Spots and Secrets

[UPSmallie]

I think a lot of guys work hard to obtain their set skills and techniques for specific kinds of fishing.  It may take months, years maybe, before they can find a consistently producing pattern.  The learning curve usually takes a while to learn on your own.  Is it wrong to keep some of your acquired information to yourself?  No.  With that said, I always give helpful hints or small details to those asking.  I never share a specific honey-hole with others, besides close friends, but I'll often share what type of lure I used to catch the fish on.  To each his own, but yes I would agree that there are more than enough people these days who want an instant answer of how and where that trophy fish was caught.  

[Airman4754]

There are guys that will watch you pre-fish with binoculars. There are guys that will come pretend to talk to you after you take out to see what you have on your deck. It's pretty easy to spot the vultures and the guys who just want to have a conversation. 

 

I will tell people everything I know about fishing, but you've got to be someone I know before I tell you when and where.

[Team9nine]

As for specific fishing reports and catches, It depends on the species and the situation with me. Most times, all you'll get are generalities from me, especially in public posts. Just enough to point you in the right direction. A few friends will get more, especially if they ask, but I've been disappointed enough times by those who don't respect the info and all that went into it, so I've become somewhat guarded. More than enough "chicken hawks" out on the water these days. Kind of sad, really.

 

On the other hand, on forums like this where questions are mostly about equipment, approaches, experiences, etc,, I try and share as much as possible. I can get you all set up, help you with some baits, how I fish them, and tell you what areas to look for on the water...just find your own spots when you get there 

[Paul Roberts]

For me, it depends a lot on how much pressure a place might get. When you figure in timing and approaches, there's a lot more real estate out there than one might expect. That said, I've been burned before so I am cautious. I find that if I share good info with good people, it comes back around.

[RoLo]

 

identifying seasonal patterns, pinpointing sweet-spots and perfecting techniques, all require

an enormous amount of due diligence and time on the water. Paradoxically, it seems only fair to me

that more than 'one' fisherman should reap the benefits of all that time and labor. As a result,

I freely divulge 'what' I fish, 'when', 'where' and 'how' I fish it. In the grand scheme of things,

the secrets I might disclose are not likely to affect me on the waters that I fish,

but may brighten the day of a fellow angler in the waters that he fishes.

 

I'm more guarded with local waypoints, but have often divulged the coordinates of hard-won local sweet-spots.

In fact, I've provided whole lake itineraries to several BR members in the past.

Truthfully, I'm not concerned about any holding site becoming public knowledge,

because there are more where they came from; and searching for new hotspots is my first love.  

 

After you've boated thousands upon thousands of fresh and saltwater fish, cranking a fish to the boat

becomes anti-climactic. I'm very lucky though, because my favorite part of fishing is gathering information, studying all the exciting sciences that encompass our sport, and last but not least: "finding fish".

For that same reason I've never hired a fishing guide in my life, and never will.

What sense would it make for me to pay someone else to do the task I love the most??  (ain't gonna happen). 

 

Roger

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bassin' Brad]

There is a difference between helping someone out by giving them tips on how to use gear and tackle and what gear and tackle is used when and where and pointing them in the right direction. That's different compared to lazy people that don't won't to do any of the work and want you to just tell them everything after you've worked hard to and put in time to figure that out. It's also different if 2 people who go out and do their homework share info with each other. 

[OCdockskipper]

Like many have already posted, for me it is a "depends on..." answer.

 

The earlier post where a person asked "What are you doing out here?" is an example that I would take positively.  That sounds like a person curious to learn, wanting to understand what is happening and not necessarily infringing on the person fishing.  My response would have been the same, tell him what is underwater and invite him to fish it with me.

 

It is the "entitlement" questions, the grilling for information, that rubs me the wrong way.  Normally, I will give any & all information to youngsters who are fishing, but even some of them can be jerks.  Just yesterday, I was 70 yards away from a designated shoreline fishing area when a young teen yelled as loud as he could "Are you catching anything?".  Keep in mind this is a small lake surrounded by homes and it was still early morning, so I am assuming the nearby neighbors were still sleeping.  I responded with a thumbs up, not wanting to encourage the kid to keep yelling.  No such luck, he then yelled "What are you using?".  There were other people fishing where he was and I didn't want to motor over there & disturb their spot to answer him & I sure as heck wasn't going to yell back, so I just held up the Ned rig.  Kid must have eagle eyes, because he then yelled "What color?".  That was enough for me, I just waved, turned my back and went the opposite direction.

[ScottDB]

I wouldn't mind sharing unless it was a private pond. 

[lonnie g]

I don't mind shareing ,especially if its someone with kids or maybe a young person or couple. now my brother or buddies I might answer like in the mouth, or on a pole, or in the water with a hook. with a  slight grin of course!!  

