Private Ponds/lakes Cheating?

[Gatorbassman]

Is it "cheating"? In my situation, yes it is. It's easy, but easy isn't bad when you are talking about fishing. It has it's advantages.

The lake is Richmond Mill Lake and the company is The Kingfisher Society. We are the cutting edge of fisheries management. But for me to sit here and say it's fishing just like every other lake would be a lie. It's nothing like a public lake. The bass are all 4.5lbs are better. We are able to sustain more fish per acre than most lakes. We have feeders that always have a couple of catchable bass around them. Our bluegill average 1.5lbs and 1 in 20 will be 2lbs or better. (If you are wondering how we do it just subscribe to Pond Boss Magazine and check out the Pond Boss website.)

A private lake/pond, weather managed or not is a great place to learn how to fish. It's also a great place to hone your skills. You can learn what makes a bass tick a lot better than you can on a large lake. It's a great place to gain confidence in yourself and gain a passion for fishing. For a beginner it's not cheating. It's like driving in the express/HOV lane on the highway. You get where you are going faster than if you were driving with the masses. Be proud of every fish you catch. You earned it.

This is my fifth season guiding at Richmond Mill and I have learned so many things about bass and bass fishing that have helped me be more successful on any body of water I fish. Things that would have taken me years to learn on larger public waters. I have a better understanding of daily fish migration, how bass relate to structure and cover, how they use current and much much more. I've been able to gain confidence in lures and presentations that I didn't have the patients to try on public waters. I've become a better jig, crankbait, spinnerbait fisherman because I was getting more bites. The satisfaction comes from taking the skills that I have learned and trying them out on lakes like Guntersville or Clarks Hill and being able to use them to be successful.

If it's a club or a business I think you have to look at it a little differently. They are in it to make money and catching is much more fun than fishing. The company I work for has a business model that is designed to give clients an experience that will blow them away. It's not about fishing at all. It's about the experience of the entire package. The royal treatment, the great food, the quail hunting, the falconry, the sporting clays, the ultimate man cave, the awesome lake and the list goes on. Clients pay a premium for that experience and that's what we strive to give them. The icing on the cake is that we can almost guarantee that they will catch a bass that is over 4.5lb. I say almost because I had a day few years ago where I had two experienced fishermen in my boat and we didn't catch a thing. But most of my clients aren't fishermen. Most of them have never even held a fishing rod in their hand and that is why I guide there. They asked me to guide there not because I'm a great bass fisherman, but because I'm good with people and I love teaching them how to fish.

Do I consider myself a pro because I guide there. No! That's what they call me and what they pay me for, but I will never consider myself one. I enjoy learning every day and love to teach people what I have learned.

[Fish Chris]

Private ponds, cheating ? Ha ! That's funny ! I'll tell you what, you can fish ANY private pond in the country, and I'll fish hammered on public waters. Keeps the populations down, and allows for a much bigger top end size..... Throw in a good supply of hatchery trout {which I've never heard of in a private pond} and its on !

Okay, so you can have a shot at a 15-18 lb'er (around these parts) in the public waters, OR if you have some really awesome connections, you might get to fish some private place that's loaded with 5 to 9 lb'ers that just eat everything you throw at them. Ton of fun right, the first few X's.... But they are not real trophys. {again, around these parts} Helps the trophy status if they are Northern strains I love my North Strain LMB

But the kind of fish that really get me going, are pretty much only found in public waters.

From a trophy fishing standpoint, I'd be cheating myself to fish private waters !

Fish

PS, I did see a reply or two that mentioned "not having anything to brag about if caught from private waters"...

Yea', huh....

I could see myself talking to a fishing buddy.... "So we went to that private place and stuck all those nice ones, that was a kick.... But dude ! What about this 15.6 I just caught from ***** Res. !!! Whooo Hooo ! Now I'm braggin' baby ! LOL

[whitwolf]

In the end If someone thinks I shouldn't brag about catching a nice fish out of a pond, well that's their right I suppose. In turn I personally think some arbitrary opinion will never hinder my love of fishing(or any bragging I might do) and the many hours of enjoyment I have whether It's a small body of water or large lake.

[SirSnookalot]

From an achievement standpoint a trophy fish is relative to the area that one fishes, not the overall size. A 10# fish caught in an area where high DD's can be caught is no more worthy than a 7# fish caught in area where 10# is almost unheard of.

