To everyone who posted, thanks for your input. I really appreciate it. Below is my reply to each post. Dave

1) Something new and on the cutting edge. Response: It’s harder than you’d think to get this information out. Having worked in a tackle shop and gotten feedback from articles, it’s amazed me how most guys (90%) will deflect the really good info away until they start hearing what they want to hear. Buoy 10 is a great example. One of the hottest tips is “troll downstream (like the Klan Sea boats) to cover more water to catch more fish” and the usual response is “yes but…what kind of flasher were you using?” Never-the-less, I will keep trying. It could be a writing style issue-see #7 below.

2) My favorite articles are the ones that don't contain the name of smaller rivers and streams that aren't well known to the majority of us. Response: I’m more of a how-to writer but I’m working on some where-to material that focus’ on how to get the most of some of the major NW fisheries. No maps to secret spots!

About 10 years ago, I had one of my pictures on the cover of Fishing and Hunting News. No money was involved, but I was pretty excited. Naturally, they wanted to know where and when the fish was caught. Necanicum River, early December. They put this info on their calendar and now every year like clockwork the Necanicum River is featured in early December. We all get snookered once in a while.

3) One thing I would like to see more of in fishing articles are diagrams. Response: Great tip. Actually, I’m working on my drawing skills.

4) Be sure the article is not an advertisement for a guide or lodge. Response: This is a tricky one. Writing about guides/lodges is an issue of ethics. I’ve read if you get a free trip it’s ethical to report on it IF it was a good trip you think others would like. If it’s a bad trip you shouldn’t mislead your readers just to collect your fee. I agree with you, however. It is annoying to constantly be reading about Alaska when you know you’re not going there anytime soon.

5) Are you the same Dave K. that played baseball at WSU? Response: Yes. Dave@kbi-ins.com

6) Light tackle alternatives for salmon/cutties in salt water. Response: I’m a light tackle enthusiast myself. This summer I’m going to try trolling for ocean salmon with a G-loomis 1141 and 12lb line. I’ll post the results. If I submitted the completed article today the earliest it would be in print is the summer of 2003. Also, I have an ultra-light sturgeon fishing article in the works that details how to catch keepers (4’ to 5’) from the bank with 10lb line and a surf spin rod.

7) Writing style that separates the memorable articles from the run of the mill. Response: Actually, I know Bill Herzog pretty well. As much as I’d like to, I cannot match his colorful style. There is only one General Zog. That said, I just try to make my writing clear and give people info they can use to have a good time. Repeating the really good tips 3 or 4 times in an article seems to help get the major points across. Repetition is good and repeating things over and over until they begin to repeat in the readers mind gets the high points across. Now if I could only be funny.

8) My favorite outdoor writer is pat mcmanus read and learn. Response: Well said. Actually, when you contact a magazine for a writers guide they say pretty much the same thing; read our magazine and learn what we like to print.