PM messaging

[Dave Stewart]

You can imagine as a guide how many requests I get for information. Here is how I handle the requests. If a person in a client but does not have a trip booked with me on this trip down here (I don't expect my clients to book with me every time they come down here...heck most folks can't afford that nor am I available every time they want a trip) I will give them the most recent information as to specific areas and lures and patterns that have been working recently. These are clients that book with me once or more each season.

If a person is not a client (or has not booked a trip with me in more than a year) I will give them the most recent information on lures and patterns and general areas (obviously specific area information is reserved for my clients/sponsors and those I network with).

IF I want a report from any of these folks about how their trip was...I will ask them to let me know how they did when they get home AT THE TIME I give them the information. If they DO give me a report back I will remember that the next time they ask for information....If they DO NOT give me a feedback report after I asked them to...I am not going to contact them...but I will remember it the next time they ask me for information...and the information they get the second time may send them on a snipe hunt.

I get a number of requests each season from folks that I have never met, seen or heard of before that want specific spot information etc.....of course my business is fishing information as a guide so I am going to offer them a guide trip or map marking session at the going rate. Some of these folks will turn down that offer....they are looking for free specific information....I guess they go to Wal Mart and ask the folks there if they can have their merchandise for free also....it is the same thing in my eyes...I sell fishing information to make a living just as Wal Mart sells merchandise to stay in business.

Bottom line here is: I don't mind furnishing information....if I ask for feedback on that information I expect to get it...good or bad day...many times a feedback report on a bad day of fishing is just as if not more important than a good day of fishing.

[mhall]

Dave and Andrew nailed it! That is all I was trying to say, it's called common curtiousy and in today's world it is a dieing trend unfortunately. Heck like I said in both cases all I wanted to know was general stuff like APB mentioned above.

I'm also like Chub I wish I could fish alot more and work alot less, lol.

[elnutsmalljaws]

As ususal, Elnut had a hand in starting something again. Man when I find that guy.......

I still give the same useful information that I always gave in the past, which as most of you long standing fellas on here will remember, was as detailed as it gets, but just in PM form and not on the open board. Those that I know, have talked with in the past phone, email or PM and have treated me with the same curteous that I have treated them still can call or PM me anytime and I will talk fishing. Even this past winter with all the trips that I took, I still gave out info, just not on the live board and when I did, all I asked that person to do was not to share it on the live board as well. None of us are true Professional Fishermen/Women on here for if we were, we would not be here asking for ANY help. I totally realize that not every person that visits this site is on the SAME level of fishing "talent, expertise, or whatever" as the next guy. But what this board USED to do was a place to come and ask a question, get several answers or tips, and then the original person that asked would post results after the fact to show what worked and what did not. First to admit that I have started some trouble on here, ESPECIALLY lately, first to admit that I don't like to be slammed and don't like to see others slammed, and am the first to respond to anyone that slams me for I don't back down from nothing. Call it a shortcoming, call it what you want, this board USED to be the nicest most general fisherman friendly board around. You could come here and talk everything from wading the creeks to the big waters of Cumberland/Ky and Barkley, from Gills in a farm pond to 100lb cats in the river, but not anymore and especially not within the past year or so. My wife asked me a couple of years back after I spent an hour posting one of my books on here for all to read about a 3 day trip as to "why do I go in such detail?" I told her this site was just like a marriage, 100%/100%, not 80/20, 90/10, not even 50/50. I learned so much about fishing, boating and general things on the water from this site in 2003-2007 that it was ridiculous. Fellas like those that are reading this now that helped me out when I first got started in fishing, out of a boat that is in 2003. Learned about Stripers, Smallies, Greencarp(that is for you Big GW) and such to the point that I learned on my own and could give advice back. Made a BUNCH of fishing friends from this site that I have shared a boat with or just picked up the phone and called to see how they are doing that had nothing to do with fishing. I get a couple of PM's or Emails a day from guys that I met here, have several of their phone numbers programmed in my Cell as is mine in their phone and call each other. Just too bad that the board as a whole can't get back to what it WAS when I first found this site in 2003. I still get on this site 3-5 times a day to look and read but don't post nearly as much as I used to and especially don't post about any of my trips anymore. Maybe I am wrong for that but I know for absolute sure that what I "took" from this board when I first started, I more than "Gave" back my share and then some. All of this "secret sharing" is not hurting me as bad as it is hurting that fella that is just starting out or trying to learn a new species or technique. I visit about 4 other sites similar to this one but they are more specific to a species or lake or so completely GENERAL that no telling where a guy just caught that 10lber. Here, the majority of the post come on the Ky Discussion boards and are made by people living or fishing KY waters which is the best help to all of us, when it USED to happen. Again, as ususal, just my opinion

