Bad Fishing Etiquette- Asking What Lure Their Using

[Brian6428]

Hey guys, I was just reading the thread about drop shotting a hula popper, and i realized a lot of you guys don't like to tell guys what lure you are using if you are having success. Well I fish from a dock, and will quite commonly ask guys in boats what lure they are using. Do you guys think this is bad etiquette? I just wanted to get your guys' input. Thanks!

[BrianinMD]

I don't think so at all, just keep in mind you may not get completely honest answers. Especially if the guys are fishing a tournament.

 

I would pay more attention to what they have tied on or watch their retrieve (moving bait, slow/fast bottom contact, jerkbait...)

[MCS]

No, not bad edicate in my opinion. I ask and have had plenty people ask me. Thing is you gotta remember what guys are throwing in a boat might not be of any value to you bank fishing. It is also up to the person getting the info on imparting correct usage and action of the lure and locating the fish themselves. So I have no problem handing it out either.

[A-Jay]

I agree with Brian, though I don't fish competatively, it may be all in how you ask.

 

You'll always get more bees with honey. 

 

Additionally, I will always take a few monents to help out a youngster who seems genuine, and polite.

 

I've been know to cut a bait right off my set up and donate it to the right cause.

 

Some one did that for me way back when and I've never forgotten it.

 

A-Jay

[HeavyDluxe]

Man, I would hope it's not bad etiquette to ask - if you're genuinely interested and polite that is.

 

I can understand not getting an answer from someone competing.  And, I'm also not opposed to a little gamesmanship between competitors ("I caught them all over there..." when, in reality, I was somewhere else).

 

What I do think is bad etiquette feeding a line of BS to someone who asks and seems innocently ignorant/curious.  It's one thing to rib one another in good fun, it's another when people use faux 'advice' to have an inside joke at someone else's expense.

[Teal]

Absolutely not. I think there is a time, place, and manner to ask. If im fishing in the tourney, I would not unless it is a trusted person that is in my everyday life.

I dont mind talking to folks at the ramp before or after im going, if its a fun fishing day.

I dont mind talking areas and lures and techniques about my waters to guys here on this site. If im not super specific with some of the guys on this site, its because i really dont want them to hang their hopes on exact specifics and change "their game" or get in their head.

Ill talk about specific lures and techniques at the tackle shop.

Do i keep a few things secret...absolutely...we all do.

What i dont like, tourney anglers that follow my boat because they see my rod bent. Then as we cross they slow and start asking questions... not cool.

I dont like to be bothered while im in the act of fishing... unless its someone standing on a dock that im fishing...then ill speak and talk fish with them.

I am wary of people who are really generous in the info and super specif department.

Sorry for the rant, but i dont think its bad ... main thing is, dont bother folks while they fish.

To be honest tho, ive never thought that telling lures was a big deal, because all people fish differently. The best way, i can help folks to catch fish is by telling them what i beleive the fish are doing and what type of area/depth/and things to key in on.

[fstr385]

I dont usually ask, I just ask people if theyve had any luck in the area, and if people ask what Ive been catching on, I tell em. Ive even crossed paths with other boaters who have thrown me a worm and say "try this like this". Most of the places I go on my little boat are places you dont run into other people anyways. Who cares anyways, there are hardly any baits that are a secret. If you dont know how to use em or what youre doing, youre going to yeild less fish anyways.

[Brian6428]

Thanks for the replies guys, I'm glad to know I haven't been breaking some unwritten rule. And you guys are right, it is definitely about how you fish it, now just what you are fishing.

 

I agree with Brian, though I don't fish competatively, it may be all in how you ask.

 

You'll always get more bees with honey. 

 

Additionally, I will always take a few monents to help out a youngster who seems genuine, and polite.

 

I've been know to cut a bait right off my set up and donate it to the right cause.

 

Some one did that for me way back when and I've never forgotten it.

 

A-Jay

Man, we need more nice people like you around my lake. Most of the boaters I have talked to have been pretty mean. They will fish right in front of our dock when we have nowhere else to fish. One time my brother was snagged 50 feet away from the dock and a boat went 5 feet away from his lure and didn't offer to try to get him off. Then the same boater, minutes later, had the audacity to ask us to unsnag his lure when he casted onto our dock and got snagged. Talk about frustrating!

