Do you reveal your good fishing lakes/spots?

[Needemp]

I started a poll so it would be anonymous. No one can see what you voted for so be honest. Do you feel a responsibility to share with others your good spots? Or do you believe they will become community holes and therefore, you keep them secret? You can vote more than once if more than one applies and you have 5 minutes to change your vote.

I am asking this because I live in a city with no real good public fishing lakes or rivers. I found one this year that has been killer. Last time out I had 5 keepers over 17" (and a 15" Crappie on a crankbait). I had others in the 15 to 17" and shorter range as well. All summer, this place has produced like this. It is public, but only accessible by boat. It is also a place you really have to know what your doing. But it could be cleaned out very easily if everyone learned about it. But I do feel an obligation to share it with others in my area. At the same time, I worked hard to figure this place out. So what do you think?

[D4u2s0t]

I hate when people say "My secret spot".  I have no problem telling people good spots on the lake.  I have found many of my favorite spots from other people, so I like to pass it along.  I think holding out on spots is unsportsmanlike.  I'm not saying that I tell everyone under the sun, but if i'm fishing with someone off the dock, and they seem cool, i'll tell them.  many times they will tell me good spots that I don't know about as well.  so that's my outlook.  Again, i'm not walking around the lake saying "hey you have to go here".  

[EastMarkME]

I think if someone doesnt know much about catching fish...why not help them out. Also if someone does know what they are doing and are open with me...Im happy to discuss spots. Had a frank conversation last nite with a guy coming in and swapped a few ideas.

Its rare I meet someone thats the type I wont discuss spots with...but there are a few of course like anything in life.

Mark

[Gangley]

I'll share my spots with people if I know them or if they are nice people.  In general, a judgement of character is what I rely on when deciding to tell people where I fish.  Ive found that people who are genuinely nice, are generally nice fishermen as well and will respect the fact that you told them where to fish and will in return provide you with inforation as well.  People who are A-holes generally get nothing but a smile from me.

[D4u2s0t]

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I'll share my spots with people if I know them or if they are nice people. In general, a judgement of character is what I rely on when deciding to tell people where I fish. Ive found that people who are genuinely nice, are generally nice fishermen as well and will respect the fact that you told them where to fish and will in return provide you with inforation as well. People who are A-holes generally get nothing but a smile from me.

I agree 100%.  I have no problem helping out anyone that will genuinely appreciate it.  I've seen little kids, or even adults that don't know much about fishing using rediculous baits, like trout baits and whatnot, and i'll go right up and give them a few of mine that I know will work. Then i'll tell them where to throw it.  If they don't know how to tie it on, i'll show them how to tie  a hook.  If they don't have the right hook, i'll give them that as well.  Now I don't have a ton of money where I can just give out baits and hooks to everyone I see, but if someone is nice, I'll help out because it's the right thing to do.  Seeing the happiness from a stranger giving advice and help is worth more than a few cents for some plastic baits in my opinion, especially when it's a little kid that goes off to catch a fish.  For me, it may be 25 cents worth of supplies.  But for that kid, it made his day and he'll remember that for years to come.

[cart7t]

A specific good spot is generally a location on a lake that holds fish that's often overlooked by a majority of anglers. Those I will rarely disclose unless to close friends. A more general "spot", like a whole lake or and area on a pond or lake, I'm a little more generous though I wouldn't disclose it over an open forum like this.

[Raul]

In a public lake there are no secret spots, any good angler will find those "secret" spots sooner or later, as for the newbie angler why should I worry ? shure, they can luck out and locate and fishing the spot succesfully bot most often than not they do no harm.

Ponds are another story, those I don 't share with anyone, aside from the ones on my realative 's land which nobody can fish except the family the rest are either neighboors of my relatives or people whom I approached that finally allowed me to fish the ponds and I don 't want strangers messing up what took me weeks, months and even years to accomplish ( permission to fish the pond ).

[J-B]

I agree with many here that if the other person is nice I have no problem telling them a good place to fish.  I have a few hidden spots that I keep to myself just to give me the ability to take the kids to a place where they can catch some fish.  Most of the time though, I love to discuss fishing styles and where to use them with other anglers.

[burleytog]

No

[BlakeMolone]

What good spots? :'(

[J Francho]

On larger lakes, "spots" has nothing to do with it. If you can read water and structure, then finding spots is not that difficult.  Your "secret spot" is probably known by dozens of other anglers and on a few hotspot maps, LOL. Techniques are far more helpful. I share techniques all the time.

Now, if you are talking about a small pond, or little known shore spot, then no freaking way. People will come, trash the place, and likely decimate the spot. When I share a shore spot like that with someone, its a privilege, and I feel the same when someone shares it with me. I generally won't fish that spot, unless I am with the person that showed it to me. I definitely do not share it with others.

