Ifish mail... YAY!

[Jennie@ifish]

Every limb on my body ached. My mind screamed. I was "ifished" out.
Just at a time when I was ready to drop the other night, up pops this e mail from Trey Carskadon. I can't tell you the number of times I have gone to bed at night totally discouraged, saying "I can't do this no 'mo!" I hear the fighting, the side of ifish that none of you want to know about, and sometimes I just can't take it one more day! But, I have kept on. Trey's letter made me glad that I have.
You know, I heard Trey at the Vancouver hearing and I was mesmerized and facinated by the passion in his testimony at the Vancouver hearing.

I'd like to personally thank the moderators and admin at ifish who are absolutely irreplaceable. Their passion for our sport is strong, and they have help up through the same frustrations (sometimes more!) that I have had. They have held me up, encouraged me, and corrected me when I goof.
I'm certain there are times that they are so frustrated with me that I'm not their favorite person!!! :smile:
Yet, they don't quit. They keep on, through times that I know they too, have had it up to their ears!

...and how many times have YOU wanted to quit ifish? Tired of the name calling, the zipperlips... so many things!
So tired of it that you have had enough, too? I'm sure there are plenty!

Anyhow, back to Trey.

You know Trey. Everyone in the fisheries world knows Trey. He's the guy who you see on the river. He has been a fishing, whitewater and outdoors guide for the past 18 years and is a dedicated angler who fishes all species including big game billfish in Mexico and the Caribbean.
You might know Trey through the "America's Outdoor Journal" TV show.
Trey is also an active outdoor writer with over 1,000 published articles. Most importantly, Trey has served on several conservation boards and has previously volunteered as Vice President of the Oregon Wildlife Federation. He also works with NSIA, and is at nearly ALL of the meetings that we have been involved in, in the recent past. His passion for the fisheries runs deep.
I can't tell you how proud his letter made me. Not only the wonderful "feel good" things he said about me, that makes ifish 'worth it all', but the wonderful things I see ifishers doing.
--Attending meetings, getting involved... YAY!

You, the sportsfishermen and women who read ifish have been making a difference!
You, have been attending fisheries meetings!

You know what? You, at ifish.net are making waves!

YOU are the fishermen and women who are out there, all the time!
You are the ones who hold the love for fishing that can make changes!
You are the ones that will help drive these decisions that can lead our children to a better river, when they grow up to fish with their children! A river rich with salmon, steelhead and sturgeon... Can it happen? It's only up to us!

I can't begin to tell you, nor do I think I need to... how important it is for you to be involved in these meetings.
All I can say is... Well, Thank you!

Jen

Hi Jennie,

I wanted to send off a quick note of “thanks” to you for all you’re doing on behalf of N.W. Sportfishing interests. I’ve watched with great admiration over these last few years in what you’ve created with Ifish. It’s remarkable for a number of reasons. All around you looms this multi-billion dollar industry that couldn’t do in decades what you’ve done in years. That is, create a community of sports anglers and a vehicle for their expression to share ideas, needs, observations, recipes, etc. The community you’ve created is now on the front lines trying to improve the future of N.W. Sportfishing, they’ve put their actions where their keyboards are and it’s refreshing, uncommon and deeply appreciated. If I was to be categorized in Ifish terms, I’m a “lurker”. I’ve read with great interest threads that have educated me, infuriated me, coaxed and intrigued me. I’ve been particularly impressed with you and your moderators sense of ethics, propriety and content. I know you have a tiger-by-the-tail and that most who participate on Ifish thankfully take the high road. Some of the threads I’ve read are exceedingly painful to me personally as close friends and issues are unnecessarily demonized. I’ve even seen my name used disparagingly which certainly hurts but I know just comes with the territory. I know it pains you as well but my sense is that you take every measure to limit this activity and I’m very appreciative for those efforts. Like you I think, I am captivated by the wonder of the resource, these precious and marvelous fish that we all revere and all the people who work so hard on their behalf. From the biologists who don swim fins and masks and dive into root wads in the winter, to agency heads whose lives are dedicated to the success and recovery of these stocks to citizens and industry advocates like Liz, Dan, B.G., Carmen, Bob, Jim, Chris, Mark, Eric, Scott and many others whose passion is off-the-charts and have given so much (like you have) to this essential cause. I certainly enjoy my time-on-the-water but after nearly 30 years of advocacy and making my fulltime living in this business I am drawn to the success of the resource and our respective legacy and promise to leave things better than when we inherited them. To you and all your moderators as well as the Ifish population I thank you for all you’re doing on behalf of the sport and the resource. We owe you enormous thanks for creating a Sportfishing community that’s making a difference.

