Annual Gripe Thread CFF Trail

[flyman]

ok everyone, it's that time again, when we give you the opportunity to tell us what you like, don't like, want to keep, want to change.

 

[drdetroit]

Participation is down cancel mandatory posts and see what happens!

 

[Volfish]

To many posts required and signing up three days in advance is restrictive. Why? It certainly does not seem to get the results back timely. BTW, Billy and Steven win too many tournaments. LOL!

 

[Smalliefan2]

First, the tournaments are well run. No complaints. The change in entry, to $ 25., if fishing alone, is a positive step. The committee puts in underappreciated time, so thanks guys.
Eliminate post count for a year. Participation on the forum has been down signifcantly. Look making a poster, say 12x16, with dates and ramps, signup info. Ask the local tackle shops and marine dealers to post. Remind them we are their customer, support us. We collect $10. at the beginning of the year, so I think there funds to cover printing cost.
Another suggestion, and I got this from a fellow CFF member, have a facebook page for the CFF. It would require a member to monitor and post. It would expand the potential engagement, particularily with the gen Z, X and millennials. I can barely turn on my computer, so I am not that guy. Spell check would also help.
The political BS, fishing participation is up, trhough some has been lost in the post covid world. There are more folks fishing, we need to reach out so those with a competitive instinct will join us.
I'll finish with thank you to the committee for your contribution running the CFF tournaments.
Merry Christmas to everyone, Tell your wife you wear a size 21' bass boat for Christmas. They might get the gift right !

 

[rsimms]

Another suggestion, and I got this from a fellow CFF member, have a facebook page for the CFF. It would require a member to monitor and post. It would expand the potential engagement, particularily with the gen Z, X and millennials. I can barely turn on my computer, so I am not that guy. Spell check would also help.
The political BS, fishing participation is up, trhough some has been lost in the post covid world. There are more folks fishing, we need to reach out so those with a competitive instinct will join us.

There actually is a "Chattanooga Fishing Forum" Facebook Page I created 13 years ago: https://www.facebook.com/groups/161821043854723

It is "Private," meaning you have to ask permission to "Join." Although it is more work for me, that GREATLY reduces the level of Spam, Junk and abusive posts.

DESCRIPTION:
This is the parallel universe established to provide an outlet for users of the Chattanooga Fishing Forum a place to share on Facebook. See www.ChattanoogaFishingForum.com SHOW US YOUR FISH! This is for the free and open exchange of fishing photos, as well as fishing and boating information on area lakes. No profanity, personal bashing, hateful or disrespectful posts allowed. Classifieds/sale of goods by individuals allowed (except for firearms, a Facebook rule, not ours). LIMITED Commercial business sales allowed provided folks don't go overboard and abuse the privilege. Otherwise they will get nuked. Thank you for keeping it positive.

It does remain quite positive. It is very rare we have to Block somebody.

It currently has 5,800 Members.

 

[gobigorange]

Only schedule tournaments when the
fish are biting....hahaha....merry Christmas

I'm ready for the season....

 

[bronzeback45]

Don't switch lakes around unless there is no other option, like using another ramp. If so, fish the lake on the next event. I agree with the cutoff time, but I think starting the sign ups earlier would help. Extend the tournament hours by at least 30 minutes @ night. Everything else is good with me.

 

[ChooChooSnakeMan]

I'm a very long time member of the CFF. Admittedly I haven't fish a CFF event in a few years but I post fishing reports and I have fished many events. I'm proud to say that the first ever CFF fishing tournament was a 5 boat contest and I was one of the 5 boats -( didn't win but it was fun). With that said I'll give my candid opinion.

The heart and soul of the CFF at it's beginning was not tournaments or any kind of competition. It started out being a friendly place to share information and for Chattanooga's fishing community to have a place to come together and HELP each other. I'm not anti tournament, they are great fun and I love friendly competition as much as anyone. I'm afraid that over the years the emphasis with some may have become the tournaments and not just the CFF events. It seems that fishing posts went down, especially around tournament times. I understand that no one wants to help their competition but you can post results of your trips without giving the farm away so to speak. The fishing reports were and should be the main emphasis in my opinion for the CFF. Perhaps dropping the posting number temporally might get CFF tournament attendance up but in my opinion the lower turnouts for CFF events is just a symptom of the greater problem which is the decline of the forum in general. The CFF needs to return to it's roots, the focus should be on the fishing community at large and include all species. The focus should be on us, the members, not being selfish but sharing trip results and tips to help fellow anglers. If the fishing report numbers and quality of those reports with actual helpful information pick up and if there are great posts to other sections of the CFF to provide good advice and instruction then we will see the CFF become more relevant in the core areas and not just as a means to organize a tournament.

I have met so many great people because of the CFF and have many great memories. Many of the people I have met became close personal friends. I have learned so much about fishing through the CFF, I sincerely hope that we all working together can restore the Forum to it's glory days.

 

[Volfish]

Great post! I agree one hundred percent.

 

[rsimms]

I'm a very long time member of the CFF. Admittedly I haven't fish a CFF event in a few years but I post fishing reports and I have fished many events. I'm proud to say that the first ever CFF fishing tournament was a 5 boat contest and I was one of the 5 boats -( didn't win but it was fun). With that said I'll give my candid opinion.

The heart and soul of the CFF at it's beginning was not tournaments or any kind of competition. It started out being a friendly place to share information and for Chattanooga's fishing community to have a place to come together and HELP each other. I'm not anti tournament, they are great fun and I love friendly competition as much as anyone. I'm afraid that over the years the emphasis with some may have become the tournaments and not just the CFF events. It seems that fishing posts went down, especially around tournament times. I understand that no one wants to help their competition but you can post results of your trips without giving the farm away so to speak. The fishing reports were and should be the main emphasis in my opinion for the CFF. Perhaps dropping the posting number temporally might get CFF tournament attendance up but in my opinion the lower turnouts for CFF events is just a symptom of the greater problem which is the decline of the forum in general. The CFF needs to return to it's roots, the focus should be on the fishing community at large and include all species. The focus should be on us, the members, not being selfish but sharing trip results and tips to help fellow anglers. If the fishing report numbers and quality of those reports with actual helpful information pick up and if there are great posts to other sections of the CFF to provide good advice and instruction then we will see the CFF become more relevant in the core areas and not just as a means to organize a tournament.

I have met so many great people because of the CFF and have many great memories. Many of the people I have met became close personal friends. I have learned so much about fishing through the CFF, I sincerely hope that we all working together can restore the Forum to it's glory days.

Yes, good post. Perfectly accurate regarding CFF's "change in personality." Unfortunately it is hard, if not impossible, for anyone to guide the mood, demeanor or usage of the cyber world. No one person sets out to change any forum's main focus. It just happens for reasons none of us can truly understand or explain. The users you describe that once were the "roots"of CFF, have all but disappeared. Many say they left because the forum changed, but perhaps the forum actually changed because they left??? (Which came first, the chicken or the egg?)

Like you, I wish CFF could return to the old days and the old ways, but I fear that horse has left the barn.