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Besides specific fishing locations, what information do you think is sacred?  How many things (lures, techniques, patterns, etc) do you know about that you won't share?  Is there one set of info you will share on a message board like this vs. another set of info that you only share with your tournament partner or good buddies? 

 

Or...are there some things you will keep with you to your grave? Are there things you are convinced nobody else knows about or does and you'll be damned if you are going to share with your best friend, much less a message board!

 

Does it even matter?  Why does a guy like Hobbs who would seemingly have the most to lose by sharing so much info - share the most?

No doubt there are some guys who watch this board and never share anything and think those that do must be a bunch of idiots for sharing such good info.

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Replies to This Discussion

I am sure there are people here who feel that their opportunity to catch more fish will be limited if they reveal any fishing information to others.  And there's those who freely share information, knowing that they in turn will have the chance to learn new things.   It's probably more of a personality issue than anything else.  I have no problem sharing any information.  After all, time on the water is still the main key to becoming more successful.
I know that I have a Swimbait and a technique for fishing it (for Muskies) that I reveal to very few people. It accounted for over 35 Muskies last season and 3 tournament wins in the last 2 years and I'm somewhat reluctant to spread the word about it!

Great thread Don.   I was wondering myself, what if every member on this website wrote a book about their "secrets", and someone published all of the books as the "secret WA-BASS bible".   how much would that sell for?

 

Some may disagree but as far as presentations go...there are some new tricks and new lines/rods/baits that help, but really not all that much has changed.  The presentation stuff seems everywhere, and sort of trivial. 

 

I dont' see much detail regarding honey holes, and pattern info.   I remember Ron Hobbs spoke of a true 'pattern' he nailed at banks that won them a certificate, but for the life of me, I don't see where he outlined to everyone what that pattern was exactly.....

 

Thats probably the way it should be.   Honey Holes, and patterns should be sacred, as there are many who know about those same patterns and spots, and worked for it.  To give away that info publicly is to give away someone elses' spots too. 

 

The only thing I don't share is info about waterways that I enjoy because of solitude.   If I want to catch a big smallmouth or largemouth, I will stay local....but If i want to catch a bunch of fish in a remote location, I'm not about to give that info away, as that would be counterproductive to my reasoning for going there.

The guys that dont share just dont have anything to share.

All secret honey holes dry up, all secret baits don't always produce, Every secret pattern will eventually fall apart.

 

So why not share.  I like to share because I like to hear that I helped someone catch some fish....it is a great feeling to help someone.  The things I don't share are the things that I can't put into the words, the little tiny details that made that not so secret bait work a better, the tiny little decision that turned the day around or the 1 tiny detail that solidified a great pattern, Most of it is to complex to really write down so I don't.  trying to explain why when how are all guesses anyhow, there is nothing that is certain in this game.  Decision making and the way you analyze the certain situation.  I think the capability to retain information is huge, I have a crazy mind, I can remember stupid situations from years ago, I think I remember more fishing information than is normal, and I can use this knowledge base to put fish in the boat. It catches me off guard sometimes, about what I remember on the water, it might not be even catching a fish, it might be something I saw one time on my graph or a place that I thought looked cool, or a place where I saw trout jumping whatever.  I think that the guys that appreciate and take in the surrounding will do better than the guys that shut off the surroundings and are just intent on catching fish. Sounds kind of gay but be observant on the water you don't have to catch fish in order to learn something, remember everything in that lake is connected in some way.

 

This is a lot of blabber, i will stop now without proofing any of the blabber I just wrote down, take it for what it is.

Well said man, I agree almost 100 percent. 

 

Also, to all those that do share, thanks.  It really does make a difference some times on a rough day to think back of something that I read here and give it a try.  This sport would be a lot less enjoyable without the comunity of people involved in it and all the knowledge that gets passed around.  I'm not the best guy out there for sure, but when I can help a little, it makes me feel great.  And, I'm never gonna turn down a tip about baits, presentation, or anything else.  There really arn't many guys that I don't want to see do well.

