[UWN admin]

We created this "Area 51" fishing reports subforum to post reports that forum members might not want the entire world to see. This forum is off limits to search engines and lurkers.

As you know, a forum member must have at least 40 legitimate posts under his or her belt to view or post here. This pretty much limits access to those willing to contribute information and knowledge to other serious anglers.

This is the place to post reports about those special, out-of-the-way places that you've found or know about. Please don't post reports here that belong in the general Fishing Reports forum. We absolutely want to keep the general Fishing Reports forum active and alive, so please use this forum only to post reports that you want to keep semi-confidential.

Another special rule: don't criticize people for posting information about "secret" spots here. The reason we've restricted access to this forum is precisely so people can post that kind of information. We will delete posts that violate this rule.

 

[UWN admin]

Forum rules modification

After taking a survey of the member of this forum, the general conclusion was to grant access to forum Diamond members regardless of the number of posts that they've made. Diamond members are those who have contributed $20-plus dollars to the forum.

[strike:3nf9wndo]A few people expressed concerns that diamond members, like all members of this forum, must agree to abide by the rules in this confidential area. To give the confidential fishing forum members more say, we're implementing a new rule:[/strike:3nf9wndo]

[strike:3nf9wndo]Anyone admitted to the forum, can be booted out by the other forum members at any time. All that is required is to post a three-day poll asking "Yes" or "No" to that member's continued presence in this forum. If after three days, the majority in this forum votes "No," that forum member will have his or her access to the confidential fishing forum terminated. Likewise, if there's someone who really deserves to be here, but hasn't yet made the 40 minimum posts, a three-day poll will give the members here a chance to waive the rules and let that person in.[/strike:3nf9wndo]

 

[UWN admin]

After considerable thought and discussion between the moderators, and after receiving requests from several forum members, we've decided to eliminate the special rule about voting people in or out of the confidential forum. Unfortunately, this rule has caused more problems than it was meant to solve.

From now on, the moderators will judge whether or not a forum member has broken the rules in a way that warrants expulsion from the confidential forum. Like the other UWN forums, the moderators will have final say on membership issues.

 

[UWN admin]

This seems like a matter of common courtesy, but for the sake of clarity, we're implementing a rule about not identifying waters that the original poster in the thread did not identify. For example, if someone posts a report on a fishing trip but does not mention the location, subsequent posters in that thread should not call out or make guesses about the location.

If, however, a forum member wants to start a separate thread, and post his or her separate report on that same water, but chooses to identify that water as part of his or her report, that's fine.

We're trying to steer a middle ground between those who don't want their spots identified and those who have fewer reservations about doing so in their own reports.

This same rule is in effect for the public fishing reports forum, although we might phrase the rule a bit differently given the differences between the public and Area 51 forums.

Bottom line: if it's your report, feel free to either identify or to not identify where you went fishing. If you're responding to someone else's report, do not attempt to identify the location without the original poster's permission.