Northwest Fishing Reports

I would guess this issue has been explored in the past, but I'd love to find a way to reduce the delay with publishing fishing reports. Here are a couple ideas.

1. After a member makes a # of proper reports, his/her reports are posted immediately without administrator review.
2. Increase the # of administrators who can review reports behind the scenes and ok them.
3. Members who pass some type of written test get their reports posted without review.

soundkite wrote:I would guess this issue has been explored in the past, but I'd love to find a way to reduce the delay with publishing fishing reports. Here are a couple ideas.

1. After a member makes a # of proper reports, his/her reports are posted immediately without administrator review.
2. Increase the # of administrators who can review reports behind the scenes and ok them.
3. Members who pass some type of written test get their reports posted without review.

Thanks for the suggestions. Aaron and I have talked about adding the mods to approve reports. We can revisit that. I personally like reading the reports first.

As to automatic posting without review, I don't see that happening. We try to catch reports that have rules violations or picture violations before they get posted, so having someone review is a checkpoint I'd not want to lose. As it is there are still reports that get through which is upsetting to people and not what we want to see. That happens because let's face it, neither Aaron nor I are up to speed on every reg for ever body of water in the state. So sometimes things slip through.

Thanks, Mike. For me, river reports are by far the most valuable part of this site. Perhaps WL is not able to provide the service I crave the most: Prompt river reports from the day. Too often, reports made earlier in the day do not get published until late in the evening. This limits my ability to use these reports to decide where I might like to fish at times like when I get off work in the evening. Though, lately, these reports could be more useful to know where NOT to fish! Perhaps there's an "app for that".

I learned that relying on others reports sometimes puts you the fisherman reading about things that could have been. The best reports are the reports you make yourself.

soundkite wrote:Thanks, Mike. For me, river reports are by far the most valuable part of this site. Perhaps WL is not able to provide the service I crave the most: Prompt river reports from the day. Too often, reports made earlier in the day do not get published until late in the evening. This limits my ability to use these reports to decide where I might like to fish at times like when I get off work in the evening. Though, lately, these reports could be more useful to know where NOT to fish! Perhaps there's an "app for that".

1) IF I could (I would) quit my day job and do this fulltime. Unfortunately, we don't make enough money to pay the mortgage.
2) There will be an app for that... someday. We promise!

ncwflounderer wrote:I learned that relying on others reports sometimes puts you the fisherman reading about things that could have been. The best reports are the reports you make yourself.

I completely agree. I don't read other's reports to decide where, how, or when to fish. I read for general info and enjoyment. Then again, I don't fish rivers, but don't think it'd matter if I did for the same reason I don't now.

ncwflounderer wrote:The best reports are the reports you make yourself.

But my "best reports" on this site lately have been skunks. Arrgggh, your philosophy makes my head spin! I understand that we all fish for different reasons. When I get a free day, I like to explore several spots in search of fish. The reports on this site help maximize my TOW (Time On the Water) and minimize my searching. Timely reports would make it that much better.

I'm about to post a report on the Snohomish, fishing the same spot as yesterday - 6 fish yesterday, nada today. Just a bunch of coho giving me the fin. So in this case the report would give you useful information that the bite had gone off. It could just as easily been opposite, bad one day and great the next. As many have said, ultimately ya gotta have time on the water.

I look at the reports as ways for anglers to share information, locations (not down to the rock), techniques, and just to be part of an angling community. Fishing is one of those sports/hobbies that can be enjoyed in solitude, but also is very satisfying to share with friends. I think that's a big appeal of fishing websites, the sharing aspect.

And for myself, I have found my reports to be invaluable as I have gotten older. I go back and review previous reports to refresh my memory on trips taken. You youngsters don't have that problem - yet.

I remember everything I've done in the past.


Well, back to yesterday anyway.

I've even been taking notes on every Bass I've caught this year. Tried to do that in years past, but that only lasted 1 or 2 fish, then quit, too much work. Next year I'll have to be sure to take better notes on the weather and depths.