|
Officially this is the first weekly
issue of our Third Year! The first issue of FAOL went
up two years ago. This issue marks Volume 3, number 1!
Amazing since 'they' said it couldn't be done. But not
unlike "Field of Dreams" we built it and you all came.
For that JC and I are very grateful, and indeed humbled
by the great amount of participation on your part.
Here are some interesting facts about you. 80% of you
are male. 40% are new to fly fishing! A hearty welcome
to you! Your enthusiasm brightens our lives. Another
20% are from outside North America! Every country
in the world (except Tibet and China) has visited this
website. In fact a couple of countries we had to look
up since we were not aware they existed - shame of us.
We are delighted our foreign readers have found us,
and wish more would write something for us on their
fisheries. We all learn from each other, who knows
what insights might be out there, just waiting for a place
to write them. This IS the place.
We have an active Chat Room, which usually has adult
leadership in the form of a Host. Our Hosts come from
all walks of life and diverse places. The common thread
is they are all avid fly fishers, great folks who are willing
to help and make you feel welcome. You won't find a
nicer bunch of people anywhere!
Somewhere between 10 and 15% of our total readers use
this resource. I call the Chat Room a resource because of
the number of really interesting conversations about where
to fish, how to fish, which fly or which knot to use!
I understand not everyone is comfortable trying something
new - but if you haven't yet tried it, please do. I think you
will be pleasantly surprised. (If you can't access the Chat Room, send
me an email and we'll 'talk' you though it.)
We've had a great informative series on Fly Tying
this past year. It comes to an end with this weeks lesson.
Al Campbell will concentrate on finishing his book, and come
sometime this fall Al will begin a new tying series on Advanced
Tying, which will feature more difficult techniques. We will
miss Al's lessons, but he will still be part of FAOL. (You
can catch him in the Chat Room as Host AC on Thursday
nights, just in case you need a little help.)
Our 'Man in Canada' has gone through a job change, a major
move and now Clive is on a business (agriculture) trip to China.
There is an update on all that in this week's "Our Man in Canada"
article. We hope his life gets back to normal this fall, and he
will find his way back home to FAOL.
Mike Connor who so faithfully wrote our European Angling
articles has moved his business, bought another and is up to
his ears in paperwork. We appreciate anything he can do for
us at this time, and hope to be able to fill in until he returns.
You will find an interesting letter exchange from him and a reader
in European Angling this week.
Tying Tips, added some 20 weeks ago, has a large following.
If you haven't found it yet, it is listed on the Fly Tying menu.
George does a terrific job! (He has a neat sense of humor too.)
There are new things in the works - do check out the New
Feature beginning this week, Reel
Fish Tails. This is intended to be a place where you can
'post' a photo of you and your fish! Kind of nice to share with
us all.
If you have not looked at Friends of FAOL lately,
do that too. The list is growing! Sincere thanks to all those
who have joined.
As you go from page to page, you may also have noticed
some new Sponsors. We have added a few and more will
be up soon. A special thanks to those who have mentioned
us to sponsors (and who have suggested someone who
might become one.) Some of our Sponsors have received
'thank you's' from our readers. Wow! That made an
impression.
Finally, to you my friend, the biggest thank you! You are what
makes this website what it is. It is your views on the Bulletin
Board, stories in Readers Cast, or Eye of the Guide, your fly
pattern - your readership that keeps FAOL here. Folks just
seem to like reading fly fishing stuff from real fly fishers who
write something for us. Rather than reading something from
a writer who happens to fish. It is you the reader who make
this an honest site.
THANK YOU! ~ LadyFisher
If you would like to comment on this or any other article please feel free to
post your views on the FAOL Bulletin Board!
|
