cff is sure not what it once was

[chainsawsql]

cff is sure not what it once was, sad to see it mostly radio silence. it used to always be hoping
Seems everyone has gone to social media Facebook, Instagram, TikTok

 

[drdetroit]

You are 100% correct!

 

[Rob Lee]

that is too bad

 

[rsimms]

I was the 3rd person who joined CFF (in April 2005). I followed the creator, DHaun, and his daughter. I wrote a newspaper article about it, helping it get off the ground. From there, I watched it grow into a "Village" - people who helped people. Annual picnics and other in-person gatherings were the norm. No telling how many lifetime fishing partnerships were formed. We even held litter cleanups (see 2010 photo below).

At that time, Internet Discussion Boards, especially those that were somewhat localized, were unusual. I met so many people who remain good friends today, some who have sadly passed on. It was awesome to watch CFF grow into a strong community.

It didn't matter what you fished for, everybody shared.

IMHO, the decline began when more and more web-based outlets were created (including social media) that catered more specifically to each individual's interests. I might have helped the decline when I created the "Chattanooga Fishing Forum" Facebook Page (private Page with app. 6,000 Members currently). I called it our "parallel universe."

But slowly it seems bass anglers went to bass forums, crappie guys went to crappie forums and the same with catfish folks, etc.
As original core members slowly but surely dropped out, and the numbers of CFF'ers continued to grow, it lost it's "Comraderie Factor." I know at one time there were more than 11,000. Now, after new owners changed some stuff on CFF, I don't know how many registered users there are.

Internet Forums can't be guided or control by any one person or even a group of persons. They become the "collective" personality of every single user combined. After nearly 20 years in existence, the collective personality "one big, happy family" atmosphere is definitely gone. It still has a place on the "Minnownet," but it's a very small place.

Apparently just enough for the current owners to justify the expense based upon the numbers of Ads it serves. Maybe someday the personality will change again.If so, I hope I live to see it.

 

[chainsawsql]

Well said Richard, We have lost some great guys from the forum, I too was almost on that list last year.. but I'm still kickin so far, the CFF tourneys where so much fun

 

[31airborne]

This phenomenon isn't unique to this site. I'm afraid all fishing sites have fallen or will fall victim to this trend at some point. The old Bass Fishing Home Page had an amazing run. Lots of posts from all over the country. Rallies brought forum members together in person at some pretty cool fishing destinations. And then the buzz faded. And the site went away. We're seeing the same thing happen to long-standing sites here in VA. Lots of competition from other social media platforms, many of which give folks the opportunity to selectively reveal what they post. There's no right or wrong to it. It's just a fact of this aspect of life.

Like y'all, I lament the loss of contact with folks who became friends. I still keep in touch with people I met thru BFHP (and that site's been down for 10 years or more). I reckon if it's important enuff to us we'll make the effort to keep it going - in spirit and/or electrons.

 

[Lunch_Box]

I totally forgot about CFF since I moved to social media. I was searching something and the link popped up. Will have to remember to check back in.

 

[ChooChooSnakeMan]

I posted some time back about my thoughts about the decline of the Forum, I won't rehash that. I'll just say that I'm so glad that I found the CFF as one of the first members and I have great memories along with so many new friends that are a direct result of the Forum. I try to visit as often as I can, I love to post scriptures on the Bible Verse of the Day. I hope to get back to fishing more often soon and I will post my results, good, bad, or ugly. Nothing stays the same, the only thing that is sure is change. Like we didn't see what would happen to the CFF back in the day we also don't know what the Forum's future is. Perhaps there will be a reawakening some day, I for one would love to see the forum become active again with lots of helpful fishing reports and advice.

