For Love of the River….

I dont really know how to start this.. In my “dreams” I could see this really elloquent, well written post that would forever be an inspiration to all who read it…. not because I have any desire for any sort of recognition… but because I love to fish the river…. and I love this forum we have been provided and most important I hate to see it become diminished in any way…….

As I look right now the “counter” says I have 753 posts at this time…. Which as far as I know makes me 2nd only to Stillakid2 (the PUP!) in number of posts…. The reason I mention this is not to obtain any special recognition… but to make a point… you dont have any special qualifications to make a post!…. Im just someone that REALLY loves to fish…. and REALLY loves the river…

When I found FTR I was delighted…. finally something on the internet that catered to something I REALLY love!! Im sorry to say I cant tell you the day or the hour that I first discovered this site.. I wish I could… it was a long time ago in “internet” years… which apparently are even greater than dog years!…. since that time Ive learned so much that looking back it becomes apparent that I knew little about what I was doing…. even more important… Ive met some really great people and made friendships that will last a lifetime…..

Of course all is not perfect, we are a group of people…. and people dont ALWAYS get along…. sometimes there are misunderstandings….. friction…. battles….. and even little wars!!.. We are NOT perfect and never can be….. its human nature……

Well.. I suppose by now some of you are wondering just what is all this BS.. whats the point?….

The point is that I think as a group WE… are better… stronger….. and more interesting….. the more people we have active in our discussions….. Over time we have lost members, some were friends of mine, some were not, some I knew, some I didnt….. but what I have found is that I miss them all….. each and everyone of them had something that was valuable to us… each had a love for fishing the river… each one made us greater.. not lesser….. the all left for different reasons… but I wish whatever the reason was….. that they could have found a way to STAY!!!!
So all Im trying to say here is… whoever you are, whatever you know….. or dont know…. please do everything you can to hang in there with us… be understanding….. and make a plea for understanding when you need it…. this is one great group of people…. and I mean that…. give us a chance… and we will give you every chance you need…. because in the end all we have is each other…… and our love for the RIVER…..

right on, very well put and thoughted. i am very impressed with this post. good to know that more people think like this.

There is something about the river, any river, that gets in your blood. The lakes just don’t have the appeal that ol’ man river has. It may eat your prop or change so much from day to day that you always start the day guessing but when ya launch and feel the current—hot damn.

Good post my friend. I had never fished the Mississippi River until this year and I’m 52 years young. With all the help I have received and just reading the post and fishing reports I have gained a good knowledge of how to approach this type of fishing. I have never caught so many walleye and other species of fish in my life. That’s one of the interesting facts of fishing the river. Variety. I’m even going to try out some ringies and soon as I get them. I have still much to learn and will keep reading and posting. The folks here seem very willing to give up some very good information to whom ever asks. Keep it coming FTR—and Thanks

Very well put Rivereyes. Love the river too. I just can’t help but get excited everytime I see the river. Even spent 1100.00 for the computer when I heard about FTR. Just came back from 2 1/2 days at the river and can’t weight until wed to go back down for the rest of the week. Theres just something about looking out over the water that is so peaceful its just hard to explain.And its great to have alot of friends here on the board that feel the same way. We are like one big family with alot in common, A love for the river and fishing. Bill

Rivereyes,
Well said, straight from the heart ! I myself am a displaced River Rat. I live 15 miles from a lake but I would rather drive 60 miles to the Ole Miss !!! All I needed when I was a tyke, was a stick, a rock, a dog, and the Mississippi . Oh, how I long for those days gone by !!!

Richard (Smitty)

Keep a tight line !!!

Here i thought i was the only one that felt this way. I started fishing the river ten years ago. Spent five of those years on the bank, but have enjoyed every minute of it. There Never seems to be a dull moment on the river. If its not a fish bitting it some thing drifting, flying, swiming or who knows what going by. Now i have my four year old son that goes with me atleast one day a week and he seems to enjoy it also. I think i had a tear in my eye the first time he told me we needed to go fishing. Life is great.

Great Post. Thanks to the few that got together and started this thing. I moved to Fountain City 4 years ago for a job. I was crushed to leave the great Walley/Muskie lakes of Northern Wisconsin. I didn’t even fish the river or hardly look at it for 3 years. This site got me excited about it. I bought a new jon and motor and have been playing since this spring. Wow! what a wasted 3 years. I live only 2 blocks from a landing, can’t wait to get out, every day.

What a great post, well said!

I’m a confirmed laker who has been completely and totally humbled by the river. But, still there is something vast and interesting about it that keeps bringing me back. This weekend I headed back to my beloved Minnetonka and found that I still can catch fish…. But I can pretty much guarantee you that next weekend, I’ll be back on the river trying to put to good use the knowledge that I get from this site.

Speaking of the site… WOW! Well run, and what a great group of folks!

RiverEyes – Thank you!!!!!!!

I have nothing to add…………great post! And to it, I say, “Here, here!”, to all our tomorrows.

Thks for putting into words what alot of us are thinking Rivereyes. I had both of my boys read your post. I could see in there eyes that they have a better understanding what their ole man is all about. Beautiful!