Don't Tell People About Your Fishing Spots. 2024
Mista bass reply :
I guess I'm kind of ranting. My did brought me to this off the beaten path fishing hole that he fished when he was a kid. I've been fishing it for years with him since I was a kid and we rarely, if ever, saw anyone else here. Last year I made the mistake of telling a buddy where it was. He decided to tell a bunch of his friends, they told their friends, his friends told their friends, and so on. Now this season every time I go, there is at least 3-5 other people fishing it. I used to be able to go here and pull a bass out every other cast. Now I'm lucky if I get a fish every hour. You can tell the pressure really ruined the fishing. I'll never tell anyone about my fishing spots again. Fishing will never be the same here and it's really frustrating. I know I don't own the water, but when someone tells you about a special fishing spot of theirs you don't go blab about it to all your friends.
Felix77 reply :
Hard lesson to learn ... I know.
Dylcook91 reply :
I only tell your friends where the ponds are that you know suck 
yugrac reply :
I have found a few great smallmouth holes in a local river way out in the middle of nowhere, nothing but corn, birds and snakes around, I tell NO ONE where they are. There are no banks that you can fish from, its almost straight up on the sides, you wade in downstream and walk to them.
Catch 22 reply :
BTDT
I have a few spots so secret that I blindfold myself before I go there.
EvanT123 reply :
On 4/17/2015 at 9:32 AM, yugrac said:I have found a few great smallmouth holes in a local river way out in the middle of nowhere, nothing but corn, birds and snakes around, I tell NO ONE where they are. There are no banks that you can fish from, its almost straight up on the sides, you wade in downstream and walk to them.
Yup have a few like this and the current/flow dictates if they are viable or not. TELL NO ONE!!!
Paul Roberts reply :
On 4/17/2015 at 8:51 AM, Mista bass said:... when someone tells you about a special fishing spot of theirs you don't go blab about it to all your friends.
Yeah, that is a tough lesson learned. Now you know to be careful who you share what with. I share waters and info depending on how sensitive the spot is and how well I know and respect the person. It's worthwhile getting to know the anglers that share your waters. If you can come to an understanding -you'll often know which ones (they aren't "starry eyed")- sharing info can pay off in the return.
Ozark_Basser reply :
First rule of fight club, you do not talk about fight club lol.
I was bank fishing one of my favorite spots on the Little Buffalo River in January. It's on private land so only a few people can access it by car. I know almost all of them and none of them think it's worth their time in the winter. I generally keep it to myself that it's probably the most productive hole on the whole river in winter. They bunch up there and some big ones too. Well one day I was on the bank fishing and a group of floaters came by and one said, " What are you doing man?" He was looking at me like i was crazy with a big jig rod and a hoodie on lol. I cast out my jig and said, "Fishing for smallmouth, man." Wouldn't you know a got a bite right after I said it. I set the hook reeled in a nice 16 incher, and those drunk floaters went crazy lol. They threw their hands in the air and came over, watched me catch a few more decent sized ones and chatted a bit before leaving. Well ever since then, I haven't caught a decent sized smallie out of that hole, and I've seen tons of floaters too every time I go. Hillfolk around here don't practice catch and release.
Paul Roberts reply :
On 4/17/2015 at 10:38 AM, Jiggin said:First rule of fight club, you do not talk about fight club lol.
I was bank fishing one of my favorite spots on the Little Buffalo River in January. It's on private land so only a few people can access it by car. I know almost all of them and none of them think it's worth their time in the winter. I generally keep it to myself that it's probably the most productive hole on the whole river in winter. They bunch up there and some big ones too. Well one day I was on the bank fishing and a group of floaters came by and one said, " What are you doing man?" He was looking at me like i was crazy with a big jig rod and a hoodie on lol. I cast out my jig and said, "Fishing for smallmouth, man." Wouldn't you know a got a bite right after I said it. I set the hook reeled in a nice 16 incher, and those drunk floaters went crazy lol. They threw their hands in the air and came over, watched me catch a few more decent sized ones and chatted a bit before leaving. Well ever since then, I haven't caught a decent sized smallie out of that hole, and I've seen tons of floaters too every time I go. Hillfolk around here don't practice catch and release.