 


Jake "The Snake" Anderson said:

Great thread Don.   I was wondering myself, what if every member on this website wrote a book about their "secrets", and someone published all of the books as the "secret WA-BASS bible".   how much would that sell for?

 

Some may disagree but as far as presentations go...there are some new tricks and new lines/rods/baits that help, but really not all that much has changed.  The presentation stuff seems everywhere, and sort of trivial. 

 

I dont' see much detail regarding honey holes, and pattern info.   I remember Ron Hobbs spoke of a true 'pattern' he nailed at banks that won them a certificate, but for the life of me, I don't see where he outlined to everyone what that pattern was exactly.....

 

Thats probably the way it should be.   Honey Holes, and patterns should be sacred, as there are many who know about those same patterns and spots, and worked for it.  To give away that info publicly is to give away someone elses' spots too. 

 

The only thing I don't share is info about waterways that I enjoy because of solitude.   If I want to catch a big smallmouth or largemouth, I will stay local....but If i want to catch a bunch of fish in a remote location, I'm not about to give that info away, as that would be counterproductive to my reasoning for going there.

When I started fishing, if you wanted to learn you had to find a Sports Afield magazine or Field & Stream.  You didn't find bass information until BASS and BASSMASTER got started.  You didn't have the internet, google earth, gps, lake maps with contours, seminars to go to, Sportsman Shows, TV Shows, or even many tournaments to learn from.

 

What you learned was through the school of hard knocks (trial and error).  If you were really lucky, and had some friends who were good sticks, you could share information and discuss the finer points of your experience and work together to improve your skills. 

 

This part of learning has not changed over the years.  If you are willing to share what you learned, you will find many who will repay your generosity by sharing with you what they have learned. 

 

When I was about 13 years old, one day I asked my parents why I didn't receive many letters in the mail from friends.  My mom asked me how many had I written?  I realized a valuable lesson then that applies to fishing information as well.

 

I like to share information.  I like to help others catch bass, and I like to give back something to a sport that has given me so much.  That is why I like to write articles, teach seminars, and post on the internet.  It is not just about helping one or two people, but more about growing the sport for many. 

 

I have also learned that it hasn't hurt me by sharing, or by telling the truth even on stage after a tournament.  Half of the people assume you are lying to begin with, and most of the rest won't bother to try what you say anyway.  Only a few actually make the effort to learn, and by the time they figure out what they are doing I will have moved onto new techniques or patterns anyway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Excellent topic Don!  I am sure that this thread will bring forth many different opinions and interesting ideas to think about!  I know that I don't know enough yet to give the best answer to your questions but I can answer them to the best of my ability based on what I have noticed in my fishing experience so far. 

 

I personally enjoy and don't see any problem with sharing techniques for catching bass and fish behavioral patterns on a public forum such as this.  What I like about this, as others have stated, is that it gives motivated anglers that are eager to learn a chance to practice proven bass fishing techniques and then go out and make them work for themselves on their own time.  Your helping teach someone how to catch fish but at the same time it is up to them to go put in the time to make it happen. The best of both worlds in my opinion.  Even throwing in a few particular baits and types of locations is fair game in my book as it is still up to the angler reading to spend the time on the water to gain the confidence necessary to make this technique work for themselves. 

 

As you and others have stated, I think particular spots are a different ballgame however.  Anyone with an understanding of different techniques and bass behavior that owns a working boat is more than capable of spending the time on the water to find locations to make these techniques work for themselves.  I will share certain spots with close friends for fun because I enjoy helping them catch fish but sometimes they feel this gives them the right to all my spots.  I get told from time to time that there are no secrets anymore so I should just spill it all.  I still feel that if this is the case, then it should be no problem for someone with a working boat to spend a day or two on the lake and figure out how to find areas that work for them.  I am more than happy to share the types of areas I am catching fish off of and a few particular spots but if I spill it all, then where am I supposed to fish?  I find that if you find spots that suit how you like to fish you will do better in the long run than fishing spots someone else found anyways. 

