Quick Quip...

Better Spoons... Many of us have experienced that let-down when a strike occurs on a spoon while trolling, retrieving or vertical jigging, only to have the fish spit the bait before the hook can be set. Here's a tip that has proved useful in increasing the catch ratio with spoons: take a plastic tube jig body - preferably scent-enhanced, and stretch it over the spoon. (If the spoon's flash is of concern, use a clear tube.) Not only will the rubberized spoon 'feel' more real to the fish, the scent and the tub skirt will act as additional attractants to help keep the fish on the bait longer, giving you more time to set the hook!

What's New...

There's not really much new this time round (except, of course, the new Web-zine issue), but after a recent look at the site, I realized that TFN is now over 30 MB in size, containing some 3,200 files in over 100 directories! You bet it's the biggest fishing site on the net!

In the next couple of weeks, look for additions to the Links, Clubs, Tournaments, Clipart and Travel Areas of the site.

This Issue...

The current Web-zine issue contains some interesting info on modifying tackle, taking care of the environment, and some good info on Florida Flats fishing - from both our resident saltwater captains, Ray and Z. We've also finally put together a thorough review of The Way of the Walleye CD - a product that we like so much, we're going to start selling it ourselves. So if you're in the market to buy one, either for yourself, or as a Christmas present for your best angling buddy, wait a week or 2 and we'll have our secure ordering system set up in the Online Mall. November 13th ADDENDUM - We have arranged to sell the CD Directly through the manufacturer from any of the links on the site!

Comment...

TFN - interACTIVE!

Thanks to all of you who responded to my call for more interaction. A couple of the messages have been published in this month's Mailto: column. Most of the response indicated that although many folks are aware of the interactive parts of the site, they just simply don't think to get involved. My gut feeling is that with so many fishing pages on the net, everyone is surfing so much that, although a regular stop is made at TFN, there is always a quest to find new sites of interest on the Net, and that is taking a big chunk out of people's available Net time.

I'd appreciate hearing from others to find out if this hypothesis is indeed true, and if it is, what other types of information are you looking for? Maybe we can provide it here at TFN!

TO BUY OR NOT TO BUY... THAT IS THE QUESTION

One of the major concerns about the Net has always been security; for your email account, for your on-line computer, and in particular for any credit card or bank information you might provide over the network. I would like to hear of ANY first hand horror stories involving any improprieties on the Internet (other than email spam - the unsolicited junk mail we all have to put up, of which I receive about 40 messages per day!). My guess is that there are very few actual occurrances of credit card or cheque theft. I know that the Net is statistically safer than running your card trough the imprinting machine at restaurants and stores where unscrupulous criminals can copy the information and make bogus cards from it.

And yet there seems to still be a paranoia about ordering from a website. Why?

Secure software has now been in place for over a year and for some reason, many surfers are still not prepared to use it out of some misguided fear of their credit being violated. Hey, get over it!

But there's a purpose to my tirade. Although advertising has been supporting TFN in a very limited way, we're looking at other options for raising funds without having to resort to a mandatory membership fee, or fee-for-use. One of our plans is to start selling more items in the Online Mall.

So here's what I'd like to find out:

Please note: Although it is most unlikely that you will experience any problems responding to this form, certain non-standard browsers will not respond properly. If you experience any difficulties, (or if you are not using a forms-capable browser) you may email your responses to this form to: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Have you made any purchases over the Internet?: Yes         No

Do security concerns prevent you from purchasing over the Net?: Yes         No

What type of products would you purchase from TFN?:
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Specialty Tackle
Books / Videos
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TFN Clothing
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Thanks for taking the time!

Until next issue...
(tight lines, get it wet, good fishin', see you on the water, etc., etc.).

Scott M. Binnie, Managing Editor