Ouch! Hate to say this... be the proverbial messenger and all... but winter habitat can be especially sensitive to over-fishing. In some river systems, one such hole could represent virtually all the winter habitat there is for a surprisingly long stretch of river. Bass are habitual and if there were large ones there, they may owe their existence to that one hole. Hope it's a good sized river with good winter habitat throughout, and your winters aren't too severe. I see you're in AR; guess winters won't be too harsh there. Still... best to be extra careful when fish stack up in places, and winter in moving waters is one of those times and places.
b_spill reply :
My fishing partner and I always tell people if they ask where we caught the fish that "we caught them in the gravel pit." If they ask how, we say, "a few different techniques but mainly with a rod and reel." haha. I know it's kind of sarcastic but it always generates a chuckle or two.
Ozark_Basser reply :
I believe you are right. From spring through fall, the bite really slows down in this hole and they seem to spread out into the shallower areas and in eddies etc. A good healthy population stay here though. There are a couple of largemouth 4-5 lbs that never leave, and it seems like they have been this size for about three years lol. I'll see them cruising the bluff wall in spring but I've never seen where they make beds. I have caught the four pounder but never the larger one. I've floated the entire river. Well, the parts that are floatable. The upper half goes dry in many places. As for the bottom half, there are only a couple of good deep holes that would seem like suitable wintering holes. The water never freezes over though. The lowest temperature it got this winter was 36 degrees Fahrenheit according to USGS. But I can't buy a bite in any eddies or other "warm water" spots in the winter. In this hole, if I can just get one to bite, I can usually catch quite a few, especially in the winter. I guess I just want to blame it on the floaters, but me hammering it all winter didn't help lol.On 4/17/2015 at 11:20 AM, Paul Roberts said:Ouch! Hate to say this... be the proverbial messenger and all... but winter habitat can be especially sensitive to over-fishing. In some river systems, one such hole could represent virtually all the winter habitat there is for a surprisingly long stretch of river. Bass are habitual and if there were large ones there, they may owe their existence to that one hole. Hope it's a good sized river with good winter habitat throughout, and your winters aren't too severe. I see you're in AR; guess winters won't be too harsh there. Still... best to be extra careful when fish stack up in places, and winter in moving waters is one of those times and places.
Paul Roberts reply :
36F is enough to bunch those fish up pretty good. C&R might educate them some, but intense C&K could alter things for some time to come. Hopefully most of those floaters will lose interest. That's an advantage die-hards have over the rest of the crowd lol. Neat there are LM there too.
gulfcaptain reply :
Look at it this way, now you hvae a pressured water to advance your technique since the days of fishing in a barrel are over. Anyone can catch fish when they bite like that, now you have to earn those bites and catch the ones that are a bit tougher. Spots I fish I would kill for a fish an hr. That would be great in some LA/OC area city park lakes. I have spots where I fish off the beaten path that I have taken 2 people to. They are told prior that these are my spots, that they aren't to be fished without me, and if I find out otherwise, well then they won't be fishing with me again.
Paul Roberts reply :
On 4/17/2015 at 12:36 PM, gulfcaptain said:Look at it this way, now you hvae a pressured water to advance your technique since the days of fishing in a barrel are over. Anyone can catch fish when they bite like that, now you have to earn those bites and catch the ones that are a bit tougher. ...
Good point. I too fish many popular public waters and they've taught me a lot. (That said, those barrels don't come along all that often and worth protecting.)
scaleface reply :
Giva a man fish and you feed him for a day
Teach a man to fish and... well... there goes your fishing spot .
Senko lover reply :
This is kind of a depressing thread.
slimshad reply :
When someone asks where did you catch them, say most of them were hooked in the top lip!
Bluebasser86 reply :
Oregon Native reply :
Lessons learned
wytstang reply :
Fisherman--Man where did you catch those fish?
Me *with a smirk on my face*--In the water.
Preytorien reply :
I fish in a little pond near my in-laws house. It's just outside of a subdivision and there are kids EVERYWHERE in that subdivision. The pond is pretty dirty looking, but has great fishing. I've never seen anyone else there, not even a footprint. A couple days ago, while I was walking back to my car at my in-laws a guy sitting on his porch waved and we struck up a conversation, eventually he asked me about fishing and asked if I had done any good in that pond. I played it down, I said yea I've caught a few, really acting like it was nothing. i doubt many people would take little kids down there since it's got heavy brush around the edge, casting takes some good sidearm casting skill. But I didn't want to chance that every guy over 12yrs old in that neighborhood would swarm that spot. Besides, they have 2 nice little ponds actually IN their neighborhood to visit - lots of bluegill and little bass for the kids to learn on.