[gim]

9 hours ago, sully420 said:

I share all the time the only time i dont is if i feel that a fisherman is un ethical or fishes illegally ir is rude. But i understand people who don't because of heavy pressure or lack of good fishing opportunities. I dont have that problem im Minnesota especially with bass fishing its not a popular as walleye or panfishing.

 

I have a similar experience.  I generally don't give out specific locations where I'm catching ANY fish but if its a sizable body of water, I don't mind mentioning it to someone I know.  Its the land of 10,000 lakes (plus lots of rivers) and bass fishing is about 5th popular on the target list behind walleyes, crappies, sunfish, and trout.  I do think that if people started keeping bass more on a regular basis that the resource would get depleted quickly up here in the north.  It takes a bass 8-10 years to get to 5 pounds/20 inches sometimes.  That's not a renewable resource.

[sully420]

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

 

I have a similar experience.  I generally don't give out specific locations where I'm catching ANY fish but if its a sizable body of water, I don't mind mentioning it to someone I know.  Its the land of 10,000 lakes (plus lots of rivers) and bass fishing is about 5th popular on the target list behind walleyes, crappies, sunfish, and trout.  I do think that if people started keeping bass more on a regular basis that the resource would get depleted quickly up here in the north.  It takes a bass 8-10 years to get to 5 pounds/20 inches sometimes.  That's not a renewable resource.

Yea i think thats why we are on this site instead of fishing one more week and we can finally catch some bass

[Gundog]

You ask and I will tell. Location, lure, weather conditions, color of the water, color of my underwear. Anything you wanna know, I will tell ya. Cause I know you can't catch all of those green and brown little beauties. 

Cause I gotta biggggg mouth!

[Quarry Man]

My area is limited to only small ponds, quarries (hence the name) and small lakes. Most are private property that I have worked to gain access to. I don't tell people about some really good spots, only family. I will share others though. Its up to you. keep some give some. give and take.

[jimf]

14 hours ago, A-Jay said:

I'll share What I caught, as well as How & When I caught but very Rarely (if ever) Where I caught.

That part is Always up to each angler to solve on his or her own.

IMO, 'Successful Bass Fishing' is a process by which one uses whatever knowledge, experience, and time on the water to get the job done.  Once you know how to catch them, looking for them and eventually finding them Yourself, where ever that may be, is very satisfying.

One may be better suited to concentrate their efforts there, rather than hoping or even worse, expecting others, to do it for them.

So I say find your own fish.  I'll never ask anyone where they got them.  I may ask how though, and that's usually sufficient.

A-Jay

 

Yep.  

[fishwizzard]

12 hours ago, Darren. said:

Sharing is caring! LOL...

 

Anyhow, locally I have had locations and techniques

shared with me, and with those who were generous,

I was equally generous with them.

 

 

Exactly.  When I started out I struggled hard to catch anything and a few very nice guys online more or less drew me a map to show me a spot where I was sure to find some white perch.  I try to return the kindness and face to face I will point out like a specific tree to help some one out.  Online I am a little more vague, but do believe in being helpful.

 

And besides, my few actually "good spots" are at least a 3 mile hike from the nearest parking, so I am not too worried about the masses arriving.  

[th365thli]

Thanks for all the responses all.

 

So a summary:

1) Location. If you're lucky enough to live in a place with a ton of accessible water, then it doesn't really matter

2) General consesus is that techniques and baits is fine, specific location not so, for good reason.

 

I've been blessed to have only lived in areas with plentiful water. And it wasn't too long ago that I was struggling with learning how to catch bass. Paying my knowledge forward is a form of thanks to the people that helped me before. That being said some knowledge is hard earned and it's everyone's right to guard it, especially given some people's poor experiences with other people abusing the knowledge. I think for me I agree with the majority, techniques/bait specific information is fine, but specific location is iffy. 

 

[TOXIC]

It generally doesn't pay if you are a guide to give out where you are catching your fish but there are some things to remember.  A good spot will always "re-load".  When I was guiding more regular, I got a lot of tournament anglers who would hire me just to poach spots but you have to remember there is a lot of difference between tournament quality fish and what guides call client fish.  Usually that is a milk run that you can put clients on fish pretty consistently.  I got a lot of calls before any big TX asking for conditions and locations.  I usually would be pretty forthcoming.  You would think that after taking people to productive spots as a guide they would get fished out but that was never the case.  As I said, good spots reload.  My friend who was an Elite series angler would prefish looking for spots that were not normal fish holding areas.  An old fisherman once told me "You're never gonna catch another man's fish" and that saying holds true.  I had a spot on the lake that was always good for a couple 3lber's.  Another guide lived on the lake within eyesight of the spot.  He and I talked at the dock waiting for clients one day and he mentioned he saw me there.  I told him he now knows my secret.  He laughed and said every tournament he sees lots of boats fish that spot but that I was the only one he ever saw pull fish out of it.   

