Keeping Secrets

[Fishin is life]

I have always wondered how much the addition of the PM capability has decreased the number of posts, relatively speaking, (is a question that would be in the form of a post being asked in the form of a PM?) which others do not see.

I know the value of the PM and have used it some.

Any thoughts?

Peter

I will share some information via PM that I would not post on the open forum....However i believe most PM's are directly related to a post....If someone asks for help I may PM them a resonse as opposed to posting it in the forum where everyone can read it....I've met several good people through this site ....This has been one of the most civil discussions I've seen on this board...although people are on both sides of the fence no one has taken it overboard....If all discussions were kept this way it would make life much easier on the moderators

[Duayne]

I readily admit that I don't post the details here that I used to. It has zero to do with worrying about someone being in my hole the next time. Fishing open water at Cumberland means you rarely have to worry about such things. The reason I have decreased my information is due to not knowing who will use it. And that does matter. Telling people exactly where to go and what to do takes much of the hunting skill out of it. Those without the skill rarely have the appreciation and respect for your quarry that is acquired as you gain the skill. Those who have not put the time in need to hire guides where its a controlled environment, or flounder as I did, or both, until they learn for themselves. People here know the story of why I quit posting in such detail and it has to do with people with no respect using the information to all but poach.
So now I give out just enough so that those who know what I am talking about will be able to understand. If know who I am dealing with, I may give a little more in a PM.

[Rudypoo4444]

Rudypoo, I'm glad you said that, let me elaborate.
Bass fishing is a competitive sport pushed towards catch and release and not catch and eat. As for any fish other than the black bass I'll tell you whatever you want to know. I'll even tell ya how to fish for bass, and if ya want to get together I'm sure you could pull some more detailed info. Fishing with someone is the best way to share secrets, not a board. Call me a butthole but if the day ever comes that I find a honey hole, I'm zippin' my mouth! I might just stay on the water a few days straight and enjoy it while I can. I am competitive as a bass angler, you have to be because the rest of the big shots are playin' the game too. Do you know how many tournament fishermen have stories lined out before they get back to the ramp?, I only listen to the ones I know and am closest too and they too throw me off for the fun of it. The senior members on here have been sharing info and taking people fishing since at least '04-'05 when I was first on fishin.com.
I didn't intend to have a bad attitude of fishing. I have been reading Buck Perry and In-Fisherman collections since the mid-'90''s, and work with fishing conservation services online to pass my love for the sport/pasttime. We should go fishing sometime.

Fatboynorm,

My post wasn't really pointed only at you, but your post was what I wanted to contrast against. If you are a tournament guy, then sure, i can understand why you wouldn't want to give away spots, but that still doesn't mean I agree with it.

Fishing to me is just about as much fun as a guy could ever have, and I get a lot of joy out of helping out anyone who needs a spot to fish. I give out spots because I know there will always be fish around to be caught, as long as we do our best to manage the resource. If I get to a spot I have given out, and there are 10 other boats there, all I can say is I hope they are catching fish, and I either join them, or move on. It makes no difference to me.

The lakes in KY are full of fish just waiting to be caught, and I want to be the guy to catch them. But my biggest asset in finding a good fishin' hole is to share information with others, because more often than not, they will remember my generosity, and if I ever ask for help on a lake, those people usually step up and help me out, and that right there is a good return on investment. You make a friend, and pick up a fishing spot in the process. You just can't beat it.

I will admit, I am sure some people on this board are not as helpful to me because they know I like to eat bass, and to a lot of bass fishermen that is a big no-no. I just think that is really sad though. In all reality, I may keep 15-20 bass a year, never take more than the limit, and never take more than I think I will eat. But some guys just can't look past that, and won't offer a guy some fishing help because of it. But oh well, I'll help them out if they ask anyway, makes no difference to me.

P.S. Norm,
We can go fishing any time you want. I'm always up for a fishing trip.

[BassBest]

Well it sounds like every single person on this thread is equally helpful in their own way. I have given several good bass away for food but those fish weren't going to make it if I threw them back. I'll tell ya why some us tourney fishermen don't wan't to see anyone eating a black bass: Countless times before and many after, the effort that goes into preparation of a major tx only to end with less than you started with. It seems so hard to put a keeper in the boat sometimes that they get about the same popularity of gold. But in all actuality, and especially with increasing awareness, eating bass isn't hurting anyone one bit. It does feel good to tell someone where to go and it actually gets them fish in the boat, but sometimes the competitive edge gets the best of us and we will guard our knowledge until the damage is done. Take for instance KVD, notice when he shows you his cb, he only lets you see one side of it. Didn't want you to know that he removes one of the eyes!
Happy Fishing!

