Hmmm...... What do you think?

[Wall-I-Guy]

Ok here's the issue. I participate in another board as a lot of you know. A recent discussion has broken out as to how much information should be included in any posts pertaining to fishing success in this particular area. As well as lures and techniques used.

I am of the opinion that what makes a board successful is the communities willingness to share information. We see it here all the time, wether it's Muskie related, Wallie or Perch etc. There are a great number of people who believe offering too much information to people is more harmful than good.

They believe the people should have to work at it a little harder themselves. Perhaps by going out with a charter, learning tips that way, then going out and buying your own equipment and putting the time in to "earn" your stripes, so to speak.

While I can say there is some merit to that logic, is it not the fact we openly and freely provide information to one another that makes this work? I know we all don't do this, there are, for example, the Muskie guys who have their holes and that's great, but they still offer up plenty of great information without giving away everything. It's kind of a give and take thing.

Another great benefit I see is that a lot more people have become much more aware on the C&R front. This is extremely evident on the Muskie front. Yes we have those that want to keep a trophy, that's not the issue here which is a personal choice but, I'll bet a lot more people who are now more aware will opt for a good photo of that trophy as opposed to a mount.

Do you think coming forth with such information is putting our fishery at risk by bringing more people to the Ottawa area for instance and thus, more pressure on the local fishery.

Just curious what people think. This is NOT intended to start a heated debate over catch and release.

[Muskiemagnet]

I say share as much as possible, what goes around comes around. Some lakes are very sensitive to too much angling pressure and for certain situations keeping info to yourself could be wise. I have a few Brook trout lakes that we clean up on in the winter, but I'd never post the location on this web site. I promote Charleston Lake for the Lakers but I'd never give the exact location of my personal honey hole. Bodies of water like Quinte or the Ottawa River can handle lots of pressure so techniques and locations are not that bad to give out. The sharing on Fish-hawk is what really makes this place special, a real family.

The locals from "the other board" have been crying foul for years about people coming from all over to catch thier fish. Its funny with all the fish there you have to go to Toronto to get the tackle you need to fish the Bay. Go figure. When I was a kid you could'nt drive 10 minutes without passing a bait shop or tackle shop in the area.

[Weeder]

Really, there are other boards....

Let them do their thing. Soon, all will comply and realize where their hat rests...

[RJ]

I also read that on the other board....and I immediately thought..."this is why I like FH.Net".....no other boards compare....

Does it have an impact on the fisheries?...doubtful....after learning alot about Lake Trout and Quinte Walleyes I've kept one fish....so the premise he was talking about the "meat hunters" killing his fishery is moot...

That fellow should talk to Eye-Tracker or anyone else who really knows the Quinte area....When MT and I joined ET for the day we talked about the possibility of MT having a fish mounted if he caught a nice one...we were both wondering how ET would react to that....he just laughed...He said us taking one fish for the day is absolutely harmless....just take a drive by one of those nets from the commercial fisherman....

The sharing of information and taking people out in your boats for the day is what makes this place special....through this process I've made friends for life...

Of course we all have our spots that aren't for public consumption....If someone PM'd me about a spot or two I'd give it to them....and I have done this in the past.....and will continue to do so!

The one thing that puzzled me about this guys comments were that it was his hard work and time and that put him on fish.....so he invented planer boards and Mann's +20's?...

RJ

[skooter]

They believe the people should have to work at it a little harder themselves. Perhaps by going out with a charter, learning tips that way, then going out and buying your own equipment and putting the time in to "earn" your stripes, so to speak.

I browse a few other boards too and have run into the same debate there.
I think some people take it to extremes both ways.
I've seen instances where somebody asks what's biting, they'll usually get an answer. Then they ask what they're biting on & probably get an answer. Then they ask where they're biting. Followed by, how do I get there.
Some info is good, but some people want you paint an X on the side of their boat that say's "fish here".(and some people would try it) I think that's way too much stuff to give out. I think you should do a little work on your own.
The other extreme are the one's who'll flame anybody that even posts what province they caught their fish in!!!

Do you think coming forth with such information is putting our fishery at risk by bringing more people to the Ottawa area for instance and thus, more pressure on the local fishery.

I'm hoping to get up there next year at some point, for some fishing. It would be nice to hook up with a local HT'er to go out with, but with a little help, I'm willing to do the leg work looking for them.


By the way, ...could someone put an X on the side of my boat when I come, so I know where the fish are?

[big-o]

WIG


I was going to answer that question on the other board, but you said it all ....good responce....the same thing happened last year, I have no problems sharing, but maybe we could be a little more general, Look at the Rideau for late fall muskies, last year there were about 3 or 4 boats, now , well you get my Drift......but all the big fish or at least 95% are going back into the water, if they are so worried about the amounts of fish in Quinte.....they should realy look at the ice fishing, more big fish are laying on the ice in the winter than what are in Livewells in the late fall!!!!!!

