Bad Fishing Etiquette- Asking What Lure Their Using

[Felix77]

I don't consider it bad etiquette either ... Just realize that you may not get the whole truth from them.  Prime example.

 

One tournament last year I was paired with a boater who was fishing a tube.  It was my first time fishing with tubes so he offered some tips to help.  I asked him what color.  He said a "greenish color" would work.  Wouldn't say much more.

 

In observation I saw his was not greenish at all.  In addition he was putting some type of scent on it as well.  When asked about weight he says it can vary based on the condition but didn't disclose what size he was using.

 

You can tell how far a person is willing to go with their advice.  The key there is NOT to push it.  Be grateful for the information they did share and learn and explore from there.

 

He ended up winning the tournament so I am glad I was paying attention.  

[Bluebasser86]

I don't consider to be in poor taste as long as someone is polite. I make stuff up to mess with my friends and in tournaments but I like helping others catch fish when I'm just fishing for fun. 

[PABASS]

Right now I have not hit the tourny scene which is another story, I grew up with Bill Dance and he always advised you to ask questions about lure, and depth.  I will ask and in return answer however I can see what they are using anyway so its not really a secret, plus I don't run into many people that fish the way I do.  Boaters when they pull up to my area will get a yelling at, you have the whole lake don't take my little spot, again it doesn't happen often.  

[bassman31783]

I've never had a problem letting someone know what lure I was using.  Telling them the exact details of how I was catching them might be a different story depending on who is asking.  Obviously if it's someone really struggling, new to the lake or new to fishing all together I'll give them as much info that I can to make their fishing experience as enjoyable as possible.  As a whole I don't mind at all giving as much advise as I can to a fellow fishermen that asks nicely.

 

Now if someone sees me haul in a nice fish and then pulls up on my spot & starts casting & asking what I'm fishing and how I caught the fish I'll probably give them a cold shoulder. 

 

Politeness goes a long way.

[Fishes in trees]

When someone runs into me on the lake, I've got 15-20 rods laid out around the boat.   What I'm using NOW probably isn't what I was using 10 minutes ago.  That being said, whenever anyone asks (which isn't often) I generally reply honestly.

[jhoffman]

Ive given out so much free advice over the years I shouldve just wrote a book and gave out copies at times.

 

One of my favorite spots is a highway bridge. Its one of the only places you can actually fish the river channel in this lake without a boat and in the summer heat it doubles its niceness with some shade. Without fail when I pull up there is usually someone there fishing for crappies. I start whackn the bass and the questions start flying.

 

Most recent went like this

 

Woman Alone: What are you catching all those fish on

Me: A jig

Woman: Whats a jig

Me: Explination with showing her visually

Woman: Well how do you fish it

Me: Explination

Woman: What kind of rod is that

 

 

Meanwhile I am trying to focus as I am in a tournament. Then I crank a big one over the side and she just would not let me alone. Had I been there without money on the line I may have given her some more information. However, the moment the boat coming up the lake saw me hooking fish they came in right past me(trying to see what I was throwing) and then cut me off!

 

I prefer to keep to myself when its tournament time.

[Snakehead Whisperer]

Usually I don't get into this with people I meet on the water unless we exchange some sort of pleasantries first (hey, how's it going... blah, blah.) If they seem cool then I am usually more than happy to disclose what I've been catching fish on. If I'm having a hard day I'm not ashamed to ask them what's working. I can think of lots of times when I have got a bad feeling from people and just kept the conversation cordial without talking shop, however. 

 

The thing that I've noticed more often than not is that when people ask me what I'm catching fish on, it's usually because it's a slow bite that day. This usually means I'm throwing a finesse bait of some sort (boring.) When I tell them I'm throwing a slow moving bait, they usually look at me like "Yawn, no thanks. I'll keep fishing my spinnerbait." Even if somebody tells you exactly what the fish are biting and where they are, it takes some patience/dedication for an angler to catch them. This usually weeds out people who aren't serious about it. 

 

On the flip side, if I see people doing stuff on the water that's not OK I let them know (poaching, littering, etc.) Be careful engaging people like this. Some folks aren't that friendly when you point it out.

[slonezp]

As long as you're not a bucket head, I've got nothing to hide. I've even gone so far as to give one of my super secret swimjigs(Northstar bull gill) to a guy I compete against in tourneys after he had asked me what I was using to catch my limits. He is a buddy of mine who will not, under any circumstances, reveal any of his "secret" baits. To each his own.That being said, I rarely if ever give up spots.

