Hello Addix! We wanted to encourage you to keep fishing and posting those reports. Over the last several months, the fishing reports have become the central hub for creating, viewing, and learning new information. Our team realizes the importance of making these tools easier and more efficient for our members since they represent the bread and butter (and boy, do we like a full stomach). Well… we’ve made the Fishing Report Tools even easier to use… if you can believe it!
Some of the changes we’ve made, to make your life easier, include the ability to duplicate catches faster, edit catches after you’re entered them, and an easier format for attaching photos to your report so that everyone can see your catches – just to name a few. We’ve even changed the format and layout of the reports to make them easier to enjoy (trip Highlights section)! Check out Keith’s Bonanza here!
The FishAddix team is constantly striving to make the site easier to use by reorganizing information and adding options to make life as a FishAddix easier. We hope you are able to enjoy the fruits of our labor and if you have any suggestions, please email them to comments@fishaddix.com. And stay tuned for more updates as our think-tank and development teams continue to churn out and implement new ideas.
Fish on,
James, Joe & CHIPTY
The official Fishing Blog of Chipty and FishAddix.com!
Friday, July 23, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
FishAddix.com – The Up-and-Coming Fishing Based Community Website
As I sit down to write this article, I can literally feel a rush of emotions surging through my body. A similar feeling is experienced when you sense a lunker stalking your lure, or for you non-fisherman, the excitement that’s felt when your team is on the 1 yard line looking to punch it in for a victory.
What I’m talking about, as aptly described in the title of this article, is FishAddix.com – an up-and-coming fishing based community website. I may be throwing around the phrase “up-and-coming,” because the site has been live for over a year. However, if you had a side by side comparison of the site in its infancy and the site as it is today – you wouldn’t recognize them as one in the same. The leaps and bounds taken by the management team can only be compared to the space race of the 1960’s. It’s as if JFK himself challenged the FishAddix staff to make the best possible fishing website in the shortest period of time on a budget that seemed like pennies. One year later, we sit on the verge of a launch, anticipating the catastrophic explosion that will send the website into every house on the planet and make FishAddix.com a household name. If you have made the journey to the website recently, it’s a hard fact to deny. Every day the FishAddix staff takes strides toward making the site a better, more efficient experience… and it shows.
The pride and joy of FishAddix.com would have to be the ever-growing database of fishing locations around the country in combination with its user defined fishing reports. The site has been masterfully engineered to a point where every user entry makes the site better. There is no waiting around for site updates or sending emails to an unattended inbox. The cold hard truth is that – when you create a fishing report – the site gets better. That’s not to say that it doesn’t have its idiosyncrasies or subtle nuances, but everything does. Case in point: Einstein’s hairdo.
Let’s imagine for a moment that you’ve just wrapped up your day fishing – you stroll on home and go to FishAddix.com to create your fishing report. You search the lake by country and state, type in the name and a list of possible entries populates. The lake hasn’t been entered you say? You can take it upon yourself to add your fishing location – Wikipedia style. After entering several categories including the name, location, and fish found at the lake, you click the “Put it on the Map!” button. The site uses your previous entries and automatic synchronization with googlemaps to find the lake. You confirm that it’s the right location and Presto, you’ve created a new location. As an added bonus, this location is automatically linked to your followed locations where you can enter and see if anyone else has posted a fishing report at the same location. Now before you go fishing the next time, you can hop on the site, search for other fishing reports, and get a good handle on what you can expect before you leave the house. It’s like having every fisherman make a personal entry into your marble composition fishing log (come on, you know you have one). Currently in development (or in a queue of items to be developed) is a process that will make these searches even more efficient and user friendly. I can’t tell you about it here because we don’t want to be inundated with emails about the process and it’s currently regarded as a trade secret.
The customization seems endless: photos, videos, comments, blogs, hot spots, friends, notifications and trends are all available for your viewing and using pleasure. As if this wasn’t enough, a recently added “Addix Points” system and leader board has been introduced to keep track of all our members. Points are assigned based on your user entries and activity on the site and a leader board is published so you can compare with your friends.
Not interested with keeping up with the Jones’? Well FishAddix conveniently keeps track of all your personal stats too. Have a look at your largest catch, average catch, and species of catches, all sortable by time and location. There’s also a personal information section for all you social butterflies out there.
According to a study in 2006, U.S. anglers alone spent over $40 billion on fishing trips, equipment, licenses, and other items (http://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/article_d142b57c-1b6d-5ae4-b0bf-d55dd5068c44.html). If you contributed to this total, even by the smallest margin, FishAddix.com should be your new home. How many times have you gone to the store and picked up a smorgasbord of tackle that you didn’t set out to buy in the first place. The monetary savings alone of doing some research on the site would be worth signing up. Add to the fact that the site is absolutely free and what you have is a no-brainer. A one-stop-shop for your fishing needs and a place to tell your stories amongst friends, because let’s be honest, the kids and your neighbors are tired of hearing your tall tales. Well guess what… we aren’t!!!
The flow of information on the site is truly staggering. As of this article, the top 25 anglers on the site have already caught almost 1800 fish (which I easily calculated using the nifty leader board I mentioned above), not to mention the bevy of blogs, fishing reports, pictures, and videos to be had. The beauty of the site is its simultaneous simplicity and usefulness. And in the crosshairs, the FishAddix team aims to keep streamlining the results, the input, the shared database of knowledge, and the experience.
The possibilities are endless for the site and we’ve already managed to create a To-Do List that will keep a web page design company busy until the turn of the century. The key is that the men (and women) behind the curtains are people like you and me… fishermen. One could say that it’s a site designed for the people, by the people. Amateur and avid anglers alike can join and find new tips and strategies or just to find a home where your outdoorsmanship is appreciated. The site is over 1500 members strong and the atmosphere is that of a large party boat with all your friends. The active members are so commonplace you’ll think you’ve been fishing alongside them your whole life.
The ultimate goal for the website is world domination. Not the Napoleon kind, but the kind where you can sign into the website, search any lake in the world, and fish it like you’ve been fishing it for years. Only one question remains…. will you be a part of the revolution?
