IF all fishing sites

[capesams]

were to be shut down for the next 3 years where or how would you get your fishing know how if you were just starting out ?

And for the older wiser been there folks,,,would your fishing grape vine still be there to go back to?
now think on this,,not your new fishing bud's [grapevine] you've gotten to know through site's.

would you know what's hot or not in the way of gear,,,spots,,,or where the fish are? without the information highway you now enjoy.

I was just thinking back to the older golden days where you had to really hunt for thing's,fish,follow people, ask a ? in hope's they didn't either tell you blow off or send you in the wrong direction.

how far along would you be in the fishing game.

[Moses]

Originally posted by capesams
were to be shut down for the next 3 years where or how would you get your fishing know how if you were just starting out ?

would you know what's hot or not in the way of gear,,,spots,,,or where the fish are? without the information highway you now enjoy.

CS - Concerning spots & where the fish are, I've never presumed this site or others like it were created for that reason. I still fish the majority of my same haunts but have learned a few new ones by going with friends.

Gear & techniques is a whole other matter. This site has been the most influential when it comes to rods, reels, tackle & technique. Some much information to research and absorb and so many people willing to share. This part I would sorely miss.........

[thefishingfreak]

i'd be where i was three years ago.

way esier nowadays if you can type.
ask any question and you have hundred of views in a few days.
someone will tell you the answer.

[macojoe]

I still fish the same spots and get my reports from the same places.

But I have met some great friends here and learned alot about Gear & techniques here.

And it helps past the winter also!!

For those reasons I love this place!

[TheRattBoy]

I don't take too much of the online stuff seriously....like to get my answers on the sand...sometimes I think these sites are just for egos and infomercials...sometimes you meet great people, sometimes not.

bring spring.

[BigFish]

I been fishing alot longer than I have been using a computer.

[Crow]

I've been at this since before CB radios or cell phones So I've got some idea how and where to find info with out a keyboard. What I find I like about visiting the site is that its like hanging out at the tackle shop. You have some old salts come by, some rookies and you might even learn a thing or two from the owner. But its talking about stuff and fish and more fishing stuff.
As far as a guide to catching fish, well I must admit I pay attention to where the hottest spot is and make sure I stay the hell away....... I'll find my own fish because thats the real challenge. Find them, get them to hit you plug and have them spit it 5' from the beach thats the way
If there were no sites tomorrow I'd be getting the rod built or the plugs painted that I sometimes put off while I type away. But as far as fishing , wouldn't miss it for a second. Take away my weather radar and buoy reports now thats another story. Those I really need

[Squid kids Dad]

I have to agree with BF...I have been fishing a lot longer than I have been on the internet, but I have also learned a few new places because of the internet...And most of all I have met some really good fisherman,woman, because of the internet..

[Fungus]

If I were to move to a new location and abstain from the Internet I would do what I did when I moved to my current location 16 years ago. Put in my time and get to know the people at a local bait and tackle shop.

With regard to my fishing grapevine, while time has taken a toll on some of the individuals in my circle there have been some new additions as well (none through fishing sites) so I would say that things are progressing normally (for me).

As for the question on gear there is no doubt that I know more about gear or what is available because of the Internet.

Based on what I have observed over the last several years I would probably be just about where I am now (fishing wise) except for a couple of rods that I have that I would probably not have without information from the Internet.

[spinncognito]

I doubt anyone will be replying to your question with a " I am who I am because of the www".
That being said, having a great site like S-B is a big fat BONUS to anyone who stops here either regularly or even just once.