[Sportspal]

Personally, I share as much as possible.
I've pm'ed a few people around the Ottawa area who have had some bad luck and told them about my favorite holes to fish at, exact locations, directions to get there, species that can be caught, and what bait and/or lures work best there.

If I have already had the pleasure and fun of a great day in one spot, then why not share it with others so that they have have the same experience?

Fellow anglers are like brothers are they not? Would you not like to see everyone happy?

Just my 2 cents worth....

[slushpuppy]

I agree that giving exact locations causes a lot of lurkers to swarm that location. But I don't see how giving technique and bait information would harm anything. We all know that what works one day may not work the next. I have learned a lot on this board. If it changed into a "secret society", what would there be left to talk about? People boasting about a fish without giving any other information is boring. I guess there'd still be hawkey..... wait, never mind, strike's still on, isn't it.

[Markus]

I moved to Ontario in sept of 2001 from NS.

Before arriving here, my freshwater fishing comprised of small brook trout, the odd smallmouth bass, creek fishing suckers and an occasional chain pickeral fish.

I fumbled through the 2002 season in ontario catching the odd trout in the creeks and a couple of bass on trips out on Lake Erie with my new employer.

The spring of 2003, I bought a boat and decided to make fishing my full time hobby. I caught a couple monster brown trout while breaking in my new motor and I fell in love with Ontario fishing. This season was made up of me running around blindly trying to figure things out and I did manage to catch a lot of new fish and some nice ones too. That fall I decided to try and catch a salmon so I went to the web for information and found fish-hawk.net.

Since then, I've found a endless supply of information and a group of great friends. I put together an awesome season for 2004 and I make no mistake in knowing where that inforamtion came from.

I like to share what I've learned in the past couple of years so I can say thank you to those and this site for openly helping me. I'm still learning everyday and having a blast doing so!

[Kingmann]

I was personally quite impressed with Bobber last week that when asked, he pinpointed the exact spot he caught his beauty musky. That fish will not likely be in the SAME spot. The next guy may not twitch his lure the same way provoking the strike. Just because the spots are given doesn't mean you will catch fish. Even if everyone tells you everything you need to know, you still need to learn how to do it. I say let the information flow!

JasonM

[Tomcat]

WIG:

I appreciated reading your response on the other board. I personally am more than willing to share any technique and lure information that I may have to help others enjoy our wonderful sport of fishing. I regularly recommend (to those who ask) lakes and/or outfitters to frequent. I have perused some boards where fishermen actually share GPS positions for schools of fish or for structure (e.g. in the great lakes).

The discussion you referenced on the other board is even more interesting to me because of the following facts. Just a few years ago, the MNR threatened to shut down the BOQ for 3 years because their data pointed to dangerously low walleye populations. We all know that didn’t happen. However, the BOQ outfitters, charter businesses, motels/hotels and others in the industry lobbied the Ontario government to dedicate special funds to advertise the BOQ because the threatened moratorium on walleye fishing in the BOQ had negatively impacted their businesses (i.e. cancellations). Fast forward to this recent discussion on the other board, and some of them are now complaining that the internet is making too many folks aware of the BOQ. These guys “want their cake and to eat it too”

If ramp traffic is ridiculously busy, then perhaps local municipalities should put some $ in, rather than just taking $ out, and build some new ramp facilities. One charter boat guy complained that his catch rate had decreased by two thirds compared to last year because too many recreational fishermen were catching walleyes (because too much information was freely posted). Over 70 % of the MNR annual budget for Fish and Wildlife Management in Ontario is derived from revenue from the Outdoors Cards (from recreational fishers/hunters). BOQ outfitters, charter businesses, motels/hotels and others in the industry literally put in 0 $.

[BASSSTALKER]

Can someone PM me with that board? I would like to read the discussion.

Cheers,

BASSSTALKER

[BASSSTALKER]

Thanks guys I will check it out!

[Viper]

Way to go Kingman --- That sums up the whole discussion -- That lure and honey hole that was so much fun in the morning may not produce for days or even weeks.

The sharing freely of information, experiences and friendship is what makes this board so great. Let the debate continue

[nighttroller]

Probassing and I got scathed on that same board a few years ago when we posted our results and gave a little too much detail on location and techniques for some peoples taste. At the time, I thought we gave up too much information because nobody else helped us like that. That brings us to FH! I have to say that I have learned a lot on this board and I have tried to share information in return. If you want help on lakes and rivers you are not familiar with or are having trouble on then you need to share information on the areas you are good on. It makes for a lot more fun for everyone and you get to meet some great people along the way!