Visit http://www.fishaddix.com/ …… and Get Addicted!!!
What I’m talking about, as aptly described in the title of this article, is FishAddix.com – an up-and-coming fishing based community website. I may be throwing around the phrase “up-and-coming,” because the site has been live for over a year. However, if you had a side by side comparison of the site in its infancy and the site as it is today – you wouldn’t recognize them as one in the same. The leaps and bounds taken by the management team can only be compared to the space race of the 1960’s. It’s as if JFK himself challenged the FishAddix staff to make the best possible fishing website in the shortest period of time on a budget that seemed like pennies. One year later, we sit on the verge of a launch, anticipating the catastrophic explosion that will send the website into every house on the planet and make FishAddix.com a household name. If you have made the journey to the website recently, it’s a hard fact to deny. Every day the FishAddix staff takes strides toward making the site a better, more efficient experience… and it shows.
The pride and joy of FishAddix.com would have to be the ever-growing database of fishing locations around the country in combination with its user defined fishing reports. The site has been masterfully engineered to a point where every user entry makes the site better. There is no waiting around for site updates or sending emails to an unattended inbox. The cold hard truth is that – when you create a fishing report – the site gets better. That’s not to say that it doesn’t have its idiosyncrasies or subtle nuances, but everything does. Case in point: Einstein’s hairdo.
Let’s imagine for a moment that you’ve just wrapped up your day fishing – you stroll on home and go to FishAddix.com to create your fishing report. You search the lake by country and state, type in the name and a list of possible entries populates. The lake hasn’t been entered you say? You can take it upon yourself to add your fishing location – Wikipedia style. After entering several categories including the name, location, and fish found at the lake, you click the “Put it on the Map!” button. The site uses your previous entries and automatic synchronization with googlemaps to find the lake. You confirm that it’s the right location and Presto, you’ve created a new location. As an added bonus, this location is automatically linked to your followed locations where you can enter and see if anyone else has posted a fishing report at the same location. Now before you go fishing the next time, you can hop on the site, search for other fishing reports, and get a good handle on what you can expect before you leave the house. It’s like having every fisherman make a personal entry into your marble composition fishing log (come on, you know you have one). Currently in development (or in a queue of items to be developed) is a process that will make these searches even more efficient and user friendly. I can’t tell you about it here because we don’t want to be inundated with emails about the process and it’s currently regarded as a trade secret.
The customization seems endless: photos, videos, comments, blogs, hot spots, friends, notifications and trends are all available for your viewing and using pleasure. As if this wasn’t enough, a recently added “Addix Points” system and leader board has been introduced to keep track of all our members. Points are assigned based on your user entries and activity on the site and a leader board is published so you can compare with your friends.
Not interested with keeping up with the Jones’? Well FishAddix conveniently keeps track of all your personal stats too. Have a look at your largest catch, average catch, and species of catches, all sortable by time and location. There’s also a personal information section for all you social butterflies out there.
According to a study in 2006, U.S. anglers alone spent over $40 billion on fishing trips, equipment, licenses, and other items (http://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/article_d142b57c-1b6d-5ae4-b0bf-d55dd5068c44.html). If you contributed to this total, even by the smallest margin, FishAddix.com should be your new home. How many times have you gone to the store and picked up a smorgasbord of tackle that you didn’t set out to buy in the first place. The monetary savings alone of doing some research on the site would be worth signing up. Add to the fact that the site is absolutely free and what you have is a no-brainer. A one-stop-shop for your fishing needs and a place to tell your stories amongst friends, because let’s be honest, the kids and your neighbors are tired of hearing your tall tales. Well guess what… we aren’t!!!
The flow of information on the site is truly staggering. As of this article, the top 25 anglers on the site have already caught almost 1800 fish (which I easily calculated using the nifty leader board I mentioned above), not to mention the bevy of blogs, fishing reports, pictures, and videos to be had. The beauty of the site is its simultaneous simplicity and usefulness. And in the crosshairs, the FishAddix team aims to keep streamlining the results, the input, the shared database of knowledge, and the experience.
The possibilities are endless for the site and we’ve already managed to create a To-Do List that will keep a web page design company busy until the turn of the century. The key is that the men (and women) behind the curtains are people like you and me… fishermen. One could say that it’s a site designed for the people, by the people. Amateur and avid anglers alike can join and find new tips and strategies or just to find a home where your outdoorsmanship is appreciated. The site is over 1500 members strong and the atmosphere is that of a large party boat with all your friends. The active members are so commonplace you’ll think you’ve been fishing alongside them your whole life.
The ultimate goal for the website is world domination. Not the Napoleon kind, but the kind where you can sign into the website, search any lake in the world, and fish it like you’ve been fishing it for years. Only one question remains…. will you be a part of the revolution?
Visit http://www.fishaddix.com/ …… and Get Addicted!!!
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Jame's and Joe's gift to Anglers
Hey Addix,
As promised, we recently added some big time features to help you catch more fish. Check them out!
New Addix Leaderboard
· You can finally prove who is the best fisherman
· Get points for catching fish and posting info
· Rise up the ranks from a New Recruit to a Legendary Angler
· Learn more: Where do you rank? How do you get points?
If you're already high on the Skillz Leaderboards, don't worry, these will remain the same along with your top Experience, Lunker Hunters, Numbers Game experts (yes Josh your still at the top for now!), and Multi-Species anglers.
If you’re not at the top of the leaderboards, don't stress! You can win bonus points just by being at the top of these Skillz Leaderboards for a month. See the whole breakdown on how to get points and start your journey through the ranks now!
Invite A Friend!
Log in and use the "Invite A Friend" link on the bottom bar to invite your friends to Get in on the action. The more friends and people invite to FishAddix the better info and tips you will get
Thank you for all of your support and patience. We are working hard to build the best place for you to feed your addiction!
Happy 4th!
James & Joe
As promised, we recently added some big time features to help you catch more fish. Check them out!
