Locals

[Alan Reed]

When preparing for a tournament that is several hours away how much do you rely on locals? If you do how much trust do you put into what they tell you?

[david in va]

I am not saying all anglers lie all the time, but don't bet the farm on the info. Check with the bait shops

[Alan Reed]

6 minutes ago, david in va said:

I am not saying all anglers lie all the time, but don't bet the farm on the info. Check with the bait shops

I guess I was including bait shops as locals.

[CroakHunter]

Trust nobody, ever. Especially when talking about the outdoors. I've got about half of the county im from convinced that I've shot all my big deer and caught all my big fish from the next county over. Which is not true in the slightest bit. 

[david in va]

 The bait shops will let you know what they are catching them on. Buy a lire or two from them.

wont hurt anything and I bet what they sell you will work.

[Sam]

Not one. Some locals know what they are talking about and others do not.

 

What worked yesterday may not work today, so what you learn from the locals is interesting but you still have to hit the water and find where they are and pattern.

 

I agree with the tackle shop although they are in the business of selling baits, etc. so I don't pay much attention to what they say.

 

 

[ohboyitsrobby]

Depends on if I'm trying to win or just cash a check. I agree with the bait shop though. That said some out of towners came into a bait shop round here a while back and asked where to catch fish for their club classic. Were they told where fish were? Sure. Were they told where some of us know some good fish are? Not exactly lol

[Oregon Native]

Nothing like time on the water....tough catching other peoples fish.

[TOXIC]

Dock Talk = Donate.    Go practice and if you can't practice surf some web sites that cover the lake you are going to be fishing.  Not for "canned" reports but from everyday fishermen who are out on the lake.  Study your maps and use what you have learned about bass behavior to scope out some likely spots.  The only locals I trust are the locals I know personally.  Good Luck

[Catt]

Depends on who the person is!

 

I personally know lots of hunters/fishermen who are honest people who will gladly offer recent information.

 

While I'm fully aware of the fact that what worked yesterday may not be relevant today it does give me an idea of areas. 

 

[Chance_Taker4]

I fish a lot of far away tournaments and can't prefish due to work. I ask locals from water clarity, temp and average depth the fish are being caught. By not asking how big and on what I get a much more true answer. 90% when given bait information I end up using it a little bit and switching to something else anyways. But with the general info I can formulate a plan in my head and have been pretty successful with it.

[crypt]

I fish about 15 tourneys a year and I only trust myself and 1 other person.my partner. we prefish out of both our boats then tourney day we use mine. but like Catt said. what works today might not work the next day. so you have to trust your gut when listening to advice that others are giving.

[WRB]

 I agree with Catt.  It's been my experience tournament bass anglers share very little before the event and want to know everything you know. If you know a local good angler who doesn't tournament fish the lake you plan to go, then listen no harm in that.

Tom 

[Bruce424]

I wouldnt trust alot of people. Shop owners are either too busy to go out fishing or they are hearing from word of mouth too. Conditions change.

   Love proving people wrong. Done it plenty of times fishing when someone said you have to throw this or ya so t get bit... catch biggest on of the day.