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