New Addix Leaderboard
· You can finally prove who is the best fisherman
· Get points for catching fish and posting info
· Rise up the ranks from a New Recruit to a Legendary Angler
· Learn more: Where do you rank? How do you get points?
If you're already high on the Skillz Leaderboards, don't worry, these will remain the same along with your top Experience, Lunker Hunters, Numbers Game experts (yes Josh your still at the top for now!), and Multi-Species anglers.
If you’re not at the top of the leaderboards, don't stress! You can win bonus points just by being at the top of these Skillz Leaderboards for a month. See the whole breakdown on how to get points and start your journey through the ranks now!
Invite A Friend!
Log in and use the "Invite A Friend" link on the bottom bar to invite your friends to Get in on the action. The more friends and people invite to FishAddix the better info and tips you will get
Thank you for all of your support and patience. We are working hard to build the best place for you to feed your addiction!
Happy 4th!
James & Joe
Monday, June 14, 2010
The Great Oil Spill of 2010
As an outdoor enthusiast company and website, FishAddix LLC and FishAddix.com, we thought it would be necessary to weigh in on the Great Oil Spill of Twenty-Ten. The objective of this article is not to ruffle the feathers of the already agitated general public; but rather, to provide some food for thought to those who are tired of reading the same politically laced news fodder. However, since our opinions will be discussed in the article it’s almost certain that those of you who are looking for themes, undertones, and an agenda – will find them.
It is without question that we are living through a significant historic event. The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has already been crowned the worst oil spill in US history. And whether we want to acknowledge it or not, the events that have unfolded and those that are continuing to unfold will be read about by generations to come. Our every move, decision, strategy, and conversation will likely be a new chapter in the history books of tomorrow. What the history books say about this event and how we handled it cannot be fully understood yet as the impacts of the events continue to change every day. And although this chapter in history may be a gloomy one, it seems to be a necessary evil and one that will ultimately be scrutinized and learned from for years to come.
So what does history have to do with the current events in the Gulf? To this we could offer the age old cliché, “Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” And while this is true, it’s not really what we are trying to establish. Instead, we are simply acknowledging this event as a significant historic event based on the notion that major historic events and milestones seem to be measured by how many people’s lives are affected by them. Case in point: the space missions and moon landings, the world wars, and 9/11, just to name a few. We are not trying to compare the oil spill to these events or cheapen the past events; however, all these events are major historic happenings because of the shear amount of people affected.
The number of people affected by the event grows in volume everyday as the area of oil increases throughout the ocean and as it washes on shore. The degrees to which people are affected vary greatly, from the not-so-affected people who had their day at the beach ruined, to the severely affected, almost impaired people like local fisherman and residents whose livelihoods now hang in the balance. It’s fair to say that the locals, residents, and fisherman most certainly got the raw end of the deal as their lives may never be the same. Whether the fact that their lives may never be the same is a good thing or a bad thing remains to be seen. Some would say that they have fallen victim to a man-made disaster, while others would say that these people have been given the opportunity to be on the front line of a global change in the way this world runs. Of course, in war terms, the front line usually suffers great losses and usually what follows is a debate about the philosophy of sacrificing a few to save the majority. And at the risk of repeating ourselves, the degree and magnitude of the sacrifices are still unknown because the Great Oil Spill of 2010 is still in its infancy.
Although the magnitude of sacrifice is unknown, it’s reasonable to state that sacrifices have already been made and will continue to be made by many. What the rest of us do from the outside has the power to ease are intensify those losses. While many people have already responded generously to aid in the relief effort, it pains us to read about the selfish people in the world who seem to care about nothing but themselves. Recently, an article was published on the internet talking about the oil companies profiting from the oil spill because the price of oil jumped up $2 per barrel. This really struck a nerve with our company and we was flabbergasted while reading it. Call us old fashioned but we thought it was absurd to discuss BP’s profitability while efforts should be focused elsewhere. This would be like attending a wake and someone talking about the funeral home or casket maker profiting from the death of others. While the point may be valid, it seems that a lot of people take the liberty of overriding their moral compass nowadays, especially when money is involved.
On the other side of the coin – politics. Now we are not going to cite any documentation on either side of things – because that’s not really the point of the article. However, the spill in the Gulf of Mexico is just another reason on the long list of reasons why this world needs to change how it operates. This is not a plug for completely disbanding oil as a source of fuel or a conspiracy theory about how oil companies rule the world. But recent events certainly call for a play to be made in introducing alternative fuel sources. What those sources are and the timeline for enacting them should be left to the politicians and the highest bidders, but it is undeniable that something needs to be done.
Littered in the news right now is a lot of blaming. People are pointing the finger at the oil companies, politicians are pointing the finger at each other, people are blaming politicians, and the list goes on. But before passing the buck, think about your share in this disaster. Did you know that in a poll conducted in 2008, 67% of people were in favor of offshore drilling for oil, with only 18% opposed and 15% undecided. And now, after this tragedy, people are calling for swift action and penalty for those responsible. It seems hypocritical that people are calling for swift justice now, but before this happened people signed the permission slip for offshore drilling in hopes they would pay less at the pump. It’s very easy to pass the buck and point the finger at someone else, and we are not saying that people shouldn’t be held accountable for their actions, however, before you pass it along, think about your contribution and what you are doing to avoid these situations in the future. Why should we allow drilling one minute and not the next because of an accident? Why should we demand justice from the comfort of our homes instead of taking part in it? And what could you be doing to help?
It almost feels like people are just jumping on the politically correct bandwagon and suggesting the solution that is trending that week instead of accepting their responsibility. The public does not seem to mind being excluded from the roles of judge and jury. In fact, they seem content with not being part of the system at all and would rather watch from a distance like a reality show. How about accepting the responsibility and stopping other people from doing our bidding. Start by carpooling or riding a bike to work. Wear a sweater instead of jacking up the heat. Everyone always thinks that they can’t bring about change, or that they aren’t a contributing factor. But if we the consumer took a stance and acted as the catalyst for change instead of waiting for one, great things could happen.
