What would you want to see in a local fishing report?

[Mike Carey]

I think it's really hard for newspapers and magazines to provide accurate, up to date information when they publish an outdoor article once a week. Sites like this one give the general public, guides, and resorts a way to give people immediate information and that has shifted the way anglers search for and use information. The days of the old Fishing and Hunting weekly report model are obsolete.

That said, I do think there is a place for newspapers and magazines. I think it lies somewhere between what we can do here from day to day, and what authors of fishing books do. I think that newspapers can certainly provide weekly fishing reports, but I believe they would do well to do what newspapers do best - extended articles on particular fisheries. As a reader I would find that much more interesting than a rehash of fishing reports that I've already been reading all week on sites such as this one.

I will say, as a publisher, I appreciate the fishing articles posted by Uncle Wes and Jeffrey Mayor will mention the information was obtained from WL.com. I grind my teeth when I see other newspaper writers using information obtained on this site and then not giving proper acknowledgement. Seems pretty lame, IMO.

[Uncle Wes]

Kimberly, What I reccomend is finding a particular species of fish that you enjoy chasing and that you feel confident in anglig for and write about that. Mike is right fishing reports are easily obtained on websites just like this and are current. I try and give information you may not find on websites, lake descriptions, water temp, weather,and so on. Tell them what was working for you and what you seen others use, give them a starting point. I look for lakes that are not well known and work them, sometimes one lake doesn't pan out and I have to work another. Oops no profit in that article. That means spending time on the water, alot of time. I think if you do that you will develop a loyal following. It has worked for me over the years. There are times it will take me 45 minutes to launch because someone recognizes me and we will discuss different lakes, set-ups, and what I have discovered about that certain piece of water. Helping others to catch fish is really what it is all about and to be honest I do enjoy that. This attitude has given me the opportunity to come in contact with folks like Anton Jones, John Kruse, Mike Carey, Buzz Ramsey, Andy Walgamott, Bob Loomis, Kevin Kesseler, Pro-Staffers, and top amatures. I also think your editor should give me 800 words and a photo every other week.

[kmason]

Kimberly, What I reccomend is finding a particular species of fish that you enjoy chasing and that you feel confident in anglig for and write about that. Mike is right fishing reports are easily obtained on websites just like this and are current. I try and give information you may not find on websites, lake descriptions, water temp, weather,and so on. Tell them what was working for you and what you seen others use, give them a starting point. I look for lakes that are not well known and work them, sometimes one lake doesn't pan out and I have to work another. Oops no profit in that article. That means spending time on the water, alot of time. I think if you do that you will develop a loyal following. It has worked for me over the years. There are times it will take me 45 minutes to launch because someone recognizes me and we will discuss different lakes, set-ups, and what I have discovered about that certain piece of water. Helping others to catch fish is really what it is all about and to be honest I do enjoy that. This attitude has given me the opportunity to come in contact with folks like Anton Jones, John Kruse, Mike Carey, Buzz Ramsey, Andy Walgamott, Bob Loomis, Kevin Kesseler, Pro-Staffers, and top amatures. I also think your editor should give me 800 words and a photo every other week.

Bwahahaha! I'm already half in love with you and I just met you, Uncle Wes. :thumleft: You are awesome.

So, I need more time on the water and less time checking the fishing rumor mills. Gotcha. It's a tough job, but somebody's gotta do it, eh? Life's pretty good when story research involves a tackle box, rods and reels.

So tell me, do you have any internal conflicts when you are sharing information about your favorite fishing hole and suddenly there are 20 boats on the water where there were 2 before you opened your mouth (wrote your story)?

[Uncle Wes]

Doesn't bother me at all. I cover western Washington Lakes from the Canadian border to the Oregon border. I have a lot of favorite lakes. The book I have coming out at the begining of the year has 38 of them. The whole point of me writing is to help other anglers be as successful as I am on the water. Let me know how glamerous it is when you are doing your research, then you are on the road at o'dark early, drive for hours, work the lake, then drive home, get ready for the next trip which could be the very next day. Then sit down and put your column together. Its a harder life than most realize and it takes a great deal of will power and dedication to keep it up year after year, month after month, and day after day. I find it rewarding and challenging at the same time. A few years back my brother went with me on a seven day road trip. We worked nine lakes and covered a little over a thousand miles. His only comment was "ya I can see were this is a job."

[Gringo Pescador]

So tell me, do you have any internal conflicts when you are sharing information about your favorite fishing hole and suddenly there are 20 boats on the water where there were 2 before you opened your mouth (wrote your story)?

IMHO - As far as this goes, it really it is no different for Uncle Wes than anyone else that posts their reports on any website. If Uncle Wes writes about a lake and I make a report on here about the same lake. Roughly the same number of people have access to each - Uncle Wes just has a cooler job and better grammar.

[Amx]

So tell me, do you have any internal conflicts when you are sharing information about your favorite fishing hole and suddenly there are 20 boats on the water where there were 2 before you opened your mouth (wrote your story)?

IMHO - As far as this goes, it really it is no different for Uncle Wes than anyone else that posts their reports on any website. If Uncle Wes writes about a lake and I make a report on here about the same lake. Roughly the same number of people have access to each - Uncle Wes just has a cooler job and better grammar.

....and makes some money on his reports....

[Uncle Wes]

Lol, Gp is right the same amount of people have access to that report as to my column. But there is a little more to writing a column as to filling out a fishing report. As far as grammer goes thank God for editors The last time I took an english class was 40 years ago and I flunked out.

[kmason]

... thank God for editors ...

Amen to that!

[The Quadfather]

So this has been a pretty nice thread.... did we ever here back from the originator of the thread, as to what his intentions are?? Are ya out there?

[Uncle Wes]

Kimberly, I still think your editor should give me 800 words and a photo every other week.

[kmason]

Kimberly, I still think your editor should give me 800 words and a photo every other week.

Ha! I bet you do. But until I find a rich sponsor (or a blue bass boat lands in my lap), I have to work for a living.

[Uncle Wes]

Seen a shadow? lol