We have been asked to invite our members to make suggestions on how to improve BFT. Ideas are being sought on any site programming functional issues that need fixing. Also please suggest any improvements or wish lists that you have seen on another site that would be great to have on BFT. Big changes are going to be coming and this is your opportunity to help shape some of those changes.
I will start it off with a few suggestions:
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In order to view pictures in a post, one must open every picture one at a time by moving back and forth between the original post and the pictures. If several pictures are included in a post, one must make a mental note of which picture is next (or look for the slight change in color for the most recently photo opened). It would be extremely helpful if one could click on a “Prior” or “Next” button to move through the photos. I realize that one has the option of using the photo album that is available on BFT; however, it is rarely used and for when it is not used buttons to click on would be extremely helpful.
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If one sorts one’s sent PMs by “To” and then moves to page 2 or any other page the PMs are no longer sorted by “To” on those pages or page 1. This is a major pain when one tries to look up what one stated in prior PMs to a member. Interestingly, one does not have this same problem when sorting received messages, when sorting by “From”. If one works, perhaps it is an easy fix to get the other side to work.
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If one could do searches on PMs it would be helpful. Even if one could do nothing more than search by user name that would help.
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The site should automatically size pictures when they are uploaded to prevent huge files from being attached to a post.
I’ll second the auto photo resizing.
I would also like to see inline pictures made easier. I think more people would do inline if it was a matter of just selecting the option.
Auto photo size a great idea. Maybe a video host? Temporary even.
Take a look at the photo embedding on dpreview.com the photo displays only as wide as the post window until you click on it then it expands to full size. Photos are also viewable within the post with no click necessary. I personally don’t mind scrolling through some small pictures to see if there is anything i want to enlarge to look at. Much quicker then clicking on a link to a photo then trying to remember which one was next.
This site could use a “confidential” type section. That way the whole world doesn’t have to see everything without some sort of membership or contribution. Just my two cents.
I have very few experiences that I don’t want lurkers to see but every once and a while I want to keep the info amongst members only and I choose not to report at all.
I like the inline photo idea. I have some other forums where you can just click in line or leave it unchecked if you dont want it in line.
love the auto resize idea
I agree with the suggestions as well. I don’t know if anything can be done from your side for this one but I always use my iPhone for my posts and it won’t let me get to my pictures to attach them. Guess I need to study my book but so far haven’t figured out how to do it. J
I believe training for the visitors regarding some of the online tools that are available know would be helpful. BFT definitely has a more…ahem, experienced group of people who follow it. (Experience is a good thing by the way.)
There are lots of tools out there for easy photo management. (IE Photobucket and Imageshack.) where you can upload pictures on their servers and link them back to here to they are available for viewing.
Tada!
I also think the encouragement of members using other tools like Youtube and Twitter could really help bring in more traffic. These are tools that need to be embraced, or I fear the numbers of BFT’ers slipping as time goes on.
I have many ideas concerning this stuff and would be happy to share them. I love BFT and it has helped me catch so many more fish and create so many more memories with my family than if Ihad not known about it.
Dude - I think you left your fish showing, and I can see your lake! haha
My biggest peeve is the scrolling news box at right.
- I find it very annoying
- Most of the ‘links’ are not tied to local news I’m interested in
- It really messes with my computer’s performance. In particular - it makes my music stutter - and that bites, but not in the good way.
Either give an option to close that window, or stop it from scrolling.
I concur with the photo handling suggestions. I tend to “open in a new tab” so don’t end up going back and forth, but a “preview” would be great.
Improved search. I think the PM search ideas, I often have a hard time finding something I know is out there when using the search function.
Multiple PM recipients. Would be nice to be able to send a private message to more than a single recipient - especially if you’re trying to plan out a trip together.
Great site, some really good users, and nice info. I think I’m a better angler because of the forum. Plus have met some really kewl folks through the site. Then there’s some others too . . . but I won’t go there! 
I also like the idea of a “members only” forum.
For the regular search function, it would be nice if after you did your search, it would only show one post each time, even if your search item was in a single post many times. As of now it keeps showing over and over again all of the replies to posts, so there are pages of items that come up, even if there are only a few posts that have your search item. Not sure if that makes sense.
That way the whole world doesn’t have to see everything without some sort of membership or contribution. Just my two cents.
I have very few experiences that I don’t want lurkers to see but every once and a while I want to keep the info amongst members only and I choose not to report at all.
Very good…you’re starting to learn. 
I think many of us would be surprised to see how many ‘lurkers’ are out there, and how fast info spreads.
I am a member of a fishing forum back home in Australia called Ausfish. Anyone can log on and read threads but it limits some info. You need to be a member to get all access (and for a fee). Maybe worth BFT signing in, paying a fee to be a member to get some ideas?
One other thing that I like about Ausfish forum is there is a like button, dislike button and thanks button. It is a quick and easy way to provide feedback to a thread. eg. If I posted a report on fishing and someone posted a response thanking for the thread I can easily respond by clicking thanks instead of replying again.
A members only (private) local community calendar would be nice. If there is already one I’m guilty of not searching the site well enough. I know there are times when I plan on fishing solo on short notice and wouldn’t mind some company, or regular fishing buddies can’t go and it would be a good opportunity to meet new folks.
These are all really good suggestions, especially pic suggestions. It would be nice when you logged in to automatically start in the state forums section you live in. Dont really have any reason to see other states fishing forums.
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Allow multiple PM recipiants (like e-mails allow).
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Provide the ability to search through sent and recieved PMs.
auto resize of pics, allow pics to apprea inline when they really are not, example, attach picture let it auto resize and then post instead of click on multiple pics. old-coots idea of multiple PM’s is a good one, pain in the butt PM’ing 3 to 4 people at one time
This has been brought up before but a lot of new members might not be aware of this forum on BFT. It is called the Rough and Rowdy forum. It does not have the rigidity of the main utah board but is a, members only, board where lurkers can not see. To access this board you need a min of 50 post or have been a member for 6 months or longer and even then it is at the moderator’s request that you gain access. Here is a link: http://www.bigfishtackle.com/forum/gforum.cgi?category=83
moderator are rileyfish, fishley and myself.
This board is now on the nation wide part of BFT by I was hoping to have one under the utah heading, if there was enough interest.