Super User Felix77 Posted October 12, 2015 Super User Posted October 12, 2015 Sadly I am far from owning a boat of my own but over the past few years I have seen 1 or 2 co-anglers turn to boaters in our club. Our club fishes tournaments on the same bodies of water generally. We also are in direct competition with one another. One pot for all anglers. Over a few years you get paired up with a bunch of different people. You also learn spots or types of water they like to fish. What is the proper etiquette when it comes to fishing these spots once you become a boater. Quote
Dypsis Posted October 12, 2015 Posted October 12, 2015 Great question, as I much further away than you, I might be there someday. I get asked sometimes by my boater (especially on a hard bite) for any suggestions. But anything I would be able to suggest would simply be a spot another boater from the club has showed me. So I don't ever make a suggestion. Would love to hear others input. Matt 1 Quote
Dave Jakes Posted October 13, 2015 Posted October 13, 2015 I'm probably in the minority here, but when it comes to tournament fishing on big lakes I'm a believer in first come-first served. They make those big 200 hp motors for a reason! Now, that doesn't mean we can't share. As long as you're not crossing my line, I wouldn't care if you fish behind, or even ahead, of me. Quote
Smokinal Posted October 13, 2015 Posted October 13, 2015 If a boater showed you a brush pile that he sank personally, and no one else knew about it, I wouldn't fish it. But many of his "spots" are probably well known areas and free for the fishing. What are you supposed to do, stay away from every ledge on the lake just because he brought you there before? 4 Quote
Logan S Posted October 13, 2015 Posted October 13, 2015 IMO proper etiquette would be to simply discuss it with the other boater if it was something where you'd be crossing paths frequently. You don't have to, everything is public water after all...But if it's something like a guy's favorite spot or somewhere he's known to spend a ton of time, it might be worth it to just be upfront and talk about it. Example from personal experience: I had another boater ride as a co-angler with me during a tournament some years ago. We both did very well in an area that is one of my favorites on this particular lake. It's not a secret spot, but I know the area better than most so I can often pull some really nice bags from it when others might only get a few....At the next tournament on that lake, the same guy was back in his own boat and he just asked me how I felt about him going to fish that spot. He didn't want to encroach on it since I showed it to him. I just told him that I was planning on starting there, but if he came by and I wasn't on it, it's fair game. I don't own it. I thought that was a really good way of handling it on his part. He didn't have to, of course...But it was a nice gesture. 2 Quote
dam0007 Posted October 13, 2015 Posted October 13, 2015 I fish as a Co angler in tournaments however I fish with 1 of my buddies on his boat which for years (upon years before doing tournaments) me and him have accumulated a notebook full of spots and a hummingbird full of waypoints. This is also multiple lakes. So in a nutshell I have my own spots. Come time of tourneys depending on who the boater is I don't want to give away my best info so typically in a situation boater asks me for input I'll recommend more of a community spot which I like but I've seen others fish. As far as hitting spots when you get a boat in reality you should explore and find you're own spots for the methods in which you fish. I'll throw you a perfect example. Candlewood here in CT is the "main" lake. It was a town until they knocked it down and filled it with water. There are ancient paper maps around and chips for old school Nav units they don't make anymore which show road beds stone walls for property lines, cemetery, railroad tracks etc etc. so one persons foundation they fish mid summer exclusively there may be half a tourneys worth of anglers that already know about it. But if you have learned the spot and know how to fish it where it's productive for you, then fish it. Key is to develop your own toolkit for techniques that you use. 1 Quote
BaitMonkey1984 Posted October 13, 2015 Posted October 13, 2015 It depends on the spot. If it is a known community hole, then fish the heck out of it. If it is a secret spot, or one subtly on a larger known area I would have no problem fishing it for fun, but come tournament time- find your own success. Quote
dam0007 Posted October 13, 2015 Posted October 13, 2015 I'm probably in the minority here, but when it comes to tournament fishing on big lakes I'm a believer in first come-first served. They make those big 200 hp motors for a reason! Now, that doesn't mean we can't share. As long as you're not crossing my line, I wouldn't care if you fish behind, or even ahead, of me. OMG if someone crossed my line from another boat I would snap!!! I wouldn't get him DQd after only one offense but multiple expletives will be thrown lol Quote
gobig Posted October 13, 2015 Posted October 13, 2015 Nothing is sacred with todays technology in depthfinders. Besides if your doing your research your going to be sharing a lot of spots with others. I would be ridiculous try to fish and not hit spots others have shown me in the past. Where I see it being an issue is when it effects a current tournament. Quote
