Why the big secret?

[el_caboing]

So this is the first year that I've owned a boat. I've always shore fished all my life and when anyone would ask me, where do you go I tell them with no hesitation. So one of the main reasons I got my boat was to be able to take my boys out on the water and get them into different fish. Sure it's fine to catch a bunch of sunfish and rock bass and small perch, and sure we got our fair share of larger walleye offshore, but wouldn't it be great to introduce them to different ways of fishing, like trolling for walleye or flipping for bass. I have a buddy that has showed me lots of spots to flip which is great. Now I have a few other friends that I have asked to tell me where I can go trolling for walleye cause I love to eat walleye. You would think that it's the biggest secret in the entire world. It's like I would quit my job, fish 24/7 and leave absolutely no fish for them. I really don't get why people get so secretive about spots on the river. Fine I can understand that they might have searched years for them and found them, but really, are we not all in this for the fun? What more fun can you have then see your kids with a huge smile on their faces when they catch a different fish. I was out with my youngest (age 7) on Sunday and you should have seen his face light up when he caught his first ever catfish. It was like he won the lottery. Can you imagine what his face would look like when he catches his first walleye? So all of you veterans out there, why the big secret to those spots?

On another note, what would you give as advice to a novice boat fisherman about trying to find structure for walleye? Any help would be much appreciated. Sorry for the venting but I really don't get it. Thanks in advance.

[nathan.barnard]

To be honest, I would absolutely side with the secretive people about not revealing spots.

Think of it this way. Many people have limited time on the water and with obligations of family and work, finding a sweet spot can take considerable effort. They want their experience to stay consistent and sharing a productive strip (especially if you are keeping fish) can damage the spot over time. You have a right to keep your catch, but it is not something I practice.

You will probably have better luck asking them what they use rather than where they use it (lures, colours, techniques etc). Put in the time, effort and in the future you may think twice when someone asks for you to give up your honey hole.

[el_caboing]

I can understand "honey hole" and no wanting to let people know about it. I can understand that fear of if I tell him, then who is he going to tell and who are they going to tell and so on and so on. I get that I guess. I understand that time is strict as I do not have lots of time on my hands to go fishing either and that when I would want to go I don't want to have several boats fishing in "my spot". I don't mind trying different colors or different offerings. I'm like any guy, I have lots of diff colors and lures that I have never used but bought cause they looked good. How many times have you said, if I was a fish I would be all over that. Well not really isn't the case. I love to keep walleye, my favorite fish to eat. I can understand I guess both sides of the argument, but still, is it hard to say, go to this island or this spot, find 32 ft of water and drift from eat to west. That's it. I can test and see what color, what speed and stuff, just point me in the general direction.

Maybe cause I'm new to this boat thing, I don't really understand the big secrets.

[colossalboom]

I personally have no problem with sharing spots and detailed info on tips to catch them. I think it's important that we promote the sport of fishing, especially to our youth, and part of the fun of the whole sport is sharing techniques and success with other people who enjoy fishing. I get a thrill when someone goes to a spot I recommended, uses techniques I suggested, and nails 'em. I get an even bigger thrill taking someone out myself and they reel them in.

[FlyMaker]

I would suggest doing alot of reading on the behaviour of the species you are trying to catch. Then apply what you learnt on your home waters.


I went out yesterday to a tributary of a tributary of a tributary, yes that's high up near the source, this creek was tiny! You can jump over it pretty much every where.... Anyways I digress, I went to a creek that I have never fished before, and luck out and caught 15 nice sized CT trout.....well I shouldn't say I "lucked out", I applied knowledge that I have gained from either; reading, listening, making mistakes, looking....


Again I can't stress enough about gaining knowledge through the power of books and online articles and applying what you learnt on the water.


If I were hitting a new water for walleye, I'd be jigging drop offs and weed lines....trolling, I would troll crankbaits and bottom bouncers at various depths until you get fish. Then remember what you did and try to replicate it. Anyways you wont get much more then "try th river". I would also try the search function on this forum, "trolling for walleye".


Good luck on your quest!

[StarTzar]

I don't get the secret thing either. I don't fish for walleye but if I did, I would not hesitate in giving you the information.
I fish for Bass and I have a hard time with them.

Anyway, I'm with the FlyMaker on this one. Do the research and learn about the behavior of the fish you are looking for.
I googled "trolling for Walleye" and got all kinds of information.
I found this to be very informative: http://www.outdoorlife.com/node/45499
Tip number 3 is absolutely true. I have caught my fair share of walleye while fishing for bass.