Paraphrasing Thomas Jefferson, a rebellion is needed every 20 years to bring about change and to eradicate complacency among the people and those in charge. “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure." To be clear, we are not suggesting that everyone exercise their second amendment right to bear arms, but rather, we are trying to show that a significant event (the oil spill) needs to take place in order to bring about change. And instead of crying over spilled milk and blaming everyone else for the problems, accept your share of the responsibility and do something about this problem that future generations can be proud of. And although it may be time for a change, please do not fall victim to the illusion that all the world’s problems will be saved using alternative fuels. It’s important to remember that there will be problems and consequences that accompany all avenues we chose to explore. However, what’s most important, is that we continue to explore, instead of sitting idly by.
Joe & James
The FishAddix Team
It is without question that we are living through a significant historic event. The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has already been crowned the worst oil spill in US history. And whether we want to acknowledge it or not, the events that have unfolded and those that are continuing to unfold will be read about by generations to come. Our every move, decision, strategy, and conversation will likely be a new chapter in the history books of tomorrow. What the history books say about this event and how we handled it cannot be fully understood yet as the impacts of the events continue to change every day. And although this chapter in history may be a gloomy one, it seems to be a necessary evil and one that will ultimately be scrutinized and learned from for years to come.
So what does history have to do with the current events in the Gulf? To this we could offer the age old cliché, “Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” And while this is true, it’s not really what we are trying to establish. Instead, we are simply acknowledging this event as a significant historic event based on the notion that major historic events and milestones seem to be measured by how many people’s lives are affected by them. Case in point: the space missions and moon landings, the world wars, and 9/11, just to name a few. We are not trying to compare the oil spill to these events or cheapen the past events; however, all these events are major historic happenings because of the shear amount of people affected.
The number of people affected by the event grows in volume everyday as the area of oil increases throughout the ocean and as it washes on shore. The degrees to which people are affected vary greatly, from the not-so-affected people who had their day at the beach ruined, to the severely affected, almost impaired people like local fisherman and residents whose livelihoods now hang in the balance. It’s fair to say that the locals, residents, and fisherman most certainly got the raw end of the deal as their lives may never be the same. Whether the fact that their lives may never be the same is a good thing or a bad thing remains to be seen. Some would say that they have fallen victim to a man-made disaster, while others would say that these people have been given the opportunity to be on the front line of a global change in the way this world runs. Of course, in war terms, the front line usually suffers great losses and usually what follows is a debate about the philosophy of sacrificing a few to save the majority. And at the risk of repeating ourselves, the degree and magnitude of the sacrifices are still unknown because the Great Oil Spill of 2010 is still in its infancy.
Although the magnitude of sacrifice is unknown, it’s reasonable to state that sacrifices have already been made and will continue to be made by many. What the rest of us do from the outside has the power to ease are intensify those losses. While many people have already responded generously to aid in the relief effort, it pains us to read about the selfish people in the world who seem to care about nothing but themselves. Recently, an article was published on the internet talking about the oil companies profiting from the oil spill because the price of oil jumped up $2 per barrel. This really struck a nerve with our company and we was flabbergasted while reading it. Call us old fashioned but we thought it was absurd to discuss BP’s profitability while efforts should be focused elsewhere. This would be like attending a wake and someone talking about the funeral home or casket maker profiting from the death of others. While the point may be valid, it seems that a lot of people take the liberty of overriding their moral compass nowadays, especially when money is involved.
On the other side of the coin – politics. Now we are not going to cite any documentation on either side of things – because that’s not really the point of the article. However, the spill in the Gulf of Mexico is just another reason on the long list of reasons why this world needs to change how it operates. This is not a plug for completely disbanding oil as a source of fuel or a conspiracy theory about how oil companies rule the world. But recent events certainly call for a play to be made in introducing alternative fuel sources. What those sources are and the timeline for enacting them should be left to the politicians and the highest bidders, but it is undeniable that something needs to be done.
Littered in the news right now is a lot of blaming. People are pointing the finger at the oil companies, politicians are pointing the finger at each other, people are blaming politicians, and the list goes on. But before passing the buck, think about your share in this disaster. Did you know that in a poll conducted in 2008, 67% of people were in favor of offshore drilling for oil, with only 18% opposed and 15% undecided. And now, after this tragedy, people are calling for swift action and penalty for those responsible. It seems hypocritical that people are calling for swift justice now, but before this happened people signed the permission slip for offshore drilling in hopes they would pay less at the pump. It’s very easy to pass the buck and point the finger at someone else, and we are not saying that people shouldn’t be held accountable for their actions, however, before you pass it along, think about your contribution and what you are doing to avoid these situations in the future. Why should we allow drilling one minute and not the next because of an accident? Why should we demand justice from the comfort of our homes instead of taking part in it? And what could you be doing to help?
It almost feels like people are just jumping on the politically correct bandwagon and suggesting the solution that is trending that week instead of accepting their responsibility. The public does not seem to mind being excluded from the roles of judge and jury. In fact, they seem content with not being part of the system at all and would rather watch from a distance like a reality show. How about accepting the responsibility and stopping other people from doing our bidding. Start by carpooling or riding a bike to work. Wear a sweater instead of jacking up the heat. Everyone always thinks that they can’t bring about change, or that they aren’t a contributing factor. But if we the consumer took a stance and acted as the catalyst for change instead of waiting for one, great things could happen.
Paraphrasing Thomas Jefferson, a rebellion is needed every 20 years to bring about change and to eradicate complacency among the people and those in charge. “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure." To be clear, we are not suggesting that everyone exercise their second amendment right to bear arms, but rather, we are trying to show that a significant event (the oil spill) needs to take place in order to bring about change. And instead of crying over spilled milk and blaming everyone else for the problems, accept your share of the responsibility and do something about this problem that future generations can be proud of. And although it may be time for a change, please do not fall victim to the illusion that all the world’s problems will be saved using alternative fuels. It’s important to remember that there will be problems and consequences that accompany all avenues we chose to explore. However, what’s most important, is that we continue to explore, instead of sitting idly by.
