Opinions needed

[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!