Hotspotting, or how to start a fire without matches......

[midger]

Seems like many vocal firefights center around the choice of telling all or playing your cards close to the chest. Should you tell everyone where you caught those huge, beautiful fish? Give them specific fly information? Educate them on the "how to" for every facet needed to catch them? Publish the info in a national publication?

There are some interesting opinions on several forums now. I don't generally crosspost links to other forums but this is a very important and relvant topic that can, and will impact the fishing and trash you'll find on streams you either visit, or intent to visit.

One discussion is on the Rocky Mountain Forum of the FLyfisherman Magazine board. It's at:

http://forums.flyfisherman.com/forum/rocky-mountains/ethics-question-hot-spotting

Another group is discussing it at:

http://www.kernriverflyfishing.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1253078273

I'm sure there same thing is coming up on other forums I haven't checked in on as well, and magazines such as California Flyfisher hotspot monthly.

Does hotspotting--ie kissing and telling, or catching and divulging the specifics--matter?

My opinion: Most certainly. I've seen first hand what an article published in the Orange County register did to a local stream, albeit, for a short time. I also see what the monthly where and hows of CalFlyfisher do. I'm sure specific posts on the internet are also damaging when names are given.

My point is--especially for new practitioners of the sport--don't get upset when specific names of watersheds and other specifics are not given. Think about why the areas are protected. Get to know the folks that are on the forums, and wrangle an invite. They, We, Me aren't being secretive because we're trying to keep all the fish to ourselves. Rather, we're trying to keep fish for our children's children, and too much pressure can destroy a fishery.

Like the old World War II saying of "Loose Lips Sink Ships"--the same thing goes for fisheries and other pristine hiking areas. They can be loved to death.

This is an example of the type of report I really like:

http://www.westfly.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=579250#Post579250

Yes, it names a river, but it's a long, well known one. The story line is great, pictures are excellent, and the fish is a good one. Seeing reports with fish after fish, often being squeezed, lying in the rocks or dirt, etc, just doesn't do much for me.

How say ya"ll?

[Flyjunkie]

Good Observations there Mike.. and I agree 100% with you on all views...

I have not posted about Small, delicate Waters in sometime... and will not likely go back to posting about them anytime soon.... I do post about Carpin'(cause alot of flyfishers will never fish for them~~ Thank all of You ); out at the Channel islands (cause most of you aren't likely to all buy Boats and go hammer them); BackCountry lakes (cause most folks ain't going to throw a 40 Lb. Pack on their Back, hike in 13 miles, just to get some fish); and Baja.. (Cause Most folks ain't gonna spend the Money to go down there.. Besides the Folks who already do, I just don't see a sudden overload of Anglers high tailin' it South)..

But Except for Well Known waters, i do not post about those little gems I've found on my own thru pouring over Maps, reading Old Books and reports and then doing the necessary hiking to check them Out..(you know how many busts these adventures have Turned Up??? Plenty, but it's all fun..because that one water will reward me well enough and make up 100% and then some for the Dead end destinations...)

Soo Apologizes if My attitude offends some folks...get over it and start doing Your research and get out Find You own Little Jewel (even if you end up finding out later on that others know about it, You got the Real Amp of locating it all on Your Own...that's a Priceless sensation
That I wouldn't Trade for anything...)

[Sasha]

I thought this is why we make up names for places and are careful with the photos we post. For me I am careful with the photos unless I am posting it in the special area. As far as know systems I still won’t name them by name (although I am sure people know where they are). They are well known so I don't stress out about it too much. I probably will always post reports. Not because I want to show off but because I believe others enjoy them. I know when I can’t get out and fish I love reading reports and looking at the neat pics. This is not because I am trying to find a place to go fish (I can do that on my own) but because I enjoy fly fishing and the stories and pics about it. Honestly if forums had no reports I probably would not participate on them. Now if one chooses not to post reports I have no problem with that either as it is their choice. If they feel by not posting something it is helping out so be it.