Thornback reply :
Look at it this way -- you were a good sport and you made a few fishermen happy. You did the right thing when you shared. I bet your parents are proud of you. Those who share will be rewarded in many ways. I'm always up front when asked about any spot that I had good luck at.
Mainebass1984 reply :
I tell very very few people my spots. There are people that you can trust and other people that just want your spot. They don't realize the time and effort that goes into finding a really good spot. They want all the benefits after putting in no work. I hate how people will steal your spot. Then comes tournament time and they are camped out on the spot you showed them or told them about. It is irritating. Apparently some people just cant find fish.
Dyerbassman reply :
I can almost guarantee that as much as I like to believe my spots are secret, someone else is fishing them when I'm not.
RanndomUndead reply :
I always tell my story about great fishing spots, i just give them the wrong location. /snicker
Bankbeater reply :
I fish a lot of spots that see a lot of pressure. When you catch one there are always 3, or 4, people that see you. When they ask me what I am using I just tell them I was using a crankbait.
massrob reply :
Last summer I found this great spot that I caught tons of fish from. My roommate would always ask me where I was catching them and I told him a different place or it was a secret. Then at the end of the summer a kid we both know saw me there and told him where I was. I was so mad that kid had saw me and told him. I would never had revealed the location. But I guess it's okay since the my roommate needs me to tie his hooks on for him. And he's the one who got me into fishing.
Dogmatic reply :
On 4/17/2015 at 9:32 AM, yugrac said:I have found a few great smallmouth holes in a local river way out in the middle of nowhere, nothing but corn, birds and snakes around, I tell NO ONE where they are. There are no banks that you can fish from, its almost straight up on the sides, you wade in downstream and walk to them.
Hey, I know those holes, right off 28 right? ; )
yugrac reply :
lots of river right off 28, aint sayin where. Of course with the thaw, rain, and flooding those holes may not be there anymore! Had a great place that was almost impossible to walk, the shallowest area was nearly to my armpits, 1 wet winter and spring that hole is knee deep now. Water has not been down enough for me to comfortably wade yet , every time its close it rains a bunch. When I get there I will PM you and let you know how it is. Taking the boat out this weekend to Whitewater Mem.
yugrac reply :
Dogmatic, where the @@#$ is S.E.P.A.?
FishWitWiz reply :
On 4/18/2015 at 9:31 AM, yugrac said:Dogmatic, where the @@#$ is S.E.P.A.?
Southeastern Pennsylvania. Otherwise known as the Delaware Valley... Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware, Chester, and Berks Counties.
SirSnookalot reply :
On 4/17/2015 at 8:32 PM, Thornback said:Look at it this way -- you were a good sport and you made a few fishermen happy. You did the right thing when you shared. I bet your parents are proud of you. Those who share will be rewarded in many ways. I'm always up front when asked about any spot that I had good luck at.
If the place is private I won't risk some one screwing it up for me. Public places are a different story, I have given many places on BR, as I did this morning when asked about peacocks. Many of these public places some one told me about, I have no problem passing that info on. Pressure or no pressure I'll catch my fair share of fish, that's a given.
It's great seeing a really nice fish caught by some one else, I feel as good about as if I caught it myself.
flyfisher reply :
I never understood lying to people when on the lake when they ask you how you were doing. It isn't like you randomly met the people, they are already on the same lake as you are so it isn't like they are going to learn about some new place.
I am always honest about it and what i caught them on. I figure why not share my love of the sport. If it makes my lake busier, that's fine too, i just find another lake, there is plenty of water out there to explore and i have found quite a few great lakes by just deciding one day to go check them out.
I do admit that river spots are different, especially wintering holes and those i am not going to share, the same goes for native brookie streams as they can get wiped out from added pressure and part of the fun with those places is finding them.
Thornback reply :
Part of the fun of fishing is finding new spots that produce a bass or two.