All the best

Sincerely and respectfully yours

Trey Carskadon

And thank you, Trey... for your years of dedication and hard work! Go NSIA! Go Trey! Go Liz!
and.... GO IFISH SPORTSFISHERS!!!! WHOO HOOOO!

[Troller]

Nice story and I agree. Thank you for your contributions Jenny. I would have to say that My world has been a better place ever since I discovered Ifish.net.

[flywrapper]

Well said.

[Cosmic Lazy Susan]

Very Good!

He really put into words what a lot of us probably think but don't express.

Dale

[eyeFISH]

Amen!

[AnchorManagement]

Very nice comments,well said trey! I also enjoyed his speech at the Vancouver meeting, he flat out told them that we don't buy $40,000 boats to go trout fishing, we buy them to go salmon fishing. Way to go jennie, see? I told you you were greatly appreciated! & Respected!

[bassin]

I have known Trey Carskadon for many years, Sold me my 1st Bass Boat. And I have always known him to be a great guy and a strong supporter of the sportfishing community. With people like Jen and Trey and the many others on I-Fish, How can we lose.

[Tyee-King]

Well said Trey and Jen. I was friends with his father Jim & remember Trey starting out at Larry's. To watch him mature and see what he has done over the years, along with his thoughts, hopes and efforts for the fisheries makes me feel thru this forum we can and will make a difference. Keep up the good work you folks. dm

[259]

Thanks Jennie…You’re awesome! I can only imagine the frustrations and struggles you go through to keep ifish going. I for one appreciate your efforts very much. Ifish has become a daily ritual for me and I would hate to see you give up. Thanks again!

[Alabama Redneck]

Jennie, I don't know Trey, however you are a very remarkable person and a true inspiration to me as a fisherman and in my spiritual life as well. I know that it can be terribly defeating when your always exposed to the bad side of things that most of never see here on the boards due greatly to the deligent moderators of the boards and for this I want to thank you. Please continue to hold the hard line and do the difficult job that so many of us would give up on.
Thank you for your true passion and hard work,

Mike

[Riverskip]

Jennie: I only log on a few times each week but truely appreciate your comments and I also enjoy having my spirits lifted by ifish and the info on the discussion boards.

Thank you Skip

[Pete]

What a terrific letter! You should feel uplifted and proud, Jennie! Trey sees what you have accomplished. It's a very good thing. I can say that I've been in awe of your vision and supported it as best I can, because I too see the good that has grown here. Three cheers for Jennie!

[KeepFishingFun]

Being new to I fish, I don't have an impressive amount of posts tallied up. But Ifish has become a way of life. Here I sit at work posting and posting, reading and reading. I may be new, but I plan to stick around and support this wonderful site for as long as it is here. If we care about the fisheries, this kind of thing is essential. But more importantly, it just feels really good to be able to talk with other people who are dedicated to keeping fishing what it should be, FUN.

Sometimes we get caught up worrying about what other people are doing on the water. We all often complain about things like tight hoglines, and crowded launches. But why? If it were really so bad, and not worth the trouble, why are we all out there day after day doing it again and again?

Sometimes we all, including me, need to take a step back to evaluate what is going on. Afterall, isn't fishing supposed to be about having FUN?

My buddy in the truck with me waiting at the boat launch the other day at 5:00am- "what are these bleeping bleep of bleeps doing? does it really take 3 hours to put a boat in the water." :depressed:

Believe it or not, I was serious when I told him "relax and enjoy the day, and the trucks warm heater, or I will turn around and go home." I would have too. The silence tells me he knew it. The next thing he said a few mintutes later was.. "Boy, you're right...donut?"

Please KEEP FISHING FUN

I love it here.

[Jennie@ifish]

I really love Trey. When I heard the awful news about his emergency this weekend, I thought back to the awful things that he has been through in the last couple years. Losing his brother, and now this.

I am just so sad about Trey.

Please, please keep him and his family in your prayers.

Jen