During a tournament I might get a little tight lipped but in general I have no trouble sharing. 

One other thing though, if I share a spot with someone and they go share it with everyone and burn my spot so I can't even get a chance to fish it anymore because someone is always parked on it, that's the last time I help them out. 

I'll usually help out younger kids who are struggling with catching a fish and look like they will never fish again.  I think it is our duty as anglers to help each other out sometimes when the occasion arises.

I'll qualify my reply by saying that I don't fish tournaments....you guys are a little wacky about this at times.....

 

But, for me, I always enjoy talking to other fishermen on the water about what's working and what isn't that day.  I don't hesitate.

There are no secrets in fishing.

 

...but plenty of lies!  :  )

During a period of tough fishing when nobody but you can seem to catch anything, do you tell people what they're doing wrong or do you prefer to keep to yourself and let them figure it out?

 

 

I always try to help my friends get to the next level if I can.  Showing them rigs, how I assess and fish structure, etc. and the times of day when fish will be certain places- all that goes into making it more fun for others and when it's more fun, you're going to have a better time.  

 

 

Everybody needs a fishing buddy and nobody wants to hang out with a skill miser.  

One other thing though, if I share a spot with someone and they go share it with everyone and burn my spot so I can't even get a chance to fish it anymore because someone is always parked on it, that's the last time I help them out. 

 

 

 

Even if you didn't show someone a spot with today's technology there is nothing sacred. Secret spots hardly exist any more and are few and far between. I can drive by a spot, see a boat on it, come back later with a graph and pick it apart with picture perfect clarity. Its more about the intricacies of a spot and how it fishes. About the only way " my water " carries any weight anymore is through situational etiquette. For instance if you were fishing a two day tournament and someone ran to the spot you caught them on the day before because they knew that's where you got them. That is BS. But after the fact that place is fair game. There has to be mutual respect, but it is public water. 

The words secret, fishing, hunting, and girl-friend should never be used in the same sentence or you're just fooling yourself.

Ill always tell my friends what I'm catching them on. If they're using the same lure as me, 9 times out of 10 I'll  be killing the fish and they won't be catching anything anyway.

I love helping out people that are new to bass fishing. I get asked on occasion to help out a young person who wants to learn to bass fish. I don't give out "secrets" but tell them some popular techniques for the situation and time of year. I don't fish tournaments so that isn't a worry. 

 

However, there are a couple places I fish that I don't like to advertise with too many folks. I will take friends and relatives along but that's about it.

I am always one to share information as long as someone asks.  I am not going to offer any info but if you ask i will be happy to tell you what i am using.  What is funny is while many people ask what did you catch them on, I have never been asked how were you fishing it and what type of structure or cover when you caught them.  That is more important than the bait itself in my opinion.

 

Maybe another thread question would be how many times have you changed up how you were fishing because you talked to somebody you didn't know and they said they were killing them on bait XYZ....

I have no problem telling anyone anything when asked.  I have a teaching background so I do love to help people who want to be helped.  I told a guy at my local pond where, how, and how many fish I caught there that day.  No problem.

 

BUT 

 

I will never walk up to a stranger at a lake and tell them how or where to fish.  First, I know I don't like unsolicited advice on anything, especially when I'm already frustrated.  Second, I live in GA where lots of people carry guns and other weapons everywhere they go.  Nothing wrong with it, you just never know what kind of people you're going to encounter.  My safety comes first.

 

 

Maybe another thread question would be how many times have you changed up how you were fishing because you talked to somebody you didn't know and they said they were killing them on bait XYZ....

 

Great question.  I can certainly say I've tried different lures based on what someone has told me that day.  I've also gone out and purchased a bunch of XYZ based on someone else's killer day.

Depends on the scenario.  I live on a private lake.  If it's one of my neighbors, I'll gladly give input when asked.  If it is someone I don't know fishing here, that chances are don't have permission or will not practice catch and release, I keep my mouth shut.

long story short.  I was at Little Sturgeon during a 100 boat plus tournament on my kayak.  About 10-15 boats around the same area I was fishing.  I was catching bunch of smallies on my Vision 110, Couple guys ask what i was using i told them but they had no idea.  I felt pretty cool catching bunch of them in front of these guys.

I love to help and try to help whenever I can.

I will give advice if asked. If they are asking advice even after you tell them what you were using, how to use it and give them gps Lat/Lon they probably won't use it right anyway. There's more to catching fish then just fishing. And if they are asking how to fish well there you go. If I see someone struggling on a dock or with some kids I will try to spend a little time to actually show them how to catch fish.

Violinguy... Thanks for the warning next time,(if ever ) I will wear body armor to fish in Georgia!

Lake Lanier is it at summer pool?

I think when you fish in a tough lake to fish, and you see a father and son or daughter fishing together using what obviously will never work, i have to go over and donate something to increase their odds of having a lasting memory of that trip together. 

"A period of tough fishing where nobody but you can seem to catch anything . . . "  I've never been in that situation.  I'll bet it feels cool.  Should that ever happen, I will be sure to let you know how I behave.

I generally dont give full on advice, Im not their paid guide. Ill tell a guy at the dock that I caught them on jigs or cranks, shallow or deep but thats about where it ends. I dont go into what bait, why, what location. I hate dock talk personally, I feel like it messes you up, I know it does me cause even if I try not to listen it sticks in my mind. Maybe Ill start wearing headphones to the pretournament launch or ear plugs.