Alonerankin2 reply :
Well a hotspot can't be called a hotspot if it hasn't been exploited already.. I'm not convinced fish are educated by catch & release as it pertains to soft plastic worms & craws.. You can take a look at Doug Hannons logs and see that. Hard baits, more likely. I've put friends on fish & they couldn't buy a bite on a 7" straight tail worm.. Not all fisherman are created equal. ( no thrill to soft plastic, boring, or have trouble w strike detection)
Are a few statements that come to mind.. As far as tipping your cards for others to see? That's a game spoiler...
Mista bass reply :
On 4/18/2015 at 11:15 PM, Alonerankin2 said:Well a hotspot can't be called a hotspot if it hasn't been exploited already.. I'm not convinced fish are educated by catch & release as it pertains to soft plastic worms & craws.. You can take a look at Doug Hannons logs and see that. Hard baits, more likely. I've put friends on fish & they couldn't buy a bite on a 7" straight tail worm.. Not all fisherman are created equal. ( no thrill to soft plastic, boring, or have trouble w strike detection)
Are a few statements that come to mind.. As far as tipping your cards for others to see? That's a game spoiler...
Wait you're saying that using soft plastics is boring and has no thrill? Soft plastics are my go to bait in almost any situation. There is always a way to fish a soft plastic that will catch fish in any situation.
RanndomUndead reply :
On 4/19/2015 at 6:37 AM, Mista bass said:Wait you're saying that using soft plastics is boring and has no thrill? Soft plastics are my go to bait in almost any situation. There is always a way to fish a soft plastic that will catch fish in any situation.
I think he means Finesse fishing can be boring to some, just as fishing cranks/spinners can be annoying to others.
Everyone has their preferred styles
Mista bass reply :
Finesse for me is exciting. Anyone can reel in a crankbait, it takes skill and patience to work finesse baits!
Dogmatic reply :
On 4/18/2015 at 9:31 AM, yugrac said:Dogmatic, where the @@#$ is S.E.P.A.?
LOL, I was just giving you a "hard time", I live in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Hehehe. I just Google Earth'ed your location and favorite river and went from there. Other than just passing through on my way to somewhere else, I have never fished OH/IN.
Dogmatic reply :
On 4/18/2015 at 4:33 PM, SirSnookalot said:If the place is private I won't risk some one screwing it up for me. Public places are a different story, I have given many places on BR, as I did this morning when asked about peacocks. Many of these public places some one told me about, I have no problem passing that info on. Pressure or no pressure I'll catch my fair share of fish, that's a given.
It's great seeing a really nice fish caught by some one else, I feel as good about as if I caught it myself.
I've had this burn me more then once. I had an excellent private pond, was told it was OK to let a friend fish there, as long as he respected the rules, and the first thing he does is park in the wrong place, and gets himself, and me booted.
Alonerankin2 reply :
No.. I fish soft worms/craws 70% of the time.On 4/19/2015 at 6:37 AM, Mista bass said:Wait you're saying that using soft plastics is boring and has no thrill? Soft plastics are my go to bait in almost any situation. There is always a way to fish a soft plastic that will catch fish in any situation.
I was speaking about friends who I have fished with & hate the slack line fishing presentations.
One expert( Doug Hannon ) proved that the 7" plastic worm was not remembered as a future threat and would strike soft plastic worms over & over again( over a period of time ) but did seem to shy away or reconsider striking crankbaits, spinnerbaits,etc.. Plastic is my strength..& preferred choice.
yugrac reply :
Dogmatic, my son lives in meadville Pa, going there over Mem day weekend, any hot spots north of you? Yea, I have found lots of spots using maps, bing has better clarity.
kcdinkerz reply :
lol even amongst best friends and family we know better then to give our secret spots away. It's funny beca use every time one of us post a picture on Facebook or in a text you can't make out the background
SirSnookalot reply :
On 4/19/2015 at 6:37 AM, Mista bass said:Wait you're saying that using soft plastics is boring and has no thrill? Soft plastics are my go to bait in almost any situation. There is always a way to fish a soft plastic that will catch fish in any situation.
