Is it me or is current format lagging?

[Brian Linehan]

Don't mean to be a complainer, but the current set up has not been beneficial for the site. The traffic seems well below normal and all I hear from everyone is that they don't like the site anymore. I don't even post results here like I used to because nobody is even checking anymore.

Your thoughts?
Brian

[ScottyJ]

I don't like having the menu bar down the right side of the screen but besides that its not bad.

[Whoopbass]

I think this site is better then ever. For some reason the post count might be going down some but it has always varied from time to time.
One thing that hasn't changed is the large amount of cry babies this place seems to attract (I'm not talking about you).

[acm95301]

Westernbass TV and the Libary, radio, the Magazine are all getting better. Its really a good resource. The forum has been suffering and so has the report section. Alot of guys avoid the forum or merely lurk as I did for several months. If we are excited about a product or idea and get slammed for it, it doesnt take long before we avoid those people doing the slamming. If we have questions that some grizzled guy who has fished tournaments for twenty years thinks is stupid and apparently is compeled to notify us of his opinion, then that bites. I've only fished tournaments for two years but I don't have much tolerance for some of the B.S. that goes on. I think if the site dedicated itself as a school of bass idea, where the goal was to be a club of bass fishermen who want to learn, then things would improve. Tell then, I don't doubt that many have gone to other sites for at least some of there bass info needs. I know that Rbbassfishing, Tacticalbassin and Calbassin and bassfactory and Anglers edge are just some of the sites I like.

[elfish16]

well it seems to me that things get nuked fairly easily on here now. not too sure why, but i mean even just speaking truths sometimes gets nuked.

[offduty]

I really dont care for a lot of censorship on a site as to me that is not a true open forum. However when the wrong language is used or personal attacks are involved that is a good reason for censorship and the posters should have the common sense not to do this in the first place. The elimination of posts to give an edge to sponsors to me is just wrong and shows that a forums ultimate agenda is $. I am pretty happy with the forum and the new changes and features. The one thing I would like to see is a tournament section for tournament announcements and results. I feel most tourney guys dont want this but as someone looking for information on how to be a better angler it would consolidate things up a bit. I am not trying to ruffle any feathers but all the tourney announcements and results are just something I scroll right past to try to find the content I am looking for which is info on techniques, baits, presentations, tips on locating fish and talk of new products.

[ash]

well it seems to me that things get nuked fairly easily on here now. not too sure why, but i mean even just speaking truths sometimes gets nuked.

Elfish - if you are wondering why a post would be moved check out the forum rules, its pretty clear as to what is OK - I am a person who's head doesnt wrap around generalities very well, so I went through the mod logs to see if you have had a post nuked...nope dont see one in the past thirty -40 days - there is a new tournament section of the board with posts being moved to that section, so if you are following a post and it may have poofed then click on your users posts and follow the thread to where it was moved to. Personal attacks, and negative crap just arent going to stick, if this is what you want out of a forum then there are plenty of places on the internet for these types of interactions.

Brian, if you dont like what is going on call up Wayne or contact him. I am sure he would listen to your feedback. Its spring time and guys are out fishin and workin not as much typin going on these days.

Off Duty - you are correct this is not an OPEN FORUM like 4chans this is a member forum with rules, it is paid for by advertising, and not too long ago was paid for by $ as a business decision of someone with a vision.

That does not mean that we can not have discussions, but if someone has a personal beef take it up with the company directly or become an advocate, twitter about it, start a blog, facebook it, litigate it etc... it belongs on those mediums but not here.

I am not attacking anyone here, as an unpaid mod, I have a unique opportunity to look at this forum from two perspectives the anglers and the owners - i do my best to advocate for the anglers - the beauty about change is that it is happening right now as we type and read this weather we accept it or not why be stuck in what was? Instead open up to what has become and where we are going a free online mag with video content, a video library, reports, a tournament calendar and more to come - the content is great for the ones that visit the site, the visitors are great for the sponsors to advertise to - its a win win win

[offduty]

Ash

Thanks for the info bro, I guess I have been so busy in my personal life there have been additions I had not noticed yet. Thanks for all the hard work guys, looks like a lot has been going on. I have been kind of inundated with mechanical issues lately, man seems like I got hit with a few challenges at once. I look forward to getting some things behind me and getting up to speed with the forum.

[ash]

Rich,

Sorry to hear that my brother, it sucks when life comes down all at once on us. I can understand wanting something familiar around in those circumstances. I only wish you could live vicariously through my fishing, but that too would be a dissapointment that I wouldnt want you to bear

Take it easy -

[offduty]

Yeah I finally found the fuel system problem on my boat so thats done. The ol Bronco wont pull the boat and turn the 33" tires with the stock axle I broke so I need a Dana 60. Trans has been acting up in reverse. I need new tie rod ends and radius arm bushings. The fishing has been kinda weird at Casitas and the weather as well. I hurt my back at work and am off for about 13 days and then I hijack Elfish's post, but life is good.

