Do you reveal your good fishing lakes/spots?

[Needemp]

These are mostly the answers I expected. As it has been noted, spots on a big lake are very rarely secret.  Sharing them with the average fisherman will have no effect on the spot because the average fisherman won't know how to fish it.

However, smaller, local, public ponds and lakes, like the one I am refering to, most of you have admitted you would guard it. It wouldn't take many people to clean it out.

Keep the comments coming! Thank you

[NasTMcfingas]

I have no problem with telling anyone where I fish, but to tell them the "exact " where, when & how? Never, I figured out the right recipe so can they. Especially, if I know that they will keep the Hogs

[alwayslooking]

i usually fish very large impoundments "rayburn-toledo bend". i'll swap spots and technques if you do, i usually try to determine what structure and or cover thats producing. well, just recently the structure. i talk to my club guys frankly, the ones that don't tell lies back! any new guys that are interested, i try to give what has worked for me and where. not just to everybody.

[George Welcome]

Some years ago I did seminars titled "share and learn". I tell my clients to bring their GPS if they wish. I truly believe that the more you share the more you learn. That includes helping as much as you can on your lake. Whatever you give will be returned many times over.

D4u2s0t: congratulations!

[frogtog]

You guys Please remember what George said when you see my post in Southeast Fishing.  

[CWB]

I fish a couple of small connected lakes that we have a cottage on that has been in the family for 40 years. I've been going up there as often as I can remember. These are natural lakes with the only major structure being weeds, weededges, docks, and slop. 99% of it looks the same. Through years of fishing the lakes I have learned the subtle differences that makes one spot hold fish and another not. Made the mistake of marking a map for a co-worker who had just purchased a boat and now him or one of his buddies is on one or more of my spots whenever I go out. I get up before sunrise and go out and there they are. Very frustrating to say the least. If he didn't blab to all his buddies, no problem. But on a small lake, there are only so many good spots. Plus all the locals and my neighbors know my spots but If I'm out , they give me the right of way as I showed the spots to them.

That's cool. Never will I blab again. Too much time and effort went into my findings for a lazy imposter to take them over. Sorry for the rant but this hit a nerve. >

[Lund Explorer]

These days, I'll give just about anybody the GPS numbers to everything I've ever found.  Of course I wouldn't mind a few tips on a good morel mushroom spot or two in exchange.

[Josh Bassman]

I told a good friend about a great spot I take my kids (7 and 9).

A few weeks later I was at a BBQ at his house and a couple of his other buddy's invited him to a fish feed and thank him for telling them about the hot spot... : (  Yeah it was "my spot"

Oh well, it's a big lake. I wouldn't have cared if they practiced "catch and release", but a fish feed off my spot... boo

[retiredbosn]

I really don't have a problem with it at all.  One local lake (Tuchahoe) is a small impoundment, 40 acres, close to town and gets absolutely hammered.  There are some true bruisers in the lake, I believe the next state record for WV will come out of that lake.  Secret spots sure, but on a pond that size it doesn't take long for everyone to find it anyway.  The local neighborhood pond has recieved a lot of attention this year, I'll tell people exactly how to fish the pond, and where.  They catch very little, I'll do just fine.  I think you can tell most people exactly where the fish are and how to catch them, and they won't hurt your secret spot at all.  How many times have you been in a boat with someone fishing the exactly same lure, in what you thought was the same way only to have them clean your clock or vice versa.  More to fishing than the lure, the place or the technique has more to do with the person holding the rod.  

I went fishing with a fella the other day who was going to show me his spots on a particular lake.  I had been to this lake twice before alone and he has fished it practically his whole life.  Out of all the places he took me, only one was new to me.  No such thing as a secret spot.

[Fishing Rhino]

On my favorite pond, Devol Pond in Westport, I'll share info with a couple of the guys I talk to on a regular basis.  We share notes, and info about other ponds.

I'll gladly share with others, if it's a two way street.  If they are only looking out for themselves, they can find out for themselves.

I'm not shy about naming the pond because it is surrounded by private property, and has no public access.

I don't hesitate to take others with me, because I know the chances are very high that they will catch some nice fish, and more than a few.

I go into some detail in my posts because it may help others, and they can apply or try the baits and methods on their waters.

But, I will absolutely not even give a hint to those who fail to show common courtesy to others.

[Branuss04]

Telling people your spot in Cali = Lake Suicide   >

I have a small group of friends that I tell them most of the lakes I go fishing at.... and an even smaller group that knows the good lakes I go fishing at.

[bigtimfish]

I don't fish tourneys, and my family doesn't depend on me to catch bass so they can eat. So yes, I will tell anyone about a good spot. Why not give someone else a chance to have a good day. Besides if someone is on my spot when I get there, that will give me a better reason to venture off to a different part of the lake that I normally wouldn't try

[Muddy]

There are no good spots on Mauch Chunk; the lake baiscally stinks. Any more questions :-?