Joe & James
The FishAddix Team
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Top Ten People You Don’t Want to Fish Next To
Welcome back kids. Before I delve into this week’s topic I’d just like to say (well actually type) a few words about the incredible oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. In order to keep out of the political bull that is surrounding this mess, all I want to say is that as fishermen (as well as people), I think we can all recognize how much something like this blows on so many levels. And I really just wanted to say what a tragedy it has become for a lot of people including fishermen, locals, residents, and tons of others. I know my blogs are usually on the lighter side but I thought it would be inconceivable not to mention something like this in a fishing blog. But now… on with the show!!!
This week’s blog is about the people you hate to fish with or near. Everyone has a story about someone who has ruined their fishing trip just by being… well…. alive. So this blog was inspired by all of those people out there that you just wish you could punt into the lakes as soon as they stroll up next you and open their mouth.
As always – suggestions about topics are welcomed and please don’t be shy. The worst thing that could happen is you make an awful suggestion and I’ll post your name, member photo, and email address along with the terrible suggestion in my next blog for everyone to read and humiliate you. Nah I’m just kidding, I wouldn’t post your member photo – that’s way too much work. (Just kidding – all suggestions and suggestors will remain completely anonymous.)
In an attempt to spice things up a bit (and helping to get my list of 10), I’ve thrown in a few characters (which will be obvious when you come across them) that you’d probably never run into on the lake – but I thought they would be worth mentioning. So, in no particular order, the following list represents Chipty’s List of the Top Ten People You Don’t Want to Fish Next To:
Hitler – So I started it off with a bang to get a quick laugh. In any event, this is a guy you wouldn’t want to run into anywhere. No explanation needed!
Overzealous Zach – Yessssssssss! Screams this overenthusiastic fisherman who couldn’t be more smitten with the tiny turd of a fish he’s reeled in after 12 hours of fishing in the sweltering heat. I’m all for optimism, but how is this guy’s glass half full when my half evaporated 10 hours ago?
Donald Downer – Cousin or perhaps father to Debbie Downer (with a name like Debbie Downer they have to be from the Incestual South). This is one member of the Downer Family Tree you don’t want to run into. This guy is just miserable no matter what the conditions are like, and no matter how many fish he’s caught. He could boat a fish that makes your daily lunker look like something out of a fish tank and he still finds something to bitch and moan about.
Abraham Lincoln – Let’s be real here for a second. We’re all fisherman, and more or less cut from the same cloth. As the years wear on, the numbers get bigger (just like how many “fish” we’ve had and the size of our…… rods). But with Honest Abe at your side everyone will know how few fish you’ve landed, how busted they really were, and how unequipped you were to handle them.
Big Brother Volunteer – Now I have nothing against the big brother/big sister concept and I think it’s wonderful that people volunteer their time for these activities. That is until, they come strolling down towards my end of the lake and plop down within arms reach. I don’t know how many times I’ve told myself not to hit a man that’s probably serving court ordered volunteer time.
The Newlyweds – I’m not sure if any of you have had the unfortunate pleasure of watching this terrible reality TV show. But imagine, just for a moment, that a couple such as this plops down next to you while you’re fishing. With chit chat that would bore even a mildly intelligent 3rd grader – you’re probably going to want to pick up your shit and get out of there.
Canoeing Charlie and Kayaking Kelly – Now this duo may fit into the Newlyweds category but I’ve made them their own category because it’s not that it’s a guy and a girl – it’s what they’re doing. I used to fish at a pretty recreational lake, and again, I have nothing against the outdoors and people enjoying it. However, when this dynamic duo comes paddling their way across the lake, seemingly B-Lining it right for me, there’s really nothing to do but bomb them with lures. And if they’re quick enough to dodge your casts (you probably suck at casting if this is the case – they’re in canoes for Pete’s Sake) then I suggest throwing anything you can find at them that can replaced for under $3.
And last but not least, the oil conglomerates BP or Exxon Valdez – Because there’s nothing you want to do less than fish next to an oil covered baby seal. I’m sorry, I just couldn’t help myself.
Well, that’s my list and I’m sticking to it! Did anybody else notice there were only 8 characters on my top 10 list? Well those last 3 are open for discussion amongst you, the members. I’d like to hear what you have to say on the subject. And remember, send in your topics to info@fishaddix.com, with the subject line “Attn: Chipty.” And by the way, I’m still waiting for my fan mail and love letters to start pouring in, so splurge for that $0.00 virtual stamp and click the send button.
Until next time…
Fish On,
CHIPTY
This week’s blog is about the people you hate to fish with or near. Everyone has a story about someone who has ruined their fishing trip just by being… well…. alive. So this blog was inspired by all of those people out there that you just wish you could punt into the lakes as soon as they stroll up next you and open their mouth.
As always – suggestions about topics are welcomed and please don’t be shy. The worst thing that could happen is you make an awful suggestion and I’ll post your name, member photo, and email address along with the terrible suggestion in my next blog for everyone to read and humiliate you. Nah I’m just kidding, I wouldn’t post your member photo – that’s way too much work. (Just kidding – all suggestions and suggestors will remain completely anonymous.)
In an attempt to spice things up a bit (and helping to get my list of 10), I’ve thrown in a few characters (which will be obvious when you come across them) that you’d probably never run into on the lake – but I thought they would be worth mentioning. So, in no particular order, the following list represents Chipty’s List of the Top Ten People You Don’t Want to Fish Next To:
Hitler – So I started it off with a bang to get a quick laugh. In any event, this is a guy you wouldn’t want to run into anywhere. No explanation needed!
Overzealous Zach – Yessssssssss! Screams this overenthusiastic fisherman who couldn’t be more smitten with the tiny turd of a fish he’s reeled in after 12 hours of fishing in the sweltering heat. I’m all for optimism, but how is this guy’s glass half full when my half evaporated 10 hours ago?
