Oooppsss.
Moved this all wrong and inadvertently deleted Norm's report. Oh well, sorry. You can always go read it in Dale's fishing reports from Wednesday.

JD has a point. There are plenty of nuts n bolts rags out there. Photo journals and fun stories are seriously lacking in local publications.

Think about how big geo-caching has become, how about the loss of the Illinois outdoor mag? There is an opportunity here for an all encompassing magazine to showcase IL, WI, IN forest preserves, lakes, rivers, streams, woods, and wildlife in a fun, interesting and informative manner.

It doesn't need to be about fishing only, and it doesn't need to be about the how to... Bring them great pictures of what they are missing, a story of your experience, and a bit of info on how they can do the same, and you will have yourself something people will read.

John,
You summed up my plan pretty good. That's what I've had in mind all along. Bob Long, Jr. has much more confidence in my writing and has been bugging me about doing books for almost 10 years. Problem is, I'm probably the least read of all the outdoor writers around here because of the way I write.

I recently dumped my ChicagoNow Blog. That was where I was going to promote all things this area in the way you and Ed are describing. If you go look at my blog, I've redone the links on the left. No more blogs, it's all things to do and places to go. That's the direction I want to start heading.

I also have another site I'm working on called It Could be Anywhere. It's going to showcase my photography, for better or worse.

Ed is right, with Illinois Outdoor gone, there isn't much out there like that. Bits and pieces, but that's it.

I don't know, maybe this thing has legs after all.

ffs...


Not that I write worth a shit either, but all this talk is killing me!!


Let's just DO-IT!! Someone get a template up "Ed" and we could NO DOUBT fill an E-Zine with all kinds of good information!!

I like taking pictures myself!! Also enjoy looking at them w/ a story attached!! Advertising... Whatever, if it comes, it comes... If not, O well!! It's for the passion, not the monies. my $0.02

not much of a report anyway, no great loss.

why not do it ?

I'm thinkin'. There's just so much shit out there it's a tough call.

Outdoor Illinois folded. There's another one called Chicago Wilderness, or something like that.
Other little ones I've found.

Did have a good time hanging out at Woodstock with the fly guys. Refreshing to get away from the bass neanderthals. The body mass of the attendees alone was cut in half.

Kind of inspiring in a way too....

So lets see some of that inspiration.

Special Ed wrote:So lets see some of that inspiration.

It fits into my long-term goals.

Ken G wrote:

Special Ed wrote:So lets see some of that inspiration.

It fits into my long-term goals.

I'll take that under advisement.

interesting idea. absolute hole in midwest/local media for readers and writers.

Even Gilespie fishes in Illinois at times.

years ago i had nice spots in different magazines.
They closed up...why?
bought out and closed by bigger magazines.
current ones are dwindling pages due to low ad income.
One out of state chose to only use instate writers.

Bob M used to pay, then he gave away stuff..
now its for pat on the back of publishing.

if done right, who knows.
many big and local companies possible for ad $.
Hard part is showing what they actually get as return for their $.

but i like the enthusiasm..
new folks at the helm...im all ears.