curious about why the Utah Message board?

[fishnutts]

I don't know if this Topic has ever been raised before, and i admit it is not as exciting as one that reports that the fishing is red hot at a certain fishing hole (but if you know of one let me know[]), but curiosity pokes me every time i log on to Big Fish Tackle and scroll through the alphabet of states, until i reach the Utah Message board. I have noticed that the Utah Message Board has more than 5 times the post of the next largest posting state (California). Why do you think this is so?? am i reading the message boards correctly, has any body else ever been curious about this?

Well here are a few of the possibilties that i thought might be the reason why Utahans enjoy thier fishing, and message boards so much more than other states. (I would really like to hear yours)

1) Utah only sells 3.2 % beer.
2) Utahans are married to someone who only gets frisky once a month.
3)Or that Utahans are married to someone who wants to get frisky all the time.
4)Utahans have an abundance of resevoirs, and fish species available to us.
5)Or is it That Utahans can't catch a damn fish, and were trying to figure out how the other guy is catching so many? so we scan the message board for clues.(thats me).
6)Utahans are habitual braggers or liars.
7)This is my favorite, The Utah Message boards has the best and most knowledgable Moderators and group of fishermen / women,who have it in thier heart to share thier knowledge (see item 5) so that others of less experience and knowledge can learn and spread that in which we are so passionate about, the joys of fishing.


p.s. please forgive any spelling, grammer or punctuation error's, i ditched high school English to go fishing.
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[8incher]

Gotta be #7 the way I see it. I've never found a place where others were more willing to help out the poor souls like myself who are fishing challenged. There are some very knowledgeable guys on this forum and they seem to be very willing to share their skill and knowledge with others.

Case in point is Tube Dude, among many others. Never known him to be shy about giving helpful advice. The guy knows his fishies.
(Rumor: Tube Dude has scales growing on his back!) Hmmm.... no wonder he knows his fishies.
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[cat_man]

I think another reason is that Utah just happens to have the right recipe for success.

1- We have a much more "internet wired" population that average. Utah is not as tech concentrated as silicon valley california, however there are a ton of technology companies in Utah, and we have good internet access in this area.

2- We have a large semi-rural population. When you really think about it, even though most of us live in "cities" like Salt Lake, Provo, Ogden, etc., we are still VERY close to the "wild". No matter where you live, I bet you are within 10 - 15 minutes of a good fishing hole.

Plus, what you said, (#7).
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[Theekillerbee]

It's not a rumor! He also has gill plates under his arms![]
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Sorry beeguy, those aren't gill plates. Just sweat protectors. I do have some nasty dorsal spines though.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Hey, this is an interesting topic. It's one I have studied my own self and I have my own opinions (natcherly). [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As Cat_Man points out, there are some basic requirements to create the potential for a busy board. I'm not sure whether it is more important to have computer literate fishermen or computer geeks that fish. But, a good smattering of both does help.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I am an administrator for BFT, as well as a mod for a couple of boards. Part of my responsibilities include wandering around on the other boards and trying to determine what it might take to help them grow. I am of the opinion that some states will never have active boards, no matter what.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I know from personal experience that it is not just a "moderator thing". I have had good success with the float tubing board and would like to think I contribute to the overall success of the Utah boards. But, I tried in vain for over a year to get something going on the Arizona board. Arizona was just one of those states that does not have a web-oriented fishing population. Only one or two other fishing sites and neither of them had more than a handful of good old boy members who used the board as a personal chat room.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]When the Utah board of BFT kicked off, the timing was right. There were at least two other boards that were floundering and a lot of computer active anglers looking for a home where they could trade info and ideas. Everything came together, and a few pretty good anglers and a couple of good moderators (not me) got things off to a good start. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There have been a lot of changes on the Utah board, but it has been mostly good. It has developed into a well-documented and organized resource for Utah fishermen to come to make reports and pick up info on just about any angling topic. What's more, our policy of controlling the flaming and personal attacks has helped make the board a place where anyone can feel comfortable about asking questions. We have all been on boards that attack newbies and those who do not have the purist ideals of the elite membership.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]I have seen that the size of a state, or the amount of computer literate fishermen is not the only criteria for building a powerhouse board. California is a good example. Maybe a bad example. That state has a mega population compared to little old Utah. It also has both lots of fishermen and lots of technology. You would think that California would be "top dog".[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]At one time, California was one of the slowest boards on BFT. There were only a few guys from southern Cal that posted at all, and virtually nobody from any of the other angling areas of the state. It is still that way to a large extent. No fault of the mods. They do a great job of compiling good info and answering questions in a timely manner.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]California really consists of about six defined angling communities, by region or by type of fishing. Realistically, we could have several California boards...or zones. But, since there are already multiple clubs and websites in each of these areas, it would be doubly difficult to come in and start something new, unless the other sites were in trouble. [/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]Yeah, we have a pretty good little playroom here in Utah. All of us can take some credit for helping build it into what it is. It really is a group effort. [/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]I get a charge out of wandering over to the newest forum and reading the posts. Everybody keeps trying to reassure each other that they have the best forum. But, other than a few fishing reports, which are often duplicated by those same members on our board, there does not seem to be much substance in their claims. Mostly inane chatter and free use of unmoderated profanity. Whoopee.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]There is room for all of us. All boards have their own unique style and flavor. And, there is probably no fishing forum that has universal appeal to everybody. Some like a well-moderated forum. Others object to having their profanity edited or not being able to make personal attacks without being banned. There are always forums that will allow that kind of thing, but at a price. You will usually not find the numbers of members or the range of different fishing levels and styles on an unmoderated board.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]We try not to moderate with a heavy hand. Most of the time there is really no moderating needed. We have a pretty good group on the Utah board and everybody does a pretty good job of keeping it real. Makes it a lot easier to be a moderator. More time for fishing.[/#0000ff]
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[GEEZER]

I've kinda wondered if it is something like getting a critical mass is in nuclear fission (no pun intended). Once that is reached it takes off & supports itself.

Another question I've pondered. Here in Utah we aren't blessed with an overabundance of water or fishing spots. That kinda brings about a willingness to help each other enjoy the resource. This last thing can't happen without a lot of good, trusting & trustworthy members. B'lieve we got 'em.
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