Creating a website for Soutcentral Alaska

The past few weekends, I have been playing with google sites and just for fun thought I'd spend a few hours slapping together a quick website specific for this area.  Most of it is just an index of previous material I had around.  So far maybe 5 or 6 hours into it.

For the Alaska anglers...Yes?  No? Do we want to keep this type of information closer to the vest?  Will it help any newbies? 

Right now I plan on just creating this basic "shell"  then I plan to supplement it during the season.  But by having a framework, I can focus better on what pictures and information to gather.  I'd say its about a third done to where I would just start maintaining it.  If it gets any traction I may get a real URL address but for now I think its good enough. at google sites. 

At any rate, a NWKA exclusive.  Haha.  But I do value the opinions of everyone here.  Remember, I am a FUNCTION over FORM kinda guy.  You aren't going to hurt my feelings by suggesting changes!  Well you tell me to make it "prettier" I might have an issue if the information is there...lol.

https://sites.google.com/site/kayakfishingalaska/home

It looks great!

If your only a third done this will be a great resource.

willbd

That look great.  Love the 2011 highlights vid.

I'm just starting to go through this -- and I want to evaluate the whole thing. But on the whole question of sharing knowledge and spots, I lean toward YES.

With the very low numbers of kayak fishers in Southcentral, I don't fear a rapid increase in fishing pressure as a result of putting the information out there. In part, that's because the few pages I've looked at under "locations" don't contain the kind of specific information that will concentrate too many kayaks (or other very small watercraft) on some of our best accessible fishing sites. I'd probably think differently if, for example, there were GPS coordinates for those pinnacles off Callisto Head, or some of the other spots I've found to be highly productive and not subject to tons of fishing pressure.   Part of the fun for me has been FINDING those places on my own, often just by chance.  I've had several experiences this last year in which FIRST I was on the bite, and only LATER consulting the charts to fully understand why it might have been so.  I'm not sure I would have had the same joyful experiences if I'd gone out locked onto a specific destination dialed in on the GPS. That's my long way of saying I like sharing information about launches and target species, but don't like the idea of specific GPS coordinates being disseminated to every reader. That said, I really DO like sharing specifics within a community like NWKA -- and would happily support efforts to build an information base for Southcentral among those who share the ethic shown here. 

Early thoughts. But great job, Rudy. Long winter, huh?

I like the emphasis on safety considerations -- particularly with respect to Cook Inlet.

Whenever you AK peeps want to create a PRIVATE members only reports section like we have for OR and WA, let me know.

-Allen

Great input. So Akfishergal, I just added a google maps gadget. Too much?  Private reports section might be good for alaska. It's amazing how little water we have in many ways due to no road system.

I think if we can get a core group of folks and organized, I have a few plans. I'm active in the states board of fish for work and am learning the process. I don't want kayakers to be some elitist group but it might be fun to allow fewer restrictions like the king conservation zone for non motorized users. We will see!




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   Love the new site Rudy...well done .I'm sure that baby will be growing as it is nurturded and more input and ideas surface.
    Already in favorites.


     By the way--I'll be in Anchorage this Friday.Maybe we can hook up for lunch ? Got " the call " from PEAK so I'm back to Prudhoe Bay for a while.......yeeehaaa.

   Love the new site Rudy...well done .I'm sure that baby will be growing as it is nurturded and more input and ideas surface.
    Already in favorites.


     By the way--I'll be in Anchorage this Friday.Maybe we can hook up for lunch ? Got " the call " from PEAK so I'm back to Prudhoe Bay for a while.......yeeehaaa.

Hey Hey!  You bet, give me a call.  I have the kids so not sure what the schedule will be like.

Just getting started on the website.  The stuff I have up is easy since I lifted most of my pics from my blogs, picasa web albums and the videos I already have.  I think this stuff is basic. 

Over the next few months and into the season, I plan on more gear reviews and techniques which will have to be new material so it will take more time.  I video a lot of my actual fishing but I need the preparation, rigging, and after care (i.e EATING!) I am going to try and make more "how to" videos and shoot from slightly different perspective.  Working on a super secret project right now.  lol.  The star (though he won't be able to use the light saber in my initial version...

The map is good -- not too much at all. 

I'd suggest that there be some consideration whether map points carry with them some key to distinguish launch sites from points of interest.  E.g., Jim's Landing -- sure wouldn't want someone to think that the take out for the Upper Kenai float is a launch site for kayak fishing (even if the slow water below the canyon IS full of trophies...)

The old lawyer part of me also thinks there should be a succinct but prominent warning about the inherent risks of kayak fishing on the front page of each section, particularly those with content that will incite a certain amount of fish fever in the viewer.

I think putting in a link to a members-only thread for Southcentral AK on NWKA would be sensible, driving less-experienced folks who are serious to this forum where there's so much of benefit. It would also keep those specifics confined to a clearly like-minded community of fishers.

More to come...

I like the idea of having a secured place to share spots. I like sharing but don't want them to disappear.  Only down side to my spots is that they will be further than alot want to travel (hence my AI) but I'm more than willing to share. 

New URL for the site is:

AlaskaKayakFisher.com

Comments always welcome.  Slowly adding stuff. 

I like it. I also don't mind sharing of the info. I'm mean its not like they are super secret spots in the first place. Most of what I see you providing is safety info for the spots and that's great