 

There is one other circumstance where I feel you should keep your findings confidential.  This is prefishing for a tournament.  Unless you are trying to clue a buddy in to what the bass are doing and they are helping you out in return, I find no benifit in sharing prefishing information until after a tournament has concluded.  Any information that the anglers that you are competing against discover, has the potential to help them figure out what the bass are doing.  I don't think it matters whether it is a lure, technique, location, depth, etc.  I feel that any detail has the potential to make the light bulb go off in your competitor's head.  However, I feel that after the tournament is over, it is fine to spill every last detail as more than likely you will be fishing a different pattern the following year anyways. 

 

With all of this being said though, I still feel that knowing the best spots, lures and techniques will get you nowhere against someone that has figured out what the bass are doing and understands the big picture.  It is my opinion that the most consistent tournament anglers are able to figure out and understand the big picture better and more often than the rest of us.  This is why they are able to share most of their secrets and still beat us without mercy on the water!   

 

I feel that one mans technique dosen't work for others. I have sent freinds to a spot and gave them the baits to use and they blanked, I'll roll up and pull fish out using the same thing, with the same thing happening to me. It's having confidence in what you use. I have a go to bait I use when all things go south, a 4'' jerrys green pumpkin tube, I fish it with total confidence, my freinds will give me their tubes cause they don't catch fish with them. on Banks in the spring you can't beat a speed trap in crystal craw
This is a pretty interesting topic.  I frequent another forum for duck hunting.  You wouldn't believe the amount of misinformation that gets posted or the amount of bitching that occurs because of a picture that gets posted that has too much background.  I've received pm's from people asking me to take a picture down because others will be able to tell where I shot the birds.  This is a stark contrast from what happens on this site, the amount of info that is revealed is crazy and my fishing tactics have improved drastically because of this.  There was a thread that was brought up on the waterfowl forum concerning this very topic, everyone came to the conclusion that duck hunting was so competitive that that was just the way it would be.  But my question is, is there a sport anymore competitive than bass fishing?  I mean damn, there's thousands of dollars on the line in bass fishing.  It's just interesting the difference between the two.  I thank all that produce useful info, you've helped me and others a ton in furthering our bass fishing knowledge.

You and I both know lots of guys that would have stuff to share...but they don't. 

I agree with you about things changing.  Some embrace that fact more than others.


Ronald Hobbs, Jr. said:

The guys that dont share just dont have anything to share.

All secret honey holes dry up, all secret baits don't always produce, Every secret pattern will eventually fall apart.

 

So why not share.  I like to share because I like to hear that I helped someone catch some fish....it is a great feeling to help someone.  The things I don't share are the things that I can't put into the words, the little tiny details that made that not so secret bait work a better, the tiny little decision that turned the day around or the 1 tiny detail that solidified a great pattern, Most of it is to complex to really write down so I don't.  trying to explain why when how are all guesses anyhow, there is nothing that is certain in this game.  Decision making and the way you analyze the certain situation.  I think the capability to retain information is huge, I have a crazy mind, I can remember stupid situations from years ago, I think I remember more fishing information than is normal, and I can use this knowledge base to put fish in the boat. It catches me off guard sometimes, about what I remember on the water, it might not be even catching a fish, it might be something I saw one time on my graph or a place that I thought looked cool, or a place where I saw trout jumping whatever.  I think that the guys that appreciate and take in the surrounding will do better than the guys that shut off the surroundings and are just intent on catching fish. Sounds kind of gay but be observant on the water you don't have to catch fish in order to learn something, remember everything in that lake is connected in some way.

 

This is a lot of blabber, i will stop now without proofing any of the blabber I just wrote down, take it for what it is.

I agree with you Jake...don't see much on patterns, and even general info on locations and biology.  I've always thought these things matter way more than anything else but have decided I must be a little different because nobody else seems to want to talk about these things much.  It's always which crankbait, jig, line, rod, etc.  Compare that to the hunting community who spend most of their time worried about location, biology and habits of their quarry.  I've always thought that was strange.

