How much info do you share ?

I was cleaning a mess of big Crappie yesterday on my tailgate and had several people come over to admire them.
Then the questions started.
Did you catch them under the bridge?
Did you catch them on brush piles?
Where are the brush piles?
Minnows or jigs?
What color jigs?
How deep were they?
Can I just tie up to a tree, I don’t have an anchor.

I was obviously a guide as I was wearing a logo shirt and standing in the heat cleaning fish for folks.
If I am out on the lake I will often give up a pile if someone is close but not catching fish.
I don’t mind sharing tidbits of info to help other folks have a fun day on the lake but WOW .

How much do y’all share before you suggest they just hire a guide for a trip?
I book more trips with folks learning where and how to catch fish on their lake of choice than just a casual day on the lake and do my best to set them up to catch fish all year.

My last trip to Sandlin I let them take picture of my GPS so they could find my brush piles BUT they paid to learn.

It is hard to know where to draw the line as I don’t want to be rude to folks

I don't give spots unless it's a community hole already but will give conditions at which I am catchn.....
The info I give will help the ones that don't mind putting some work into putting fish in their boat....
I enjoy making and finding different structure productive structure but that cost me weather it's time or money.....
There will always be some folks that will appreciate any info on the how to's and the will always be those folks that feel you should catch, filet and cook the fish for them.....I know the latter is extreme but you get the point.....

As you are a guide who makes his living Ketchn I would simply smile and say when you go to school you have to pay the tuition and this mess could be yours.

I don't mind sharing information to help those that are genuinely interested in learning and am one to ask a lot of questions to those who are good at this but there is a line. I give very general information like they were on brush or off bank but not where those are as both have said, YOU have invested time and money in finding them so wouldn't share that unless it is a paying customer and then no I wouldn't let anyone take a screenshot, that's a bit much. Most will have a boat and FF have seen general area and can find it for themselves with a little time and effort. That's what I have done when I have used a guide and it's money very well spent and you guys are just so awesome to getrdone in often bad conditions.

I would not share anything but general info if I were a full time guide. It's sad to say but most people are out for themselves and will use you if you allow it. I fish fresh and salt water. I have a group of friends in North Alabama that I will share anything with and they do the same for me. I have the same deal in south Louisiana with some very good friends I have met over the years. I will gladly share techniques and tips on things such as long line trolling, but I am through giving out locations.

I share specific information with the people that share specific information with me. Anyone else gets general information with very little detail. If you share
specific information with the public after limiting out one day, there will not be room for you to get your hook in the water the next day. When that happens,
I don't get mad at them, I get mad at me for causing the problem. The maddest I ever got was when a guy I knew was coming up the lake, saw me and idled
over to me and asked if I was doing any good. I told him we had 18. He said he was going to try up the lake. Told me to catch them all. As he was leaving
I saw him reach up and hit Mark on his GPS.

I don't have too much of a problem sharing information or trying to help anyone catch more fish... in fact I rather enjoy it. Generally, rather than give deceptive information or smart responses... I usually try to size up the person whose asking... based mostly upon the amount of humility they come across with in their approach and their questioning. If they are reasonable and cordial in their approach and their questioning... I will (usually) offer them something useful to try to help them out... but by the same token... also remain perfectly comfortable with my rights to protect my own spots, efforts and work product.

I share a lot of information...................now whether all that information is factual is a different story!


ClearCreek

I don't ever do well enough for anybody to ask me any questions. Lol

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If I have all the fish I want I will tell or show someone exactly where, and how to catch fish. I just want everyone to experience a good time. If I just started fishing and not many in the boat I won’t tell much if anything. If they can wait till I’m done for the day they can have at it. I just like to see people enjoy fishing as much as I do.


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I avoid people! I understand your situation as a guide however.

I have shared info with some that show respect for what you have given them, and don’t wear it out. I have also shared info about a spot and never been able to fish it again between them and the friends he told of it. I’ve used my side image with someone I knew behind me, and he had every one on his gps before I could get turned around to mark it on my own. It would be accurate to say that I have mixed emotions about sharing info. I have to rate each situation on its individual merits.

" No, they aren't biting. Do YOU know where I should go?".
"Just a few dinks. Do YOU know where I should go?"
"I've never fished this lake before. Do YOU know any good spots?"

Only if kids are involved, and the adult polite, will I ever give any info. The rest get zip, zilch, nada. They can, well, ... GO FISH.

Teach a man to fish and he will have fish for life. Give a man a fish and he will know where to come the next time he's fish hungry. There's too many
out there.

