Tight lips sink clubs

[Scott McKee]

The older I get the seemingly more I look back on the “good ‘ol days”.  When it took seconds of crackling, screeching, shrieking sounds to get on the Internet and cell phones still had hinges, we had a Web site but it wasn’t like today’s version.  Members did not have the ability to interact with each other via the site. 

We use to rely on Emails to report our fishing trips.  We called it our Email String.  Many members at the time did not have access to the internet so Tony and eventually I would print them in our newsletter.  (These reports were a white space killing nuclear bomb, by the way.)  Our members seemed to like reading these reports.  I know I did.  We had some great reporters back then: Marc Arena, Josh Ketry, Hans Mann, Jojo, Tony Scime and Joe Zolnowski to name just a few.  There were interesting, informative and often funny reports waiting for you after you booted up your huge, boxy computer or new-fangled laptop.  I would bet the majority of our members took the time to report their trips to facilitate this whole process.  It worked great.

Our club broke a lot of the musky fishing rules when our founders started it in 1994.  Our members released their fish - even the monsters caught in the harbor - instead of bonking them on the head and mounting or eating them.  Our members - especially our more experienced anglers - discussed how and where they caught their muskies in an effort to help new members, which shattered the old tight-lipped musky angler stereotype.  Our members were interested in perpetuating our exciting, prolific musky fishery.  All you had to do to learn how to catch these fish locally was join and make an effort to learn how to release them and then put that knowledge into action.  Musky fishing learning curves were cut by years, maybe decades.

When I launched our current site in 2011 fishing reports were numerous, although I wouldn’t say plentiful.  We had a nice, shiny toy to play with and play we did.  As time progressed, it seems the number of members reporting their fish diminished.  There were members concerned the public could now read our reports.  I fixed that problem (except on cellular devices, although I am working on resolving this issue).  There was a disputed large fish caught a few years back that alienated one of our most prolific members from reporting and perhaps discouraged others.  In the last few years only a handful of members take the time to report their trips.  Why?

Like I alluded to earlier, our club was founded on openness.  Most report their releases.  Some record their trips.  Unfortunatley, only a few of us take the time (and it doesn’t have to be much) to report their fishing trips.  Do you enjoy reading fishing trip reports?  I do, and I bet you do too.

Please take the time to report your trips this year.  You don’t have to get ridiculous like me with some of my opuses.  You don’t have to funny.  You don’t have to be too detailed.  Just a few sentences are more than fine. 

When I started fishing for muskies I was generally hopeless.  My first fall was a disaster.  It was because of my determination and the openness of our members to instruct, that helped me learn how to catch and release these wonderful creatures.  You belong to a club that is historically not tight-lipped.  This openness is one of the pillars our club has rested on.  It’s time we reinforced that pillar.  Please post your reports this year.

Indulge me with a quick exercise, please.  I’m going to type a fictional fishing report off the top of my head and time myself.

Ready.

Go!

Hit the river today with Carrie and Aurora.  We fished UN2, 13 and 12.  I caught a dinky musky casting the Shipyards on a black bucktail around 8:30.  Carrie had a fish on while trolling the point at the UN13/12 border that she said felt like a really good fish.  Hooks were sharp, but sometimes fish just aren’t ready to be caught.  She caught a 37” trolling a Believer off a Jojo Ball just upstream from Staley’s before we called it at 1PM.  Aurora didn’t catch anything, but she had a good time chewing her bone and jumping in the drink after our lures.  The moss was brutal and Godzilla kept chasing us off our spots.  Out next week. Good luck and watch out for huge reptiles.

 That took one minute and forty-three seconds to type and I do so with only two fingers and my thumbs.  Take the two minutes or less and post this year.  Thank you.

Scott

[Carrie Keane]

I concur! I love reading fishing reports! I hope we get to post one exactly like this, this year!!!

[jojo wilczewski]

Good day
There is nothing better( then wishing itself) then reading a wishing report while stuck at work! Now days we can report in real time, I did from from Florida. Pictures, a few words. A few seconds and back at it.
BAM BAM DONE
Thanks Scott, Jay, Tony, Johnand a few others for the reports and web site. I love that place and try to go everyday!
Jojoout

[Jay Nannen]

Count me in.  Now I need to get out there to have something to write about

[Frank Stachowiak]

I'm ready to resume fishing reports.  Posted a lot "back then" and all of a sudden, everyone just stopped.

I went to my boat Saturday just to make sure my battery switch was "off" as I think I have an electrical drain someplace that kills my batteries if I leave the switch on.  My rig started up perfectly and is ready to go Saturday for the opener.  Len and I will be out at 7:00 - that is early for two seniors.  I saw Scott Kitchen's boat at his Rich Marine berth.  He is a great conservationist as he lets what seems like every gull sit on his boat.  Hope it really rains hard on Thursday to clean his boat cover.

What is on everyone's agenda for the opener? Troll, cast, jig, or all of the above? Fish high, suspended or bottom??? Bright colors or dark? Sandwiches or nibble stuff??

Don't forget your hat.  Otherwise, call me and I can get you in to see Dr. Wirth at Buffalo Medical in less than the standard 6 month wait.