[Fishin is life]

Doesn't anybody get the thrill out of figuring out a pattern for themselves like I do? If I'm not in a tournament my biggest thrill comes from knowing that I figured out a pattern....not that somebody told me how to go catch them....

[Rudypoo4444]

Doesn't anybody get the thrill out of figuring out a pattern for themselves like I do? If I'm not in a tournament my biggest thrill comes from knowing that I figured out a pattern....not that somebody told me how to go catch them....

Usually, for us guys that don't torunament fish, our time on the water is limited. Having a helping tip prior to a trip to the lake can be a God-send when your fishing time is limited, or you are trying new lakes. For a lot of non-tournament guys, we are just out to catch fish, and have a good time. Figuring out a pattern is great, but putting fish in the boat is what it is all about for some of us. We just want to catch fish. I'll take a tip from anybody on a slow day of fishing if it helps me get into the action, and never feel bad about it.

[bassman_ky]

I'm with Fishin Is Life. That to me is one of the biggest thrills for me in fishing is dialing in on a specific pattern. Then after you figure them out, you just hammer them. Finding them is as much fun as catching them.

[RICHYD4U]

I have agreed with everything Rudy has written about this subject....

Lets put the tournament fishing to the side for now...to the majority of the people on this site, fishing is a hobby, something we do for fun. It is also something that we don't go do every day because we have work, family, and other interests (not that we wouldn't want to ). When you go fishing 2-3 times a month, you are hard pressed to establish any kind of pattern without some kind of help or report....that is where this site used to come in. If someone could finally get a day to fish, and they inquired about where is hot right now, etc.....they could get some info to point them in the right direction to have success, and most importantly, to have FUN!

The day that I feel so competitive about fishing, that I don't want anyone else to catch fish but me......I'M HANGING UP MY POLE! Until then....I will continue to give as accurate reports about my fishing trips as possible...and I will answer any questions that I can...and I will....yes....HELP A BROTHER OUT!!!

-Rich

[goosecreekguy]

There's no better feeling than nailing a pattern and slamming fish as a result. However, like others stated, most of our fishing time is limited, and most of us don't fish tourney's regularly. Any help to get started is, indeed, a Godsend for most of us.

I enjoy sharing information that I've gained with others. Last week I was fishing my honey hole and nailed a pattern that was producing. It took me a couple hours, but it was satisfying when I lined up the bait-presentation-location that the bass wanted. An hour or so and a few nice fish later, a "regular" local guy passed me and said he was having no luck, that they weren't biting at all. I literally cut off my jig/trailer combo and threw it his way (of course I had a couple more like it in the box). I then told him where I'd fished, and told him a similar spot I'd yet to hit so he could try and see. I wanted him to catch fish too...

I realize its different strokes for different folks, but I have been on the recieving end of good advice a few times and it sure made a difference for my day on the water. I'll be happy to do the same for others when I can. We met at the ramp that evening to load up by coincidence...he did catch fish with that jig but ended up losing it. So he tied on something similar and caught a few more. His appreciative attitude made it worth it for me.

Personally, I would love for this site to return to the "good ol' days" when people were more sharing. But people in general, both on the water and on this board, just aren't as sharing as they used to be. I understand both sides of the fence. Just my .02........

[Fishin is life]

I don't fish tournaments every weekend or anything....and the biggest majority of my time is spent on the water fun fishing....but even when I am fun fishing I still like to figure things out for myself....I have 2 spots on Green that I am hammering fish on right now....I can tell you 100 spots just like them that aren't holding fish....I share either one of these spots in the open forum and they'll be milked dry in a matter of a week....I'm not tournament fishing right now but I like to be the one that can go catch the fish off the spots I found....Yet you all are saying I should share this info on the board....Due to work I only get to fish once a week or every couple weeks right now and I want to catch fish when I go....I don't think thats being stingy because I'm not willing to share those "honey holes"

[kybodyman]

Maybe there should be an (Amatuer discussion board) for those of us who only get a chance to fish a few times a year and would like to improve our chances at catching a few also?

[Fishin is life]

maybe theres another board on here for smart ass comments....99% of us on here are amatuers....I, personally, don't want to share the details of where I'm catching fish when I find em....more power to the guys that do....I respect their opinion just as they should respect mine.....and when I've been asked for help through PM I've never not helped