing on video or an amazing photo that you just can't wait to share... Nothing beats it! The excitement on the anglers faces can be seen all over this forum .. I bet some instantly jumped to your mind right away .. and without this forum would they be as big? (Except those muskie guys without heads.... Those smiles we are still waiting for )

For those that don't know before the meltdown we were known as Smooth Robbie C and Basstard Rob... We met on here a little over year ago and before that had only fished the same 8KM stretch of the Rideau, on opposite sides, never knowing each other. Now thanks to this forum we turned a PM into a fishing trip that has lasted for over a year and isn't about to stop, not to mention the other friends we have met, the opportunities we have been given and the places we have seen. Yes things have changed but sometimes it takes a little loss to realize how important something is.

Thank you Bobber, the moderators, those that continue to contribute (you all know who you are) and to those that are out there hunting for the right moment to hit that submit button for the first time... we promise you won't be disappointed!

Tight lines - the future is bright!!!

Rob & Rob
aka Smooth & Basstard

[troutnmuskiehunter]

Since the crash I find this site VERY frustrating to say the least....I am a member of many communities and have never had to go and delete cookies like I have had to with F-H.....I'm tired of opening members posts only to find that the pictures that were downloaded are either covering the story or are only half visible... and then there's the member's name that are covered by an avatar of the member who replied below ...

I would love to post again but not until some work has been done to correct the tecnical irregularities this site is experiencing. ....guess I'll just remain a "lurker"

[smitty55]

Wow, tmh I don't have any of those probs with pics or text. The SQL errors are bad enough but the agonizingly slow page loading speed is what drives me bonkers. And when there's lots of pics it's way worse. No other sites are like this. It's a good thing I can go to ofc to see Moosebunx' posts.
I mentioned this once before. If the server speed can be improved with an increased cost by switching or whatever I would have no problem donating to the cause. Something like a donation drive with prizes donated by some of the site vendors would probably work quite well. Anything to help these issues.

One thing I can say for sure is that if site speeds and other technical issues are fixed, participation will increase and that is good for everyone. So let's all say, Please, "user ratkinson". hehe
Cheers

[RJ]

Many talk of these SQL errors. I get about 3 of those a week at the most. Weird.

The pages look just like they always did for me, I don't have any of those page loading issues you guys are talking about either.

Browser maybe? I'm using Firefox, not sure that's the difference.

RJ

[Bassassins]

We agree wirh RJ - no real errors at all - the squirrels bothers Smooth on his blackberry every now and then but no problems on the iphone or desk top.

[TheMaverick]

We agree wirh RJ - no real errors at all - the squirrels bothers Smooth on his blackberry every now and then but no problems on the iphone or desk top.

X3, no problems either, other then the occasional Nut crackers!

[troutnmuskiehunter]

Here's one of the issues I was talking about....