Just popping in to say Hi

[DTro]

It's truly amazing how social media has transformed our lives.   Seems like not too long ago there was no such thing as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or TikTok.    Where did you go for fishing information, research, brotherhood and fellowship?   You spent a lot of time at bait shops, reading magazines and newspapers, or you dialed up into a fishing discussion bulletin board on the world wide web.   I'm a geek who preferred the electronic version so I spent A LOT of time online reading everything I could on web forums and discussion boards.  I came to find a primary home here with Fishing Minnesota in roughly 2000.   I dove in and met a lot of great fishing and personal friends.  I was provided the opportunity to get involved with the marketing side of fishing and learned quite a bit about the business of fishing.  

I've been saddened to see how participation in forums such as this and others I follow, have crashed with the growing popularity of other platforms.

 

What brings me here though today is to stop by and say hi to all my old fishing friends.  About 4 years ago I started a Catfish/Sturgeon guide service.  It has been growing steadily each year and one of the reoccurring themes I seem to experience is how many of my guests refer to Fishing Minnesota Dot Com and how they came to recognize me and my activity there from years ago.   

 

For several years this site reigned supreme when it came to current fishing news and information and a place where everyone was here to help and became a brotherhood for many.  While there was always some political stuff tossed in, for the most part it was a place to forget about the world and focus on our favorite past time.    Oh how times have changed.....   

 

I hope everyone is doing well and pushing through all the background noise in todays world.  What we are currently experiencing does not bode well for our mental health and I hope things change soon before we find ourselves in another 1863 Gettysburg.

 

I'll share a great experience I had the other night with a Mother/Daughter captured by Ben Garving (Award winning KARE11 photojournalist).   He really did a great job in capturing what happens when you forget about outside things for a while and spend time with family and just sit back and enjoy our great outdoors.   No matter your political views or your thoughts on our natural resources and how they are managed, this is something we can all come together and embrace. 

 

Take care!

 

KARE11 Sturgeon Story Click Here

[ozzie]

Great to hear from you Dtro!  It is sad that the participation in forums like this is going by the wayside and it seems we are losing valued members constantly which is sad, but also the way of the world.  Great to hear you are succeeding in your latest adventure, but that does not surprise me, as following you for the past 15 years, I wouldn't expect anything less from you!  I enjoyed the news clip and the excitement on the young girls face as she reeled in her first sturgeon!  Keep doing what your doing and don't be a stranger!!   Take care and stay safe!  Ozzie 

[Rick]

Thanks for stopping in Darren. I will always consider you a great friend. You always gave and then gave some more.

 

You are appreciated.

[ANYFISH2]

DTro it is great to hear from again.  You were one of the great posters of this site that made me join some 13-14 years ago.  We all miss the contributions that you and many past member gave us.  Average Joe fisherman like myself have struggled to continue the great things you all had started.  For this I apologize to FM.  

Social media has certainly drawn many away from message boards like FM, due to groups having known people respond to post quicker (instant gratification).  With the loss of many members and the numerous get together,  the personal touch and trust has been lost on message boards.

I also think that, I my situation, life with active teenage kids and speed of life have taken me away from sharing my experiences as often.  Every year I hope to be more active, it just hasn't materialized.

 

I still love this site, I just need to devote more time to be active.

 

Thanks again DTro, nice to hear from you again, blessings to you.