I got into a discussion (via PM) about this topic yesterday with someone on another forum. He has a completely different outlook on this subject. Although I don’t necessarily agree with his position 100% it is his right to have it. The discussion started because he posted a report about a system that I am going to go fish this weekend. I had not fished it since May and he posted a report about it. I PM’ed him my last report from that system with pics and got on the subject of “hotspotting”. Here is his reply.

Sasha -

Enjoyed your report on the trip to "humpy" creek. Sounds like it must have been April when you were over there ?? Know much of the water you showed or described very well.

A couple years ago I had one day where I thought I caught a hundred fish there, followed a few days later by a day where I kept a hard count and stopped at 100 after five hours and forty five minutes of fishing. The first fifty came mostly on a soft hackle pheasant tail trailed off a dry fly, with the rest on the dry. The second fifty came on two Harrop's Henry's Fork Caddis - one lasted for about 35 fishies and the other one retired with a leaping rainbow on what is probably the most productive flat on the creek.

As far as fishing this coming weekend, either XXXXX Creek or the Forks of the XXXXXXXX, no can do. We are in the middle of a move to Missoula and my wife will be down this weekend to help with some packing, storing, visiting with her daughter, and giving away a bunch of stuff we don't want to store and move to some friends. Busy weekend, for sure.

If you like history, go back on the Fishing Reports Forum and look for four other continuing fishing reports threads by yours truly covering the past couple years. One ended around the end of June - titled " 'XX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX." The others ended around XX-XX-XX - "XXXXXXXXXXXXX" and "XXXXXXXXXXXX" and "XXXXXXXXXXXX."

As you can tell, I don't mind naming names. Hear what you said about your experience in California, but that is a whole different place. Naming waters that have miles and miles of water to fish is something different than "hotspotting." And these are all waters that any fly shop in town will tell you about for the asking.

Maybe on down the road we can get together somewhere between here and Boise. Think I would enjoy that.

[fflutterffly]

The naming of water specifics should not be a matter of choice ('you can not tell' police state) rather of conscience. We all know that California has a lot of people, a percentage of them fish, smaller percentage fly fish. As Dean points out, few will pay the price physically or financially to explore difficult areas or distant locations. I agree DON'T GIVE SPECIFICS. However, if the river is large I enjoy knowing where the water is located so I can 'hunt' for the spots that may hold the fish.

As for flies: I enjoy when a report mentions which flies where used. My entomology is still poor even after the years of reading and fishing. I like to tie and it gives me an opportunity to prepare for a trip. I see no harm in this kind of information.

Also, photo's: It's like a puzzle for me. I see a landmark and try to figure out the location. SO DOES EVERYONE ELSE! Keep photo's cropped tight!
My two cents don't spend it in one place.

[Flyjunkie]

I've noticed that the One's who tell everyone (via postings) are the first and Loudest to complain when their Little Baby gets Overrun with Anglers....

* did they expect???????

[NorcalBob]

YAWN!!!!! Here we go again!!!!!
Youse guys really need to get out fishing more often. Here's how I feel about this all too frequent topic

[COCarp]

So should I expect to see a bunch of people this weekend due to my Truck thread?

When I was first getting into fly fishing and message boards. I posted up a report about local front range (CO) creek and got both negative feed backs y'all refer to.

First,my newly favorite creek was newly flooded with people. So I removed all the details and only posted pictures and flies.
Second, I got reamed for even posting up. Some did say. "who doesn't know about this creek" Pretty much from there on you I would basically post up photo's and flies used but that was it. Unless it was a popular place. Like my report to follow after this weekend!

I hate doing it myself but PM's are the only way to cure this disease.

[briansII]

YAWN!!!!! Here we go again!!!!!
Youse guys really need to get out fishing more often. Here's how I feel about this all too frequent topic

I never noticed that there are flies buzzing that dead horse.

