Northwest Fishing Reports

Thanks to all the recent report posters this month - you're keeing me busy!

Please remember to use the rating system to reflect the fishing - not the quality of the trip. In other words, if you had no bites and still had a good time, rate it a "1", not a "3". Ignore the current comments that goes with a "1 thru 5". Just think of it as "1" for no fish, no bites, and "5" for hauling them in one after another, with the other numbers shades of those two extremes. We will be updating the rating definitions to indicate these changes with the next site update.

Our goal is to be able to incorporate the ratings into the data base so your help with this is critical and appreciated.

Thank you!

Mike,

i think the way you worded the rating system make people rate their trip how they do, a person can have a 5 star day and catch no fish.


you know what i am saying?

Fisherman_max wrote:Mike,

i think the way you worded the rating system make people rate their trip how they do, a person can have a 5 star day and catch no fish.


you know what i am saying?

I see what Mike is saying. I gave LW a 5 because I couldn't keep those cutts off my bait. But if I had an enjoyable time, but caught nothing then it would get a "1" not a "5." Makes good sense to me.

Thanks for the clarification Mike - I have always rated "the outing" and not "the catch". Now I will set the rating accordingly.

Which will probably drastically bring down my rating average since most times I get more enjoyment out of fishing than I do actual fish!:-$

it's always been a tough call deciding which way to go on this. But I think it wll be more useful as a fish indicator which is what we are wanting it to become. Heck most days on the water are 3 or better for me for experiences, while most catching is less than a 3.

very nice

Thanks for clarifying Mike. I know I am guilty of doing this.

Good to now know....I'm definitely guilty of giving a 3 rating for a day I got skunked...

Will the current ratings for every report that have been submitted stay or will they get erased and start at scratch?

The fishing is always fantastic - the catching is only an added bonus.

unfortunately what's posted would be a pain to go back and fix - so the sooner this is fixed the better.

Maybe it should be called a "catching report" instead of a "fishing report." lol - just joking.

i have not been looking at the reports in some time just for the reason that i want to know were the "action" is. with taking trips getting more costly i've relied on those post's to give me an idea if it may be a 3-5, or a 1-2 on catching something in that particular water at a particular time of year. i would rate all my posts 5's if it was for a great day for fishing <')//<

Mike,

Does this mean I need to upgrade all future ratings on Rock Lake to a 5 and not downgrade to a 4 for the bad launch ramp? (JK)

yes. lousy ramps should not count against great fishing.

Well, this is a little tricky when you apply it to tiger muskie fishing, because 1 tiger muskie boated for every 3 days of fishing is a good production rate, and fishless days are the norm in this sport. I'm kind of hesitant to rate a trip as a "1" because I didn't catch one on that trip. That's the nature of our sport.

I think you have to use some judgement. We are trying to avoid the "didn't catch anything but it was a great day to be on the water so I give it a 5" ratings.

As to muskie - let's say you didn't catch any BUT you had several follows that got your heart racing. I'd call that a 3 for muskie fishing. I certainly wouldn't call it a 1.

I like the modifications to the rating system. A one star used to say, "you had a bad time and won't be back," something along those lines. I consider every fishing trip a "good time," regardless of catching anything or not. Catching fish is the icing on the cake, so to speak. I see that a one star now says "you didn't have any luck." This is much less ambiguous! Kudos.

Beerman