HardCider

Hi A-Jay and thanks for your reply. We have different styles for sure - I've seen your many, many posts documenting your success - your a real star here for sure. It is clearly important for you to be admired. I am different, I don't want admiration from the crowd. I fish for my own personal gratification. To go public with my techniques and methods, I want some buckage. Nothing wrong with that either - lots of Pros, authors, and guides take that approach. Different strokes for different folks.

Thanks guys, raw html is out then. Any specific packages to build the page?

Has anyone here started there own personal fishing website? How did you code it, raw HTML or using web design tools? How did you host it? What is your business plan to monetize it? How did all those choices work out? I have a 2016 B.S. in Information Assurance (e.g. IT Security) but no web coding experience (lots of Unix scripting, Matlab coding, some Fortran though). My story: I'm a top local fisherman who does not participate in tournaments. I have about 8 - 10 years of amazing reservoir Striped Bass catches (e.g. 90+ fish between 32"-43") and would say I'm the best guy in my state for freshwater Stripers (artificial lures, at least). I would guess I'm among the top 20% of Largemouth bass fisherman locally as well. I had an end-of-season LMB that would have been the biggest Largemouth weighed in our local lake tournament, would have won a $75 fishing permit for next year, but I released it to keep the lake wild and mysterious, even though I am temporarily unemployed and could use the money. So why don't I show these catches here or on other BBSs? Simply because there is nothing to gain financially, and a lot to lose if my local lakes get pressured from monkey-see monkey-do imitators. Example, one day I showed off a nice big Striper during release to a shore fisherman and showed him the bait. Next day, he and a friend where there furiously casting the same spot with the closest imitation of the bait they could find at their local Walmart. What did I gain in that transaction? Nothing. Fishing ain't charity either. (Even the Atlantic Ocean is not big enough for 6 boats on Wicked Tuna). All the fine artists in the world have a virtually unlimited amount of paint and blank canvases to practice their art. We fisherman, on the other hand, must share/compete over a finite number of fish on a finite number of spots, during a limited fishing window (due to weather, closed season, night lake closures, hard water,etc.) With that in mind, I am not going to disclose my catches and techniques on a website like this in which I reap no rewards but a few "atta boys" and "nice catches". I understand many of you make deep and valuable friendships here, and I think that is great and worthy, but that is not what I'm after. Basically, any material I create here goes to benefit the site owners and not me. (I could lurk and glean hints and pointers without providing free material, eh?) Moreover, some of the best discussions and topics have controversy. I don't want to get a on a good rip (not rude, mind you but controversial) only to get "goodnight Irene" or other similar bs. Therefore, I am thinking about setting up my own website. So I'll say again: Has anyone here started there own personal fishing website? How did you code it, raw HTML or using web design tools? How did you host it? What is your business plan to monetize it? How did all those choices work out?

according to a news story, bass fisherman Oscar Garza was murdered on Falcon Lake Tuesday night. His fishing partner is still under medical care for hypothermia suffered when he bailed from the bass boat to avoid a hail of bullets. He is not the first American to be murdered on Falcon Lake. David Hartley was murdered by Los Zetas gang members in 2010 while jet skiing with his wife. Please keep Mr. Garza's family and friends in your prayers. Please be careful if you are on lakes that border Mexico. I am not aware of any similar situation on the U.S./Canadian border lakes. http://www.breitbart.com/texas/2016/12/08/texas-fisherman-murdered-border-lake-police-say/

usually 7 miles in an electric-only lake. don't think you will really gain any insight with other's answers even though everyone here is truthful and all are good fishermen. this is because every lake is different, every day is different, daily pressure varies dramatically (e.g. 3-hour campers on all best spots Spring Saturday vs. lake to yourself November Tuesday). Some fish for one lunker per day while some like action. Some powerfish, some finesse. Is there an imminent thunderstorm? Does the lake close at sunset? Some lakes have lots of spots, some lakes have few. Some lakes have concentrated spots, some have geographically dispersed spots (this varies by season and water level). Do you have all day (or all night) or just a few hours? It goes on and on. Do you know the specific situation(s) all these repliers face and how that meshes with your situation(s)? you get the point. however, it makes a good winternet topic for those of us with hard water or lakes closed in winter (like lame MD).

GPRO shareholders feel like puking even more than you. It went from $86.97 Oct 2014 to $9.89 today! At least it didn't cost you a fortune like the suckers that bought the stock.

nice fish.

I agree. trolling will take care of that and you can run 2 or 3 rods at a time to pattern fish.

(i had a long story at first that I edited to avoid a whining.) basically, when I admitted a great catch they riffled my stuff checking for the hot bait on the rods. They just asked about my catch, but in hindsight I regret sharing. Not saying you shouldn't share to worthy folks, parents with kids, regulars you know and love. But these guys where knuckleheads and I regret opening my mouth.

never mind. had some guy rifle through my boat looking at my baits while getting truck. no big deal. just not cool

i've hit the Gorge 5 times already this year. fished the cold,wind day this week (?Monday) until my hands went numb in four hours (skunk). only 9 fish total. very spot specific and moody, e.g. nothing,nothing,nothing then two fish in a row off the same stumps. on the plus side, best fish are 5lb14oz, 5lb8oz, 4lb4oz and approx 34" striper (big head but skinny). talk about quality over numbers! not complaining but more a lottery than a pattern. a few special spots have paid off but I feel lucky to get those few casts with big fish attached. powerfishing the cold water. big plastic and minnow baits.

Dock talk is great, just take it with a grain of salt because guys like me that tear 'em up on pressured mini-lakes won't tell much to a stranger. Sometimes I take a liking to someone and share good stuff. Mostly to broken down old farts or single Mom's bringing their kids to the lakes (bless you Mom!). Most of the time I'll tacklebox the hot bait before coming back to the dock and hide any dead big fish that couldn't be released due to gill hook bleed out or exhaustion (e.g. big Stripers in Summer). However, it is impossible for me to hide my best spots and baits when on the lake so discreetly follow me around, use binocular, take zoom pics. I may not like it but its legal and smart if you think I have knowledge that you must have to better your fishing. However, I have met people at the ramp that over time became friends, good friends. Those guys and I share almost everything and help each other. So talk at the ramp but more to make future friends, fishing buddies, drinking buddies, smoking buddies whatever...