[ww2farmer]

No, IMHO it's not bad etiquette. I welcome questions from guys. The more people I can turn on to bass fishing , and help have some success the better it is for all. I love bass, I love bass fishing, I love the competition of tournaments........but I hate the modern culture of bass fishing. That's another rant for another time.

[FD.]

If I'm not in a tournament, I will tell you who, what, when, where, and how.  Two kids came by me last month in a john boat and asked so I just gave them a couple of packs of what was working. Then watched one catch a 4 pounder minutes later.   I only carry about 400 lbs of bait so I could spare two bags and a little knowledge.

 

I have given spots and baits to several fellow BR members who have won tournaments with that info.  And one specifically who SHOULD have won a major tournament on Kissimmee(did not listen) earlier this year and another one on Harris (forgot map) last week.  Not to mention any names though gar tracker.

[Silas]

I remember I was catching bass on a motor oil worm.  A boat with 2 guys came by and asked, and I threw them a handful of the worms we were using.  My brother questioned my generosity. I told him, "spreading good Karma!" 

   Later, when we pulled up to the dock, I backed my Dodge Van down to pull out the boat and it quit.  Right in the middle of nowhere.  A few minutes later the SAME guys came in with a boatful of fish caught on my motor oil worm.

 

  Turns out one was a mechanic and fixed the problem right there and we were able to go home!

 

I turned to my brother then, and said, "That's why!"

 

I know I will be a minority on this forum, but I am having real doubts about the overall consequences of competition fishing.  I'm not sure if more negative consequences outweigh the good ones.

 

  I've been fishing over 60 years and have watched things "change."  I still believe in the "humanity" of man, and common courtesy will always outweigh personal gain.

 

       But, that's just me. 

[CPBassFishing]

If an adult manages to overcome their ego to ask a teen like me what I am throwing, I will gladly tell them. Or another young angler for that matter. As for giving away what is working, I would if I could. I barely have enough for myself. I will never, ever tell others what I am using while fishing a tournament.

[Tuckahoe Joe]

I don't think its bad etiquette to ask about lures/presentations but as others have said, being polite and genuine is the key.  Sometimes I ask and if someone asks me, Ill give them all the info I can.  As long as they're not trying to fish right on top of me, I have no problem with it.  I can recall 2 situations where information was offered to me without me even asking asking.  The first was my very first time bass fishing.  I was on a dam and throwing a t-rigged worm and this old guy that was crappie fishing comes over and starts talking to me.  "Catching anything?  How long you been fishing?  I caught a couple last week on a t-rig.  That's a good color worm.  Work it like this.  Try casting it over there".  Dude gave me a little 15 minute seminar on the t-rig.  A short while later, I caught 3 within about a 45 minutes.  Another time on the same dam I was fishing a crankbait with no luck.  There were these 2 guys trout fishing on the other side and one of them pulled in a 2lb bass.  The guy holds it up to me and shouts out "Caught him on a white roostertail!".  I tied one on and immediately start catching em.  These 2 experiences really stuck with me.  So I'm more than happy to share my fishing knowledge (the little that I have) and I'd even be willing to share some soft plastics with the right kind of person.  Hard baits, I dunno.  I'd like to be able to but moneys tight and lures are a bit to pricey to be giving away.

[LFT]

I think this is a great question and I appreciate that you are concerned about your etiquette. I usually ask if they are having any luck. From that you can usually judge if they are friendly and willing to chat a bit. When I have asked in the past, I have brought up what I was using and not having luck with first. That seems to break the ice a bit. Everyone I have asked has been really friendly and I have always told everyone who has asked me. I see other fisherman as my buddies, not my competition and most will agree. Who knows, the guy who I just shared what lure I'm using with may be the guy who offers to tow me in three hours later if my engine goes out.

[prjavelin]

I have a phylosophy for this situations. 

 

1. I never tell bucket fishermen useful information. 

2. I never ask how is the bite or tell anyone how it is. 

 

I think that asking how is the bite is something that can sync you out either way you slice it. If they say its tough Ill get negative and I will not fish the same confidence I would in other situation. They say its good and Im not fishing the spots and lures they are using and ill also start losing confidence and fishing improperly. When I used to suck and get skunked I would ask every person I saw. 

 

I also hate the people that ask or try to take spots from you or get really close and cast leaving you without options. 