[Steven Ladner]

NEVER!!! It's hard enough to find a good spot around here. You'd have to be someone that I could trust or holding me at gunpoint for me to tell you of a good spot.

[burleytog]

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On larger lakes, "spots" has nothing to do with it. If you can read water and structure, then finding spots is not that difficult.

Reading water doesn't help if you're looking for a lone Christmas tree on a 10 acre flat.

You can get a good sack from the community holes, but it takes a handful of good spots to put up a big sack.

[J Francho]

You find that spot with time on the water.

[tutle]

You put in the work and effort to figure out your lake .  If you tell one person they will tell 4 of their  friends who will each tell 6 of their friends and so on.  In just a short while you will need to find a new place to figure out  .  The tournament guys are the ones who ask me for information most often as I'm taking out at the ramp. They are also the least likely ones to offer any specific information in return. I don't want to be told where ,what how and when.I want to work it out for myself.I'm not looking for the easy way out or a free ride and  I don't encourage lazy people who just take advantage of the work of others.

[roadwarrior]

As a general statement, it seems that whenever someone takes

me to their "secret spot", there are already three boats there, two

leaving and another on it's way!

On the river, the fish may be found anywhere, but everyone's

"secret spots" are pretty obvious. I'm sure some guys have places

that tend to be better than others, but for the most part it's a

moving target.

Perhaps the opposite approach is more important:

On big lakes there is a lot that looks good. Eliminating

non productive areas is key and that can only be know

through experience on the water.

8-)

[fourbizz]

Out of 20000 of you guys, there are 2 that know the name of my favorite lake.

[Stagerlee]

If I get into a legitimate discussion with someone who is interested (Like I just did sitting here at my store), I will tell him about the lures and colors I use around here etc.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I'll share most but not all if it's a give and take conversation. I tend to talk more about tactics or patterns that are working than to send people to exact spots. I'm not too worried about mentioning bodies of water except for the small ponds and backwater spots that I put a lot of work into on my own. I also make exceptions for the kids. If you can make a kids day with a few minutes of your time and less than a bucks worth of tackle, it's well worth it.

[SirSnookalot]

D4u2s0t summed it up for me quite well.  I'm very generous in turning people on to a new good spot and hopefully I may get one in return, in fact it happens all the time.  I've even given strangers brand new lures when to turn them on to something different.  

I know many on here are forum members elsewhere too and one of the ones I'm on people tell their spots right down to the blade of grass they are standing on.

Didn't someone once say "you reap what you sow"

[steezy]

Even when I tell someone about my best spots, they usually dont fish it correctly or use the wrong lure for the type of situation so they dont catch many (if any) fish.  The sad thing is when I try to offer help on lures or technique they act like they are not interested in getting any help.  Thats when I just wait patiently until they decide to move on and I start catching fish right before their eyes.  Its funny when they say how did you do that and I respond with I tried to tell you but you were not interested.

[D4u2s0t]

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D4u2s0t summed it up for me quite well. I'm very generous in turning people on to a new good spot and hopefully I may get one in return, in fact it happens all the time. I've even given strangers brand new lures when to turn them on to something different.

I know many on here are forum members elsewhere too and one of the ones I'm on people tell their spots right down to the blade of grass they are standing on.

Didn't someone once say "you reap what you sow"

the best is when you see someone that won't tell you their "secret spot" or their "secret lure" but then come online and ask for help lol.

[burleytog]

One thing to consider is that if someone takes you to one of their spots, don't be an *** and tell everyone about that spot. Don't take people there and don't visit the spot yourself.

A friend of mine knows one particular lake like the back of his hand. While I've never fished the lake with him, he has shown me a few things. My partner has fished with his partner and they visited a few of their spots.

We know where the spots are, but we generally won't visit them. I'm not going to steal other people's spots.

Now if I'm riding down the lake and see boats in a certain area on a regular basis, I'll stop in there and see what I can find.

I know one guy who won't fish a spot during the day, nor will he fish it if anyone is around. He'll wait till the coast is clear, then move in. Make 10-15 casts, then roll out.

[grimlin]

Yes and No.....really depends on the person I'm talking to.So you really have to get to know me before I'll say something.

I have Honey Holes/Sweet spots) certain times of the year where i "know" i can catch one or two.

People that keep everything regardless of the size limit or the law,I stay "hush,hush" to them.

[Daniel My Brother]

A question for the guys who share everything: If you spot your new PB sitting on a bed, but can't get her to bite, are you going to tell others where to find her?

I'll share specific spots with friends. I'll share patterns with strangers.