[kms399]

I worked 5 years at gander mountain. every day I had 10 guys ask me where I fish. If I shared my spots/lakes with every guy who asked there would be no spots anymore. I have actually had guys see me on a lake and follow me around trying to see where I go because they recognized me from the store. if you are a friend ill show you when I fish with you if you are just a cool guy you get the lake name.

[SirSnookalot]

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.

Daniel I go fishing for 1 basic reason and that is to enjoy myself, the actually catching of fish is just a bonus.  I do not care about personal bests, I don't have any, I don't weigh or measure them as a rule.  If someone is around with a scale and I've caught a nice fish, sure I will weight it out of curiosity but it really means nothing to me.

I respect anyone that is out for that PB or trophy fish but that just isn't me.  Come to FLA and I'll be more than happy to take you to my "honey holes"  

[Catt]

Check out So y'all want to learn Toledo Bend? in the Central Bass Fishing section; 24 pages, 355 replies, and read 20378 times.

Most generally people will check out a spot we have recommended and not catch a thing or very little and then never return.

[TommyBass]

If sharing fishing secrets (i.e. what, when, and where worked) were a crime this site wouldn't be here.  People will see you fish certain areas regardless of you telling them or not.  I don't necessarily go out and spill my guts, but if asked I will generally tell them just how it was done.

[Fishing Rhino]

There are no good spots on Mauch Chunk; the lake baiscally stinks. Any more questions :-?

LOL. Does the stink emanate from the pond, or those on it?

Wanna talk about stink?

When I'd come home from lobstering, I had to take off everything but my skivvies before I could enter the house.

Good thing we have an attached garage.

[Muddy]

There are no good spots on Mauch Chunk; the lake baiscally stinks. Any more questions :-?

LOL.  Does the stink emanate from the pond, or those on it?

Wanna talk about stink?

When I'd come home from lobstering, I had to take off everything but my skivvies before I could enter the house.

Good thing we have an attached garage.

 Good question: mostly from all the   flying around inside the boat

[Paul Roberts]

You don't owe anything to anyone.

Each spot and situation will have it's own circumstances. You decide.

My advice from what you've relayed is to keep it to yourself. Share with those you know well enough and share the same ethic.

My ethic, shared with others in the past, is never to share a spot that someone else shared with me. I always assume it's been shared in confidence.

It's not an unspoken rule because others may not think this way. But those that have put in their time and have hard earned locations and scenarios will understand this, especially in hard fished waters or populated areas.

I'm not secretive though. Where I've lived there is just too much good water that I cannot possibly cover it all, and neither can they! I've always had a lot of places I will share readily enough. When I do, with the right people, I have made a friend to mutually share good info with.

[Needemp]

You don't owe anything to anyone.

Each spot and situation will have it's own circumstances. You decide.

My advice from what you've relayed is to keep it to yourself. Share with those you know well enough and share the same ethic.

My ethic, shared with others in the past, is never to share a spot that someone else shared with me. I always assume it's been shared in confidence.

It's not an unspoken rule because others may not think this way. But those that have put in their time and have hard earned locations and scenarios will understand this, especially in hard fished waters or populated areas.

I'm not secretive though. Where I've lived there is just too much good water that I cannot possibly cover it all, and neither can they! I've always had a lot of places I will share readily enough. When I do, with the right people, I have made a friend to mutually share good info with.

Thanks for your straight forward advice. I don't mind sharing some spots on a bigger lake. They can replenish themselves. But this area can not replenish itself. I try not to be secretive as well. I want others to succeed at fishing, but I guess not at my expense. I have other areas I can direct people to, and those areas are good enough, just not as good as this spot. Thanks Paul Roberts

[FD.]

I share everything with my buddies and people on here that ask.  I have even sent google earth maps to people who are struggling on Toho or Kissimmee.  I have had the benefit of others who have helped me in the past so I feel an obligation to help others.  The lakes I fish regularly are huge 35+ thousand acres shallow bowls with very little structure so most of the good info is only good for a few days.  Pattern info is more productive if you know the lake but I will send people to specific spots based on what pattern is working.

[ab8aac]

I dont have any problem telling others about the spots where I catch fish or even what bait I caught them on.  On several occasions I have pre-fished a tournament and told the members of the club where and what I used and then went right in behind several of them and won the tournament anyway.  No two people present their bait the same way and the way I do it will not be the way they do it so they may or may not catch the fish I catch.  Besides if the man upstairs intends for you to catch his fish he will let you if he doesn't you can throw until dooms day and that fish won't open his mouth

[Sil240sxrwd]

I have a few real close fishing buddies that still til this day keep their mouth shut on some of their spots. I don't see any reason you should keep hot spots away from your friends .

[mrlitetackle]

general area's that are good fishing,

sure....... (such as lakes, etc...)

but i have one in particular that i would never share..... its a small pond buried deep in the woods that hasn't seen any anglers but my pal and i......and thats how i would like to keep it.