stkbassn Posted October 14, 2015 Posted October 14, 2015 Sadly I am far from owning a boat of my own but over the past few years I have seen 1 or 2 co-anglers turn to boaters in our club. Our club fishes tournaments on the same bodies of water generally. We also are in direct competition with one another. One pot for all anglers. Over a few years you get paired up with a bunch of different people. You also learn spots or types of water they like to fish. What is the proper etiquette when it comes to fishing these spots once you become a boater. I would say if you get there first you fish it. If someone else is there I wouldn't crowd them or pressure them. I wouldn't feel too bad about it, it's public water. I highly doubt the folks in your club are the only one's who know about some of those key spots so they probably get fished more than you think. 1 Quote
Global Moderator Mike L Posted October 14, 2015 Global Moderator Posted October 14, 2015 If you fish tournaments as a co angler on the same body of water for years, do it year round, and are paired with a different boater each time, theoretically you've hit every productive spot on that lake one time or another. If you have a great memory you have an IDEA of where to go in every AREA of the lake. Now, unless you carried a hand held gps unit in your pocket and punched numbers at all the productive spots...holes, rock piles, lay downs, a certain brush pile or dock (you better hope I don't catch you) you're still fishing an AREA. Your chances of catching fish are the same as everyone else's given the same level of skill. So now you have a boat, you don't have to rely on anyone else to put you on fish...Do you just flounder around and junk fish all day hoping to stumble on a SPOT that noone has ever fished while having this wealth of knowledge in your head?? Tough question. You know where to go because you were there, but you were only there because someone else brought you there. How would you feel...Me, I'd go find my own water and make it my own. Mike Quote
Super User WRB Posted October 15, 2015 Super User Posted October 15, 2015 The fastest way to become a pariah in a bass club is sharing someone else's specific spots. It's always a risk fishing "secret" spots someone has shown you without thier permission. Most "secret" spots are usually well known community holes, however bass anglers can be secretive bunch and you always should be careful, especially regarding lure selection. Someday you will be in the front of the boat and just use your common sense and communicate with your partner. If it feels wrong, then it's wrong. Personally If I take someone to a good spot, I expect that spot will be shared with others, one reason I prefer to fish alone sometimes. I also share a lot of information so others can catch more bass. Tom 1 Quote
Super User Montanaro Posted October 15, 2015 Super User Posted October 15, 2015 I had a boater show me a secret spot recently that we pulled 2 5 and a half pounders from in middle of lake. Nobody ever fished it and was sworn to secrecy. I'll never fish it unless I'm alone recreation fishing, with my dad or in a tournament that the boater is not in. He gave me a courtesy that helped me a lot and I don't plan on leaking it so everyone else will turn it into a community hole. Quote
MidwestBassin Posted December 14, 2015 Posted December 14, 2015 IMO with todays electronics and technology, the odds of you or your boater fishing a spot that no one else knows about is pretty slim. In most cases, that guys "spot" is someone else's as well. With that being said, you might ruffle some feathers if you show up to the tournament, and run to spot that a guy you fished with previously told you that is "his", and he finds you there. This whole deal about fishing peoples spots isn't very clear, and everyone has a different opinion. With that being said, water is water, and no one owns any certain spot. I do believe however, telling people about a man's brush pile that he sank personally, that you have never seen anyone else fish is not proper respect, but then again, the majority of brushpiles were sank by someone, so technically you are fishing someones spot. I think it would benefit you to find some of your own "spots" and learn them inside out, and master those spots depending on the conditions. Be respectful and communicate with your guys. Ask them if they would mind you fishing "their" spot if you pull up and aren't there. Even if they say no, you asked.. At the end of the day, your entitled to fish where you please, just try to be respectful to others Quote
Super User Catt Posted December 14, 2015 Super User Posted December 14, 2015 After 44 yrs of tournament fishing I learned there are no "secret" spots! Someone else has found it before me & after me! 1 Quote
Super User scaleface Posted December 29, 2015 Super User Posted December 29, 2015 i "always" tried hard to find my own fish. People view tournaments differently and a lot of people take the easy path and let others find the fish for them , while others find their own . You ought to be able to figure out why these are good spots and search else where for something similar . Quote
Global Moderator Mike L Posted December 31, 2015 Global Moderator Posted December 31, 2015 On 12/14/2015 at 8:08 AM, Catt said: After 44 yrs of tournament fishing I learned there are no "secret" spots! Someone else has found it before me & after me! Ain't that the truth!! Quote
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