Knuguy said:
I understand the need to be discreet when talking about fishing spots, but surely there must be a limit. If you post that Grenadier pond is a spot for carp, I don't think you are letting any big secret out. Likewise Angus and a few more spots for 'certain other fish'. "Everybody" knows about those spots anyway.
Yes, but discretion is the word, if we are to get specific about a body of water (name and all and locations on that body of water) in PUBLIC we have to ask ourselves a few questions first... can this body of water sustain and influx of multiple anglers who "lurk" on this popular site for information and do not contribute? What will the impact be ie: Litter? Possible trespass complications in some areas that leads to total "shut downs"? Can the "fishery" handle the influx if I share this information in PUBLIC and not in PM? Ethically if I break this code and reject the impact(s), will I be disrespecting those who have done the work to find these spots before me, hardworking, ethical anglers who have limited time to enjoy their passion let alone disrespecting the fishery within?
Also, let's face it, not everyone is going to run out the door if I scream "HOLY CRAP THE DRUM ARE GOING NUTS!!!!" but if I scream "THE STEELIES ARE SMACKING LIKE CRAZY!!!!".... more eyes will widen, ears will open and phone calls and emails will be made.
What is our motivation for revealing this information? On OFF I know the reason is to be helpful to our fellow members, to share some pics and share our success, we all love to read the posts and view fish pics.
For those making money from fishing, there is a different motivation on top of those (but i question often if the money-making aspect is the sole motivation).
Do not for one second assume that "everyone knows about these spots anyway". They may "know of them but haven't fished them for years or never until they read your information. Or, many many anglers simply do not know about these spots. Many of these "anglers" sit on their fannies and then when they read some specific information, they floor it down to the location, leaving behind a mountain of litter and bad feelings with the locals/regs... the people who care about the fishery.
I find the vast majority of anglers who do not contribute here but come here merely to find spots.... well, not the kind of "angler" I want to share with or know or fish with. Sorry but after 38 years on the water, that is my view on that at this point in time.
Sure, large bodies of water can handle the "name game" as can very public waterways. My first exposure to this issue was as a kid, I grew up fishing Port Dalhousie in the 70s and 80s. Our little gang fished it daily and i tell you in the 70s there were not very many people down there doing it till the salmon/trout runs picked up speed by 1979.
So, I caught a beauty 10 lb. brown and the newspaper published the photo and it mentioned in the photo cutline what I had caught it on. Well, the very next day it was shoulder to shoulder with folks I had never seen before, litter was everywhere and amongst that litter, to my shock and horror, were multiple discarded #3 Mepps packages, the lure I had revealed I caught it on. It was a HUGE lesson for me. HUGE!!!
I have also watched the slow painful degradation of the only cold water fishery stream (a delicate little thing) in Niagara because of all the exposure it has received over the years on another forum.
So, yes, use discretion in my humble opinion when naming names and use discretion after that with how specific you want to be on location within that location. You can always ask for PM requests too if you are willing to share.
And, of course, there are some OFF house rules pertaining to the naming, or not naming as the case may be, of some Great Lake tributaries.
Remember, it is YOUR spot too and you have the power to destroy YOUR spot here in this forum.... it could also be MY spot too.
Cheers and thanks for listening!
;-)