Donald Downer – Cousin or perhaps father to Debbie Downer (with a name like Debbie Downer they have to be from the Incestual South). This is one member of the Downer Family Tree you don’t want to run into. This guy is just miserable no matter what the conditions are like, and no matter how many fish he’s caught. He could boat a fish that makes your daily lunker look like something out of a fish tank and he still finds something to bitch and moan about.
Abraham Lincoln – Let’s be real here for a second. We’re all fisherman, and more or less cut from the same cloth. As the years wear on, the numbers get bigger (just like how many “fish” we’ve had and the size of our…… rods). But with Honest Abe at your side everyone will know how few fish you’ve landed, how busted they really were, and how unequipped you were to handle them.
Big Brother Volunteer – Now I have nothing against the big brother/big sister concept and I think it’s wonderful that people volunteer their time for these activities. That is until, they come strolling down towards my end of the lake and plop down within arms reach. I don’t know how many times I’ve told myself not to hit a man that’s probably serving court ordered volunteer time.
The Newlyweds – I’m not sure if any of you have had the unfortunate pleasure of watching this terrible reality TV show. But imagine, just for a moment, that a couple such as this plops down next to you while you’re fishing. With chit chat that would bore even a mildly intelligent 3rd grader – you’re probably going to want to pick up your shit and get out of there.
Canoeing Charlie and Kayaking Kelly – Now this duo may fit into the Newlyweds category but I’ve made them their own category because it’s not that it’s a guy and a girl – it’s what they’re doing. I used to fish at a pretty recreational lake, and again, I have nothing against the outdoors and people enjoying it. However, when this dynamic duo comes paddling their way across the lake, seemingly B-Lining it right for me, there’s really nothing to do but bomb them with lures. And if they’re quick enough to dodge your casts (you probably suck at casting if this is the case – they’re in canoes for Pete’s Sake) then I suggest throwing anything you can find at them that can replaced for under $3.
And last but not least, the oil conglomerates BP or Exxon Valdez – Because there’s nothing you want to do less than fish next to an oil covered baby seal. I’m sorry, I just couldn’t help myself.
Well, that’s my list and I’m sticking to it! Did anybody else notice there were only 8 characters on my top 10 list? Well those last 3 are open for discussion amongst you, the members. I’d like to hear what you have to say on the subject. And remember, send in your topics to info@fishaddix.com, with the subject line “Attn: Chipty.” And by the way, I’m still waiting for my fan mail and love letters to start pouring in, so splurge for that $0.00 virtual stamp and click the send button.
Until next time…
Fish On,
CHIPTY
Friday, May 14, 2010
This Week in Fishing – The Top Ten Worst Things You Could Do while Fishing
Welcome one, welcome all to my latest blogarooski. How was the entrance? Overdone? Ah, it’s just my style. This week I wanted to keep the blog on the lighter side and talk about mortality rates amongst fisherman. Nah, I’m just kidding. But this week’s blog is kind of an ode to the stupidity of fisherman and a bit of the Murphy’s Law that seems to follow us wherever we decide to deploy our poles. Thanks to the FishAddix member, who will remain anonymous, for suggesting the topic. Reminder: if you have a topic you would like the talented CHIPTY to explore, you can send your ideas to (info@fishaddix.com) with the subject line, “ATTN: CHIPTY”. You can also send fan mail and love letters to the same address.
The Top Ten Worst Things You Could Do while Fishing:
To give you a little insight into the crazy mind that is CHIPTY, I’ve ranked the following predicaments based on a few categories:
• Most damage – monetary and physical damage,
• Humorous – because yeah, I’m kind of sick like that, and
• Personal Experience – there’s not much someone can say when you’ve dealt with one of these issues first hand. It always seems like its the worst when it’s happened to you.
So keep that in mind when you’re perusing through the list. And without further ado – read on!
10) The Coveted Tree Cast: Everybody has been through this one. Or at least been witness to it. You’re standing on the bank reeling in your latest failed attempt and you see a splash. You reel up and realize that the splash you saw is just out of reach under the overhanging weeping willow tree. You put on your Evel Knievel hat and cast that puppy out. But before you’re line is done unspooling from you reel, you realize, you’re not going to get a chance at that fish. And you’re going to spend the next 15 minutes trying to get your lure, or live bait, (that poor helpless shiner) back from the branches you’ve just caught.
9) Fishing Injuries: There is a vast array of fishing injuries one could sustain while working the waters we all love. From dislocating your rotator cuff because you were in a casting competition with your friends – to twisting an ankle because you fell off the upper ledge of your boat during a hook set. They are more bizarre and seemingly contrived from the Heavens above then the range of sports related injuries we hear about on TV. I’d better leave this one to the experts. What’s your worst fishing injury?
8) Get in My Way Will Ya: We have all had those moments on the lake where nothing seems to be going our way. The 4lb you’ve been trying to catch finally took your lure but snapped your line on some submerged trees. Or no matter how many times you’ve past your favorite fishing hole, those damn kids are still there skipping rocks. The ups and downs of fishing can certainly lead to a little panty bunching and I’m sure we can all admit to getting a little hot headed at times. The problem with getting hot headed on a crowded lake is that you’re just looking for someone to take your anger out on. And you’re in luck. The Benny with the shiny 17-foot bass tracker is testing your limits and coming awfully close to where you’re fishing. “Bombs away,” you shout in your head as you hook up a heavy, dual trebled lure and cast that bad boy onto his boat. Hopefully he’s not having an equally bad day, or you could be in for a good old fashioned fishing brawl.
7) No Gas in the Motor: This one never seems to happen to you as you’re setting sail to get your day under way. Nah, the fishing Deities decide when this one happens. And it’s usually just far enough from shore that you can’t yell for help, and not quite far enough that you’ve made it to your favorite spot. And of course, you lent your extra paddle to your kid who broke his in a freak kayaking incident. You thought, it’s no big deal, how many times have I actually needed the paddles anyway.
