5 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

they'd look at my wrinkles and white hair and scuffed, messy canoe and dismiss whatever knowledge I might share.

That would be a costly mistake indeed. 

I've been fishing the same local small ponds, lakes and river for almost 25 years....I've usually got my finger pretty well on the pulse here so I'm usually the one getting hit up for tips and spots. That said if I know someone who is ultra proficient at one thing ill definitely take their advice regarding that. Also if im out of town ive found if your willing to drop a little coin in a small baitshop you will generally get some decent advice. What always kills me is ill have guys see me on shore and they come in off the lake in a boat and say hey you should try that sand bar off the end of the public dock with a jig and minnow. Oh you mean the one that's 200 yards off shore and I have no boat? Yeah ill get right on it🙄

I am the old guy but they don’t listen to me, they think I’m too old🤷🏻‍♂️

Being an old guy that no longer fishes tournaments, I will share info with someone who ask but don't worry because no one believes a lying fisherman anyway. I only volunteer info to my long time buddy who does still fish tournaments and that's mainly locations  because we don't always fish the same way.

22 hours ago, Bankbeater said:

Around here the anglers look at your tackle, and the vehicle you are driving.  If you are not using the latest and most expensive, then you don't know how to fish.

Most of those people who are infected with "boat bling syndrome" never took the time to learn how to fish.  The closer they look like to the "pros" they see on TV the more fish they will catch, they think.  It doesn't work that way.

1 hour ago, Lottabass said:

Most of those people who are infected with "boat bling syndrome" never took the time to learn how to fish.  The closer they look like to the "pros" they see on TV the more fish they will catch, they think.  It doesn't work that way.

 

I don't actually know anyone with a bling boat, Al, but I think FFS showing you exactly where to cast could mask some deficiencies. Of course, FFS requires its own screen-reading skill set.

 

The kind of wetland fishing I do requires four skills: precise paddling, accurate casting, feeling a bite, and playing a bass with obstacles in every direction. These four skills have nearly nothing in common with offshore FFS fishing where there's no paddling, open water casting, you can see the bite on the screen, and there are no obstacles once you've hooked a bass.

 

Of course, I look NOTHING like the pros on TV. I'd be lost in a bling boat reading the screens and I wonder if they'd be lost in my canoe. 

17 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

I don't actually know anyone with a bling boat, Al, but I think FFS showing you exactly where to cast could mask some deficiencies. Of course, FFS requires its own screen-reading skill set.

 

The kind of wetland fishing I do requires four skills: precise paddling, accurate casting, feeling a bite, and playing a bass with obstacles in every direction. These four skills have nearly nothing in common with offshore FFS fishing where there's no paddling, open water casting, you can see the bite on the screen, and there are no obstacles once you've hooked a bass.

 

Of course, I look NOTHING like the pros on TV. I'd be lost in a bling boat reading the screens and I wonder if they'd be lost in my canoe. 

I know several people with bling boats and trucks.  Don't ask them about fishing, they only want to brag about how pretty their boat is.  Those 4 skills are the basics.  They would be lost in your canoe, they wouldn't get in it anyway 'cause it ain't metalflake!

The cynicism in this thread is disappointing. 
 

As a tournament angler I could see not divulging critical information but as just a fisherman not sharing is sad narcissistic view of the sport. Folks out fishing get more enjoyment from actually catching than not. Good thing the likes of  Jimmy Huston, Roland Martin, Hank Parker, Bill Dance and most of all BassResource have offered valuable insight throughout the years in order to share the fishing experience.

 

I talk to anybody and everyone who ask “how’d it go today” in an effort to hopefully enhance their opportunities and enjoyment. If in return I gain some helpful knowledge or local information, much the better. I hopefully never go to my grave knowingly being stingy with life experience. 

Most of the lakes I fish are in the metro area, and get tons of fishing pressure. I try to be friendly, say good morning, ask how people are doing. I don't share much, and don't expect others to share info or locations.

 

I try my best to help out kids I see fishing from shore or the boat dock. Two middle schoolers asked how I was doing and said they were struggling. I set them up with some green-pumpkin Senkos and EWG hooks...they were ecstatic and could not thank me enough.

