Thread: What are we doing wrong ?

I think the reason no one talks because people will cover you up and most of them should not have a boat and have no respect for others prime example the shrimp forum's oak hill is so screwed up you have to take a gun to go shrimping all because one person is trying to make money and be important just my thoughts

Multiple issues,
Demographics, the older retired folks you speak of do not want anything to do with the internet. Its the devil, steals your identity and soul. South Florida has a huge population that could not read this site if they wanted to and that also mixes in the rest of the state as well to a lesser degree. Most people here fish for Specks for food, not as a sport fishery or glamour. Most could not give 2 cents for tournaments or organized fishing of any sort. Dont believe that, go to Lake Monroe ramps in Sanford and ask the locals to fish a tournament or any organized event.
Favoritism, most everyone has a certain area they fish and are comfortable, I fish Monroe and even when other areas are on fire I know I can go to Monroe or the river 10 minutes from home and be entertained. Why travel an hour. In Baton Rouge, everywhere I fished was a minimum of an hour away, so traveling was the norm.
Diversity, Start traveling to fish in Florida and a whole other world opens. An hour from home puts me at Port Canaveral. Cobia at the channel bouys and following rays along the beach, redfish and trout inshore, Tripletail on the markers and crab pots. Mosquito Lagoon, know the area and redfish and trout abound. Same money for a fully rigged new tournament bass boat can put you in a mid tier Center Console boat that will get you to the stream, dolphin, Sailfish, Wahoo, Grouper, Amberjack, Red Snapper the list goes on and we still have not trailered more than an hour from home.
Now on to the great Tourney guys here. How often do you see them post on here? Don and Terri Collins? Darrel Cole? George Parker? Tim Eberly? and many many more. Where is all the FCC guys? Sam Adams? John Peyton? Wendell Connor? Larry Witt? When you read other states there are some pretty stout competitors posting. I Know many do not care for all the BS that gets posted, and all the hijacking. But if only 3-5 people post all the time it goes stale as seems to be the case here. I can not post much lately as I believe I have only fished 3 times since Thanksgiving maybe a total of 4 hours. Have nothing to add, but do post and help when I can. I read daily and get and answer a slew of pm's.

There's an awful lot of things to keep you busy here. How many real hobbies-- orchids, garden, grandkids,cycling, salt and freshwater fishing, birds native orchids and all that other stuff, kinda keeps one occupied, and yes some are not in the least interested in tournaments and it's easy to change directions not limited to seasonal fare, BUT speck fishing and Crappie.com i'm hooked.--shu

As for myself, I do love fishing with the Orlando based guys, and the Slabfest, and Slabtogether Tournaments, and get togethers.. Though it's a haul for me as most of the get togethers are 75 - 125 miles plus for me...

Best of it are they are free, or low cost...

I would fish more of the West Central Tournaments with you guys Harold.. But the $50 per boat for me, tends to be a factor most of the time.. Not saying there's anything wrong with it..

I just don't fish Crappie consistently enough, or can commit to fishing enough with a partner to spend the money on top of other expenses involved.

That's one thing that I do like about the Slab Tournaments, it's more of a good time, get together with a good group of guys, teasing and joking with each other.

Anyways, I do plan on fishing in a few of your get togethers, it just hasn't worked out for me as of yet..

And I definitely want to get together again with the Slab guys, but it looks as though those events are declining somewhat at the moment..

Gentlemen: please don't get me wrong - i am not promoting tournament fishing,
my main concern is get and build interest in our Florida CdC forum. Tournament fishing
will only interest a certain competitiive group. I am wanting Florida forum to comparable
to other states on CdC, if not better. We have all the good things in our favor.weather,
Freshwater - Saltwater - year round fishing from Keys to Talguin..........We have the
largest boating registrations on file in the continental US, Yet we cannot hold a candle
to some of our Brothern States regarding fishing. We must be doing something a miss.
Everyone should be looking to us as to whats happening in the fishing world. Granted
a lot of the big national groups, also film crews involving Crappie Fishing do not - make
films in our state - main reason, fishing is different in this state than say Indiana-OHio
etc. We do not have the structure, the water clarity nor the depth to promote the
sale of fishing equipment compared to other states. Things that most of us learned
growing up - up North are totally different in Florida waters.
I personally have never attended a Florida Slabfest, not that i didn't want to, just always had a conflict of interest vs Tournament schedule. Have tried over past 5 yrs
or so to promote CdC whenever, possible - this is a very good source of information
and products advertised.

The differences between Florida and other states waters is my thoughts on why the top tourney guys dont post. The miniscule changes or adaptations they make is the difference between a check and no check. Easy to slip and let the cat out the bag.

Originally Posted by fishin813

Everyone should be looking to us as to whats happening in the fishing world.

Everyone does look to you as to whats happening in the fishing world, but crappie is a tiny niche in the fishing world. Years ago, I was in Hungary talking to an Englishman. (It's a long story.) Anyway, he said to me, "You know what I like to catch? Bonefish!" And he caught 'em when he visited ... Florida. For all the fishing they have, they all dream about fishing in Florida. (The trout guys dream about Montana and Colorado.)

As huntinslabs noted above, y'all are sitting on a fishing gold mine. I'm going to Florida in a few weeks, but I'm not fishing for crappie. (I wouldn't even consider it.) I'm fishing for snook and tarpon and redfish and whatever else I can catch.

I will be blunt with some by saying what i personally have heard - Things started to
go down hill about 2 yrs ago..........When someone would post pictures of catch and
number caught how they had a good time..........and they did not turn the fish loose.
They ate them.....but we had a few on here that started to make snide remarks, about
fish caught and not turned back. Than more and more people started posting how the
catch was and how many they turn back to the water. I know personally of one
posting person that after he was ridden hard about his catch - has never, never posted another thought. Another frequent poster -posted pictures, catch, lakes fished and
jigs used, But the various people in
group made fun and sarcastic remarks as to his english langauge, wording such as
the mispelling of words. No one checked to say or ask: -that he had a problem with
2 keys sticking on laptop..but lets ride the horse on negetive side.
I have many problems with my typing- mostly because my mind is moving faster than
fingers, but if don't ride or make remarks so be it.........I have myself in past stopped
looking at forum because of something or someone said ..........its my option to pass
or read.....move on and consider the source. Everyone has a decision and a choice.
This forum will either come together and discuss to improve or become -A "Has been".
Presently i present results on FCC forum, write for 3 newspapers and 2 magazines.
Don't receive any negative remarks but am asked the hows- whys & thoughts how to
catch & improve. I don't hold a candle to the "big boys" but i love competition and the opportunity to learn, become a better fisherperson and possible help someone else..
Maybe Skiffin16 is on right track - saying that he really enjoyed comming to Slabfest, fishing,
shooting the bull, comradship - people bringing a covered dish or just having a
good time. No fruit jar, no raffle, no trophies for positions etc, etc. Some people
are intimidated by competition - same as they will lurk and read all posts but not
get involved, but try and use what information they could glean and try it.
I have said my piece....done - have at people. Personally if i catch a big one heavy
2 or 3 pounder - that baby is going on the wall beside the other 2 i have. - or if i night
fish and limit out legally - i will post pictuers etc, tell how we caught them and move
on. Thats my choice.
Several of FWC people have their hands tied to some degree - because of the
Tourism Trade involving this state. Tell me something might be amiss - when every
night at the Kissimmee River bridge, Okeechobee has pontoon boats with 30-45 rod
holders on them stacked up nose to tail -lit up like small city for a least 1/2 mile either
side of bridge........ and they only keep 25 fish per person, might have 8-10 on board.
Does the FWC get involved after 7pm - ?