Rich,

Sorry to hear that my brother, it sucks when life comes down all at once on us. I can understand wanting something familiar around in those circumstances. I only wish you could live vicariously through my fishing, but that too would be a dissapointment that I wouldnt want you to bear

Take it easy -

[Dom]

@ ASH

Dude you have been around as long as I have on this fourm, your telling me we can not post info on products? I mean come on this is a site for info i want to know if the next high dollar rod I buy is gonna break when i set on that 12" bass or is a new frog take on water and sinks,etc.... and vis versa if I find a product that rocks I want to be able to pass on the info weather they are a paid advertizer or not.

I know the good ol days of the drama filled post are long gone (go back and look at the site traffic back then ) and I agree a personal attack or foul language should be nuked but when you choose advertizers over your users that just going alittle overboard and by sensorship because I company advertises on the site is doing just that . If the ROD GLOVE has problems then I want to know about it (it dont, just an example)

I understand its a for profit site now but lets not forget how this site started, by fisherman for fisherman the anglers made this saite as big as it once was becuase we were not sensored unless you count a lip lashing by ol Cooch LOL (Which I got more then once LOL)

just a few words of advice for one listen to you members, they can make or break you without them there will be no traffic so no need to advertize I have noticed a drop and I have been around for years I admit there are some slow times but not this time of year you are correct people are fishing but they would always come on here and post the days trials and tribulations not much of that going on latley.

I am not tring to bad mouth the site or anyone all I am saying is might be a good idea to stop and take a real hard look at the direction yall are going. I personally like the site and all the new stuff just dont go all corporate on us. Only complaint I got about the site itself is BRING BACK THE GREEN COLOR!!!!!! LOL

Well hope yall dont take this wrong just an outside view lookin in. Didnt stick the spoon in the pot, no stirring here.

Tight Lines Dom

[DeltaBassBuster]

I've just recently got an account going, but have been a guest for a long time. I enjoy the instructional videos and now the on line magazine. I've always enjoyed reading the forums hopefully to learn some thing. I've always liked to help do my part in posting my fishing reports (and do my best with my Custom Valco "BASSBUSTER1" boat with its limited travel range). I just consider myself a serious ametuer enjoying my bass fishing since the age of 15, now in my 40's. In the past I've had opportunities/experience fishing in a cuople Stockton Bass tournaments but never really fully gotten involved in tounament fishing.

I'd like to see this website keep striving to improve its self and I know some times it hard to control the idiots out there that try to ruin it for every one else. Basically I do my best to just ignore those issues as they are just looking for some attention in my opinion.

To the people of westernbass.com keep up the good work and I'm really enjoying the website and constantly learning some thing knew every day I log on and browse around the site adding to my own knowledge and experience of bass fishing.

Good job,
DeltaBassBuster

[BIG L]

Here it is Thursday and there are still posts from Sunday on here on the 1st page, something is wrong. I remember the day when you couldn't get 1 days post on a page.

[Cooch]

Brian, I don't think there is a problem with the format at all. Are postings down on the main Forum, I would agree with that, I visit several forums every day, and they are all down right now. I believe from looking at the numbers, the activity on this Forum is still high day in and day out. Although folks may not be choosing to post, they are viewing posts. Look at Stoggieman's of this Tuesday, 1880 views. Rogers ABA post of yesterday in the Tournament Forum, 277 views, be nice if half the viewers who looked, showed up eh? This post of yours from yesterday, 385 views, that's a fair chunk of views for one post. The overall activity, according to the numbers, has increased on this Forum.

Why folks are not actually posting, are many. I speak with a lot of local anglers here, as clients, guys on the street, at the ramp, down at the shops here, in e-mails & PMS, most of them say one thing, "I don't like the BS that goes on out there, too many complainers and I'm afraid to post for fear of being attacked. There has been too much of this so I just look at posts." They do have great things to say about all the other new content sections we've added to WB.COM. With the lack of day to day fishing information on the Forum, they are getting far more use out of the magazine, audio, blogs and video sections of the website, and don't have to deal with the issues of the Forum. I had a guy call me yesterday tell me this, he's coming to help us with the CalBass kids event this Saturday. He said he doesn't frequent the Forum anymore, so he missed the posts about us asking for help. Something drew him to look at the Forum, he did and was very glad he did and has volunteered to help us this Saturday.