 

A few grade schoolers were fishing the bank with their Mom...not having any luck. I tossed them a bag of white grubs and some lead-heads. By the time I was back their way they had caught a few bluegill and were giddy.

I'll take the information but I am not necessarily going to follow it. I'll stick to my gameplan, keep an eye out to see if what I heard may have legs, then maybe try it if I'm having a tough go. 

 

Really don't see a ton of people wading, the ones I do see are generally guys I fish with in a league. Keep it polite. I'll help kids out if I see them. 

It would depend on the information.  If someone told me the fishing would be good at the north end of the lake, and hitting chartreus square bills at 10:00 AM. I would say thanks, and stick to my plan.  If they told me the water level came up a couple inches, there is a big insect hatch on the north end of the lake when the wind is blowing out of the south causing the water to be a little warmer on that end of the lake, afternoons or best, and watch the birds, they really get together when the hatch starts, look there are some flying that way now.  I would not only listen, but drive directly to the north end.   General information, like which end of the lake, how deep, what stage of the spawn, what type of structure, cover, early or late in the day,  and what they are feeding on, is good information.  Exact location, lure, or exact time of day not so much.

 

I'm lucky enough to fish lakes where there is no anglers to get information from, or give information to.  I can get skunked all on my own.

 

 

I have a very select few friends that I will spill every ounce of tea to (I would even show them on a map and give them baits if they don't have them), but ONLY if I have come across the pattern and spot myself. If someone else has given me me the 411, I may use it, but I feel like it's not mine to pass on.

 

After that, I may or may not be inclined to offer help from someone that I think could use it or asks for it. I love to see people catch fish, but if I give someone else's intel away and the spot gets blown up, I may find myself outside their inner circle. . . and for good reason.

 

Some stuff is widely known, like throwing a WW Senko at bluff walls. Maybe they need to find their own bluff walls though, LOL.

 

I will try to help someone that is clearly struggling, especially if they have kids, or look like they might be beginners in a rental boat and look like they're not having much fun. We were all those folks at some point, and I have learned plenty from others.

 

We do seem to have one end of the lake or the other that seems to be better than the other at certain times. If I am struggling a bit and I see someone I know well enough, I might ask them "Fish Arm or Ski Arm?"

 

Bass fishing culture at it's finest 😉

 

 

 

1 hour ago, DaubsNU1 said:

I tossed them a bag of white grubs and some lead-heads. By the time I was back their way they had caught a few bluegill and were giddy.

 

I did that too on my pal's pond. A guy staying at the AirBnb hadn't caught anything, so I gave him a Mepp's spinner and told him to troll it because I wanted to give him a foolproof way to catch a bass.

 

About five minutes later, he yelled, "I caught one!"

 

I told him to keep the lure and pay it forward. 

 

1 hour ago, Lottabass said:

They would be lost in your canoe, they wouldn't get in it anyway 'cause it ain't metalflake!

 

Yeah, it looks like it's been dragged through a few briar patches...because it has!

1 hour ago, Motoboss said:

The cynicism in this thread is disappointing. 
 

As a tournament angler I could see not divulging critical information but as just a fisherman not sharing is sad narcissistic view of the sport. Folks out fishing get more enjoyment from actually catching than not.

 

Honestly, I agree. I've been surprised by the tone of responses on this thread, especially when you consider how incredibly kind and helpful the members of this forum are in general. Interesting that we're so willing to help people we've never met online, but less inclined to help someone face to face. Not saying you guys are wrong, I'm just surprised. 

I think I'm becoming the Old Guy now

20 hours ago, fishingram24 said:

Being an old guy that no longer fishes tournaments, I will share info with someone who ask but don't worry because no one believes a lying fisherman anyway. I only volunteer info to my long time buddy who does still fish tournaments and that's mainly locations  because we don't always fish the same way.

I gave a guy three spots on my home lake that he had never fished for his club tourney. He won it. I guess by today's standards that's cheating. This was 20 years ago.

true story.  

 

it was my second time fishing Clearlake.  i was skunked the first time.  hard skunk.  i was flailing around the lake like doofus.   i went back with a clear agenda.  slow down and pay attention.  it was Oct.  another couple were loading in their kayaks as well.  the husband (assuming) tells me they are shallow and to cast at the banks.   it felt like a lie.  

