Thoughts And Comments On Forum Expansion

[patfish]

Pat

I was just messin Phil. All in good fun.

Dano - that was hilarious!!!

My grandmother didn't call me the youknowwhat disturber for nothing...

[BlueWave]

I think it is a great resource the way it is. I only look at a handful of the forums, but do so regularly. The only addition I would like to see is one on "travel" or "trips". I enjoyed reading about the Alaska trips. I take at least 2 each year to flyfish other locales such as Brazil or Colorado. There is probably a lot from experience on this board that would be valuable from folks we have learned to trust.

[denduke]

$.02 from a newbie from Ms. Make it as big as you want. The best forums are the ones hosted by great admin./dictators. Besides when you come on click "new posts" if you don't wanta browse the whole thing everytime... DL

[soggyfeet]

I would love to have some post from the the guys fishing Hillsdale, Perry, Clinton, and some of the other just across the border lakes in Ks. Living in the KC area i dont get down to the Ozarks much anymore with the kids and wife holding on to my ankles the way they do. But I do get out to Hillsdale qite a bit and would like to have more info on it.

Even a northern MO subforum sould be nice with smithville in it.

But its like everyone else has said its all what you want to do. If you make it bigger which it seems to do each week you will have more people to police and might take the fun out of it for you and the admins.

[flyfishmaster]

Phil, just my 2 cents worth. Most people that use the forum are computer literate. That being said, I would like information on Texoma, Fork, Livingston and more lakes that I have the opportunity to fish ocassionaly. But I can look up those lakes and information on the internet before making trips. I read the OAS forum for local lakes and gather information that will assist me in my fishing here locally.

I understand what you are saying and trying to improve the forum, but how much is too big. "Sorta" like our government - bigger is not always better!!!

DoITLookIt has made a point that most people are computer literate. I look at the forum everyday or every two days. I look in the "View New Posts" section to see any new activity. I can scan a page for new posts in less than a minute and view the ones I want to see and skip the ones I don't appeal to. So with that, It does not bother me one bit if you wnat to expand the forum and sperate the section by State.

Phil, I think this is a great idea.

Later,

FFM

[flyfishmaster]

I was just messin Phil. All in good fun.

Dano - that was hilarious!!!

My grandmother didn't call me the youknowwhat disturber for nothing...

Patfish... I got that same treatments from Dano a few months back as well, so don't feel so bad.

Later,

FFM

[Phil Lilley]

I'm leaving for Texas tomorrow- should be able to check my email at night. Be back Tuesday night.

I'd like more suggestions on which waters you'd be interested in. In addition to interest, which ones would you be able to give information about... not in depth- not asking anyone to moderate or anything like that. Just some ideas and why they'd be good to add at some point.

One thing I'd look at is if the lake or river lacks good internet coverage- no forums or slow forum and few good fishing reports. Also, information about access and lodging. I don't want to throw up a bunch of new stuff just to have it sit- although I don't expect everything to jump up and go right off the bat. I understand this kind of deal builds on itself.

The one thing I learned early on is that information has to be new, fresh and accurate or people won't click back. No second chances.

I'm not giving up on waters we cover now... I believe Truman and Lake of the Ozarks should be covered better- I just haven't gotten the word out good enough yet.

[flyfishingtaz]

I myself live in the N.central part of Mo. there are plenty of places to fish up here, but think that the forum really should be kept the way it is. The reason being, is that it's called Ozark Anglers. I understand why you'd want to expand the site, and too a point I also agree. But, why not try this? Us fly fisherman from other areas will post regularly (sorry ducky, that leaves you out on this one ), and if there are enough posts in a given area, or body of water, then create a listing for it. I personally visit the site, so I know what to expect when I go down to branson to do a little fishing. Perhaps a sister site, dedicated to midwest locals possibly??

[Trav]

In business, you have to be the first, the best, or the biggest.

In public service (which I would like to think OAF is), you have to be intimate, prompt, and basic. People like the feel of grass roots, especially when it comes to their home town lakes and streams. It has to remain like a neighborhood bar where everybody knows your name. (To steal a cliché) If someone is mentioned by name, nobody wants to be forced to search the archives to know who people are talking about.

Let’s not forget, it is the internet. The bigger your territory the more cops you will need. Conversations will blur as there will be too many people carrying on and talking all at once. People who have never set foot in the Ozarks will crawl in like posers and begin prowling like predators. Tempers will flare just out of the confusion. Servers will bog down and pages will drag. Spammers will see a larger demographic and begin to breed like body lice.

Is Applebees really your neighborhood bar and grill? Are they more special because they cook in your neighborhood?

Be careful how you allow the human anthill to approach our little picnic here. There is a reason why I don’t fish on weekends. There is a reason why even the most avid fly fishermen will avoid a trout park on opening day.

Other than that, why not?!

My two pennies

[Oldschoolcane]

Phil, I think sometimes less is better and I would limit the forum to a 6 state area. You have to decide what your trying to accomplish, do you want the forum to reflect the Ozark waters or all the waters available in the NE, NW etc. I just think from a "user" standpoint....you aren't going to get much participation from outside a certain area and just because you can cover North America, you may prefer not to? I'd opt for a smaller focus that has always appealed to me, the other major forums seem to cover "everything" but seem kind of diluted when I try to access info related to the Ozarks. IMO, a forum is always only as good as the people that frequent it. Thanks.

Tim