Notes from the Cockpit

# Rudow’s FishTalk editor Lenny Rudow, in his natural element.

It’s tough to put into words how excited I am to see Rudow’s FishTalk come to fruition. Those of you who have lived in the area and fished here for years will remember that in the past we had a number of fishing magazines focused on the Chesapeake, the Atlantic’s waters off the DelMarVa Peninsula, and our many freshwater angling options. Publications such as Fishing in Maryland, The Fisherman, Maryland Fisherman’s Annual, and Chesapeake Angler have come and gone. But one thing has always remained: a core dedicated audience of die-hard Mid-Atlantic fisherman. Today, even better, we’re seeing a new generation of millennials showing an interest in enjoying everything fishing has to offer.

I know you are out there. I speak with you at the winter shows, and I get your emails. I see you out on the water. I’ve shaken hands with many of you, and a number of you know me by name. You may have noticed that since the recession, the focus of my writing has been more national than local. This isn’t by choice. I never wanted to stop writing for local publications like the ones mentioned above, but the “market” for my work simply moved elsewhere. Well, that ends as of today. Since those other publications have pulled out, we’re moving in. And we’re here to stay.

As the editor of Rudow’s FishTalk, my commitment to you remains the same as it’s always been. Everything you read on these pages will be serious, useful fishing information. We’ll never serve up a helping of BS; we don’t do “Me ‘N Joe Went Fishing” stories, and we’re not here to win Pulitzer prizes or create art. We’re here to give you the straight scoop on the current state of our fisheries and how-to/where-to information on fishing in our area. We want to get people excited about fishing again—our friends and family, our neighbors, and most importantly our kids.

A word about reports: Everyone knows printed fishing reports suffer from a time lag. Everyone also knows that online reports are riddled with garbage and information that can be downright misleading. So we’re printing broad monthly reports on these pages that give you a general idea of what’s going on—but we won’t pretend they provide spot-on, up-to-date info. For that, we’re utilizing the web. At fishtalkmag.com you can sign up to access our timely online reports, updated every Friday by noon with the latest intel on how and where fish are being caught.

Between these reports and our serious how-to/where-to articles, new anglers will find a trough of intel to feed on, both in the hard-copy version and on our website. We want to welcome new anglers into the fold and help them find success on the water. You old sharpies might just pick up a thing or two, as well. After decades of being in this business, I’m quite confident that this is exactly what the majority of you want from a fishing publication.

In return, I ask that you help us stay afloat by taking note of who our advertisers are, and by doing business with them. Help talk up the magazine, both with those businesses and among your friends. Help us make the magazine better by sending in your reader photos and fishing tips. Yes, we need you to help us grow FishTalk to become a financially self-sustaining publication (I can only lose money for so long, before my wife grabs a frying pan and sneaks up behind me). Help us make this become the best regional fishing magazine in the nation. Thanks in advance, and I’ll see you out on the water.

by Lenny Rudow