These types of places are a bonanza for folks just starting out or relatively new to the sport. The info I have gotten in my year at this place has been incredible and I only hope I can retain at least half of it whilst out rock-hopping and beach-combing.

spin

[NIB]

I'd have to go back to beating the neighbors dog.that mongrel knocks my cans over one more time I'm gonna haveta thro out some spicy meat.
All kidding aside i would be lost.I have made some great friends with similar interest's.Guy's like Slip who gave me my first tour of the canal.I am greatly indebted too.Would have never even tried the canal more than likely.Plus I think the internet 's effects are doufold.I think publications like OTW an NE Angler benefit from the web in some indirect way.I usta read some weeklies but was basically bored with there vanilla article's they seem to be based more towards entry level folks.I was basically starved for information any thing i could get my hands on.Now of course I was fishing well before then an alot more active.but if my puter finally pukes I will have another asap.As far as a grapevine I rarely say to words to anybody I don't know when out not much on socializing when fishing.I'm from that skool I was taught to keep things on the down low wearing dark colors in the night.an I would immediately stop fishing if someone was to come up on me in some of my honey holes.i never shared a thing unless i thought that person understood the rules it was tough to learn then also u hadda prove urself worthy first.Lots of little details spread all over the net took me yrs to learn.I wonder sometimes how much sticks.A running line was thats it u learned to much today. U'll only start forgetting now.

[beachwalker]

I might not have made so many friends

[fishaholic18]

Originally posted by beachwalker
I might not have made so many friends

Same here.
Got a few good ones due to this site.

[BigFish]

Through this site I also have made some great friends and fished with some great folks. What I have gotten from this site that I can not measure in words is I learned to build plugs. It is something that has given me so much pleasure and pride. There is a wealth of knowledge to be had in here for sure. Great friends number 1 though!

[basswipe]

Like BigFish and many here I've been fishing a lot longer than I've been using a computer...but in the year since I've been member it would've taken a decade to learn on my own
what I've learned from folks here.

I've learned so much about plugs and gear and technique.
Last season my fishing improved so much its bewildering.This
year is gonna be a break out year for me.After catching several fish in 20s last year I'm looking forward to breaching the 30lb mark even the 40lb line.Can't wait.

[Backbeach Jake]

Heck when I started there were no 'puters, we didn't even have pocket calculators, took my SAT with a slide rule. If ya wanted to learn the surf then you had to be there, or the tackle shop with your ears open and your mouth shut. If you asked a question, you were lied to, or misled. The internet has changed all that, you can learn years of theory in weeks, but the practical is still gotten at the water's edge. Where would I be without these sites? I'd be short a couple dozen good friends, a plug building/hoing addiction, and a happier life.

[BigFish]

You would be short a memorable night and a few big fish too Fred cause you would have been home watching the Yankees maul the Sox in that playoff game!

[Backbeach Jake]

That was a Hall-of Fame night for me BF! Looking for another real soon!

[BigFish]

You got my vote!

[Skitterpop]

Read books and go fishing....talk to people here and there... its funny now with more info. from the net I fish less than I did then but there are other factors....getting married (built in granchildren), getting older, getting more(read way out) out of shape, getting lazier, getting to be more of an armchair / puter simulated fisherperson...... want to get out more this year and fish and explore ..............

[GrMtstriper]

I guess I'd be at the tackle shop more-If it weren't for the internet there be more tackle shops still in biss?Have to learn on my own-The internet,cell phones made it to easy-Have to work at it like always-No free rides.It's the hunt that's fun,after she on the beach -The hunt over.

[JohnR]

Hmmm - if the internet sites were shut down for three years I could:

Not need to answer 400 pms in 2 weeks time

I could get more work done around the house

I could convince my wife that maybe fishing is not an obsessive disorder

I could delay onset of carpal tunnel

But, I would reduce the likelyhood of meeting the next Clammer (well that's not true because there is only one &^$// Clammer ), but I might not meet the next Slip, DZ, Bloocrab, GB, FWW, etc...

"Spot talk" wouldn't be too much of an issue as we really don't do much of it here.

The geography I cover would be smaller and the people I would meet would be more localized, not covering as much ground. As it is here, partially thru the internet I fish from Naps to Block thru RI onto the Cape, up thru Boston into ocassionally Maine. But I would also be more efficient in my own backyard - maybe that's part of the trade off. I cover more places because I meet more quality people spread out over hundreds of miles. That's very cool.

But more than anything, I wouldn't be working late nights on the site and could get more good nights sleep (at least in the off season )

Originally posted by GrMtstriper
I guess I'd be at the tackle shop more-If it weren't for the internet there be more tackle shops still in biss?

I don't know, I think some of the better tackleshops probably do better as a result of the internet. I think the superstores impact the B&T's much more than the net does...