 

GARY YAMAMOTTO should sponsor me right now. Ive given so many senkos out its crazy. they work decently. Not like my go-to lure but decent. 

[RAMBLER]

I enjoy helping kids.  When you see them, on the bank, alone, it's usually because they've no one else (like a caring parent) to help them.

 

Adults, that can be a different thing.  I had two BAD experiences helping people and I shy away from that, now, unless it is a good friend and I know the way they fish.

 

There was a guy that started working in the same place I did.  He was not the most pleasant person in the world, but I tried to get along with him because we worked together.  I took him fishing a few times and showed him how to fish (use tackel, bait, etc.).  He went crazy.  Fished all the time and kept everything he caught.  His wife was from overseas and liked fish.  Now, this is the honest truth.  They actually bought and filled, with fish, three (3) of the biggest freezers they could find to keep all of the fish in.  I sure wish I had never taken that guy fishing.

 

Another time, I was launching and some out of staters came to launch at the same time.  They asked and I told them in detail where and what.  Later they came trolling right through where I was casting and pulled up one of the biggest crappie I have ever seen and asked me if that was the kind of fish I had telling them about. 

 

You will not get specifics from me.

[Fish Chris]

CPB, I'd probably be even more likely to ask a young guy... especially if he was fishing from shore.... how he was doing, and what he was throwing.... than I would, some tournament guy who was running and gunning, for mostly dinks LOL

 

In reality, 99% of the the "secrets" the other anglers on the water might have, would be completely useless to me...... unless maybe it was something like, "they spotted a gimongous bass" in a certain spot.... I don't even care what they threw at it. Now its my turn  

 

Peace,

Fish

 

 

If an adult manages to overcome their ego to ask a teen like me what I am throwing, I will gladly tell them. Or another young angler for that matter. As for giving away what is working, I would if I could. I barely have enough for myself. I will never, ever tell others what I am using while fishing a tournament.

[WRB]

There an old saying; if a Fishermans lips are moving he is lying. You can politely ask other anglers how they are doing and if they are catching anything, be aware of the reply the water. You may get better answers at the boat ramp as anglers come off the water.

At the ramp I will share very specific lure information, if asked, not locations. The whale that surfaces gets harpooned, so it's my goal to keep a very low profile on the water, out of sight out of mind.

Most tournament anglers avoid making eye contact, they don't want to ask or be asked any questions and that is OK with me! The weekend family out fishing, especially young kids, I will put them on some keeper size bass when given the opportunity.

Tom

[JeziHogg]

I have no problem sharing information with someone that asks me. Mind you I wont give specifics, I'll just say "I'm using a crankbait or I'm using a Pig and a Jig".

But I absolutely hate it when I'm fishing and someone comes over and starts giving me advice without me asking for it.

[ColdSVT]

ask me all the questions you want and ill give you honest answers. I however will not tell you why I am doing something in particular because I think that is something one should learn on thier own

[SudburyBasser]

If someone asks me what I'm using I'll tell them exactly...hell, if they want to know where in the aisle I found it I'll tell them that too if I can remember.

 

Spots are another matter...If I think you're an idiot I'll probably give you a general location. If you seem okay I'll be reasonably specific.

[Brian6428]

Thanks for all the answers, there are some great replies. Using this advice, I will continue asking fellow fisherman what they are using, but will not press for any more info if they don't offer it. Thanks a ton!

[Hooligan]

I almost always respond with "jigs" as a stock answer when I am local. If I'm on the road at a tournament, I am generally much more forthcoming with what's working and what I'm doing. I don't, and won't, give everything up, but will give the basic information.

[BassThumb]

Whether or not it's bad etiquette depends on how you approach the person, and whether you plan to keep the fish that you catch. If you just walk up to them and ask, "Hey, what are you catching 'em on?", then yes; it's bad etiquette. If you do this with a bucket in hand, it's even worse.

 

If you engage them in a friendly conversation about fishing to show them that you're interesting in becoming a better angler, then it's not bad whatsoever. Both anglers can learn from these exchanges. Many of them will gladly volunteer information without you even needing to ask.

[NorcalBassin]

I'm more than happy to help a genuine fisherman with general advice (drop shot with a 4" worm, jig w/Rage Craw trailer, etc), but I'll leave the color out of it. That being said, it's pretty rare around here to hear anyone sharing specifics on the water or at the ramp. It can get a little snobby in CA.