I am willing to share all information. I will provide gps coordinates to anybody that asks for them. There are just too many places to fish on a lake to worry about somebody fishing "my spot" If somebody is fishing my first spot I simply move on to the next one. Plus half the fun for me is finding new hot spots to fish. :)

Now if I was a guide my answer would be different. Then my knowledge of the lake would be what feds my family and I would want to pay for that service. So in that case I would have one or two well known brush piles on the lake and would give the gps coordinates of those brush piles to those that asked where to find fish.

Here's my thoughts, being a Pastor im sure I may look at things different than most and that I understand. I have found that it is impossible to be too good to people, it is impossible to give too much to people, it is impossible to love people too much, but I can certainly not do enough of all these things.
Matthew 5:42

*

“Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.”*

I know people think others don't deserve because they don't put the time into it, but the reality is some people don't have the time, money, ability or equipment that the Lord has blessed others with, so why not share all we can. Lets us remember who gave us all the fish we catch, all the time we have to enjoy them, because all good things come from the Lord. Just my thoughts, God Bless.

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I'm not a guide, but I really don't like fishing around a bunch of people so I am pretty tight lipped about my fishing. If I am catching fish and someone nearby isn't, I'll gladly try and help them out. If someone just drives up to me or walks up if I am on shore and asks if I am catching fish... "It's pretty slow". I take that as them being lazy and just wanting to cut out all the time finding fish and jump right into catching, I didn't work at it all day for them. If someone walks up to me and says they are having trouble finding/catching fish, can I help... absolutely and I will put them on some fish if I can. It's all in the way you ask!

As for internet, if you message me on a forum or facebook.. its the same thing. If the message is "where at?", you are getting "in the lip". If you introduce yourself, and tell me a reason why you want to know where or how I am fishing.. I will probably try and help out. I've had people message me before on facebook and say they are having trouble finding fish and they don't want my exact spot but just some tips on where to catch them. I'll usually help out.

I've had people come up to me before and make a remark about my fish and say they didn't catch anything. I've told them exactly where to go and walked over to the boat and grabbed a few working jigs/plastics and handed them out. I've also had people putting in when I am taking out and asking the million questions about where the fish are, what they are biting on, how deep, what color, etc... they are just trying to cut out all the work and jump right into catching, and if they are nice I will probably share some info. but usually they are demanding, like i owe it to them to tell them everything they want to know.. those people can go pound sand.


Basically, I try to be a nice person but I really hate lazy people.

I know you guys are mostly down south, but there is a big issue with people crowding with ice fishing. Ice fishing lets everyone with a fishing license access the water, not just those with a boat.. so you have a lot of people who don't know much etiquette (or dont care) and just walk up and fish next to people they see catching fish. It's sort of the same thing as this topic. Daily you will have people walk up to you and ask if you are doing any good, sometimes they just want to be friendly and if you say "yes" then they will set up nearby and try to catch some fish. Sometimes if you say "yes" they will drill a hole 3 feet from you. It's the same approach as this topic, if you are a nice person I will invite you to fish with me and share what they are biting on. If you are a jerk and just walk up and start fishing by me, I'm going to be upset. Sometimes people don't ask and just walk up and start fishing in your lap.. Usually if asked why they are drilling a hole 3 feet from you when there is a whole lake out there (usually they saw you catch a fish from their truck), they will say "its public water". Then those people will almost ALWAYS ask what they are biting on or how deep the fish are.

The moral is, BE RESPECTFUL and you will go FAR in life. If you want information from a person (or guide) on the water, be respectful and you just may get it. If you want a spot to fish where the fish are biting, be respectful and you may be able to fish it and have fun. Being a jerk may get you to the reward too, but its an awfully bad way to go about it. Most people in this world are nice and willing to help others, but there are also a lot of people who think they are entitled to the help and demand it from those who have worked hard to learn.

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Originally Posted by Seekbigger

Here's my thoughts, being a Pastor im sure I may look at things different than most and that I understand. I have found that it is impossible to be too good to people, it is impossible to give too much to people, it is impossible to love people too much, but I can certainly not do enough of all these things.
Matthew 5:42

*

“Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.”*

I know people think others don't deserve because they don't put the time into it, but the reality is some people don't have the time, money, ability or equipment that the Lord has blessed others with, so why not share all we can. Lets us remember who gave us all the fish we catch, all the time we have to enjoy them, because all good things come from the Lord. Just my thoughts, God Bless.

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Man you said a mouthful there!!


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It really depends on the season and structure.
In winter where I fish they are scattered near bottom. So I help other anglers every time.
But, When they spawn on my home lake I don’t tell until it’s over.
I like fishing the short line without any competition.