[Joe]

Fishing wise - I'd be the same.....I've always gotten my best information from traditional fishing ways, but the "not-having a-job" part would tough to handle.

[Nebe]

Without the internet, i dont think i would be building plugs with a lathe and forget about a duplicator... i would still be whittleing down dowels on my belt sander-

[MAC]

tough call, I started fishing over 35 years ago with my grandfather , both fresh and salt. From there grew a passion for the outdoors. Used to do alot of baitfishing (both live and chunk) and talked with other fishers I ran into. Lot of it was blind luck and figuring out things on my own. Bought my first custom stick in 1983 (13' glass 1 piece spinner) from a shop in Brockton and got friendly with the owner who would give me info. Did alot of plugging, mostly catching blues and would occaissionally bottom fish (which got boring for a kid in his 20s at the time). Did the commercial thing for 2 seasons in the late 80s and that is what really opened my eyes. Learned a lot of different approaches to catching a variety of species both here and in Florida.

Without the fishing websites I wouldn't made as many new friendships. Would probably be fishing live herring still. Never would have gotten into building plugs. But would still be chasing fish with abandon. Would have stayed with using just conventionals most likely. And never would have owned some of the gear I do now. Not that I am complaining.

[Stewie]

I read and respond more on another site. Like Eben said ,I've learned a lot about plugbuiding that I wouldn't have. I get nearly all of my real "where to go" and "you gotta buy one of these" from a group of guys I knew before I knew there were fishing sites. Out of the three biggest psychos,only one ever goes online,and he can only be found in lurebuilding forums. I enjoy answering beginner questions and helping people choose conventional reels, because these are things I am confident about.

[Karl F]

Again Steve, good food for thought.

My old grapevine is still in place, and still trusted more than 'netspeak. Also, had to go back to some areas I hadn't seen since my teen years, due to the mung issues.... shore fishing doesn't have to be surf fishing.... 'nuff said

Gear... well, this old dog has learned a few new tricks from this sight, no doubt about it, and I woulda probably stuck to some of the old ways, and been worse off for it.

Met some really great folks thru here, I probably wouldn't have.

Definately would not have gotten as far back into plug fishing, (woulda stuck with eels, some nights I wonder why I've strayed... will fish more snakes this coming season.. garunteed!), as I have, and I am sure I wouldn't got this other expensive jones, plug experimanting, thats fa shore.

As to if I'm any further along dunno, will say the braid is a definate plus

What would I do if there was a 3 year hiatus on fishing sites?
Well, probably get a helluva lot more done, and have 2 females, (3 if ya count the dog) happier... 2 'cause there'd be more time for them on the PC, and the other (dog) would get more ear scratching from me

[Clammer]

I.d be @#$%^& & wouldn,t know what the @#$% to do //

Guess If I couldn,t follow Cape Sam /I,d have to sell my @#$%^^# boat,s all my gear [in excellent @#$%^& condition]] ,,

JOin A @#%$%^^ club

& & &

Take up @#$%^%^&*& golf --ya right //F$#%^& Clammer hittin a little white ball , Go look for it ,hit it again /////


@#$%^&@#$%^ @#$%^& NUTS

[redlite]

I'd have to quit this wonderful job because the only thing that gets me through the day are fishin sites. Used to think people that spent a lot of time on web chat boards were weirdos. Always knew I was a weirdo.

I wouldn't be able to work because I'd be spending too much time on a shrink's couch gettin counseling. This site is like therapy for me....group therapy... that lets me know I'm not alone.

As far as info. I am afraid to even mention the web in the presence of a lot of the cape guys I fish with for fear that they may osztricize me form the loop. The fishin web is the devil to most of them.

Am glad for this site because the get togethers have led me to develop some great friendships from that mixed in with the tailgating often involve some catchin. Those friendships would be just fine.

[RIROCKHOUND]

I'd go back to pre-www fishing... putting my time in, asking questions and staying in touch with my circle of friends... the advantage of the web is that it has increased this circle, but there are still less than 6 people I share detailed reports with...

and if it went away... I'd probably double my productivity at work..