Telling others about your spots?

[TheSilverSlayer]

Here's the background guys.  I am a member of another forum, a fishing forum, and have been so for a number of years.  However, lately I have become frustrated at their policy of making everyone say where they were fishing, if you want to post on the main board.  The more I think about it, why not require people to say how they caught the fish, or what they caught them on, rather then where they caught them.  In fact, a good amount of members will litterally post driving dirrections to a specific fishin hole. Now we have all kinds of new members on there who seem that they just want people to tell them were to go catch fish.  It seems like alot of members who contributed quality how to's and info an techniques have left as well. This policy seems to foster a culture of guys who don't want to put in the effort to explore and locate good fishing holes on their own.

Anyway, I still like this particular forum, and I'm sure many of you are members there.  I just never post fishing reports anymore because most of my spots I don't want 30 guys showing up there to rape the fish.  

[NWBREW]

I usually don't give out the really good spots. But depending on the people I am telling (father and sons with a group of kids) I might tell them some areas that will produce.

It's no different than hunting. Any forum that would require me to post any info that I didn't want to post....well I just wouldn't be a part of that site. Total B.S. to me.

[Gutpile]

   However, lately I have become frustrated at their policy of making everyone say where they were fishing, if you want to post on the main board.  The more I think about it, why not require people to say how they caught the fish, or what they caught them on, rather then where they caught them. 

Thats BS. The members will start to go away. Or you could just lie. I do not agree with that policy though. That's just a huge a load of  as far as I'm concerned.

[Wenatcheejay]

I think we should compel by use of force for those who would not comply.

[Shootmoore]

Should be up to each individual.  I would not post on a forum if the rule was you had to tell where you were fishing, I don't understand the thought process on that.  I am happy to give out tips and location on a case by case basis, but to often I see what was once a low pressure quality fishing or hunting location turn into a combat fishing/hunting zone.

Case in point would be the Methow river this year.  I grew up on that river, and to be honest 20 years ago that river was a fantastic fishery.  The river was pretty good this year as well and has been since they re-opened it.  What I could not believe is the number of people fishing it.  It was all do to public write up in the fishing magazines and web blogs.  

There were even guides on the river  .  Why anyone would pay for a guide on the methow is beyond me, huge amount of public access and probably one of the easist rivers to spot good holes as there are plenty of vantage points to look over the river.  Even 5 years ago I would fish the river and have most of it to myself, I would see other guys fishing but most of the time was locals and there was plenty of elbow room for all.

When I did run into someone from out of the area I was more than happy to give them good spots and pointers on how to catch fish (usually get funny looks like I was giving away the pin for my bank account)  until they started hooking fish that is.

Now that river is going to turn into a combat zone for years to come, of course thats what the wdfw wants, clean out those nasty genetically inferior hatchery fish to relieve pressure on the natives.

Shootmoore

[Swiftkid]

First off, i don't fish much...but i look at fishing as a more giving sport, my dad fish's year round...walleye,salmon,sturgeon and steelhead. He's always fishing, hunting on the other hand is restricted to the season...i would never give someone a honey hole to go hunt on the other hand i might give them a fishing spot, in fact i have relayed information to friends of mine before walleye tourneys about where my dad has been catchin em.  I've taken a friend out hunting and we've been successful...he knows that only when i invite is he able to hunt the spot because its private. Fishing and hunting big difference though.

[TheSilverSlayer]

The whole idea of having to tell the whole internet where I fish seems like a bad idea.  Unfortunately this is the premiss the whole site is based on.

[Jerome]

First off, i don't fish much...but i look at fishing as a more giving sport, my dad fish's year round...walleye,salmon,sturgeon and steelhead. He's always fishing, hunting on the other hand is restricted to the season...i would never give someone a honey hole to go hunt on the other hand i might give them a fishing spot, in fact i have relayed information to friends of mine before walleye tourneys about where my dad has been catchin em.  I've taken a friend out hunting and we've been successful...he knows that only when i invite is he able to hunt the spot because its private. Fishing and hunting big difference though.

I dont think there is any difference.  If you have a good mountain lake or a spot on gps out in the bay for lings then you take it to the grave.  Fishing is becoming like hunting, way too competitive.  These days you even have to be quiet about where you are pickin morrels.

[tomy salami]

Deceit is the best when it comes to handing out the money spots.

He who asks "where?" feels good that he got some prime info, usually he will tell all his friends, like he knows whats up.

He who tells feels good his minty places will stay that way.

The ONLY way I ever tell anybody anything about where I am at, is after they trade a wonderfully productive spot themselves.

I have too many thousands of dollars, countless days, and years of experimenting in vain to get my go to places now.  There are so few left in this state, I could show somebody every place I have in my box of tricks in two hard days.

Knowledge is never free.......trade me a spot, or git to work like I did.

[boneaddict]

I like to help people and try to if I can.  Fishing has so many variables its not like hunting to me.  I do ahve a couple secret spots but its more for the privacy than it is the fishing. 
One thing I have seen is that eventhough I don't care about the spot, someone else on here it might be "their favorite" and eventhough I think I am helping one person I am ruining it for someone else.   I've encountered that with hunting more than I have fishing.

I do have an internal policy.  If I find it on my own, I can and will sometimes share.  If I find it becasue of someone elses tip...mums the word.  This might exclude places like hoodsport....

[walt]

I share spots with friends, depending on the spot and the friend.  I don't share much on the web unless it is a well known, stocker lake.  Occasionally I will post pics of trips on this site but only well known places and I usually don't name it.  Most of the guys that know the rivers don't have to ask where.  I don't post on that site anymore and rarely go there.

[sisu]

Just post your story, pictures if you wish and keep the location to yourself if you wish. I just like reading the adventure and seeing nice pics.

[Firstlight]

This sounds like a topic that just got booted off ifish.net. Seriously, you dont have to share your spots if you dont want to. For others that want to go ahead. Any serious fisherman is not going to spill out his favorite holes, but he might give up the name of the river for others to go do some homework.IMO

[wildmanoutdoors]

This particular case was about gloating which the owner hated if it was over and over. Mostely by the same people. If its a report it has some credible detail to help someone else. The rule was at least name the body of water and a method to be on the main board.

If ya need a pat on the back and nothing else, use the other forum. Pretty easy.

Me, I dont report or gloat on nothing, I fish for me...

[TheSilverSlayer]

Nope not ifish