[cra97]

I am not a fan of everything said on here about this issue, but what you have written here (Elnut) gives me a good insight into where you are coming from. I also would like to thank you for your past offer, when I PM'd last year when I was starting off, and you did offer to help me anytime you could as I began my fishing and learning the KY area. I will tell you though, if I had known that "feedback" was an acceptable exchange, I would have taken you up on it. The MAIN reason I did not is that I had NOTHING, at least in my mind, to give back to you in return for your help.
I guess my point is that, my inexperience with "information sharing" was limited and I did not realize some of the "little things" like water temp, water color, ect was an acceptable trade off for your (or any others for that matter) help. Since I will have a boat now in a couple weeks, I hope to have more information to be able to share with people, and maybe get some in return, and that will ease my mind a bit about asking. Bottom line is: it would have helped me, as a newbie, to know that feedback was not necessarily what I "THOUGHT" it was, when it actually could have meant something totally different. Could have made my learning curve a lot shorter on some of these waters I still struggle on ) Take care guys and good luck!!!

Rob

[thebassman30]

I usually fish Dale and KY exclusively. I will be happy to tell anyone exactly what I'm doing and what bites are working for me especially on Dale. If you get your boat out of position 5', you are not going to catch the fish I'm on. On KY, you have to be a little more tight lipped as you can work a pattern much easier on those lakes. There's still those sweet spots and creeks that get hot, but that aspect is more hit and miss everywhere.

I respect the heck out of Dave who puts out a report that is just money. Same goes for Keith Palmiero and Andrew Robertson on Dale. These guys are always helping to get us hooked up and deserve a little reciprocation.

I'm not on the water or tourney fishing so I don't mind sharing info with guides that help me out. They can apply that knowledge to their next trip.

Mark ~ I think you are a very generous person like Woody and it's just natural for you to want to help out others. You now know that you need to be a little more careful. Remember loose lips sink ships 8^). You can give someone a piece to the puzzle, but they still have to put it together.

[buzzking]

When you guys get your panties out of a wad, can someone tell me what they are a bitin on down on the river?

[know1]

If you're offering help with the expectation of receiving something back, you probably need to state that when you give the help.

If you're offering help just to help, then just take comfort that you were helpful.

[mhall]

If you're offering help with the expectation of receiving something back, you probably need to state that when you give the help.

If you're offering help just to help, then just take comfort that you were helpful.

Did you even read the above posts???

[know1]

Did you even read the above posts???

I read some of them and was aware that I was duplicating information.

I wanted to state my opinion on the subject, which is essentially that offering help is not really offering help if you expect something in return. It's more like working for pay at that point.

That being said, I don't have the attention span or time to read posts that have gigantic blocks of text with no paragraphs.

[mhall]

When you guys get your panties out of a wad, can someone tell me what they are a bitin on down on the river?

Not in a wad, just stating facts. They are hitting drop shots in a hundred feet of water on giggle drops.

[BubbaBass1]

Not in a wad, just stating facts. They are hitting drop shots in a hundred feet of water on giggle drops.

Even better than the last
BB1

[harryprocraft]

one of the first things i learned fishing tourneys is to only listen and believe about half or less of the dock talk. but if someone is asking a direct question it deserves a honest reply. if you don't get that then remember who asks you and treat them accordingly. bubbabass are you still going to dh next week? i will give you some pointers. when you get bit set the hook and catch em in the lips HA!HA!