8 to go alwaysfishn.
Although the discussion forum generates a significant number of hits (each time a file/page on the website is loaded), the number of unique visitors (number of persons/computers that are using the website) is small (ie. there maybe 1,000 hits in one hour, but those are only coming from 50 users). Most of the readers (currently about 5,000 to 10,000 daily) on our website actually do not visit the discussion forum, but they only use the
main homepage,
fishing reports,
stocking database,
news and
blog. That's why you do not see any banners on the discussion forum except the advertisers' announcements, so the latest changes do not really have an effect on the advertisers.
We may see less fishing reports in the restricted section since first-time members will not be able to post in it, but the quality of the reports may improve as long-time contributors will hopefully share their trip stories now that those who do not contribute cannot read them. It is set up so it is mutually beneficial to all who are willing to contribute. It will also eliminate the issue of "hot spotting", which some were rather concerned when specific productive fishing spots at a particular time is revealed to anyone who has access to the internet. We should see a drastic reduction of anglers at Keith Wilson Bridge in the near future.
And those who are concerned that you will not be able to read Chris' "Journal" anymore, not to worry as we may have a section in the blog to keep that public. Please stay tuned.
ffonly, I don't have the ratio of members and non-members' usage in the fishing report section, but based on the high number of views compared to the low number of members signed in per day, I would say it is quite large.