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I don't mind giving people info. I can't fish everywhere in one day. I won't give out the exact spot anymore been burnt by giving out a spot. The lakes I fish are small so there really isn't a secret spot any more. Anyone with a moderate knowledge of using electronics can find spots to catch fish. I'll give them the depth and method and let it go at that.

I will give out depth and color, but not any exact locations. Folks need to learn the water... If I was making whatever living I could as a guide I would probably be very cautious about too much info...

If I was a guide, nothing.
I am not a guide tho. Usually tell most of what i did to have success. I have found that many folks will not do what you tell them to do..they know better, and I was just 'lucky'. YMMV

It always amazes me when somebody asks where I caught them if I don't know them. Among your buddies you give out that information.
Depts and types of cover I'll share but specific spots come on find your own. Usually in crappie fishing all you have to do is look for a bunch of boats if you're going in blind.

Way to many people gig every frog in the pond now.

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I was hanging around a friends tackle shop when a fellow asked me where he could catch some crappie in the local lake. I told him I had caught a half dozen nice ones while fishing for walleye in 24' of water and almost exactly where on the lake. This was long before gps. I added to search around there as there must be a bunch hanging around the area. Heck I didn't care about crappie as I was targeting walleye. He scolded me for lying as he knew crappie never went that deep. He was in his mid 50''s and I was in my early 20's. Being of the generation where I was taught to respect my elders I bit my tongue and took the abuse. Some 40 odd years later I will share everything with family and friends. Now with strangers if asked properly I will give them a little teaser. But the strangers are not going to get the "full meal deal."

the people that know how don't need help .the ones that need help don't do what you tell them.

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It would be accurate to say that I have mixed emotions about sharing info. I have to rate each situation on its individual merits.

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Same here.
Is the angler shoreline only?
Does he use lures of the right type and size by just looking inside his tackle box?
Is he willing to share?
Does he look like a novice - no matter how old- that never understood all the factors related to fishing successes starting with the right tackle.

If someone offers to help me load my boat and I see he doesn't know the basics, I will give him some soft plastics rigged on jigs I know work anywhere. But whether he figures out depth and speed to retrieve that lure - even from shore - it's not likely it will get used anyway especially if it gets snagged and broke off.

Shore anglers are very limited especially when heavy shoreline brush and trees prevents casting from different shores, so what's the point revealing spots near those shorelines? Many don't even use their sonars much less GPS which is just another example of clueless anglers not benefiting from anything I can share regarding locations or those which can change daily if not weekly for many reasons.

But seriously, on a small water why would I share anything with anyone I know who is a good angler? For all I know (and this has happened all too often) that buddy takes another angler on another day and fishes the exact spots I shared and worse - the very next day! nonono NOT COOL! The only thing I share with fishing acquaintances are specific waters that are producing. It's up to them to find locations using the right lures, presentations etc.

I found myself giving info to a guide on KY Lake at Jonathan Creek this year. We had more than his group had. We both shared how we caught them. I've had several on here give me good info and I am also willing to share because others have shared with me but not on a public forum. I've also had others tell me not to share some of the info that's been shared and I will honor that.

Mostly the same answers as I expected !!! and with good reason.. I came back where I was raised in LA. and fished salt water about 35 Years.. when I came back there was a learning curve involved. but like already said you have to put in the effort to be successful .. I purchased a Humminbird 386 CI for my sonar and with my work schedule out of town it was out of warranty before I knew that it would not mark a location. The Lake I fish is over 11 miles long and learning it would take many Lifetimes.. Becoming a member of CDC I was able to meet several That have helped me so much.. I laughed when it was said go look where all the Boats are gathered and wish with them.. that wad of Boats will move up and down the channel for a mile every time they see a big fish get caught. I also have a friend who is a guide and he will fish the same area behind me -- fishing the same depths and plastics or hair jigs -- he is Culling fish that are not 12 inches and I am catching Barfish and Dinks

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Originally Posted by Seekbigger

Here's my thoughts, being a Pastor im sure I may look at things different than most and that I understand. I have found that it is impossible to be too good to people, it is impossible to give too much to people, it is impossible to love people too much, but I can certainly not do enough of all these things.
Matthew 5:42

*

“Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.”*

I know people think others don't deserve because they don't put the time into it, but the reality is some people don't have the time, money, ability or equipment that the Lord has blessed others with, so why not share all we can. Lets us remember who gave us all the fish we catch, all the time we have to enjoy them, because all good things come from the Lord. Just my thoughts, God Bless.