Jake "The Snake" Anderson said:

Great thread Don.   I was wondering myself, what if every member on this website wrote a book about their "secrets", and someone published all of the books as the "secret WA-BASS bible".   how much would that sell for?

 

Some may disagree but as far as presentations go...there are some new tricks and new lines/rods/baits that help, but really not all that much has changed.  The presentation stuff seems everywhere, and sort of trivial. 

 

I dont' see much detail regarding honey holes, and pattern info.   I remember Ron Hobbs spoke of a true 'pattern' he nailed at banks that won them a certificate, but for the life of me, I don't see where he outlined to everyone what that pattern was exactly.....

 

Thats probably the way it should be.   Honey Holes, and patterns should be sacred, as there are many who know about those same patterns and spots, and worked for it.  To give away that info publicly is to give away someone elses' spots too. 

 

The only thing I don't share is info about waterways that I enjoy because of solitude.   If I want to catch a big smallmouth or largemouth, I will stay local....but If i want to catch a bunch of fish in a remote location, I'm not about to give that info away, as that would be counterproductive to my reasoning for going there.

David,


What's interesting to me was how much practice info the "Elites" share with each other.  Giving each other baits, talking specific locations, etc.  Hard to argue anyone has more to lose than them, but they do it!
David Parnicky said:

Excellent topic Don!  I am sure that this thread will bring forth many different opinions and interesting ideas to think about!  I know that I don't know enough yet to give the best answer to your questions but I can answer them to the best of my ability based on what I have noticed in my fishing experience so far. 

 

I personally enjoy and don't see any problem with sharing techniques for catching bass and fish behavioral patterns on a public forum such as this.  What I like about this, as others have stated, is that it gives motivated anglers that are eager to learn a chance to practice proven bass fishing techniques and then go out and make them work for themselves on their own time.  Your helping teach someone how to catch fish but at the same time it is up to them to go put in the time to make it happen. The best of both worlds in my opinion.  Even throwing in a few particular baits and types of locations is fair game in my book as it is still up to the angler reading to spend the time on the water to gain the confidence necessary to make this technique work for themselves. 

 

As you and others have stated, I think particular spots are a different ballgame however.  Anyone with an understanding of different techniques and bass behavior that owns a working boat is more than capable of spending the time on the water to find locations to make these techniques work for themselves.  I will share certain spots with close friends for fun because I enjoy helping them catch fish but sometimes they feel this gives them the right to all my spots.  I get told from time to time that there are no secrets anymore so I should just spill it all.  I still feel that if this is the case, then it should be no problem for someone with a working boat to spend a day or two on the lake and figure out how to find areas that work for them.  I am more than happy to share the types of areas I am catching fish off of and a few particular spots but if I spill it all, then where am I supposed to fish?  I find that if you find spots that suit how you like to fish you will do better in the long run than fishing spots someone else found anyways. 

 

There is one other circumstance where I feel you should keep your findings confidential.  This is prefishing for a tournament.  Unless you are trying to clue a buddy in to what the bass are doing and they are helping you out in return, I find no benifit in sharing prefishing information until after a tournament has concluded.  Any information that the anglers that you are competing against discover, has the potential to help them figure out what the bass are doing.  I don't think it matters whether it is a lure, technique, location, depth, etc.  I feel that any detail has the potential to make the light bulb go off in your competitor's head.  However, I feel that after the tournament is over, it is fine to spill every last detail as more than likely you will be fishing a different pattern the following year anyways. 

 

With all of this being said though, I still feel that knowing the best spots, lures and techniques will get you nowhere against someone that has figured out what the bass are doing and understands the big picture.  It is my opinion that the most consistent tournament anglers are able to figure out and understand the big picture better and more often than the rest of us.  This is why they are able to share most of their secrets and still beat us without mercy on the water!   

 

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