I personally don't consider any tactic, live or artificial bait, and location to be cheating, especially if the goal is just to have a good time. Some frown on pond fishing not being worthy, yet some of the same people use every hi tech piece of equipment there is to increase their fishing production. I know a lot of the old timers grew up fishing like myself, from a rowboat sometimes, without the aid of a motor and no electronic equipment. As kid we fished Lake St. Clair in a rowboat with a 6hp Elgin engine, both the American and Canadian sides. A handful of lures, unsophistcated gear, 2 rods at most, little available literature to read, no internet forums for advice, we learned how to find and catch fish. I would be the last to turn my nose up at someone catching a great fish in a pond.

I still say this, you're as good as the body of water you are fishing on, all this hi tech gear don't hurt either.

[Deadeye-1]

I have fished both and have had good and bad days on both. Years ago I had access to many local Farm Ponds, not managed just private. I fished these about 3-4 nights a week on a rotating basis, so not to over presure any one of them. Had a blast. Got to be the first to fish a pond that had been built and stock with fingerlings by the owner 5-6 years before. Caught a nice one on every cast! Boy that was fun.

I will say that due to my success I thought I was a great Bass Fisher. Then I got my first boat and hit my first public lake. Figured I clean house, now that I could move about the water. Boy I got schooled quick. Whole different game fishing from a boat and in waters that get pressure. In time it has improved me as a fisherman and I enjoy success now.

But if I had the chance to fish private waters again, I would. It is a blast. What gets me though is the guys that fish from their back yards in private waters with live shiners then tell the world that they are as good as KVD.

[KS-Dawg]

A lot of state records have come from private bodies of water. Does it take as much skill as finding, and catching pressured public fish? No, but it is a lot of fun, and no I don't think it's cheating.

[jiggerpole]

nice_Bass,

Now that is funny. I like your equation example.

You know, when it comes down to it, all fish are easy to find. You just look in the water.

A true and funny story. The little boy wanted to catch a bass. So he ask his grandpa how to fish for them. Grandpa replied they live in the tree tops, The little boy had almost all his lures hanging in the tree outside his house and not a single bass. Grandpa didn't say which tree top?

[Michael DiNardo]

This is interesting to read the different viewpoints and interpretations. I think some are taking offense that pond fishing is easy. I do not think that this was started about pond fishing v. lake fishing, but rather a private managed pond.

Mike

[Rolltide09]

This is interesting to read the different viewpoints and interpretations. I think some are taking offense that pond fishing is easy. I do not think that this was started about pond fishing v. lake fishing, but rather a private managed pond like was the subject of Flukemasters post.

Mike

Correct. These are not unfished farmed ponds and what not. These are professionally managed ponds/lakes where they do recieve fishing pressure pretty much daily by the paying members. Other than one pond, its actually not that simple to go out and slay big bass all day long. In fact other than my buddy and myself, a lot of the members struggle to catch 10 bass a day and rarely do they catch one over 5lbs. Our lake record is 15.5lbs and we have a healthy supply of bass 8lb+. Thats what keeps us paying our dues every year. I like to see the different viewpoints and opinions as well.

[Hooligan]

I don't care who you are, where you fish. It boils down to this: big fish aren't rare because they're hard to catch, big fish are rare because they're rare. Having the best set of genetics, the best conditions, and the best water to grow in makes a big fish. So few of any species get all of those and live to tell. I've been fortunate enough in my career to fish all over the US, and have caught what amounts to big fish in all of the areas I travel to. I'm lucky. In most cases, I couldn't have caught those same sized fish on private waters. The densities are lower, and the chances are much less. I've fished some VERY large strip pits in CA and caught multiple fish over 12lbs, that's far and away the exception to the rule. Are those 12lb fish any less an accomplishment to me because they came from a private pit? Heck no, they're still a double digit bass! I don't care WHERE that fish comes from, it's just RARE to see it in the US!

The kicker? My PB came from a public lake that gets HUGE amounts of pressure; probably one of top five most pressured lakes in the US. I've caught multiple fish over ten from that body of water, too. They're no more an accomplishment to me than catching any big fish out of private water anywhere I've fished. The big one? Yeah, that's a big deal because of just how big she was, don't care if it is public or private, it would've been a monster of a fish any way you look at it.

[North Ga Hillbilly]

Throw in a good supply of hatchery trout {which I've never heard of in a private pond} and its on !

There are actually people doing just that here in GA and several other southern states. Thing is I've yet to hear of any teener as a result, and its a deal delicate balance, but folks are trying.

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=9631#Post9631

NGaHB

[NCbassmaster4Life]

My intake is if you have access to such areas take advantage of the fun,when you want more of a challange go to your public lakes.

[Lund Explorer]

Into the sixth page, I would have thought by now that the conversation would have turned to where Bill Dance hammers all of his fish.