I also believe that with the vast communication power of Face Book now, which we didn't have 3-5 years ago, a lot of chit chat that used to go on with in many forums, now takes place on FB. I know I have over 1000 fishing friends on FB, I get far more PMs and direct conversations there, than I do here now on a daily basis.

Certainly, creating a dedicated section of this website to the tournament crowd, has taken some posts away from the main Forum, there's no doubt about that. This was done for several reasons. The vast majority of the degrading posts and BS, spawned from these tournament postings. Secondly, posts were indeed running off the page, making them tough to track and follow for most tournament users. Lastly, we heard from a very large majority of our users, who told us the Forum was over flooded with tournament info and that's not what they wanted to see on the main Forum as it was pushing the general fishing posts off the page. Hence the creation of the Tournament sections. Certainly this change has been disturbing to those who were so used to going to this Forum for Tourney info and that new section has been slow to come alive. It's only as good though, as the TDs choose to make it. They are all taking great advantage of posting their upcoming events, and they are getting a lot of views. With the function of URL Favorites, it's really only 1 click away.

What is indeed lacking there though, are the posting of results. Of the 50 posts on that page right now, dating back to April 19th, there are 40 tournament info posts, and only 10 Results posts, 5 of which came from Hutch on the AC event here that had 958, 964, 1102, 1216 & 526 views respectively. You posted 1 DVL event, it got 104 views, Top Stick got 138, ABA Perris got 105 and my post on the FLW got 2321 views. For you to say that "I don't post because nobody is looking" puzzles me. People ARE looking, the problem is those that we all rely on to provide us the information, are not doing their part for whatever reason, that's not WB.COM's fault. We haven't done anything different than other websites with Forums, by creating unique forums for specific usage, this is common with Forum based websites all over the internet. Why some guys don't like it here, is beyond me.

I personally believe the website is growing in a very positive direction. It has always been the intent of us here, since the old days of NCBF.COM, to bring to the viewers the best resource information on bass fishing possible. Yes, we also enjoyed and participated in a lot of fun and poking at each other building a camaraderie here that was very unique and attractive. Somewhere along the line, it became a daily playpen where guys took advantage of their annoniminity and ability to freely disrupt and attack folks here. This was never the intended function for this website, I for one, feel we've done an outstanding job to turn that image around. This place is about bass fishing, the great sport we all love, and I for one am excited that we are making changes to get us back on that path and do indeed see these positive changes taking affect. It's the ole "cup is half full, half empty" adage, I see our cup filling!

Don't mean to be a complainer, but the current set up has not been beneficial for the site. The traffic seems well below normal and all I hear from everyone is that they don't like the site anymore. I don't even post results here like I used to because nobody is even checking anymore.

Your thoughts?
Brian

[buddy brown]

Bring back Hippie.. used to be some funny chit on here.. while the helpful and informative posts are nice.. the posts of yesteryear (pics of scantily obese chicks, the tron moose knuckle dude, and the smack talk) would make the helpful posts seem all the more helpful. everything is micromanaged and very pro but it feels very restrictive

[g-man]

Its all Ash's FAULT!

[Dom]

Cooch

I feel ya brother the site is doing amazing things I for one love the mag,videos,etc.. the site content is still top of the line I think what the site needs is more of that old school love. The razzing, funny pics, opinions, etc... is what brought people to this site. And I can honestly say I have been on both sides of the door I have razzed and got it hard in return anyone remember "GENERAL HAWGSPITAL" I like to think in general people are all good and I judge no one till judgement need given . We use to get a real idea of who people were, what they stood for and thier personality back in the day. But now there is so much sensorship it seems like just words on a board, no personal connection.

And one thing I dont understand is why people would want a different fourm on tournaments? I quit fishing tournament hardcore in 2006 but I still wanted to come on here and see who finished where ,what the bite was on that lake at that time and the bonus was the guys posting about the trials and tribulations of the days event weather it be good or bad made for some interesting read.

I do agree with you Cooch on the Facebook alot of traffic has been deverted but I bet is yall ease up alittle on the members and the sensorship that traffic would come back. I have said it many times before this site holds a big spot in my life I have spent countless hours on this site over the years. There was a time when I would log on numerous times a day and some nutcases would stay logged on all day remember Dewayne B. he was always posting from work(hey what ever happen to Dewayne?) Look all I am saying is dont go all corporate on us

Tight Lines Dom

[CN]

The way I see it is "Changes = oppertunity" but then again theres only so much to talk about regarding Bass fishing. I dont think it's changed much from the old format other than lack of participation.

As far as personell attacks it's just over the net dont let it get to you. Hell you probably never met nor ever will meet that person.

Tip for the day if your headed to Nacimiento throw anything in white there all over it or hit the beach between Marina and Moss Landing and throw Fish Traps for Stripers.