6) Bathroom Anyone: For those of you who know me, and those of whom I haven’t had the pleasure, believe me, I wanted to put this one higher on the list. Perhaps as high as number two (oh yeah – pun intended!). So when I say, I’m speaking from experience here, this has definitely happened to me a time or two (more puns – I just can’t help myself). Never, and I mean never, forget to take that pregame trip to the men’s room before going on a fishing trip. And I’m not talking about the nature you can relieve by using the edge of the boat as your urinal. Alas, nature isn’t always calling when you want it to, and if you leave the men’s room broken-hearted, remember, pack your lunch in paper!
5) Did You Unhook the Boat: This one is painful to experience because you’re probably going to be putting a new hitch and/or bumper on your car, depending on how fast you went down the boat ramp, but thoroughly hilarious to watch. The gray area, if you will, is when you’re sitting on the boat while your fishing buddy backs it down the boat ramp. If you manage to stay in the boat, after he slams on the brakes, you won’t know whether to laugh or cry. Laugh my friends, laugh, because everyone else is.
4) Where are My Keys: Can’t find your keys? As much as you want to think that you’re not that stupid, you are. Of course you shouldn’t have put your keys in your shirt pocket while you went fishing. And of course, as if by the grace of God, you probably lost them while you bent down to lip the lunker of the day.
3) Now Where is that Plug: We all have a lot of things on our mind, and I’m sure that fishing is one way all FishAddix try to forget the realities and responsibilities of everyday life. But when you’re doing that final once over, make sure you remember to put the plug in the back of the boat. Not doing so can ultimately lead to the disaster that is number two on our countdown, if you don’t realize it soon enough, or if that archaic bilge pump your Uncle gave you 3 years ago doesn’t live up to all the, “they don’t make ‘em like they used to” hype.
2) Going Down with the Ship: Just like us, boats have an expiration date too. And like the guy choking on a handful of popcorn during your favorite movie, they tend to punch out at the most inconvenient of times. Of course, you can extend your boat’s sea-worthiness by taking good care of it. But like everyone who owns a boat knows, if you did all the work it needed, you probably wouldn’t have a house and little Suzy certainly wouldn’t have a college fund. The only question you have to ask yourself is: When that baby goes down, are you going to pull a Leonardo DiCaprio and go down with the ship? Or are you going to say, “To hell with the women and children, I’m jumping ship.”
1) The Human Hook Set: And the number one worst thing to do while you are fishing is – hook a friend. I’m torn on whether I’d rather be on the giving or receiving end of this situation (did the almighty CHIPTY just leave the door wide open for tons of bedroom jokes), because I’m not sure if I’d want to drive my friend to the ER, while he’s bleeding all over my car, and explain to the nurses that I’m the one that sunk those treble hooks a half inch deep into the back of his neck, or, if I’d rather be the one pointing and screaming as the nurse pumps more morphine into me. Because you know for one, he’s keeping that lure as a trophy, two, you’re going to have to foot the medical bills and several rounds at the pub afterward, and three, he’s got the ultimate pickup line for the rest of his life while you’re cast into the dungeons of solitary confinement because you made one bad cast. Either way, not a good situation to be in, and depending on the type of hook and how strong your cast is, I think this one has the most potential for damage and will make a hilarious story down the road (after that wound closes up of course).
So these were my worst crimes committed while fishing, what are some bad things that have happened to you over the years?
And how would you have ranked the situations mentioned above?
Stay tuned for next week’s blog, where CHIPTY elaborates on a topic he hasn’t thought of yet! All ideas welcome.
Fish on,
CHIPTY
The Top Ten Worst Things You Could Do while Fishing:
To give you a little insight into the crazy mind that is CHIPTY, I’ve ranked the following predicaments based on a few categories:
• Most damage – monetary and physical damage,
• Humorous – because yeah, I’m kind of sick like that, and
• Personal Experience – there’s not much someone can say when you’ve dealt with one of these issues first hand. It always seems like its the worst when it’s happened to you.
So keep that in mind when you’re perusing through the list. And without further ado – read on!
10) The Coveted Tree Cast: Everybody has been through this one. Or at least been witness to it. You’re standing on the bank reeling in your latest failed attempt and you see a splash. You reel up and realize that the splash you saw is just out of reach under the overhanging weeping willow tree. You put on your Evel Knievel hat and cast that puppy out. But before you’re line is done unspooling from you reel, you realize, you’re not going to get a chance at that fish. And you’re going to spend the next 15 minutes trying to get your lure, or live bait, (that poor helpless shiner) back from the branches you’ve just caught.
9) Fishing Injuries: There is a vast array of fishing injuries one could sustain while working the waters we all love. From dislocating your rotator cuff because you were in a casting competition with your friends – to twisting an ankle because you fell off the upper ledge of your boat during a hook set. They are more bizarre and seemingly contrived from the Heavens above then the range of sports related injuries we hear about on TV. I’d better leave this one to the experts. What’s your worst fishing injury?
8) Get in My Way Will Ya: We have all had those moments on the lake where nothing seems to be going our way. The 4lb you’ve been trying to catch finally took your lure but snapped your line on some submerged trees. Or no matter how many times you’ve past your favorite fishing hole, those damn kids are still there skipping rocks. The ups and downs of fishing can certainly lead to a little panty bunching and I’m sure we can all admit to getting a little hot headed at times. The problem with getting hot headed on a crowded lake is that you’re just looking for someone to take your anger out on. And you’re in luck. The Benny with the shiny 17-foot bass tracker is testing your limits and coming awfully close to where you’re fishing. “Bombs away,” you shout in your head as you hook up a heavy, dual trebled lure and cast that bad boy onto his boat. Hopefully he’s not having an equally bad day, or you could be in for a good old fashioned fishing brawl.
7) No Gas in the Motor: This one never seems to happen to you as you’re setting sail to get your day under way. Nah, the fishing Deities decide when this one happens. And it’s usually just far enough from shore that you can’t yell for help, and not quite far enough that you’ve made it to your favorite spot. And of course, you lent your extra paddle to your kid who broke his in a freak kayaking incident. You thought, it’s no big deal, how many times have I actually needed the paddles anyway.