[Fish Chris]

They seem to be doing that in the wrong place. They need to try this in So Cal

Fish

There are actually people doing just that here in GA and several other southern states. Thing is I've yet to hear of any teener as a result, and its a deal delicate balance, but folks are trying.

http://forums.pondbo...r=9631#Post9631

NGaHB

[buzzfrog]

i fish a few ponds, some are not really managed, they owners put em in there and they grow, these bass are pretty dang smart, the get all kinds of bait thrown at em. last summer i seriusly ticked alot of guys off. one guy was throwing live nightcrawler, the a guy T rigging a worm, then a few kids throwing plugs. i go in an plop my bait, bam 6 bass later they are all doing it and nothin.. so i belevie some skill of fishin goes into it. but i am not plastering these monsters like i pulled em out a lake, i wish i had a boat to get me off the shore and id have more chances pulling hogs.

[Fishing Rhino]

Private or public, all ponds/lakes are not created equal. Some folks have access to great fishing waters, be they public or private. Some fishermen are confined to the shore. Others may use float tubes, or canoes, or kayaks, or jon boats, or full fledged bass boats with every electronic device known to man. Is it wrong for those with all the latest and greatest equipment to "brag" about their catches? Of course not.

If you have great ponds to fish that happen to be private, there is no need to feel "guilty" about your successes while fishing those waters. Fishermen usually look for every advantage they can find to enhance their fishing experience. If one of those advantages happens to be access to private ponds, so be it. Many who call it shooting fish in a barrel would jump at the chance to fish those waters. If you think not, how many fishermen do you know who choose to fish waters where they are least likely to have success?

[crossthemeverytime]

A private lake is only private if there's a fence around it and the people yell at you to leave

[AK-Jax86]

Regardless if a lake/pond is managed there is no way to "manage"/ guarantee a fish to bite.

If the fish is big enough I would mount it don't matter if I caught it in a huge river or a tiny pond... the common denominator is that I CAUGHT IT.

[BASSHUNTER1961]

Does the guy fishing from an all out bass boat with GPS, fish finders, trolling motor have the right to brag when they catch bigger fish than the guy in the canoe with just a paddle?

[Fish Chris]

Does the guy fishing from an all out bass boat with GPS, fish finders, trolling motor have the right to brag when they catch bigger fish than the guy in the canoe with just a paddle?

Sure he does > But what if the guy in the canoe, catches the bigger fish ? I've seen it go that way so many X's, that I'm just not impressed with flashy boats and fancy tackle. Show me some BIG fish, and that's what impresses me

Peace,

Fish

PS, Just a couple days ago, I had a freind telling me about his private pond outing..... They "easily" caught 20 bass in the 4-5 lb range. Sounded fun. "Almost" made me want to go to Clear Lk. with a box of tiny live dads, and the micro-lights (for the same kind of catches).... But in the end, it would just be a bunch of nice 4-5 lb'ers, maybe an 8 or 9, with a little luck. Still nothing to take photos of, or brag about.

Private ponds are a lot of fun > but NOT the place for trophy sized fish.

[PABASS]

Its a sport and while I can see both sides I have a simple solution, use lighter tackle to make it more sporting if you feel the need to calm down the naysayers. If you go with a light setup say 4# test you are only increasing the fish odds of getting away thus making it more of a "challenge". Personally I have a few ponds and while they are not managed I always catch fish and I always try new lures here, is this "cheating"?

I don't own a boat nor do I own electronics that basically tell me not just the location of the fish, what structure they are on, the water temp, depth GPS to find this location again and the ability to get an idea of what the fish are doing, now is that cheating? To me bank fishing is a challenging enough.

[BassAssassin726]

Tell your friends to eat it. Theyre just JEALOUS! If its a body of water and has fish in then fish that joint man!

[Mattlures]

I fish in possably the most preasured lakes in the country. there is always sombody else close by. even on week days. Its over rated

I would love to have a nice private pond or lake I could go to, to do some fun fishing. I do agree with FC though. These public lakes do hold some monsters so I keep going back. Its up to you to decide if you want to mount the bass. I would get a replica though so I could catch that bass again when its bigger. Its is not the same accomplishment but most of us would love having those private places to fish without having to deal with a ton of other fisherman.

[Amoore9900]

I am lucky and live on a 100 acre private lake it does have far more big bass in it then any lake in this state. I still have to find them and hook then I love fishing it and also have a place on a large public lake and it isn't close...living on the lake is also a big advantage you know where to go I have a few spots that hold fish 9 out of 10 times.

[SirSnookalot]

Nothing in fishing is cheating except breaking a tournament rule or a state regulation. If one's goal is just to enjoy themselves I don't quite understand how I would be cheating by catching a nice fish in a roadside ditch.