Going forward in 2017 at OSF - 1

[MuskieBait]

(01-29-2017 07:34 AM)OldTimer Wrote:  Wow.

........ so really...what's your point?.... we changing things then?

Cheers,

OldTimer

My point is...most of the member are like jimpete here.

jimpete join the forum on 06-23-2016 and posted an initial welcome post.

http://ontarioshorefishing.com/forum/Thr...rom-Fergus

He posted one post to ask for help. He waited for 5 days and not a reply.

http://ontarioshorefishing.com/forum/Thr...-for-perch

When 4got10 replied, even naming a particular lake to try, jimpete didn't even bother to reply or say thanks.

jimpete was last on the forum on 07-05-2016. He should have seen that reply, right? He could hang around, right?

Where is he now?

You want a real hard look for reflection? Most of the registrants to OSF are just here to ask a very specific question about a very specific fishing area. And well, most of us don't have an idea. Some of us are too busy to reply.

Where's the engagement? Where's the participation?

This group started out as a grass root group with the bulk of the members around GTA area, especially Markham. You have people like prime89, Guiga10, McFly, onwind, Jeremy Green and MA in that area. And heck, people used to post often. But where are they now? Why are they not contributing anymore? There used to be almost a post a day from one if not more from that group.

But if you look back into the history, this forum has always maintained a low engagement issue. Reports often had fewer than than 10 reply posts. Discussion post are not any different either. What has changed really? It's always been a little slow always and we're struggle to attract people, despite how helpful most active members tried to be.

And you mentioned that people don't want to catch small fish or bother entering them...

Look at past contests, especially in the initial 2 years when there is the greatest participation. Look at what contestants had entered most often.

http://ontarioshorefishing.com/forum/For...-Challenge

http://ontarioshorefishing.com/forum/For...-Challenge

Did anyone entered much in terms of other game fish? Sure, you have the share of Pike, Bass, Catfish, Trout, Carp, Sucker...etc. But most of the members posted a few times, then quit. No one had the motivation to keep it up. And look more carefully, you'll find that the bulk of the entries consisted of smaller fish - panfish, minnows and yes...undersized gamefish.

When MA and I originally designed the contest, we wanted to include all species, big and small. It is not only because we want member to diversify but most importantly we realized that shore fishing isn't easy...and most of the time, you catch smaller fish.

Need proof? Here's a discussion...

http://ontarioshorefishing.com/forum/Thr...ssors-lake

We want participation so we don't set a minimum size limit for each species. We actually want to make the playing field fair so some kid in a neighbourhood pond can enter his/her fish, and it is just as significant as a season angler who entered a 20lb salmon. What want to make it so that someone new to fishing can catch a 6" Largemouth Bass and entered it with similar value and significance as a season angler who entered a 5lb Largemouth Bass from the same lake. We want to make it so that someone who doesn't live in an area with migratory Rainbow Trout and equally enter a 5" resident Rainbow Trout with equal weight, so that this person from Port Perry don't have to drive to Oshawa to compete with someone from Nottawasaga for big Rainbow Trout at their doorstep...because driving distance is often a factor.

Isn't that what we are striving for? That everyone can participate?

If we limit the entry with a 8" minimum, you actually cut out even more participation. With the minimum size rule, people can't enter that 7" Bluegill or that 5" Pumpkinseed they just caught. Nope sorry...3" Round Goby or 5" Creek Chub will be refused. Honestly, look carefully at participation in past contest...and just imagine how it would go now with that restriction.

Hey OT, let's review your 2015 entry...and see how that affects your own participation with the 8" rule, shall we not?

http://ontarioshorefishing.com/forum/Thr...SC-entries

You wouldn't be able to enter 4 of your 10 entries with that rule...and you wouldn't be able to compete with someone like me who has easy and consistent access to 8"+ Rainbow Trout consistently two runs a year. Now...would that be fair?

We try to be accommodating to people to encourage participation, did we not? We got rid of the logo requirement. We did away with time stamp. Heck, I don't even pick on people for not naming their fish sometimes...or having their fish held in the hand obstructing ID features. We've made it as easy and as non-discriminating as possible for people to participate. What else needs to be done?

And then, and then...look at the participants in the past contests. Where are they now? Why are they not around at all? Who is contributing anymore?

Even when people asked questions and received answers, they disappear for long stretches...

http://ontarioshorefishing.com/forum/Thr...hawa-Creek

Hey, I replied the very last question honestly and without any intent to hide anything. But where's the follow up? Why isn't Henry2244 asking for more on current techniques or timing?

Then you have type of discussion like this. Are we just being rude or ignorant not replying? Or is it simply that most of the active members here don't even fish at Tommy Thompson Park anymore? Is anyone to blame that the reality of our active membership is spread across Ontario?

http://ontarioshorefishing.com/forum/Thr...mpson-park

Can we really build a community when members simply don't want to engage or cannot engage? There had been many reasons given. Like lack of knowledge, lack of success, lack of fishing, living too far. But heck, can't members even read reports and say "nice catch" once in a while to communicate?

I mean, look at this...no one even replied. (Yes, I am to blame too...but I was in Asia at the time without any internet)

http://ontarioshorefishing.com/forum/Thr...r-Redhorse

OK. Redhorse isn't everyone's cup of tea...but Walleye should be, right? And yet, same old active members engaging only. Where's anyone else? It's a timely report and extremely relevant shore fishing experience...with a spanking nice fish photo! Where are those people who want to be here to learn how to find these fish on their own?

http://ontarioshorefishing.com/forum/Thr...er-10-2016

Hell, we even have the most popular sportfish in a report...from a marina in the GTA! And two members replied? Really?

http://ontarioshorefishing.com/forum/Thr...n-for-2016

Look hard in the mirror and reflect.

To be honest, we're really just preaching to the choir here.