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Good subject, reflecting back I first lurked for awhile because I love striped bass and I soon realized although I had been fishing for them for years I needed to keep abreast of new products (braided line, plugs etc.) what was happening politically on the beachfront (access)and mostly for information on the performance of surf fishing equipment by the guys that really know it best. You know you can go to Walmart for your stuff where they know nuthin, you can go to your local B &T where they won't tell you the truth half the time, the other half they dont even know it, you can trust only so many friends (anyhting over 5 and you better watch yourself)so what you get here is a bunch of guys willing to honestly offer some of their experience and expertise and before you know you learned more in 6 months about things like loading plugs, rigging eels, buying equipment and general surf fishing than you would by yourself fishing the suds in 5 years and you just add this knowledge to what you think you know and you start seeing different sides to things, just 2 years ago someone would ask me about fishing braid and I'd tell them it was garbage, well, it wasn't garbage but I was comfortable fishing mono and the braid seemed wiry and stiff, but if you do try it and give it a good test Im sure you'll never go back to mono on a full time basis again. Guys like Crazy Al, Tim, Bassmaster, AJ, Ditch, Slipknot, J Powers, J Habs just to name a few arent your everyday casual fishermen, these guys are pros (some really are) and anyhting you can pick up from them will make you a better fisherman. I'll give ya an example, Bassmaster put out some how to's last year on fishing plugs, some great stuff on bombers and needles, Crazy Al has spent more time fishing than I have sleeping, AJ is the same guy in person as he is online and fishing for him is a passion, he just loves being out in the cold rough water at 3 in the morning takin on waves and the big guy just smiles through it, it actually energizes him, if ya have a question about the canal JPowers, Slipknot (wheres he been)or Angler 1 are always willing to share war stories, Tim provides lotsa how to's on working plugs, reading water, new stuff that works, old stuff that is still workin and most importantly Ive never felt like Im bothering him and Im sure he has his hands full with all the surrounding BS, its never the job or the work, its always the sidebars that getya. Anyway, Ive made a few friends here, we fish a few times a year together, and share a few laughs, and I'd rather spend my time and energy here than in some porno site (I may re-think that statement)but really it is what it is, a bunch of guys that know, a bunch that dont know, and a bunch willing to learn anyhting to give them a better shot at large. I will never be in the class of fishermen that some of these guys are, Id love to be but I wanted to the Yankees centerfielder when I was 10 too but that didnt work out, I found out years ago I didnt have the instincts or drive to be as good as these guys but fishing for me has always been fun and it will always be fun, some of the things these guys do is just unbelieveable, swimming in water when its blowin NE just to get to a rock at 3 in the morning, I might be out there but I aint swimmin nowhere, in fact I dont even go on jetties too much anymore, Im nonly 45 but you find as you get older you dont see as well as you used to, your balance is not what it once was, and 90% of the time I fish alone so why take a chance with your life. On the otherhand some people are most comfortable hanging by their toenails on the last rock and for them thats their nirvana. I genuinely dislike bait fishing but I do it sometimes because thats the only ticket to catching, my choice is to fish beaches like the outerbeaches in Cape Cod, lotsa cuts, holes, troughs and no crowds, to me tossing needles and pikies in that kind of water is what I like best and consider the best type of surf fishing. So I believe like in most areas of life the big mouths in most cases are probably guys that have too much time at home and are jealous of anyone that fish basically whenever they want so they antagonize and instigate until they stir a mess and that gives them satisfaction, to each their own, I havent got the time or energy to spend arguing with people, my priorities are on my family, God, living (fishing included) and work. I am thankful that work is a necessity but not a priority.

"Thats as big as a fish that size gets" - Russ Wilson
RIP JM
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I came here originally because it seemed to have a lot of posters from New Jersey and that's where things seem to start in the spring in the tri-state area - I fish mostly East End LI, but in the spring I always want to hear of the fish as they reach IBSP, Raritan, Sandy Hook, NY Metro.

 

Once I got here I kept coming back because of the variety and depth of the participants, and because the board is run so well. Top level, Tim has the thankless job of making decisions to keep the board alive, and over the two years I've been coming here, he seems to have done this better than some other boards. The Town Tavern is a jewel - take a bunch of fishing folks, generally individualist and salty types, and open up conversations on anything, and you'd expect the fur to fly. Instead, with the watchful eye and participation of Robert Williams, plus an interesting and diverse set of contributors, you get some really quality threads going.

 

What I don't come here for is to post specifics of my fishing trips. There seem to be a lot of shore fishermen here, and specifics seem to be generally frowned upon. I post specifics on another board, which has fewer participants and less objections to specifics.

 

I do post general fishing comments, and a lot of crap in the Tavern. I never really intend it to be, but sorry if I have offended anyone anyway.

 

In summary, I keep coming back because this is a great site, its run well, and it has a lot of very interesting and knowledgeable participants.

