A Slap in the Face

[JediAmoeba]

Preface: I live in a community in Pa with 5 small bodies of water; 40 acres, 8 acres, 4 acres, 3 acres and 2 acres.  So nothing huge, but they could and should hold some decent size bass if the bucket brigadier's didn't keep everything they catch. This is great, in a way because it's close to home and with 3 kids allows me to fish more often than I would otherwise be able to.  The deepest lake that's ~8 acres is only a few hundred yards away.  We have the usual species for Pa; LM bass, Pickerel, Sunnies and Gills, some crappie, perch, bullheads and all the stocked trout.

 

Because the waters are so pressured it's very tough to fish - on the average day in the summer, it's usual to see 20 people or more fishing at all the lakes. I always make it a point to assist new and especially young anglers so they can catch fish.  I have helped quite a few people and one of the things I preach is selective harvesting and quick catch and release when possible.  You see some pretty cringy things from people.  Last week I had 2 teens approach me and ask for help so I gave them a run down, showed them some of my rigs and we caught a few fish.  They seemed really interested, took some pictures and said this was going to be great because they never catch much.  I showed them the ned rig, and the best ways I catch fish on them, yada yada.  I also showed them a more effective slip float technique, where the structure was and the depth of the overall place to effectively employ it.

 

So yesterday I found out they were so eager because their father wanted them to get secrets from me...between their family (10 strong fishing with max lines in the water) and friends they went out and kept over 60 bass this weekend fishing over 2 days in the various lakes.  I am about as upset as I have ever been and just about got in a fistfight last evening over it.  It's one thing if this was a family that needed food or something but they are well-to-do and are ruining a fun resource for everyone.

[Herbert Lorenzo]

If you are going to give always give generously . They asked and you gave . The long term benefits of your giving may be a big blessing to all one day . You did good .

[Heartland]

Sorry dude, it sucks, but if they are within the legal limits it's not your fight to pick.

[flyfisher]

they probably did the lake a favor by taking out some fish.  Lots of the smaller lakes around here are full of smaller bass.

 

[looking45]

Dont stress yourself out over this. If they didn't learn from you, they would have learned from someone else. You did your good deed by helping them. Relax and move on.

[Jig Man]

Our fisheries biologists say take out at least 20 bass per surface acre of water every year.

[BoatSquirrel]

Dont let those rednecks get to you Jed.  Generosity is rarely wrong.  Besides, those chumps will go back to drinking, beating each other, or meth soon enough.

[JediAmoeba]

I wish taking out small fish was the answer but we paid for a survey of the waters last year.  I didn't see the report but their recommendations were to add a lot of fish, food sources and cover for fry.  We added a bunch of bass and sunfish last fall and were working on the cover for fry but Covid ended that this spring.    

 

Under normal conditions this year I am catching about 1 bass for every 1.75 hours fished.  Last year it was around 1 every hour.  

[gim]

This story just makes me cringe.

[NYWayfarer]

You did the right thing. They did the wrong thing.

 

I hope this doesn't discourage you from helping others in the future.

[BrianMDTX]

No good deed goes unpunished.

[DitchPanda]

We have had the talk on here a lot of times on how you feel about people keeping bass. Alot of opinions on the subject but we all usually agree that if it's done legally then there is not much you can say. It still hurts if your a catch and release guy to see that big of a group exploiting a resource. It may be legal but that's still a big pile of fish so I get it. Hurts even worse when you feel like your generosity is being taken advantage of. Sad part about it is it makes a guy more skeptical of others intentions making you less likely to help anybody in the future..even if their intentions are within your morals. Meaning you could miss out on helping a teen that really wants to learn or maybe miss out on a friendship with a possible fishing buddy because your gunshy to trust.

[Smells like fish]

From now on when you help ppl the first lesson should be you or anyone else can't catch them again if you kill them. Some might listen... 

[Bankc]

There's an old African proverb that says "I takes a village to raise a child".  So your actions may have had a temporary effect on your local and isolated bass population.  But they may have also had a long term effect on these kids.  You showed them to be helpful of strangers and taught them a bit about being a good conservationist.  If this is the kind of thing their dad often does to other people, then it's only a matter of time before those kids realize that their dad is a jerk (if they don't already).  And whether or not they turn out to be jerks themselves will probably be determined by how many good people that cross their paths take the time to show some positive influence on their lives.  You did a good thing.  And the initial consequences may not look good, but the long term effects of your actions might have a much better outcome.

[Ratherbfishing]

Which is why I seldom share TOO much information on public lakes-especially regarding locations.

 

If it bothers you that much (can't really blame you), don't give more information than you are willing to accept if/when they use it later.  You can't control people but you can limit what information you give them.

 

It's too bad you feel your generosity was misplaced/misused. 

[PhishLI]

2 hours ago, JediAmoeba said:

So yesterday I found out they were so eager because their father wanted them to get secrets from me

Tight lips, my man. The most convenient places closest to my house are all small waters. I've worked hard to figure out these heavily pressured spots. Tons of hours of where, when, and how in freezing rain and extreme heat. Very few people are successful here other than randomly. The only people brought into the fold are others that are just as hard core, curious, and somewhat successful. Only a scant few of those will get a whiff of what I've worked out. I've taught a bunch of kids and a few adults how to use a baitcaster when I saw they were in birdnest hell, sometimes for hours at a clip, or tie knots, but that's where it ends. I don't discuss my portfolio or fishing secrets with strangers. Little good will come from doing either.

 

I'm sorry to hear you were mined for info and regret it. That's too bad.

[JediAmoeba]

In all honesty I should just be happy I get to fish as often as I do, even if the fish are tiny and the fishing is tough.  A lot of people don't get to go out very often.  

[TnRiver46]

The least they could do is bring over a plate of fried fish.......

[Hewhospeaksmuchbull]

Where are they at Jedi, by God I'll wipe my skunk all over them!

[Smells like fish]

10 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

The least they could do is bring over a plate of fried fish.......

                          ?

[Bird]

The frustration comes from the greed to harvest that many bass, understandable.

 

The fact that you provided the resources for this greed to flourish is also frustrating. 

 

In other words , I get your frustration. 

[BrianMDTX]

If you think this is bad, it pales in comparison to deer hunting. People will sell their sister to lease your spot out from under you if you lets it slip it’s a good property. 
 

Funny. Unless it’s reporting to the DNR, any nice buck I arrow “seems” to come from public tracts with ten of thousands of acres lol. 

[RoLo]

 

When you're helpful to others, it ultimately comes full circle.

Stay the course.

 

Roger

 

[Tennessee Boy]

Sounds like you forgot to tell them about the old chemical plant that was on the property before it was turned into a residential community and why you would NEVER eat anything that comes out of one of those lakes. ?

[Black Hawk Basser]

Imagine how the other guy feels having to enlist his kids to get tips on how to catch fish.  How emasculating. ?