I'm going to apologize for Patrick; I don't think
his message was conveyed quite the way he intended. I don't know him at
all, and although I can understand your response to his message, I read his
message a little differently.
These types of informational forums are
challenging. Just because we all share the same waflyfishers.com service
doesn't necessarily mean that we are all obligaged to divulge all of our
deepest and darkest secrets to each other (which means our fishing spots and
techniques). Folks want to obtain information as possible from these
forums, but it's tough to figure out when there is too much or too little
information and participation.
By example, a friend of mine and I took a
prominent List person to a prime fishing spot last year, shared with him the
techniques required for that spot, species, and time of year, swore him to
secrecy, and guess what? I know of several List members, with
whom he regularly fishes, who now 'just happen' to know the same spot and
technique. This spot can only accommodate 2, maybe 3 persons at one
time. It's a bummer to go to 'your' fishing spot to find it filled with
folks who are friends of someone else with whom you 'shared' the
spot.
And, as far as posting that type of information
on the List, I think it's the rule, rather the exception, that there tends to
be a herd effect to certain fishing spots after someone posts a favorable
fishing report. I'm not saying it's bad, it's just the way it
is.
Les, Leland, Preston, et al, these are all great
people that are generally very willing to help people and provide information,
but these guys have also worked hard and put in a lot of time over many years
discovering places to fish. I suspect part of why they are posting is
because they are also fishing! I surely would be hesitant in sharing
detailed information with just anyone. I know Preston is very
involved in some of the steelhead forums that are being
held.
I believe posting restraint should be exercised
by List participants. If the bite is good in the Yakima canyon, that's
great info. I wouldn't want the person posting the message to cough up
exactly where, what rock they were standing on, and how they were holding
their mouth when they were catching their fish. To know the Yak is
fishing well, in the afternoon, on BWO and mahogany duns, or that coho or
stacked in the Sky, should be enough information to send me off exploring
for my own 'secret' honey hole. Or, to know that the fish in Amber Lake
are whacking #8 black buggers on Type 2 lines at sundown, that should be
enough.
Part of the challenge and fun of fishing is
discovering 'new' places, your own secret spot, or locations that haven't or
aren't being fished heavily. I noticed there are a lot of inquiries on
how, what, and where to fish, but those same folks don't provide a report on
if the information they obtained from the List did or didn't help. I
think the kind of generic feedback would be very useful to most of the List
members.
if I knew the answer ot your
questions (never fished on the Snoqualmie for trout), I'd share it with
you. I'd call Creekside over in Issaquah; that water is in their
backyard, and they seem to usually have a pretty good handle on
it.
I don't believe Patrick's response was
directed necessarily at you. I read into his posting that his
comments have been building for some time, and for some reason,
your question brought it out.
Richard Embry
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, November 02, 2001 9:26
AM
Subject: RE: where have all the reports
gone?
Well excuse me
Mr. Petersen, I must have signed up for the wrong site. You're right there
probably should be a Prima Donna site and a beginners site. Once us
"beginners" get this figured out we could again break off and start our own
site so we don't get tired of sharing our knowledge with the great unwashed.
I hope I don't appear illiterate.
Sincerely,
Wayne
Sall
I have noticed over the last year that the reports have become fewer
and fewer on the waflyfishers list. Is this due to so many new members
asking basic questions on where and what? I personally have contributed a
weekly report discussing tactics and locations but have noticed the senior
members contributing virtually nothing except for clarification on the
regs. I have seen the sport grow in the last ten years to record
numbers. That said, perhaps it is possible that many members are
tired of seeing the crowds in their favorite fishing holes, myself
included. Perhaps waflyfishers could offer a second list to the beginners
so not to be bombarded the list with the same old questions and to entice
more information from those grungy old fly fishers. I miss seeing the
posts of the likes of Leland, Preston, Les J, and others who have fished
for years. Fly fishing is so diverse in its methods and fish to fish
for and I enjoy reading about most of it including&nbs! ! !
p; the Yakima even though I never fish there, but lets try not
to become just another fishing list, with the same beginner
questions over and over. If beginners want to read some information
on Washington fly fishing, try the archives. Also, try using
your spell check so you do not look like you are illiterate.
--- PATRICK PETERSEN