Mike Nance

[g-man]

As far as personell attacks it's just over the net dont let it get to you.
Mike Nance

we have a winner!

[tALLkAN]

Bring back Hippie.. used to be some funny chit on here.. while the helpful and informative posts are nice.. the posts of yesteryear (pics of scantily obese chicks, the tron moose knuckle dude, and the smack talk) would make the helpful posts seem all the more helpful. everything is micromanaged and very pro but it feels very restrictive

+1 BRING BACK HIPPIE! dudes classic

[Hipster]

Yea Ash is an unpaid Mod here he goes over th Calbassin to Start Chit

Have not seen ya in awhile dude!!!

[ash]

Yea Ash is an unpaid Mod here he goes over th Calbassin to Start Chit

Have not seen ya in awhile dude!!!

We can remedy that tomorrow at Folsom 8:00am CAST for kids - hope you are well my brother - I havnt been out as much this year as I have in the past.

[Brian Linehan]

Well, it's been three days since anyone's made a post in the tournament forum guys. Kind of tells you everything you need to know. Westernbass has always had many more "stalkers" than people who actually contribute to the forums, but even they will leave if the board becomes more and more stagnant. This site has always been the best and I hope it remains that way.

Brian

[CN]

Well, it's been three days since anyone's made a post in the tournament forum guys. Kind of tells you everything you need to know. Westernbass has always had many more "stalkers" than people who actually contribute to the forums, but even they will leave if the board becomes more and more stagnant. This site has always been the best and I hope it remains that way.

Brian

Well then tell us about your last Tournament. What pattern was dominate? Did the winning team do something totally differant? Were the fish shallow or deep for this time of year? Were they in pre spawn or post spawn or on bed's?

Brian?

Mike Nance

[tbob]

It's all your fault Brian. Please fix the problem and please spend as much time as it takes to get the job done. I realize that you have a full time job, but fixing this should be your top priority even though you did nothing to create It..

I am obviously kidding and it seems odd that people are almost attacking Brian for simply his questioning a change on this forum when it seems pretty obvious when you look at the numbers we all can see. These comments that it is his problem to solve and these conclusions that tournament post were not well read on the main forum likewise are inaccurate. Brian was a cult hero on this forum a few short months ago with his tournament post, photos, captions and reports. Instead of beating him and other TD's up this forum might want to try and thank them once in awhile and promote tournament fishing in general.

[ash]

TBOB

Tell me specifically where I "Beat up Brian" so that i may address your issue.

" Brian, if you dont like what is going on call up Wayne or contact him. I am sure he would listen to your feedback. Its spring time and guys are out fishin and workin not as much typin going on these days."

I get it as Tournament Directors your frustrated with a new set of tools that have been provided. Instead of playing with the tools and figuring out how to use them to gain a competitive advantage its easier to be sarcastic and defensive or blame the rookie leagues.

TBOB, its not all Brians Fault, it was a collaboration of tournament orgs that couldnt police themeselves. How can an organization expect carte blanche to post THEIR advertisers without being an advertiser themselves? Why pay ad space to WB if the ORG is getting it for free? The tournament orgs were contacted about this very issue prior to Waynes purchasing the site and refused to play ball, so instead of saying no more posting the lack of self discipline and discretion pushed Administrators to effect administrative controls.

A creative idea was implemented to create a space for the tournaments, at the same time instead of the 1st page looking like craigs list for tournaments and information having to be bumped or sticky WB created a space where tournament orgs will have their relevant information on the first page at all times, BY DESIGN. A space that is search-able, recordable and easy to see tournaments in your area, create a calendar and let the orgs develop this area of westernbass. The space was created for the tournament orgs but it is not being utilized,as it requires effort I guess?

What I dont get is ogs have a website to advertise from and media outlets that they can pay to advertise through - it seems obvious to me that you have exclusive content that you can direct traffic to - why not use it to your advantage. The traffic on the tournament boards is low because the content doesn't maintains interest, who provides the content for that area of the board?

Again, I am not the administration of westernbass call Wayne and let him know what your input is, be a collaborator instead of an instigator, work with him I am sure he would like to hear from you.

[ken burk]

E.A.D. Brian!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tunaman]

CLOSE IT!!!!

[Guy Kelley]

I have been hanging around the back door of this site off and on from about 1998 and seen a saw a lot go under the bridge. Without getting into a at lengthy reply. the site dose seem down , I rarely post any longer, just sort of flippin and take a gander at whats up and bug out.


Got to admit though, it sure is prettier now than before. Like the magazine section.

by toots

[DeltaBassBuster]

End this thread, the bickering isn't getting us any where here.