techo

Hey guys, I apologize for my whining and moaning above. I am done with this conversation. Apologies to anyone I offended. Back to fishing for me. See you back in the Table Rock forum.

I stand corrected. Sorry fishinwrench. I thought it was the post where they were talking about unlicensed guides on Table Rock. Bill, Phil and others were explaining you had to be licensed and sharing the requirements of becoming a licensed guide when about 25 posts into the topic....someone posted something off topic and what a guide or three thought was demeaning. Then on top of it posted he would guide and guarantee 20 pound bags and said you could get a hold of him at some strip joint and ask for Paradise? I could be off on some of this as I am going by memory. That is the perfect example of a troll. Two or three guys begged Phil to take care of the guy. I really really enjoy the forum and have made quite a few friends over the past couple of years. I also have been able to assist other folks in a few things and been helped myself. It is a great meeting place. I get some of my fishing spots when I see someone fishing a spot I never tried before. Guess I am guilty there too.

I am not sure what you mean by the ear of the guides...it has been stated by them on the forum and in private messages they were not happy with their treatment. I surely don't and won't speak for them. Bill himself gets fed up on occasion and has offered to stop posting reports. I could go back and do searches, but just not worth it to me. You may have noticed at least two guides haven't posted this week. It might be that the Heartland Tourney is keeping them quiet though. One has posted a report elsewhere, so I am not sure. I also could not speak as to anyone's (except mine) reason for posting fishing reports. I like fishing and the friendship of fellow fisher folks. With that in mind the definition of a forum troll is " In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts controversial, inflammatory, irrelevant or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room or blog, with the primary intent of provoking other users into an emotional or disciplinary response[1] or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.[2]" You said, " coldwter has been on the forum since the beginning, or close to it. He's not a troll. But I do see your point that he isn't a contributor to the forum. I wish he was. He has alot to offer I believe." Seems real close to the urban defitnition to me. I wish he would teach us more about fishing too. I have nothing but respect for you and if you say he has a lot to offer....I believe it! I thought it was great when you stopped all political discussions. It really didn't add much to the fishing forum. It did make me think about the different points of views and how others saw their candidate though. Either way....it is your forum and there isn't another one like it that I can find. I doubt this one incident will ruin the forum. How did I get myself into this conversation? I should know better!

Ditto

All we could get this morning was a bunch of small mouth. Be happy you are at work rather than reeling them in. Hurts your wrist! I think they will still be there for you tomorrow if you want though.

I too try to stay out of most of the odd stuff. I don't mind the annual discussion regarding catch and release versus catch and eat. I also don't mind the annual discussion about fishing the beds. I am surprised the discussion of artificial baits versus live bait doesn't come up more. The occasional Skeeter versus Champion versus Ranger is also in good fun. No offense to Nitros an Trackers or any other brand for that matter. Those discussions are usually stacked on REASONs why you support your particular perspective. With all of that in mind, I know without a doubt that a certain new person (new to these boards anyway) has raised the ire of the regular guides and some regular posters. IMHO this person offered nothing of value or an argument that was based on facts or perspective supported by anything. The guides have offered to leave if that is the direction the board is going to take. I would rather see them use the ignore button, than become like many of the forums with very few informative posts. Anyone ask a question in the Truman Lake forum lately? Very seldom is there an answer. As I have stated before....common courtesy and respect doesn't seem to be all that common anymore. If I had a vote....it would be for cultivating and even on occasion fertilizing respect and courtesy. Probably old fashioned silly on my part though.

I did not see this post earlier. I actually private messaged this to a few friends who have been posting here less and less lately. I am not sure they will stick around, but I hope this tool assists them in reconsidering leaving. I really enjoy the TR forum and in my opinion, it is one of the forums with the most fishing reports by guides who are on the water most days of the week. Please just ignore the trolls and keep the friendly respectable forum going.

ohhh the longing! Going Friday! Thanks for the pics.

Please, please please tell me you were not a defense attorney. We can still be friends, just different type of friends!