[Teal]

To add to that, someone mentioned "youngsters" and "curious/ ignorant" .... i love helping those guys....that why im on this site daily. I normally bend over backwards to help the local young guys

And yes you do get more bees with honey... i love talking about fishing.

[Bankbeater]

I think asking about a bait is ok.  What gets me is when you are fishing from the bank and somebody comes over and stands right next to you, or pulls along side when you're in a boat, just to see what you are using.

[MrPeanut]

I don't think it's bad etiquette either, especially in the situation mentioned. It's not like your trying to get the inside scoop in a shady way to fish a local tourney, it's just a friendly convo among fishing peers.

 

The way I see it, everybody has gotten a tip or a quick pointer on what to use / how to use it etc.. at some point in fishing. Isn't that how we all got our start, whether it was last week or decades ago, somebody took the time to help us out

[K_Mac]

I agree with Brian, though I don't fish competatively, it may be all in how you ask.

 

You'll always get more bees with honey. 

 

Additionally, I will always take a few monents to help out a youngster who seems genuine, and polite.

 

I've been know to cut a bait right off my set up and donate it to the right cause.

 

Some one did that for me way back when and I've never forgotten it.

 

A-Jay

 

Like you A-Jay I have been on both sides of giver and receiver. The reaction you get when you cut off a bait and give it to someone that just saw you catch a fish or two on it is worth much more than the price of the bait. As a younger man I was given a few darter jigs and a bag of grubs along with some on-the-spot training on how to use them in that same situation. Another time I was catching very nice striper hybrids on a roadrunner. I broke off the last one i had. As I was rummaging through my meager collection trying to find something else to use a guy came up and asked what they were biting on. I told him. He gave me a couple and drove off without making a cast. I will never forget either indecent and if I can pay that back along the way I'm good with that.

[MarkH024]

A few years back I had someone cruise by as I was pulling in a nice 4lb Largemouth and shouted out "What are you using?"  I held up my hollowbody swim bait, and said a soft body swim bait.  The guy's reply to me was,  "Oh man, too rich for my blood"...and drove away.  I didn't really know what to think of that answer.  Obviously this guy doesn't know the price on some really top end bass fishing stuff.

 

As for the OP, it's not bad etiquette  It's nice to share some knowledge of the lakes.  As long as you don't share it and then they park their boat next to you or cut you off from your path / vice versa...i don't see the harm.  Some people just like to keep their "secrets" I guess. 

[SPEEDBEAD.]

If I'm out fun fishing and catching a bunch, I'll tend to share info with someone I feel might be less experienced or a guy/gal who is out fishing with his/her kids.

 

If I'm on a big bite, that's when the BS answers come out. Honestly, I dont have to worry about too many PA guys burning my swimbait bite.

[JoePhish]

I don't consider it bad etiquette.

Sometimes I give comprehenive answers, especially to kids or people learning the sport.

However, most times I give vague answers to passing boats like swimbaits, worms, soft plastics, jig or crankbaits.

[sarcazmo]

I never understood the elitism that goes along with bass fishing in a non competitive environment.

 

If I'm fishing and catching, and someone asks me what I'm using, I'll almost always tell them and if they dont have it give them some.  Why?  Because this is a leisure activity!  Everyone should benefit and enjoy what time they have actually being out there!

 

Was a pretty big wake up call for me.  

 

Prior to buying my boat most of my fishing was done almost exclusively in Canada for Walleye and pike.  My experiences up there were almost always positive.

 

Bass fishermen seem like they're protecting the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

[Scorcher214]

I fish from the bank so I get a lot of passerbys and walk by many people as well. I don't mind being asked, but I don't usually ask other people. I ask if they are catching any and that's about it. I find it annoying when people ask a lot of questions though. Like every minute detail of how I'm fishing a lure.

[JellyMan]

I get asked ALL the time. I dont like to let my secrets out too much because then they get pressured on my go to baits. I usually respond with a very polite but vague response.

 

"Hey man, what are you using?" - "Oh just a worm." or "Just a little creature bait."

 

I think thats enough info. I had to figure out presentation and color myself. They should too. It makes you a better fisherman. As far as friends go, I tell em exactly what to use and how to use it. I want my buddies to have the best day they can.

