Hi All, According to Mr. Lufkin's definition I am a lurker, but like Mr. Kolton it is not by choice. I have only made it out 4 times in the last 2 years, but just started subscribing to this list last July. I am just now starting to get back into fly fishing and fly tying. I grew up in western Montana and started fly fishing at about age 14. I learned basic dry fly fishing the hard way and took up fly tying when a friend gave me his old kit. I also took a stab at wrapping a rod (a Fennwick fiberglass that I gave to my father a few years back). But after moving here for college I lost my way from fly fishing. I did try some bass fishing for a couple of years but lost interest in it just as fast as I jumped into it. The main reason I stopped fly fishing was that I had no idea of where to go here in Washington and I was not very aggressive in seeking out resources. Being a poor college student did not help either.
Currently my fervor for fly fishing is as much as it was when I was a teenager, but like many of us out there, finding the time to fish and post something meaningful is really a big challenge. For me it is the job, having a house built and all the landscaping and decorating, etc. that goes with it leaves me with very little time to take off and go fishing. I really enjoy reading most of the posts to this list. Learning what patterns work here in Washington, clarification of the rules and regs., the type of fish, etc. I consider myself an amateur because my technique is adequate at best and my experience is limited (I could tell you what patterns to use in southwestern Montana in the summer, well at least they worked in the late 70's early 80's), so I have not posted since I had nothing relavent to pest. But when I do I will most happily share. This list has really benefitted me and someday I hope to contribute to benefit others getting back into the sport or the newcomers. I would really be disappointed if we were "locked-out". Anyway I plan on going fishing this weekend with my brother and if I don't get skunked like I did my last time out I will gladly share with you. Thanks for letting me ramble on. Sincerely, Don Thomas --- D KOLTON <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > wrote: >I AM A LURKER... > >I get out fishing about 2-3 times a year between owning a business, home >remodeling, wife and two young boys. I WISH I could give more, but i just >can't. I truly enjoy much of what I read, and i guess it gives me a rather >vicarious life of fishing. I sure hope to start getting the kids out soon, >but they are just too young now... > >I would hate to think I would be excluded from being a part of a list >because a few people want it more exclusive. i personally would rather you >all invite me and others like me to join you, fish with you, get as good as >some of you, and then we could post as well... > >my 2 cents worth... > >dan > >--- Kent Lufkin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> I just found that the WAFF list now boasts over 250 email >> subscribers. I also learned that only about 50 subscribers post to >> the list on a regular basis. That means that roughly 80% of WAFF >> subscribers are so-called 'lurkers' - people who receive the list's >> email posts but who do not respond with posts of their own. >> >> In fairness, I'm sure many lurkers are novice fishers, fishers who >> don't feel that they have anything worth contributing, or are >> otherwise just plain shy. A number of lurkers are probably >> now-and-then fishers or are just too darned busy to post even an >> occasional email. >> >> However, I also know for a fact that a number of lurkers are fly shop >> employees or owners. They subscribe to the list, gathering valuable >> fishing information which they then feed to their customers as a >> 'value-added' perk. >> >> For whatever reason though, lurkers take but don't give anything back >> in return. >> >> >> I personally enjoy reading the posts to the list - even the >> off-subject ones, the newbie questions that we've all heard before >> (and asked ourselves once upon a time), the subjects I'm not >> interested in, and even the occasional spats between subscribers. I >> read 'em all, delete most, and respond to a few. >> >> Bottom line is that I've learned quite a bit more about flyfishing >> than I would have without subscribing to the list. >> >> But I'm beginning to wonder about all the wonderful information and >> advice we've been posting. It bothers me to think we've been >> innocently sharing it with others who contribute nothing back to the >> group in return. Not to mention the trove of past posts available in >> the searchable archives. >> >> >> Thanks to technology and the subscribers who've generously shared >> their skills, we now have the capability of 'unsubscribing' lurkers >> from the list. >> >> We can also password-protect the archives on our web site, making >> them available only to active subscribers. >> >> The questions though, is should we? >> >> >> The list is only as good as the information that subscribers post to >> it. If lurkers don't contribute to the group, their absence won't be >> felt. >> >> On the other hand, restricting the list smacks to me as just another >> form of elitism, the same kind of smug, 'I'm-better-than-you-are' >> attitude that others think characterize we flyfishers in general. >> >> What do you think? >> >> >> Kent Lufkin >> > > >__________________________________________________ >Do You Yahoo!? >Find a job, post your resume. >http://careers.yahoo.com _____________________________________________________________ http://www.gozags.com - The Official Athletic Site of Gonzaga Bulldog Fans! Get your FREE email at --> http://mail.gozags.com!