Well if Alonerankin did say it, I will. Plastics are dreadfully boring for me, I probably don't use them more than a few times a year. The only plastic I use often is a weedless fluke and I'm fishing almost exclusively as a top water lure. I'm there for the strike and the fight, dragging plastics don't seem to supply that for me. Something about a moving bait just seems to energize both the fish and me.
mrc.in.wi reply :
I always say hook and line.On 4/17/2015 at 12:01 PM, b_spill said:My fishing partner and I always tell people if they ask where we caught the fish that "we caught them in the gravel pit." If they ask how, we say, "a few different techniques but mainly with a rod and reel." haha. I know it's kind of sarcastic but it always generates a chuckle or two.
scaleface reply :
I try to keep real good spots a secret. Sometimes I wont even fish them if another boat is close enough to see. I've lost quite a few spots like that.
I once told a co-worker how I was catching channel cats at the reservoir . I explained the type of structure I was looking for , how to find it and the bait . Never did tell him the exact locations. Next thing I know him and all his "game hog " friends were fishing my best spot .
Patrick Morrow reply :
I admit the word can go out really fast, what initially was a little hint to a friend may result in everyone in local area finding out your spot. Be especially cautions on the internet, I can´t even remember how many times I have seen guys giving away their spots in local FB group just because they did a nice picture of the sunset, fish or whatever there.
Thornback reply :
Some folks don't mind telling and some folks won't. Human nature at it's finest. I know I have returned to producing spots and never get a bite. I once fished the same spot six times, first time we got 12 bass and released them all, next time we got six and released them, next time we got skunked, next time we got two, next time we got five with one weighing over 10 pounds, we kept two smaller ones. Next time we got skunked. Anyone want a map on how to find that spot I'll draw them one 
. I'm planning a trip on Tuesday and I'm going to a different body of water. Without knowing it I'll probably be fishing someone's secret spot
Mista bass reply :
On 4/20/2015 at 1:05 AM, Thornback said:Some folks don't mind telling and some folks won't. Human nature at it's finest. I know I have returned to producing spots and never get a bite. I once fished the same spot six times, first time we got 12 bass and released them all, next time we got six and released them, next time we got skunked, next time we got two, next time we got five with one weighing over 10 pounds, we kept two smaller ones. Next time we got skunked. Anyone want a map on how to find that spot I'll draw them one
. I'm planning a trip on Tuesday and I'm going to a different body of water. Without knowing it I'll probably be fishing someone's secret spot
Don't you dare! That secret spot is mine! lol
SirSnookalot reply :
This might be the perfect thread to post my conversation yesterday. I ran into a couple of guys fishing a canal, quite normal for the subject to be peacock bass, then I hear small mouth bass in Florida. The guys says he has a stocked pond not that far from where we were fishing. I asked public or private, he replied private, that was the moment I ended the conversation. Something told me that was the time to walk away and just forget about it.
Thornback reply :
Years ago a buddy and I had been fishing a river in my bass boat and as we were re-loading the boat on the trailer a guy walks over to inquire how we did. We told him we had caught one bass. He said he had 15 acres with an old flooded lime pit that had been stocked with bass by the university and we were welcomed to fish it. He said we would need a small jon boat to carry 50 feet to the water's edge. My buddy had such a boat. Naturally I was suspicious and my buddy came right out and asked why he would let two strangers fish his pit. He said he just wanted to share the spot, that some of his neighbors fished there and even kept the bass to eat. He gave us his phone number and said call before hand so he could unlock the gate and show us the pit. A few days later we called and all went well. My buddy caught his PB there that morning.
Thornback reply :
How do you think I found it -- I saw you pull in a dozen thereOn 4/20/2015 at 10:18 AM, Mista bass said:Don't you dare! That secret spot is mine! lol
Samual L Fapson reply :
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.
evilcatfish reply :
On 4/21/2015 at 6:43 AM, Samual L Fapson said: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?
flyfisher reply :
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?
Felixone reply :
On 4/17/2015 at 10:19 PM, Mainebass1984 said:Apparently some people just cant find fish.
**Slowly raises his hand**
S Hovanec reply :
On 4/17/2015 at 10:38 AM, Jiggin said: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!
RMcDuffee726 reply :
I only have really one fishing partner that knows everything I know.
Shockwave reply :
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.
SirSnookalot reply :
On 4/21/2015 at 10:44 PM, evilcatfish said: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.
Thornback reply :
On 4/21/2015 at 10:44 PM, evilcatfish said: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.
danno054 reply :
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.
SirSnookalot reply :
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.
wuchr20 reply :
learned the hard way.... 
RoLo reply :
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
CDMeyer reply :
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
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