At BassResource, our forums have always been built on real-world experience, shared knowledge, and authentic conversations between anglers. That’s what makes this community special.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools are becoming more common, and we recognize that some members may use them for research or drafting ideas. That’s fine — but how they’re used matters.

Our priority is preserving trust, authenticity, and meaningful discussion.

1. Real Experience Comes First

Our forums exist to share:

• Personal fishing experiences

• First-hand observations

• Regional and seasonal insights

• Gear feedback based on actual use

Posts that reflect real-world experience are strongly encouraged and valued above generic, textbook-style answers.

If you’re sharing advice, we encourage you to speak from your own time on the water whenever possible.

---

2. AI Should Not Replace Participation

AI-generated responses should not:

• Replace your personal input

• Be copied and pasted without context

• Be used to answer questions in bulk

• Be used to appear more authoritative than you are

Forums thrive on discussion — not perfectly formatted final answers. Leave room for conversation.

---

3. Transparency Matters

If you use AI to:

• Help research a topic

• Summarize information

• Organize your thoughts

Please disclose that in your post.

Example:

“I used AI to help summarize some general patterns — here’s my take based on what I’ve seen locally…”

Transparency builds trust.

Undisclosed AI content presented as personal experience undermines community confidence.

---

4. Add Value Beyond the AI

If AI is used, your post should still include:

• Your opinion

• Your experience

• Your clarification

• Your regional insight

AI can provide general information. Only you can provide your story.

---

5. Accuracy & Responsibility

AI can sometimes provide incomplete or incorrect information.

If you choose to use AI in any capacity, you are responsible for verifying the accuracy of the information before posting it.

Fishing regulations, seasonal timing, and local patterns vary widely. Be mindful of that.

---

6. Preserve the Culture

This community has been built over decades on:

• Respect

• Camaraderie

• Honest debate

• Mentorship

• Helping new anglers learn

We encourage:

• Storytelling

• Friendly disagreement

• Regional perspectives

• Trial-and-error learning

We discourage:

• Impersonal, overly polished responses that shut down discussion

• Posts that read like encyclopedia entries

• Content designed to dominate threads rather than contribute to them

---

In Short

Technology is welcome.

Authenticity is required.

If AI helps you think — great.
If it replaces your voice — that’s a problem.

Let’s keep this a place where anglers talk to anglers.

@Glenn Well framed argument and rule addition; continuing to demonstrate why your site is the best.

scott

@gim this is a great read and I fully support it!

Glenn, I love this thread because of the topic and what you wrote. As @softwateronly observed, you framed your position well. You don't need AI, Glenn. You write with clarity.

FWIW, if I ever post about flipping or pitching or FFS or Ranger boats, that's not me.

If I ever post something that contains no typos, misspelled words or grammatical errors it is AI generated.

I think I might have chosen to utilize AI to develop the AI Community Guidelines.

A-Jay

FYI some of the sites I moderate or administer have AI actually make independent posts asking questions. Normally they are very borderline wrong or so simplistic it’s laughable. Certain platforms have the administrator option to disable AI. I do it on every site.

There is no AI use on these forums like you mention. There's not even an administrator option to use. And I don't want one.

5 hours ago, A-Jay said:

I think I might have chosen to utilize AI to develop the AI Community Guidelines.

A-Jay

Well said, will do.

If my beard looks too well groomed, don't trust it. Semi - Homeless or I've been lost in the woods is my look, according to my wife.

40 minutes ago, GreenPig said:

If my beard looks too well groomed, don't trust it. Semi - Homeless or I've been lost in the woods is my look, according to my wife.

Before mine fell out from the chemo - wife called me "A scruffy-looking nerf-herder."

12 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Before mine fell out from the chemo - wife called me "A scruffy-looking nerf-herder."

Well if the shoe fits @MN Fisher ...

Recently we have had some extreme volume verbiage posts that by their very nature feel like AI driven. Any single post that looks like a mini book response detracts from the discussion in my opinion. Plus my little brain gets tired reading paragraph after paragraph of semi-useless info that interferes with my comprehension of what the individual is trying to say. Am I the only one who feels this way?

I picked up on this months ago.

Looks like I'm not the only one now.

Yeah, I thought I might be the only one too.

Any time my bait lands in a tree, it’s due to AI. After all, they are “artificial” lures!