If I may?

I am a fairly new member, 1st season, with the club. I was always against clubs and tournaments. I hated the thought of racing around a lake and trying to compete with other guys for a trophy. What fun is that? Does that take out the experience of fishing and make it more of a job? And what part of a "club" would be fun? A bunch of guys that are loose lipped with the complaints and tight lipped with the techniques and strategies. I for one would never had thought about sharing info. Those guys might catch my fish, right?

I was approached by Russ Baker and a friend to check out the club. I thought I knew what to expect. I am very active in the waterfowl world and have been a member of several clubs and "clicks". I was not impressed with any of them and have not returned. After one meeting at WBC I was signed up for the tournament the next weekend and a proud member. I found all the members to be stand up guys that I could trust with anything I own. I have since bought a new boat and me and my wife are active members in all the tourneys. It is our monthly vacation. Last month my truck broke down two days before a tourny and I was stuck. I had four members offer for me to take their trucks. That blew my mind. How wrong was I in the past? I could not tell anyone how many times I have relied on a member to help me get out a bind, whether at a tourny or at my own house. I have become very good friends with several of the members.

I don't don't think that anyone can make a fair judgement of a club or it's members by reading a post. I know that is what almost cost me my future in this club. I would invite anyone that reads this forum to come learn more about the club, but more importantly the members. They are the ones that make this club great. Get to know all of them so you understand why they say what they say. I think if anyone participated in one tourny and potluck and reread these posts, it would read a little different.


With that, my fingers  hurt from punching these keys.

Mike

I do not think we need to move the thread because of one post.

I think that the world should see how we handle our differences of opinion. That we accept our differences and respect other peoples opinions. We are not a club of continual internal bickering and fighting. We all have a passion for the same thing (this great sport of bass fishing) that in it self will resolve many differences.

Plus, I think that it should be know to the outside world that this type of discussion is how we come to the current rules of the tournaments.

This club has always welcomed outsiders regardless of race, color, religion, handicap, sex, or even opinion.

So, I put to the world, before deciding not to join our club because of this thread. come and visit us at a fish-in, club meeting, or find any individual you can that is a member or has been a member and I think you will see that there is a reason this bass club is the oldest in the nation.

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I welcome anyone to come to a meeting or any club gathering and then tell me that this statement still holds true.

Things may get a little heated on this forum but I still do not think that anyone in this club would say that this statement holds true generally.

And, one final word...... Welcome man_with_a_view and thank you for your opinion,

What I've seen is no matter how many opinions bump into each other on this post, they never show when we get together at events. There are many, great anglers that are respective by each other in this club, and we are mature enough to voice our opinions and still get along. How great would this club be if we all thought the same?? How much would we learn?? Different ideas are what make people try new things. That's what a club is about.

It is understanding that only reading this forum makes us look like a back stabbing group. But nothing could be further from the truth. We are open about our opinions, thats all. Then we all sit around in a group after a potluck and laugh our b*tts off to Larry The Cable Guy. You don't see that on this forum. Like everyone has said, you need to come and visit to really get a sense of this club. The way competion is in this club is something like this....Hope everyone catches limits, but that yours is a little bigger.........

So......basicly......

WE LOVE YOU MAN!!!

no I dont like gladiator movies!

Wew!!!

I thought you guys hated me or something.
Amen to all posts good or bad. Hey we are not all that bad, now are we.
RB

It has been a year since I made that original post and I have not visited it for sometime. I just read the additions that I had not previously read. I thank all of you for the input. I feel that I accomplished what my original post was ment to do in the first place. It made alot of people stop and think. All of us are better for every word that has been said here. I see that you are all strong believers in each other and in the fact that a free voice is an important voice. (Even if you might not agree or like what that voice is saying) To be honest I never excected this many responses. Stick together and stand by eachother and respect all the opinions put forth and you will all go far......... In fishing and in life.....
P.S. I still think there should not be Cameras allowed in a tourney.