 

I have asked a few times but I always tried to be as un intrusive as possible. I ask things like "Is the worm bite on? You guys using creatures? Was that bite on the bottom?". If they wish to indulge me with specific info then great.

[Fish Chris]

Probably not bad ettiquette, but still, I'd probably just watch and see what they were throwing.... and chances are, it wouldn't be something I'd want to throw anyway. In fact, if the guy was fishing what most of the other guys in that tourney were fishing, I'd only want to know what that lure was, to make sure I wasn't throwing anything even remotely close to it.

 

Peace,

Fish

 

PS, But then again, anytime I'm on the water, I do everything in my power to stay as far away from other people (fishermen, or otherwise) as I posibly can..... So I usually don't get close enough to ask or answer questions anyway... except maybe at the ramp, before or after the trip.

[JellyMan]

Bass fishermen seem like they're protecting the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

 

I feel this way and i'm not sure why. I would love for everyone to enjoy fishing but on the same note, I have had bad experiences.

 

I met a guy in my apartments and we started talking fishing. I then felt comfy enough to tell him about the little secret canal through the woods that I found on the lake, what I catch em on, ect. It wasn't 2 days later and I'm out there and he comes in with his huge boat in the little canal with about 5 guys moving lay downs all over the place, idling the friggin outboard through the canal, dropping anchors, splashing, banging. This canal is big enough fo 2 bass boats side by side max and is through the woods so it is extremely calm and quiet. I then see more people days later than I had ever seen before all throwing my go to baits. Within a month of all this crazyness in my quiet nook of the lake, the bass were so spooked and were extremely hard to catch. They also moved this huge tree that was just below the water at the very entrance of the canal. It was natural and actually acted as a wall to block big boats and only allowing small boats to enter. I was pretty mad. So I moved to another portion of the lake and caught my 11# PB. It just so happens that that one guy kind of followed me out that way and saw me catch this fish. Shortly after that this spot was getting pressured. It was unbelievable. I should have kept my mouth shut.

[rmcguirk]

Personally, I say good morning/afternoon or nod to everyone I pass.  And, if they respond in the same polite way, I might ask how they're doing.  I generally don't ask what they're using.  As someone above said, it is usually pretty obvious from the gear and the way they are fishing it (e.g., cranking, spinner, jig, t-rig, drop shot).  If you're close enough to say hello, you're close enough to see what general style of presentation(s) they're going with. 

 

In turn, if I'm asked, I provide honest answers.  If questioned, I'll also say what I'm using. 

[Raul]

I don´t think that asking somebody what they are using is bad etiquette, personally I never ask and when I´ve been asked what I´m using I reply, the interesting thing here is, if you ask what somebody is using man you really need help, you have to get it, the answer is not going to help you catch more fish. You asked what but didn´t ask how, why and where and those are more important than what.

[TNBassin']

I never understood the elitism that goes along with bass fishing in a non competitive environment.

 

If I'm fishing and catching, and someone asks me what I'm using, I'll almost always tell them and if they dont have it give them some.  Why?  Because this is a leisure activity!  Everyone should benefit and enjoy what time they have actually being out there!

 

Was a pretty big wake up call for me.  

 

Prior to buying my boat most of my fishing was done almost exclusively in Canada for Walleye and pike.  My experiences up there were almost always positive.

 

Bass fishermen seem like they're protecting the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Well said!!

[Darren.]

Not bad etiquette whatsoever. A lot of really good things said so far in this thread.

 

A-Jay's experience is much like my own. Someone gave me advice freely, and I now do the same, especially with newbies, kids, et al. Goes a long way with drumming up good will in fishing, and in life.

 

The adage "freely you have received, freely give" comes into play here. But of course, we have to use our better judgment. If you get a bad vibe from someone, you're probably less likely to share much more than a greeting or "nice day". The converse is true as well.

[mjseverson24]

For me it depends on the situation. If I am pre-fishing  for a tournament and someone asks what I am catching them on I usually give the generic answer of a spinnerbait/ crank bait/ soft plastics etc... I dont lie I just am not very specific.  I rarely in any situation give away the location, but most often I will show whoever asks exactly what I have had success on and what depths I was fishing. I do this because I was once a bank fisherman who just wanted to catch nice fish with my dad and have a good time. It is a good feeling to pass on the knowledge that you have acquired to others especially if it can make a difference. 

 

Mitch