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I came here to escape life's outside problems. I much rather talk about fishing and gear than about my job, or my family. wink.gif

 

Unforutunately I have SPENT a lot of $ since I have joined SOL. frown.gif I do own a lot of nice gear and have a better knowledge of fishing though. biggrin.gif

 

I have no problem with folks poking fun at each other, but in the scheme of life its very trivial. I bypass a lot of posts and read what I want.

 

Each of us is a different person hence we have conflicts due to personalities. wink.gif If it starts to bother you that much, its best to walk away and and come back later, or find another place to hang out. I frequented a custom knife forum for a couple of years and stuff go old and so I ended up here. tongue.gif

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When I started fishing again, 12 years ago, I was looking for information about stripers. I was 38 years old and had never seen one, never mind caught one. Or much of anything else since my childhood summers in Dover Township.

 

Couple years later, searching for striper information (instead of working) I happened across SOL and two other places. I never go anywhere else now and haven't for years.

 

I found information, guys helped me, I found community, I found friends I haven't met in person yet... and I felt comfortable. There are a few squabbles here and there and I try to stay out of that stuff... but there's a level of knowledge here, of discourse, of experience, and just (IMHO) a better class of people, and fishermen, than I find anywhere else.

 

I got a wild hair about fly tying at a show in my back yard. I ask a question and who answers it? BobPop. I start talking about fly rods... one of the guys wants to upgrade, has a spare outfit, and practically GAVE it to me. Now I have a flyrod outfit, AND a whole new subset of fishin' buddies.

 

I've only fished with one SOL'er because I'm in Cape May almost all the time and most of you are ninety miles North at least. I really want to meet the guys- (I feel like I "know" most of you- I think the Internet does that, among other things,) just haven't been able to make a fling without stranding "Da Wife" in Cape May. But I'd rather hang out with the guys on SOL than anyone I've encountered elsewhere. To me its just a better bunch of people.

 

SO I'm here. smile.gif

 

[ 05-23-2003, 12:42 PM: Message edited by: CRegalis ]

"Life's too short to fish with ugly flies."
Cynoscion Regalis
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Well said Ed J icon14.gif I've been in a few disagreements here too,none too major.And like you,I would fish with any of them.I always enjoy reading yer posts too wink.gif I don't know if you remember or not,but ya helped me in picking out one of my rods,that worked out perfect.

 

I came here kinda bored,fishing for the last 10-15 years pretty much alone.Still do fish alone a lot,but met lots of great guys to fish with when we can get togther.Its nice to share info and techniques with someone other than with a NON- Fisher person that doesn't fully understand the sickness,most here on SOL would understand perfectly smile.gif So if not for here,I would have a few less good friends...

 

Steve in Mass,great thread you started in the link you left.And got me thinking that there really is a lot of nice people left in the world,and I can tell yer one of'em smile.gif and I haven't had the privilage of meeting you yet,but hope to one day smile.gif Your 100% right,its all about Fishing and meeting people.....If your ever passing thru CT (on yer way to Jersey)and yer car breaks down or ya wanna try CT waters out,cause believe it or not..We get Stripas here too...

 

 

Sometimes I also think its hard for people to admit when they're wrong about something,I know its not easy for me either.And if you can,its a quality that not a lot of people have....

 

And when 2 people are feuding a little bit on a public forum,they both have friends that are going to defend them and when the 2 that were originally in the battle make up,the other friends can still be upset and leave........

 

RichSmith

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I came here kinda bored,fishing for the last 10-15 years pretty much alone.Still do fish alone a lot,but met lots of great guys to fish with.

 

I was the same way. None of my friends were very into fishing so 90% of my fishing time was spent alone. Now everytime I turn around there's another SOLer.

Don't get me wrong, I still occasionally crave that quiet contemplative time when it's just yourself, the moon and the waves, but all in all I'm enjoying my fishing time more now than at any time in the last 20 years biggrin.gificon14.gif

I just wanta play everyday despite small nagging injuries --

and go home to a woman who appreciates how full of crap I truly am. ~ Crash Davis

 

Social Distancing since 1962

 

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I frequent this site because, I think all of you are the best collection of anglers willing to share and give of yourselves, period.

 

At times there are disagreements that escalate into fights. But we all can see the same thing at work, home, or even at church. It's part of life, its how you deal with it that really matters. The key is not to be malicious to others, and if you are, own up to it, say you're sorry and work it out. It is only then that things can go on without anyone having to bring it up again. This doesn't mean that you have to agree, just agree not to fight about it and respect the other's position.

 

Tim, and everyone else, don't change because you're all doing fine in my book.

 

Ever since I was a kid and had a trigonometry class, I've ofter thought to myself that "life's a sine wave, there's peaks and valleys but you're never at that point for long, and in the end, it all averages out to zero anyway". Think about it.

 

Wayne

America, the country so great that even its haters refuse to leave. 

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Hey Wayne,

That would make a great sig line.

Of course even the thought of Trig makes my butt clench, but it's a good line nonetheless

I just wanta play everyday despite small nagging injuries --

and go home to a woman who appreciates how full of crap I truly am. ~ Crash Davis

 

Social Distancing since 1962

 

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