[Catt]

Within the 252 pgs & 6,287 replies of our Toledo Bend thread you will not find a single GPS waypoint other than ones on a map marking general areas.

 

What you will find is enough information about specific structure for the intermediate angler to connect with fish. 

 

You'll also find accurate reports for specific areas with seasonal patterns, water conditions, depths fished, & lures used.

[WIGuide]

Personally, I'll share some info. I'm far more likely to give you general information than specifics. I'll leave out the weight, color, specific bait, as well as specific spot. Something like telling someone to try hitting some shallow points with a squarebill or whatever I've been doing that's working. If you're a close and "trusted" friend I'll be more loose about information. I've got a few trusted sources as well and we speak freely. 

[mllrtm79]

I will share, with most of the guys I fish with. That being said, on the interwebs I will not really know who will understand "if you go up the deep creek fork just past where the clam factory dock was, there are docks and a bulkhead on the right side. When the tide is low the fish pull back into that area because of the mud flat on that one bend. Fish that from Mike's dock up to around the next bend where there the 4 laydowns are."

@Lendiesel22 and a couple of others that have fished the Nanticoke may be able to find it, but I doubt they'll hurt my fishing the next time I'm out there. (even though they probably won't know Mike they might find the area) 

[J Francho]

There really aren't too many secrets in fishing.  Small bodies of water can succumb to pressure.  Sometimes it's just ebb and flow of the health of a lake.  Some spots just disappear, like the willows that a homeowner cut down, and dragged out of the water.  I remember feeling heartbroken when I found my brush pile laying on the dock after we sold our cottage.  With today's mapping and DI/SI tech, even the often super hard to locate wrecks on Oneida are pretty much community spots now.  The times I get careful about what I share is when I'm stream fishing for steelhead.  It only takes one off comment, "Yeah, I stuck 12 today..." and the next day that parking lot is full.

[Choporoz]

I don't fish tournaments, nor 'secret water', etc...I've seen no reason to keep much to myself. 

 

However, I'm probably the 'other guy' in these conversations.  I've no doubt that some eyes have rolled and lies been told when I've asked others how they're doing/did.    Despite likely skepticism of my 'motives', I'm just asking to be friendly, share...and especially to learn.  I'm not trying to get in on anyone's 'spot'.  I was just trying to understand....let's see...winds from south, recent rains...current down...were bass orienting to steep, slack side of main lake point?....if so, why?...are they chasing moving baits, or only hitting dead sticks?  I like to discuss fishing for bass...and my motives are (mostly?) pure, but I know very well, that I meet up with guys view me as some sort of enemy spy or combatant.  I read people fairly well, and know when to shut up, but if you wanna talk specifics about bass fishing, I'm going to listen...and ask questions...sorry in advance

[geo g]

If you don't want to share a spot, don't post pictures of that spot on any site that promotes fishing.  I am an open book, and almost always share spots, and techniques, on several web sites.  But just recently a strange thing has happened that has got me on a mission.  Four weeks ago I went to a small lake in South Florida that I have never seen anyone fish.  It is a man made lake and very difficult to get to.  My first day there I caught a 26.5 inch bass, and when I tried to take a pic of it my phone would not let me, because there was no gigs left.  That bass was well over 11 lbs and I did not want to risk its life by keeping it out of the water too long.  I released it healthy, and was so upset with no pic.  I've been on a mission to caught that bass again, its only a thirty acre lake.  Since that time I have deleted hundreds of bass pics off my phone, and while trying to find that fish over a four week period, caught a 23.5 inch, a 22.5 inch, a 22 inch, a 20.5 in, a 19 in. all from this small lake.  The monster has still evaded me, but I know where she lives.  Although I have pictures of all the other big bass, this little lake will just remain a secret between me and myself.  A lake this small could be ruined quickly of all these decent size bass, and peacocks.  When I find the big one again, I may release some pics at that time to good friends.  It is an amazing spot!!!!!!!

[NYWayfarer]

I will share information about spots, baits and techniques freely.  I am a big believer in Karma and pay it foward.

 

A few weeks ago I met a fellow who saw a caught a trout at the local pond. He was fly fishing but had a spinning set up with him. He asked how I caught the fish and I told him I was using a jig and float. He commented he didn't have a float so I gave him one. He thanked me and said he would give it back when I was leaving but I told him keep it and help out another angler if he ever got the chance.

 

 

[Bankbeater]

People fishing my favorite spots doesn't bother me.  What really bugs me is when I tell someone about my spots, and I go back to find the place all trashed up.