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

[Fishhawk]

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.

And yer spellig is a tousand times bedder!

[Fishhawk]

Soon, all will comply and realize where their hat rests...

[Markus]

Are you making fun of me or talking newfie?

[wolfe]

I am, at least for now, strictly monogamous...!...meaning I am loyal to Fish-Hawk.Net! Seriously speaking, it's more of a time thing. I'm happy to devote the time I have to browsing and participating here. This site has always been informative, friendly and interesting enough to keep me satisfied. I feel most people here are more than willing to share info and tips to help others find some good fish. I think that's a good thing, though I would understand some added discretion used with muskies or a highly pressured body of water.

W.

[Fishhawk]

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.

I only have regrets for showing a certain shrinking man a couple of my spots on Mississippi Lake.



Seriously - it makes me happy that he showed other people who enjoyed catches.

You raise interesting questions WIG. Everything I have read so far in response has merit.

Is there anyone out there who thinks we should have to work harder in order to learn to fish? That there is something wrong with sharing angling info right here?

There are some people who have learned what they know by putting in years of fishing 4 times a week. They have learned from magazines probably, and other anglers. But they have worked real hard... no doubt. I can understand their jealousy when one of us gets lucky. I am jealous of them!

Here's an observation. We have had fishing shows on TV for years. Is it only now, since the internet, that we need to be concerned over the affects on our resources by the sharing of angling information? Does that say something about the effectiveness of Message Board info sharing? In comparison to the other mediums?

Are more people encouraged to fish more and catching more fish because the info they get here is more timely and relevant and effective?

Are more non-residents to the region coming to this region as a result of Hawk Talk?

The implications for a YES or NO response to these questions are personally staggering. Pretty deep huh?

Personally, I think people are nuts for giving up their honeyholes on an Internet message board for the world to see. I dont have the time to type out the details that are required to point out what my idea of a honehole is. You're not likely to find the exact rock in the grass along that stretch of weeds in Code Bay anyway. While trying to find it you could end up finding a better rock in the grass. Would I be upset then.

Would somebody be giving up too much info when they advise someone to go to the Rideau River with some black worms and find a weed edge or a dock? That's the kind of info I see most around here. And lots of people will, for the first time, Texas rig a black worm and catch three or four bass in water they normally would never have had access to. Cool isn't it?

By the way Wolfe, I too am strictly monogamous.

Is there such a thing as sort of monagamous? Hmmmm! Too many questions. Gotta hit the hay.

Thanks everyone who chooses to particpate on Hawk Talk for making it such an informative, entertaining and thought-provoking place.

[Canadian Bacon]

I only have regrets for showing a certain shrinking man a couple of my spots on Mississippi Lake.

Took me a few moments to realize youwere talking about me...

But, I do try and keep those spots secret....only people that I fish with often have been shown (that is 2 people you know well) and that is because, well we went fishing...on that lake..where else would I go..LOL

[Joisey Joe]

Interesting, sharing fishing techs and lure presentations is one thing, sharing spots is quite another! I don't even tell my brother my favs on Gan Lake! I do have to say that since I've become a NJ institution here on the" best damn fishing site in the world", I've noticed a bump in fish numbers and size! Most of all I've noticed a jump in my step and lotsa newfound buds to dish with. Of course there is a downside, the Gan Lake Gang is gettin tired of being outfished by BigJoe!

[bear2]

Wig
You know that I am for sharing info .Someone has shared info to all of us at one time or another.I will always share if asked.I can see guys wanting to keep a "honeyhole" or a small body or pond secret.But the BOQ?I think that there are other "things" that take more fish out of the BOQ.Sharing is a good thing.
Bear (2)

[Wall-I-Guy]

Hey Bear2, welcome aboard!

Glad to see you checked us out and decided to join up. I guarantee you, this is a much different crowd than that other place

[bear2]

Wig ,
I can see that already.I have been reading the posts.Seems like a great group,Thanks for the headsup.
Bear

[RJ]

Welcome aboard Bear.....