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This is best post on the thread! I appreciate people that don’t turn fishing or hunting into a selfish sport.

Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.




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I understand both sides of this coin well . I met some gents as a kid one time ketchn the fire out of crappie on a fishing barge and they did there best to ignore every question I had and even make sure to turn their backs to me so I couldn't even easily see what they were doing .
then there are others who will tell you way more than you want to know but in most cases are not ketchn fish anyway so its maybe not the best information available.
so fast forward to me now as a grown man ...somewhat anyway ...:Rofl
if you want to ketch fish and I know how and where and can help you reach your objective I am very likely to give up the entire enchilada including baits if you dont have them .
but I am not selling guide services and if I was it would be very different I am sure .
making a living at a trade requires one to not tell trade secrets in many cases .

No one ever asks me!:Rofl

When they ask me I tell Them;;;in "corner if mouth" or out there "in Water"

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Originally Posted by cva34

When they ask me I tell Them;;;in "corner if mouth" or out there "in Water"

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What I share is anything thats helpfull ...Knowledge...But not exact spots...(cause next time you go fishing there may be boats waiting in line at your Hot SPOT)...

I am a guide and i will tell what worked for me, the area i caught fish, depth and that is it. No disrespect I am on the lake 250 days a year and spend allot of time on the water with inserting structure and with all the new electronics it is hard to hide the structure.

I will share color,depth and terrain type and that's it.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Seekbigger

Here's my thoughts, being a Pastor im sure I may look at things different than most and that I understand. I have found that it is impossible to be too good to people, it is impossible to give too much to people, it is impossible to love people too much, but I can certainly not do enough of all these things.
Matthew 5:42

*

“Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.”*

I know people think others don't deserve because they don't put the time into it, but the reality is some people don't have the time, money, ability or equipment that the Lord has blessed others with, so why not share all we can. Lets us remember who gave us all the fish we catch, all the time we have to enjoy them, because all good things come from the Lord. Just my thoughts, God Bless.

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I just wish the Lord would tell me some of his hot spots, cause he's a better fisherman than I'll ever be. Lol

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real fishermen don't ask where. lol

if it a huge lake/res. I could see tossing some bones. a few hundred acres is another story. small lakes have been wiped out(keepers fished down) around here from internet talk. places for ice fishing access ruined and shut down from abuse and trash scattered all over. I have seen the ramp full, this year, on a small local lake that was featured in game n fish magazine as "bass heavin". used to see maybe 2 other boats during the week before.

consequences

as a guide your showing them where to dig your gold!

It depends on the situation as to what I'm willing to share. I was seeing an older retired gentleman, always fishing for crappie on a couple of the same lakes I like to fish. One day as I paddled my kayak under the bridge he was fishing (an over-fished community hole), he watched me boat a couple of fish I caught away from the bridge pulling cranks. He asked how many I'd caught and at the time, it was 4 times as many as he'd caught with minnows & jigs (48 to 12). I turned around above the bridge and caught another, bigger one, which I gave him as I passed. He wanted to know how I was out-fishing him so badly, so I told him to follow me back down the lake & watch. I boated 5 more and lost a couple on the way back to the ramp. He caught up to me again at the ramp and said he was impressed that a guy in a kayak was catching so many & wanted to learn the technique. I took about 15 minutes and explained what I was doing & not doing and that I was catching fish that nobody else was fishing for. I even gave him a couple of crankbaits to get him started. The next year, when I was at a different lake, I saw him going to the boathouse to pay to launch. I asked how it had been going & he said that he'd just been catching a few. He didn't recognize me with no hat on & wearing my glasses, away from my kayak, so I asked if he'd been catching much on the crankbaits I gave him. As soon as he realized it was me, he shook my hand & patted me on the back & broke out his phone to show pictures of the fish he'd been catching at another lake 60 miles from here. He'd caught a personal best (2lbs. 8oz.) and boated 82 crappie on his last trip out. His wife begs him to go fishing so he might bring home more & bigger fish than he used to. He told me that I completely changed the way he fished and his expectations for catching quality fish. Another guy waiting in line to pay to launch saw the pictures on his phone over his shoulder & the retired guy answered that those fish were from a lake over an hour from here & he hoped the fishing was as good here...but he didn't know if it would be. Then he winked one eye at me and made the motion of a key turning in his mouth, like he was locking his words in & the secret was safe with him. It made me feel good.

We caught up on the lake a few hours later & he was doing well on a different part of the lake that I never fish. I hope we get the chance to fish together soon, but I haven't seen him on the water this year.

Jim