He must be a teacher.

I have two sponsors and take them out every year as a way to say thanks. I hope that doesn't constitute guiding. I don't respect people stealing your jobs without paying the fees!

I'm not the best jerk bait fisherman, but prefer feathers on almost everything.

Great idea, getting a guide to go in your boat and help tweak it up and make suggestions. Hmmm......

Sweet!

Actually, I did some digging and I think it was hot and windy in May. So it wasn't me in March. I think there were two wallye in May, but I thought I was hooked on a log and shook the first one off.

I don't remember all of the details, other than it was feisty and caught near Mill Creek.

Hey! I accidently caught a large walleye in April on a spinnerbait during a bass tournament. The other guy is stealing my story...and I have pics!

I use the BPS stuff too. I purchased the bibs one year and saved some more money and then bought the jacket the next. They last and last. My friend uses the Frog Togs and buys a new set every year. They fade fast and the wind rips his seams, eventually. They do seem to last the season though. He likes them, but ...I like the BPS stuff. I fish a couple of charity tournaments every year and one of them has close to 175 boats. I always try to pay attention to equipment people are using to include rods, reels, footwear, rainwear and so on. The folks that fish alot and spend time out doors usually have the more expensive rain gear. The guys that fish occasionally or purchased the rain gear for that day, have Frog Togs. So I would think if you aren't out a whole lot the Frog Togs would be perfect.

I fished the AM side last year I think. I was paired with some good guys. I paid about the same as the guys said, but I wouldn't pay the night before. You never know if something comes up and either you or your Pro can't make it in the morning for some reason. I always paid right away in the morning and thanked them for putting up with me ahead of time. You probably already know about slimming down your tackle box and only bringing three or four rods. Hope you get Charlie....I hear he brings an extra sandwich for his co-anglers. He is a legend that sort of puts things into perspective.

I thought about dropping an email to Bill, but I guess I will just post it here. I lurked on this board for a long while before I ever posted and have been here a short bit now. Respect and common courtesy is what I really enjoy about this forum. It has been that way....until recently. Even during the past Presidential election, the moderators insisted we address Obama as Senator Obama. They would not allow the names floating around such as Nobama. They insisted on respect. Yet it seems we respect each other less. Lately there seems to be a lack of respect. The guides have been beat to death. We always have the same old debates about catch and release versus eating and sight fishing beds, but it has been crazy lately. We have always had the debates with respect and reasons stated, which support your opinion. Nothing really demeaning that anyone took as a personal attack. Some of the folks on the lake seem to have forgotten things like respect and common courtesy. It feels like it is bleeding over into here. Maybe this is just fun to you folks.....if I was a moderator I would be deleting poasts and warning, then suspending folks. If you say something about someone... you should have the evidence to back it up. A friend once said to me I smelled like poop. Sure enough he had the evidence to back it up as I had just stepped in dog poop. Usually people fall to name calling when they don't have the facts or support needed to back up their point of view. I appreciate any knowledge shared by anyone....guides or regular dry land folks like Whacked, RPS. SWMO, Tom Spence, Predator1 and the whole group who love fishing.

Ouch!

Quit playing so hard to get.

I would be honored to be his bass caddy.

After all of that.....I pulled the maps out of the bag and set them where I wouldn't lose them. Now I can't fin them. I am a little concerned the Mrs (neat freak) tossed them. Stay tuned.....

There was a time this spring where my wife and I bumped into Mike in one of my favorite fishing spots. I was a bit miffed for a second as we were pre-fishing for the tournament. Mike waved us over and told us exactly what he was catching them on and showed us his tackle. Conditions were not what I would call ideal for that particular bait ( i prefer a bit more wind.) My wife started doing as Mike said and started catching fish. He used the same techniques to weigh a good bag the tourney day. It snowed, hailed and rained that day. He is another fine example of a fisher of men. I automatically smile every time we bump into him. Plus we both drive the smallest boats in the tourney! Thanks brother.