I couldn't stomach to read much more of that thread over there....

RJ

[bear2]

Thanks RJ
This forum seems to be a little more relaxed.
But it might be the biggest one ever.all he had to say was he didn`t mean "freeloaders"
Bear

[Fishhawk]

Note to self, Bear2 is from Central New York.

And Welome Bear2. Quite a topic you choose to make your entrance. It is a great bunch here for sure, but if they all go to the other boards too then they must be good boards too.

I don';t know what another Board looks like to be honest

I've been waiting for more discussion on this particular thread. It's a good one.

I'd actually be interested to learn what some people would consider as too much info? And to learn of examples of it on this Board.

I see more people fishing these days than I did a few years ago. If there are more people fishing, should we be surprised to see people fishing on our point or dock or mat or rock or grass?

It's depressing as all heck quite frankly.

But I get over it quick enough when I find the next great spot a few minutes later.

People have been finding intruders on their honeyholes since two people figured out how to fish a trillion years ago.

[Moosebunk]

6 New species this year.
Biggest pike and largemouth to date.
Most fish ever caught in a season.
Great bunch of folks to learn from and talk to.

It's appreciative how people here are sharing. I thought of Basss when I started reading about this because I remember him asking me about a spot and I refused to tell him where it was, unless I was taking him there myself. Some people in the past have posted about areas I like to fish and in all honesty it somewhat worries me that the information is going so public. Great bunch of folks here yes, but I don't know who's lurking and how many might be sitting on my favorite spots the next time I go to fish them. Not forgetting that I'm a float tuber most of the time when I'm down south, and am fishing smaller lakes that would respond worse to increased pressure. And not forgetting that my peace, quiet and enjoyment may be interrupted by the sounds and wakes of your outboards.

Keeping this in mind I'd hope to share all else. And if I was continuously fishing larger bodies of water by the same means as most others, where fish will migrate greater distances, where eco-fragility isn't as much a pressing issue I would share and hope to learn from sharing others.

Bear2 summed it up well when comparing BOQ to one's pond or honeyhole.

And, it's not as if most information is relayed with GPS co-ordinates and other minute details.

It's totally understandable either way. If people want to share and do, or, if people hold back, it's neither good or bad. If one is selective, it's choice, and all good.

Again, great bunch here and great post WIG. Get's us thinking.

[skooter]

Information? How much is too much?

I'm thinkin it all depends on the context. Everyone has to remember that this is an open forum. Anyone, and their dog could be reading this right now. That being said, I'll give an example.

I'm fishing somewhere, someone comes by in a boat and stops to say hi....,the usual "any luck"
I may have had a particularly good day, so I show him what I caught. Of course the coversation will shift to, what did you catch them on, or where did you catch them....or both. If he's caught a few himself, then usually everything is freely exchanged...place, bait,...time...whatever. Even if he hasn't caught anything, I know he's been out looking and will probably tell him the details. (it's one on one, in the same boat kinda thing).

However, when I pull my boat out of the water and leave, I am not going to leave a note on the bulletin board there, telling anyone, where, how, or even if I caught any fish....If I had an instamatic camera, I might post a picture of the fish.(probably not).
Do you kinda see where I'm coming from here?

This....and most other message boards, are like the bulletin board at the boat ramp. Once you leave, you have no idea who has read what you left behind.

The "gang" here is kinda like meeting that fisherman who stops to talk with you....you don't mind talking about the details ....therein lies the dilemma.

We have a bunch.....a whole bunch of people, that although most of us haven't seen each other, there's a camaraderie here, like we're all out in one big boat,... fishin muskie off the bow,... walleye off the stern,... bass midships, and anything else someone wants to reel in. The problem is.... "keeping the conversation in the boat"

The solution?
I have one, the PM plays a role in it. That's Fish hawk's most powerful weapon against lurkers. But I'd like to hear some more input before I reveal it. (I feel at home here now, but I'm still a rookie )