 

[chainsawsql]

To those that knew me as NRG aka Fish back in the day on here.. I'm not so Big anymore lol.
I've lost 200lbs.. had heart attack July 23. Doc said loose the weight or not see 60, I'm 58.. so I made my mind up to do just that, then my kidneys started failing soon after heart attack. I'm going Monday to get on the transplant list, Dialysis is my next step. I would love to fish some of the CFF tournaments again.. but hard to compete against all the forward facing sonar owners, that's to steep for my wallet.
But I'm still making cedar, balsa crankbaits, and swimbaits, and plastic lure painting, that is if my health holds up I'm going to start selling them online soon, as will no longer to do my current job on Dialysis 3 days a week.
Nothing like winning TX on your own creations lol
Maybe I can give @ChooChooSnakeMan a run for his money in a CFF TX

 

[ChooChooSnakeMan]

To those that knew me as NRG aka Fish back in the day on here.. I'm not so Big anymore lol.
I've lost 200lbs.. had heart attack July 23. Doc said loose the weight or not see 60, I'm 58.. so I made my mind up to do just that, then my kidneys started failing soon after heart attack. I'm going Monday to get on the transplant list, Dialysis is my next step. I would love to fish some of the CFF tournaments again.. but hard to compete against all the forward facing sonar owners, that's to steep for my wallet.
But I'm still making cedar, balsa crankbaits, and swimbaits, and plastic lure painting, that is if my health holds up I'm going to start selling them online soon, as will no longer to do my current job on Dialysis 3 days a week.
Nothing like winning TX on your own creations lol
Maybe I can give @ChooChooSnakeMan a run for his money in a CFF TX

Good to hear from you NRG! I'm sorry to hear about your health challenges, you will be in my prayers. LOL about giving me a run for my money in a CFF TX. Back in the day you could more than hold your own with a rod and reel. It is sad that there are no more CFF TX's. Interest faded and then something happened, I'm not sure exactly what but the committee that always organized the tournaments just disappeared. I think the CFF became too Bass Tournament centered but that's my 2 cents and the committee did a great job running the events. I didn't want the events to go away, I just wanted the CFF to return to its roots of being a place where all kinds of anglers could share and find tips and information. Anyway I'm glad you lost the weight and my prayers will be that you will recover your health. This life is like a vapor for all of us. My younger brother just last month passed away suddenly at 58 from a heart attack. The best advice for all of us is to follow Jesus, accepting His free gift of forgiveness and have a reservation for heaven when this life is over, Amen.

 

[bronzeback45]

Same here, I Joined in 07. I wasn't about social media back then but joined FB in 14. I noticed the decline about the time chickamauga exploded nationally. I did meet many of my fishing friends on here, which I still have today. I catch myself going back reading my reports and say, "This was my own personal journal to reflect on". The CFF will live on, but I'm not sure where it will end up. BassBoatCentral gets frequented more by me personally, but its for sure WWW of the internet. YouTube and FB are the definete trend these days, me included.

 

[SPOONMINNOW]

NRG - get well and fish, fish, fish!
On CFF I've found since posting about lures and the reasons fish strike them, that the responses were relevant, respectful and considerate regardless the poster's take on lures. NO other forum has come close! I will continue to contribute because other than catching fish, I like writing about the new discoveries that astound me almost every time I go, sharing them with fellow fish-strike addicted fanatics.

Tournaments were nice when I was younger, but at age 75, getting up at 4 in the morning to travel 40 miles or so to launch my boat and then driving back (sometimes through traffic), is no longer my cup-o-tea (being a diehard coffee drinker - 4 mugs/day.) Plus, many of the original club members no longer fished the club tournaments that I really looked forward to fishing with. Many new members' primary goal of winning vs not comraderie, so they could advance to the state tournements, was a turn off and I dropped out. (When I was in the back seat of their boats, I felt like I wasn't even there considering the lack of conversation.)

Fishing forums in general have changed. The focus of the latest entitled generation of anglers is self-centered - not fishing community centered - and as far as I'm concerned populated by ghost members that will never reply to my posts. Lately when I've posted long detailed dissertations and gotten zero responses, I go back after a week and delete the content leaving the message, 'content deleted'. No one has ever cared or questioned the deletion.

I figured many photo examples would generate some kind of response, but unless the lures were shown on commercials and sold locally, the main intent of the post was lost on those anglers - many of which know-what-they-know, which is good enough and not worth thinking outside the box.

Fish are fascinating creatures that biology can only discover so much about. We on CFF know the challenge of knowing more and bringing that to the table to see who has witnessed those same observations, regardless of waters fished hundreds of miles away. Fish will be fish and their oversized eyes see what many anglers do not.

FrankM