Opinions needed

[Crafty Angler]

Dennis, having read parts of Snowstorm Blitz as it's ben developed, I think you'd be doing yourself a disservice if you didn't delve into the methodology and how it developed which could be woven into the story line - which I don't think is exactly a 'how-to'. And as I remember it, you do that to a degree anyway, so just develop that aspect a little more if it helps from a publishing standpoint

The line-up of talent you were a part of during that period on the Block is a Who's Who of surf-casting - some of them are well-known today and many others are not. But there was obviously a synergy of technique on the Island at that time - and some held it pretty close to their vest from what I hear, while others did not.

I don't see why you can't discuss structure and geology in general and how that influences your approach on the Island without spot-burning accusations - hey, it's not like you're going to include an annotated map - and a truly savvy guy using his head for more than a hat-rack will figure it out anyway

Ultimately, D. I always thought the best outdoor sportswriters/lecturers will teach you how to think, not what to think or where to go in an X-marks-the-spot-format and you've never done that anyway . You've always been pretty circumspect about
it

The Blitz is an epic surfcaster's story - you were there and a first hand account like that is priceless. I posted Church's account of his world record catch in 1913 a couple of weeks back and I never get tired of reading it -or imagine unearthing the first hand account from the Graves Point photo of 1881. How many surfmen have passed on and taken everything along with them...hey, not like you're getting close or anything...

The Snowstorm Blitz really should be in print. Might as well face it, Dennis - as a participant and a witness, you're a piece of surf-casting history now

Me, I'm largely still just a piece of work....

[cow tamer]

I'd also add bait / no bait / type of bait.
Tidal change.
Etc.

[tattoobob]

Having only fished BI for 7 years now and only 2 or 3 times a year, I have learned alot on my own, I also learned alot from talking from you Dennis, and Joe Lyons.

Learning to fish that Island takes time and like any where we fish. It is what makes it a challenge like anywhere we fish, giving away the keys to the castle is imo not the way to go. Then again it isn't like Gooseberry Island or Nappatree point where anyone could just drive there.

I think it be alot more interesting if you interviewed some of the old salts that fished the Island in that time frame of the 80's Tim Coleman, Al Gags and some of your crew. the plugs that developed do to the massive fish and the fights they had in them.

How to books have been done to death

And I almost forgot, how tough it is to get to some of the better fishing spots, and it isn't for everyone. Like me a clutz who should stay on the sandy beaches

[jeffthechef]

write YOUR book. if you don't want to do a "how to", don't do one. if you mess with your formula for mass appeal sake, then its just commercializing it and it may lose YOUR message. every book has an overall feel to it or not, that makes it good, or not. mess with the message you may mess up a good book. i personally am sick of how to books, but thats my .02. selling out spots is your call....any decent striperman should be able to scout, find and fish the right areas. whatever you do, good luck and i look forward to reading it. (by the way thanks for the eel bob demo at plugfest)

[FishermanTim]

You can keep it generalized, but I wouldn't be too concerned about spot burning, since it appears to me that your goal is to entertain, enlighten and educate. Anyone wanting to find thier own "spot" would be able to do so using the information they will find, not so much what you supplied. As my godfather taught me, being shown a spot is one thing, but finding one on your own is something completely different. I've learned to appreciate the skills needed to become successful without having someone do all the legwork for me.
Good luck with you memoirs

[BigFish]

I agree with Clogston in that a "memoir" form is alot more enjoyable "at least to me" than a "how to". All of my favorite fishing reads from "Surfcasters Quest" to Frank Daignaults books to all the others there are too many to name have been the authors memoirs on his personal fishing experiences....places they fished, characters they fished with, great days/nights or trips they had (your Snowstorm Blitz story for example) I find these types of books a much better read than a how to fish book. Just my .02 cents for what its worth. Good luck DZ.....I am sure which ever direction you take it will be a winner!

[Mr. Sandman]

Don't do yet another how-to. Everyone who has caught a 40#er thinks they are an expert has written a how to book. As far as spots go...go ahead and talk about them. IMO spot burning is posting online that "I got 6 bass to 28# last night at Jim's Rock...you can park at pole number 47 after 9:00pm because they don't check...and oh yeah I got all the fish on chicken scratch bombers."
All spots have been discovered. Disclosing up to the minute fishing conditions are most of the problem IMO.

The problem with fishing books is to get them published you need mass appeal. Now how-to addresses that but IMO that song is played out. Enough with the how to. Unfortunately, the mass audience today likes dirt, scandal, sex, etc. I was disappointed with a recent book I read because I think the publisher had serious influence on the story line and the book concentrated way too much on the few negatives, only because it would be more appealing to masses. When in fact the positive aspects of the story would have been more accurate and appealing to me.

TO be honest, I like reading books like surf casters quest rather than how-to's. I like reading about what it was like back then in those old scribners articles and wishing I was there, but that is me. I think you could write a book on the history of needlefish but besides us fanatics, who would buy it?

I like your style. I think it stands on it's own. go with your heart, don't try to emulate others or reshape things to publishers whims who don't get it.