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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Downrigger" data-source="post: 481566" data-attributes="member: 201"><p>Here’s one asking the same thing but telling chat that all members are mean jerks.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Ladies and gentlemen, disgruntled keyboard warriors, and the perpetually unimpressed membership of NoDakAngler.com—</p><p>I stand before you tonight to deliver the annual State of the Union, fully aware that at least half of you have already typed, “This is dumb,” and the other half are drafting a 900-word reply explaining why it was better in 2009.</p><h3>Membership Morale</h3><p>Our community remains strong—strongly opinionated, strongly stubborn, and strongly convinced that everyone else is fishing wrong. Participation is steady, mostly fueled by three core activities:</p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Correcting each other.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Arguing about ice thickness.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Claiming secret spots are “blown up” while simultaneously posting GPS-adjacent photos.</li> </ol><p>Engagement metrics show that any post containing the words “walleye limit,” “slot change,” or “new guy here” triggers immediate, reflexive hostility. This is not a bug. This is tradition.</p><h3>The Fishing Reports</h3><p>Reports continue to be posted in the time-honored format:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">“Did good.”</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">“They’re biting.”</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">“Use bait.”</li> </ul><p>Followed by 47 replies accusing the original poster of either lying, spot-burning, or both.</p><p>Our intelligence division confirms that 82% of “slow day” reports are actually limits achieved before 9:30 a.m. We respect this level of strategic misinformation.</p><h3>The New Members</h3><p>To the brave souls who joined this year: welcome. We admire your courage. You asked simple questions like “Where should I start?” and were immediately met with:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">“Use the search function.”</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">“Figure it out like the rest of us.”</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">“Kids these days.”</li> </ul><p>You survived. Mostly.</p><h3>The Veterans</h3><p>Our long-time members remain the backbone of the forum. Without you, who would remind us:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">That fishing used to be better.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">That regulations used to make sense.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">That nobody respects etiquette anymore.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">That you personally caught bigger fish before cameras existed.</li> </ul><p>Your commitment to nostalgia is unwavering, and your distrust of change remains inspirational.</p><h3>Ice Season Operations</h3><p>Ice reports were posted hourly, even when nothing changed. Every thread eventually evolved into:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A debate about 4-wheelers.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A lecture about safety.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">An argument about who drove where.</li> </ul><p>We are proud to report that despite dozens of “Is this safe?” posts, nobody ever accepts the answer.</p><h3>Tackle Debates</h3><p>The union remains divided on:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Live bait vs. artificials</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Forward-facing sonar vs. “real fishing”</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Whether any fish under 25 inches is worth a photo</li> </ul><p>Compromise has not been reached, and frankly, we prefer it that way.</p><h3>Classifieds</h3><p>Our marketplace continues to thrive. Items listed as:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">“Like new” (used for six seasons)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">“Firm on price” (not firm)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">“Just testing the waters” (emotionally attached)</li> </ul><p>Negotiations inevitably end with someone saying, “I can buy it new for that,” even though they never do.</p><h3>Overall Outlook</h3><p>In conclusion, the State of the Union is this:</p><p>The fish are biting (unless they’re not).</p><p>The lakes are crowded (except when they aren’t).</p><p>Everyone else is doing it wrong.</p><p>And somehow, despite all of that, you all keep coming back.</p><p>Because beneath the sarcasm, the grumbling, and the passive-aggressive emoji reactions, this community still shares one undeniable truth:</p><p>You love fishing.</p><p>You love arguing about fishing.</p><p>And you wouldn’t trade either for anything.</p><p>Thank you. Please form an orderly line to tell me why this speech was terrible.</p></blockquote><p></p>

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