Don't you dare! That secret spot is mine! lol

How do you think I found it -- I saw you pull in a dozen there

Maybe it's different where a lot of you guys live (not a lot of water to fish? or maybe you don't have access to a boat?) but I don't how someone can feel entitled to a certain spot, it's not like you're ever going to have been the first person to ever fish it.

 

I never have a problem telling someone how I did, or a general location or a certain pattern I was on. Do you really think there's only a handful of fish on that lake and you're not going to be able to locate anymore? Just go out and find some new spots, it's just going to turn you into a better fisherman.

Maybe it's different where a lot of you guys live (not a lot of water to fish? or maybe you don't have access to a boat?) but I don't how someone can feel entitled to a certain spot, it's not like you're ever going to have been the first person to ever fish it.

 

I never have a problem telling someone how I did, or a general location or a certain pattern I was on. Do you really think there's only a handful of fish on that lake and you're not going to be able to locate anymore? Just go out and find some new spots, it's just going to turn you into a better fisherman.

 

So, is it also unreasonable for a guide/charter to not allow clients to bring GPS on the boat?

enforcing that would be next to impossible as most have smart phones and pretty much every one has mapping possibilities.  That does bring up the point though that if guides, who make their money day in and day out putting people on fish aren't super concerned, then why should we be worried?

Apparently some people just cant find fish.

 

**Slowly raises his hand**

Wouldn't you know a got a bite right after I said it. I set the hook reeled in a nice 16 incher.

I've been on good smallies on many occasions and not set the hook on bites because boats were going by and I didn't want company. Bent rod pattern runs rampant on Erie!

I only have really one fishing partner that knows everything I know.

I don't mind telling people where some decent locations are since I truly do like to see people do well but I'll keep a few up my sleeve just for me. It's just like hunting public land. If you tell other people about all of your successful spots, you'll no longer have any successful spots.

So, is it also unreasonable for a guide/charter to not allow clients to bring GPS on the boat?

That would be a decision each guide or charter would make on their own.  Charter captains and guides may have more fear from their competition than fishermen.  From my own personal charter/guide experience I fished areas that were not local to me.   

The issue on this thread is more personalized, I'm more concerned about the quality of the person.  I'll size up the the person, some are cool, others I just know better.  A good fisherman does not need your honey hole, he/she can find their own.

So, is it also unreasonable for a guide/charter to not allow clients to bring GPS on the boat?

My wife and I both have an iPhone which has an app that can locate either of us on a satellite view. When I return from fishing she can show me on her iPhone exactly where I was fishing. So there are several ways to capture a guide's spots. People can use a camera and shoot the area, shoot channel markers, use a GPS, or use an iPhone, when fishing with a guide. Some people will use their boat to follow a guide. I was fishing with a friend when a guide I had booked a year earlier came by and asked how we were doing. I told him no bites. Then he suggested a spot about 50 yards away and when we tried it we started catching bass. He was a real sportsman, he set an example for me, so I will now do the same thing.

The only information that travels faster than that of a good fishing hole is information on a spot you're killing ducks. I've seen people ruin places. I tend to make my decisions on sharing my secrets basked on how much pressure a particular place could handle and how hard it is to find. I do have a problem with people who won't do their homework and put in the time to find great places to catch fish and kill ducks.

News travel lightening fast when the bite is on at the inlet.  One of my buddies started a face book page, I'm not excited about it because it will bring a lot of people there.  It's public and it's free (many piers, jetties and beaches charge), the pressure is no big deal.  When the fish are running everyone is catching, but it gets crowded.  Over the last year or so I have been going less, preferring some other options.

learned the hard way....

In conclusion, you were asking your buddy to do something that you were unable to do.......(keep a secret)

Since it was your secret and not his, it's not surprising that he told more people than you did.

 

Roger

I feel liek if you our on a heavly fished lake having a spot to yourself could be the differnence in cashing a check or not in a tourney.  However after the tournament is over I ushally tell people where I cuaght them.  But fishing the Mississippi is differnt there is no secret spots on the main river (There are several in the back water) just hot spots on the main river that you tell none of tell after the tourney