 

i kept with my agenda.  i found a tiny stick poking up out of the water way out deep.  i parked my kayak on top and  even my cheap fish finder at the time lit up like a christmas tree.  i pull off that tree, do a uturn and casted out a worm.  i got hit right away.  FIRST CLEARLAKE bass.  two young kids took my pic from their bass boat.  i orbited that tree for 7 hours pulling out fish.  so much fun.    they were not against the banks.  i would have skunked if i listened.   

I don’t ask other fisherman for advice but if someone shares I’ll listen. I have a couple friends I’ll share everything with. And if I take someone fishing I’ll do everything in my power to help them catch fish.

 

With the exception of children I’m not helping strangers. Over the years I’ve seen too many people keep fish that are below the minimum length, above the maximum length, over the bag limit, out of season, etc. If I don’t know you I don’t know if I can trust you to do the right thing and I’m NOT helping you catch more fish.

It's been my experience that some people can't help themselves and can't keep a secret.  If I'm at the ramp and a stranger starts telling me about the fish he caught he's telling the truth.  He had a good day and just has to tell someone, anyone,  about it.  

 

Personally,  I don't ask and I don't tell.

I’ll give a little example of how information sharing can get out of hand.  My fishing partner whom I have gone to St Clair and Florida with every year and we fish most weekends together and have fished together for over 25 years, recently had a heated “disagreement” on spot sharing.  On our trip to St Clair this year was extreeeeemly tough fishing.  We are there 7 days at the same time every year.  Wind was howling and the temperature dropped to near freezing.  We actually trailered over to the other side of the lake due to the wind direction.  We were having a tough time and he looked at some satellite pics of the lake for water clarity and he noticed a spot on a spot in a very popular area that we always fish every year.  We went there on our last day (trailered across again) and had the best day of the week.  He posted on a lake specific site we are both on and included some pics.  I had some pics as well and put one up on his post.  He texted me and told me to take the geo location off the image and I asked him why? He was distant and it was clear he was protecting the spot.  I told him not to be a spot snob and that it will be fished 10,000 times this season even if by dumb luck. Added to the fact that those fish have probably already moved and we won’t be back until next year.  We rarely disagree but this one got heated.  

2 hours ago, JackstrawIII said:

Honestly, I agree. I've been surprised by the tone of responses on this thread, especially when you consider how incredibly kind and helpful the members of this forum are in general. Interesting that we're so willing to help people we've never met online, but less inclined to help someone face to face. Not saying you guys are wrong, I'm just surprised. 

 

Does not surprise me one bit. Very easy for me to give advice for someone like yourself fishing half the country away. I have benefited from the advice, expertise and wisdom of BR...it's very much appreciated.

 

When it comes to my local lakes, and giving advice to those who are fishing same water, I am more guarded.

 

My home lake is 220 acres in metro Omaha. A few weeks back I counted 17 boats/kayaks on the water, and 23 people fishing one stretch of rock dike.

 

Lots of "internet-scouts" on the Nebr. FB fishing pages...and they get pissy when people post pictures and don't share location, lures, depth, water temp, wind speed, etc. HA! Do your own scouting and figure it out for yourself.

@Motoboss Some around here forgot where they come from!

 

I've heard it said, " I'm self taught", nonsense, you were influenced by someone admit it or not.

Tommy Biffle says 

“Get off my water!I’ll cut ye “lmao 

3 hours ago, Catt said:

@Motoboss Some around here forgot where they come from!

 

I've heard it said, " I'm self taught", nonsense, you were influenced by someone admit it or not.

This statement made me think of my Grandpa. Not calling you old, but the same type of wisdom I learned from him. Thank you 

I always listen to the old guy because it's me. 

After high school I worked in the tackle department for a large retailer. There was 80 year old customer that came in one day that changed my whole perspective of fishing.  Never been the same. In super short form.....   Fish don't keep up with the latest and greatest in tackle, they don't study aerial views of the lake, and they are not as smart as people want them to be. 

 

But now...many many many years later my paycheck is dependent on anglers unaware of any of the above.  🙂