03-03-2023, 04:41 PM
(This post was last modified: 03-03-2023, 05:44 PM by Cowboypirate.)
I was asked if I would weight in on the conversation ongoing about our BFT fishing contest plans going forward.
Rather than add to the long thread that exist already on this I thought I might share my thoughts, coupled up with something that has been on my mind a lot lately, on my own thread - so here goes (Craig I apologize up front for the egregious use of improper
punctuation and grammar
).
The question at hand is how should we, or even if we should, modify our current contest structures to help engage our current and recruit new membership.
For me the answer is based on why I am even on BFT in the first place.
I am on BFT for 2 reasons - reasons that do not exist on "other forums".
1- For the Stories. I can not fish as often as I would like, a sentiment most of us share. So when I jump on to BFT I am carried away in your adventures. For a brief moment I get to sit on Kent's boat as a monster sturgeon breaks the surface. I may never get down to Pat's workshop but as he types in his signature blue font, I get to look over his shoulder as he tinkers with a different blade arrangement on a new idea. I get to float the Green with fishskibum and try to keep up with Bob on his snowdog. and so on and so on. There will be a day when my legs wont carry me down the rocks to my favorite perch hole. But when I close my eyes I will still be able to listen to Kurt and Ira in my mind as they debate silver vs blue and smell the sloppy joes at Echo lake as The Hound and Craig sit by the stove. My legs will feel the burn as the Jigfisher hikes across lost creek and I will hear the ice crack as Eylo steps out on early crust to test his luck. That aspect of BFT is priceless to me
2- For the teaching. I have found no other site where a generation of master anglers give so freely of their knowledge. I am not speaking of hotspoting but of the true efforts of others to help a fellow refine and improve his craft. Some day that generation will be gone but the legacy to care to give a bit of their time to others will endure.
So what should a contest look like to me...
It should be simple
It should bring us together. In person, often if possible. Or in story when not.
It should provide teaching opportunities.
It should encourage us to find new adventure or repeat old ones. I will not forget the look in Pat's eyes as he hooked up another double on 4 inch chubs and teased my wife about getting only singles. I have no idea how many doubles on chubs he may have caught over the years but you would have though it was his first that day
I hope a contest finds me accepting those offers to fish with new friends in new places when I can. And old friends in familiar places. And my aging Dog and my sweet Cookie.
And sure prizes and bragging rights can be a part of it. PR to recruit new members can be a part of it.
But, lets not forget what BFT specializes in as we work to redesign the contest. Old Friends renewed. New friends found. And living life with adventure.
A contest can help us do that or drive us apart - we need to make sure it is the first
Ok my engineering students are showing up - I best get to them
Rather than add to the long thread that exist already on this I thought I might share my thoughts, coupled up with something that has been on my mind a lot lately, on my own thread - so here goes (Craig I apologize up front for the egregious use of improper
punctuation and grammar
).The question at hand is how should we, or even if we should, modify our current contest structures to help engage our current and recruit new membership.
For me the answer is based on why I am even on BFT in the first place.
I am on BFT for 2 reasons - reasons that do not exist on "other forums".
1- For the Stories. I can not fish as often as I would like, a sentiment most of us share. So when I jump on to BFT I am carried away in your adventures. For a brief moment I get to sit on Kent's boat as a monster sturgeon breaks the surface. I may never get down to Pat's workshop but as he types in his signature blue font, I get to look over his shoulder as he tinkers with a different blade arrangement on a new idea. I get to float the Green with fishskibum and try to keep up with Bob on his snowdog. and so on and so on. There will be a day when my legs wont carry me down the rocks to my favorite perch hole. But when I close my eyes I will still be able to listen to Kurt and Ira in my mind as they debate silver vs blue and smell the sloppy joes at Echo lake as The Hound and Craig sit by the stove. My legs will feel the burn as the Jigfisher hikes across lost creek and I will hear the ice crack as Eylo steps out on early crust to test his luck. That aspect of BFT is priceless to me
2- For the teaching. I have found no other site where a generation of master anglers give so freely of their knowledge. I am not speaking of hotspoting but of the true efforts of others to help a fellow refine and improve his craft. Some day that generation will be gone but the legacy to care to give a bit of their time to others will endure.
So what should a contest look like to me...
It should be simple
It should bring us together. In person, often if possible. Or in story when not.
It should provide teaching opportunities.
It should encourage us to find new adventure or repeat old ones. I will not forget the look in Pat's eyes as he hooked up another double on 4 inch chubs and teased my wife about getting only singles. I have no idea how many doubles on chubs he may have caught over the years but you would have though it was his first that day
I hope a contest finds me accepting those offers to fish with new friends in new places when I can. And old friends in familiar places. And my aging Dog and my sweet Cookie.
And sure prizes and bragging rights can be a part of it. PR to recruit new members can be a part of it.
But, lets not forget what BFT specializes in as we work to redesign the contest. Old Friends renewed. New friends found. And living life with adventure.
A contest can help us do that or drive us apart - we need to make sure it is the first
Ok my engineering students are showing up - I best get to them
Remember: keep the lid on the worms, share your jerky, and stop by to say hi to Cookie and the Cowboy-Pirate crew