Yes, it's an old forum topic, but one that repeats itself all the time. Some forums I read, it can come up weekly. Others every once and a while. My take is, if it's a big enough issue for some to hash out on a public forum of your peers, so be it. Let's talk. I happen to like reading them, because I can get a feel for what the current opinions are on certain forums.....plus, I just like drama and discourse. I also like seeing this subject, because I feel it's can be a good way for newbies to learn. Lately, i've seen that happen at the Kern Forum quite often.

I personally don't like reports that name a river, or gives too much specific info. I recently read a report that used a code name, but it was so easy to decipher(IMHO), the fake name was pretty useless. A few weeks back I read a thread about reports for harder to get to places. Some said those areas were safe. Others chimed into to say they have actually seen undesirables/poachers in very hard to get to places. I found myself nodding my head, and saying me too. I don't think it's common, but I also don't feel we should be so loose with info(big fish, or 25-50+ fish days) about hard to get to places. Again, IMHO, someone is probably going to make the effort to get there. If it's as good as the report says, they'll be back....with others. To add, i'm talking more about local hike in places, not places you need to spend money, have a boat, or fly/drive long distances to.

briansII

[briansII]

So should I expect to see a bunch of people this weekend due to my Truck thread?

Depending on what you're used to, you'll see plenty of people on that river. I don't think it has to do with your post. It's just popular. You might see a few more, because some forum reports have been saying it's good.

briansII

[COCarp]

So should I expect to see a bunch of people this weekend due to my Truck thread?

Depending on what you're used to, you'll see plenty of people on that river. I don't think it has to do with your post. It's just popular. You might see a few more, because some forum reports have been saying it's good.
briansII

I would rather not combat fish but I've been there before. Like everyone else, I would love to have a river all to myself. I hope this isn't going to be...Find a solid hole and hang out there all day...That get's old to me

[briansII]

So should I expect to see a bunch of people this weekend due to my Truck thread?

Depending on what you're used to, you'll see plenty of people on that river. I don't think it has to do with your post. It's just popular. You might see a few more, because some forum reports have been saying it's good.
briansII

I would rather not combat fish but I've been there before. Like everyone else, I would love to have a river all to myself. I hope this isn't going to be...Find a solid hole and hang out there all day...That get's old to me

This is a river that has always(as long as I can remember anyway) had it's share of fisherpeople. I can't tell you how much more crowded it's gotten, but it has. I don't think internet reports started it(Al Gore hadn't invented the internet yet), but i'm sure to some degree, it's added to the pressure. Having said that, I think you'll be able to find open water to fish. Last time I fished it in late Sept, the river wasn't so crowded I couldn't find sections to comfortably fish. I actually found some long sections I had to myself. It's not THAT bad. You might have to do a bit of driving and looking though.

briansII

[COCarp]

Sounds good to me!!!

[Sasha]

So should I worry about posting a report when I go to Henry's Fork and Lake this weekend


Opps I let the cat out of the bag........Never mind nothing to see here move along.............

[dna]

Hotspotting sucks and most of us here know what it entails... It sure sucks when you can't fish your fav anymore becuase you show up and there are people all over the joint. Even worse is when you hike in and it happens. Like when I hiked into a certain area and there were baitchuckers with stringers and all that stuff.

I never understood why people get upset when we use code or don't divulge. To me, that is part of fishing!

[midger]

YAWN!!!!! Here we go again!!!!!
Youse guys really need to get out fishing more often. Here's how I feel about this all too frequent topic

Yeah, I agree with Bob. Shoot them and then beat them with a big stick.

Actually, I do get out quite often--at least my fair share. The point is to make folks aware that the internet is open to anyone who wants to type in the key words and who wants to do the search. ALL lurkers don't have the best interests in mind.

How much dirtier/more littered do you think the Kern cooridor would be if someone suddenly announced that a large load of brood stock trout had just been dumped in the river near town? I know the fish aren't littering, and I also know that a lot of those folks wouldn't have been there without the "announcement".

I realize it's a free world and folks will do as they please, but just be aware of the ramifications.

Oh, and Sasha, yes those are well known spots, so by all means post a good report from the outing on Westfly. They love that type of report-(actually it seems to have mellowed some the past couple of years)-