Information that is too good to share

[RichardCullip]

I'm pretty darn open about where and when I fish but, then I typically don't go to secret places. I do have a place or two that I'll only mention by code name but they are far and few between.

[WanderingBlues]

Most of my best spots have either been shown to me or have been "discovered" with a buddy or two present because I am not comfortable going solo into those locales.

As to flies, techniques, etc, I'd rather do everything to put someone else on fish, even over my own opportunities. I've been blessed with good people helping me and I enjoy paying it forward.

[Sasha]

Well, there are places that I fish that I don't name. Doubt they are "secret" as there really isn't any "secret" waters. However, I don't believe in advertising. For example the place I fish in the summer for "my" awesome colored westslope cutts isn't necessarily secret. What is though is hardly fished. I say this because I have seen plenty of fishermen on this river. Just not in the sections that my buddy and I discovered. I assume that it is because that most people don't want to go back into where we go... You know because it is easier to go the other way and have road side fishing... Then again the population of my entire state of residence is less than the population of L.A.

[charlie]

I most definitely have places I don't share ,unless they are friends I know will end the info chain with them. Some were revealed to me, others I found by searching on foot. Ants, a few of the spots I took you to in NY fall in that category. Of course, you saw them at their worst in the dead of August. Fish caught, but not like it is right now.... Several of my spots have become well populated by someone who I took to a place or gave directions to, putting it on a forum. I knew Ants, with residencies no closer than 2500 miles was no threat to their exposure. I don't mind sharing, but it has consequences. I use to search for large browns, which tend to find a preferred lie and call it home, on my home river, the Battenkill. Sometimes it would take a season before I could even get a hook in one. Even when I guided, I avoided those very specific places like the plague! If I have to do a lot of homework and wear out my wading boots to find a place- likely I ain't tellin'



Charlie

[midger]

. Then again the population of my entire state of residence is less than the population of L.A.

Yeah, probably 4-5 times less.

Population, 2012 estimate 9,962,789 LA County--doesn't include Orange County, riverside, San Bernardino, etc that feed our local streams with "fishers"

IDAHO, 2012 estimate 1,595,728

Lots of "friends" in California. Are they all trustworthy with your secrets?

[Sasha]

. Then again the population of my entire state of residence is less than the population of L.A.

Yeah, probably 4-5 times less.

Population, 2012 estimate 9,962,789 LA County--doesn't include Orange County, riverside, San Bernardino, etc that feed our local streams with "fishers"

IDAHO, 2012 estimate 1,595,728

Lots of "friends" in California. Are they all trustworthy with your secrets?

I don't tell any of the CA guys crap. Well except for Creek but then again he will never make it up here

[clee]

I used to keep all my local trout spots "secret" and never told a soul. Now I've changed somewhat as I realize my secret spots aren't too secret. But I do limit it to people I trust and are known fly fishers that practice C&R. So the likelihood is when I return I'll be seeing those fish again.

Now my prime bird hunting spots, those you'd have to torture me to get those out of me. Decimate a covey and it will be years before it comes back.

[flyster]

I'm a big mouth, I share too much

[teejay]

I just finished reading Gierach’s “Flyfishing the High Country” in which he devotes several pages on the topic. In summary he says, “you will want to let your friends in on the good places you know of, but try doing it this way: don’t tell them about a lake or stream, take them there. Once they’ve seen it, fished it, and learned how good it is, they’ll start thinking of it as their secret spot, not just someplace they heard was good. For the benefit of strangers, friends of friends, and people met in bars, all you caught was a ‘bunch of little brookies’, and if you must brag about your fish, disguise your location.”

[Jason]

For me it's all about location, location, location. I'll willingly share anything except location. When I write a trip report, even for places that are well known, why bother to name it? If someone on this forum is truly interested AND I feel that I 'know' them and understand their ethics, I'll tell them via PM. For a truly secret spot I'll take a good friend, but wouldn't tell them.

Of course if I discovered or tied a truly 'magic' fly or figured out how to catch huge trout on every cast I would never tell anyone, just for the fear of the impact that it could have.

Good friends have friends who have friends who have friends who have friends who have friends who have friends who have friends who have friends...

Isn't this sort of how STDs are spread too? The person you just 'spent time' with has only been with one other person, and that person had only been with one person....... but somewhere down the line is someone that's not telling the truth and you've just been exposed to who knows what!

I don't have any STDs by the way. Honest. Not that this forum is that friendly, but you know what i mean!

[briansII]

For the longest time, I had the opinion that loose lips sink ships. I just could not understand how anyone would go on a open forum, and post information about fishing/hunting spots. I found the code names to be humorous, but not always good at hiding the identities of the watershed from the masses. I just didn't understand the need to give out specific information, when at any given time, thousands of eyes could be reading it.

Well, I'm a changed man. I have seen the light. Sharing with my fellow humans is the enlightened path. Whether it be in person, or to a worldwide audience, it's the right thing to do. Let's start with the Eastern Sierra, shall we. A seemingly endless supply of trout, where fish will practically leap out of the water to take your offerings. And the best part, no one fishes there.......well, for now anyway. I'm not good at giving directions, but this should get you there.

118°15'24"W, 37°5'44"N

you're welcome.

briansII

[tomsakai]

Well, I'm a changed man. I have seen the light. Sharing with my fellow humans is the enlightened path.
118°15'24"W, 37°5'44"N
you're welcome. briansII

I will have to share that spot with all the bait guys I know.

[teejay]

Well, I'm a changed man. I have seen the light. Sharing with my fellow humans is the enlightened path.
118°15'24"W, 37°5'44"N
you're welcome. briansII

I will have to share that spot with all the bait guys I know.

All that I ever caught there was a "bunch of little brookies"

Wait a minute. Isn't that the coordinates for Mono Lake?

[lucfish]

You're too funny Brian.

[Papasequoia]

Let's start with the Eastern Sierra, shall we. A seemingly endless supply of trout, where fish will practically leap out of the water to take your offerings. And the best part, no one fishes there.......well, for now anyway. I'm not good at giving directions, but this should get you there.

118°15'24"W, 37°5'44"N

you're welcome.

briansII

You better be careful with the hotspotting or someone is going to retaliate and tell people that there are stripers in the Delta. Oops.