6) Bathroom Anyone: For those of you who know me, and those of whom I haven’t had the pleasure, believe me, I wanted to put this one higher on the list. Perhaps as high as number two (oh yeah – pun intended!). So when I say, I’m speaking from experience here, this has definitely happened to me a time or two (more puns – I just can’t help myself). Never, and I mean never, forget to take that pregame trip to the men’s room before going on a fishing trip. And I’m not talking about the nature you can relieve by using the edge of the boat as your urinal. Alas, nature isn’t always calling when you want it to, and if you leave the men’s room broken-hearted, remember, pack your lunch in paper!
5) Did You Unhook the Boat: This one is painful to experience because you’re probably going to be putting a new hitch and/or bumper on your car, depending on how fast you went down the boat ramp, but thoroughly hilarious to watch. The gray area, if you will, is when you’re sitting on the boat while your fishing buddy backs it down the boat ramp. If you manage to stay in the boat, after he slams on the brakes, you won’t know whether to laugh or cry. Laugh my friends, laugh, because everyone else is.
4) Where are My Keys: Can’t find your keys? As much as you want to think that you’re not that stupid, you are. Of course you shouldn’t have put your keys in your shirt pocket while you went fishing. And of course, as if by the grace of God, you probably lost them while you bent down to lip the lunker of the day.
3) Now Where is that Plug: We all have a lot of things on our mind, and I’m sure that fishing is one way all FishAddix try to forget the realities and responsibilities of everyday life. But when you’re doing that final once over, make sure you remember to put the plug in the back of the boat. Not doing so can ultimately lead to the disaster that is number two on our countdown, if you don’t realize it soon enough, or if that archaic bilge pump your Uncle gave you 3 years ago doesn’t live up to all the, “they don’t make ‘em like they used to” hype.
2) Going Down with the Ship: Just like us, boats have an expiration date too. And like the guy choking on a handful of popcorn during your favorite movie, they tend to punch out at the most inconvenient of times. Of course, you can extend your boat’s sea-worthiness by taking good care of it. But like everyone who owns a boat knows, if you did all the work it needed, you probably wouldn’t have a house and little Suzy certainly wouldn’t have a college fund. The only question you have to ask yourself is: When that baby goes down, are you going to pull a Leonardo DiCaprio and go down with the ship? Or are you going to say, “To hell with the women and children, I’m jumping ship.”
1) The Human Hook Set: And the number one worst thing to do while you are fishing is – hook a friend. I’m torn on whether I’d rather be on the giving or receiving end of this situation (did the almighty CHIPTY just leave the door wide open for tons of bedroom jokes), because I’m not sure if I’d want to drive my friend to the ER, while he’s bleeding all over my car, and explain to the nurses that I’m the one that sunk those treble hooks a half inch deep into the back of his neck, or, if I’d rather be the one pointing and screaming as the nurse pumps more morphine into me. Because you know for one, he’s keeping that lure as a trophy, two, you’re going to have to foot the medical bills and several rounds at the pub afterward, and three, he’s got the ultimate pickup line for the rest of his life while you’re cast into the dungeons of solitary confinement because you made one bad cast. Either way, not a good situation to be in, and depending on the type of hook and how strong your cast is, I think this one has the most potential for damage and will make a hilarious story down the road (after that wound closes up of course).
So these were my worst crimes committed while fishing, what are some bad things that have happened to you over the years?
And how would you have ranked the situations mentioned above?
Stay tuned for next week’s blog, where CHIPTY elaborates on a topic he hasn’t thought of yet! All ideas welcome.
Fish on,
CHIPTY
Thursday, May 13, 2010
FishAddix May 2010 Newsletter
Hi Fellow FishAddix!
We just wanted to stop by and give you a quick update on the community's progress. In case you haven't visited lately, the community is crushing the fish right now! Since January there have been over 500 fishing reports!
In January we started keeping track of all the member's achievements, lunkers and catches. This is an ongoing program we are running with the goal of eventually logging BILLIONS of fish catches across the world and sharing the related information and tips with anglers worldwide. Do you even remember how many fish you caught so far this year? Add your catches to your fishing reports and don't bother trying to remember, we'll do it for you!
So far this year we've already logged 1,539 catches... make sure all of yours are accounted for! If you want to see the latest member catches, just pop by the community home page, the latest catches stream live right across the center of the page!
By the way, there are now 4,169 places to fish up and running, is your favorite body of water being reported yet??
Don't forget about the free t-shirt contest we are running as well! Click here to get your free FishAddix shirt.
For those of you that miss him, CHIPTY will be back in action very soon! Send your favorite topics for him to ponder on and he will humorously entertain you with his wandering thoughts very soon!
Thanks,
James & Joe
info@fishaddix.com
Follow us on Twitter – twitter.com/FishAddix
Become a fan on Facebook – facebook.com/FishAddixFans
We just wanted to stop by and give you a quick update on the community's progress. In case you haven't visited lately, the community is crushing the fish right now! Since January there have been over 500 fishing reports!
In January we started keeping track of all the member's achievements, lunkers and catches. This is an ongoing program we are running with the goal of eventually logging BILLIONS of fish catches across the world and sharing the related information and tips with anglers worldwide. Do you even remember how many fish you caught so far this year? Add your catches to your fishing reports and don't bother trying to remember, we'll do it for you!
So far this year we've already logged 1,539 catches... make sure all of yours are accounted for! If you want to see the latest member catches, just pop by the community home page, the latest catches stream live right across the center of the page!
By the way, there are now 4,169 places to fish up and running, is your favorite body of water being reported yet??
Don't forget about the free t-shirt contest we are running as well! Click here to get your free FishAddix shirt.
For those of you that miss him, CHIPTY will be back in action very soon! Send your favorite topics for him to ponder on and he will humorously entertain you with his wandering thoughts very soon!
Thanks,
James & Joe
info@fishaddix.com
Follow us on Twitter – twitter.com/FishAddix
Become a fan on Facebook – facebook.com/FishAddixFans
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