Something else you could do is contact Big Jim. He's all for helping out especially when the kids are involved.
He will surely give you some info or leads that you could search out.
He can be contacted through his web site http://www.justfishing.ca/

[lape0019]

I understand people being hesitant with good walleye spots. I find Half of the fun of fishing is finding those spots but I don't have problems showing my close friends these spots either or giving general information.

Now, if I was tournament fishing on a weekly basis, I would probably h e a different approach to this. I tried my first tournament this year and unless I knew the people asking were not fishing it, they were not getting too much.

All I can say is if someone gives you info in where to fish, you should feel lucky as those people are dew and far between.

[scarkner]

I have found that people, in particular on Fish-Hawk, are willing to share their sites and I really really really appreciate that. But the sharing is almost always done in a private message. Why? Because this is a community of sharing. I don't expect anyone to share honey-hole information with me, unless I am also sharing some of my knowledge and hard work with them.

I am not saying you are not sharing... it is really an "internet problem" that takes any public responses and puts them out there for the whole world to see. Now you have people who are not members gathering information and using it without any intention of giving back. I think that is really a fundemental problem because that honey-hole suddenly does become busy, by a lot of guys that are just there for the harvest.

I wouldn't be surprised if you haven't already received a PM or two giving you some good ideas of places to try.

Sadly, I am not a walleye fisherman (yet), still waiting to catch my first one. I will be trying with a Kayak this fall at Shirley's Bay in Ottawa.

If I did know the places to go, I probably wouldn't post them, but I would absolutely PM them.

[beachburger]

If you want to turn a good spot into a lousy spot, just tell someone. It's not much more complicated than that.

[rex.stpierre]

I also have to side with your friends keeping quiet. Here is a hint, bring them out with you flipping for bass, get them on a 5lb greenback....then watch how they open up.

First reason to stay discrete, I live in hull, my girlfriend is afraid of doing the laundry because of the questionable characters she crosses when se walks out of the house. I fish in a kayak, when i'm out fishing, I don't like competing with giant boats, I like being alone or with close friends...I don't go fishing to be around people.

Second reason to stay discrete, the ice was still dangerous and people were ice fishing by the hull marina. The ice was dangerous and everyday there was at least two guys there with ten lines out. In the last weeks of December, there were small walleye heads everywhere. In January, no more fisherman and no more walleye heads, the hole was empty....As big as the Ottawa River is, its not big enough to give us all you can eat walleye...

Third reason, I've got a few spots shore fishing on the river. I've been up and down the shoreline from the hull marina to Gatineau river and I can tell you every spot with a slow drop to ten feet...that shoreline is shallow. I invite a buddy to come and fish at one of my spots which has proven itself. I invite him, tell him exactly what to do to catch channel cats. He catches two. This was a weeks ago, he's been back twice with his and he's mentioned a few times how much better he is than I am at catching fish...Ok buddy, if it wasn't for me telling you exactly what to do, you would have never caught a thing...and notice how I don't want to catch channel cats and I'm not bottom fishing, maybe that's why I'm hooking sauger and smallies... Lesson here, watch what you say and who to say it to....I had the perfect relaxing spot with no visits...now two guys know my spot...I can tell you I will never tell them about the other holes...

Now I vented...and by the way, maybe you should stick to channel cats, I'd bring kids fishing for those over walleye, they are easy to catch and fight like hell!! Kids like action, my old man got me hooked on fishing with brook trout in beaver ponds...what a joy!

[zippyfx]

I have no problem sharing with people who have developed a reputation on-line. Sharing in private with those who have a reputation is safe as some of the spots are pressured and all it takes to ruin a good spot or rare fish (like some red horse) is someone to post it on reedit or hit forward.

I have no problem sharing well known spots that have been successful for me when queried by people I have seen on the board.

[el_caboing]

Thanks for all the replies fellas. I have had a few that have PMed me with more info. I've researched trolling for walleye and other things and know what to look for but the St Lawrence is a very large river (I live in Cornwall) and I do have access to a GPS with maps (GPS Nautical Charts for my playbook) but looking at depths and dropoffs I could be searching for years to try and find a spot. Kids are busy with sports in the summer and as I mentioned this is my first year with a boat and time is of the essence. I am not asking to take a shortcut and have things spoon fed to me, just a few hints on where I might start. I get the relaxation of fishing, that is one of the things that I love about it, and get that you don't want everyone on your spot when you want to go out especially if you also have limited time on the water. I also get if you are a tournament fisherman you most def not want to give away your honey hole. I guess I'll keep on looking and keep on searching the waters and eventually hit something. Thx again for all the replies.

[CNs]

I would suggest doing alot of reading on the behaviour of the species you are trying to catch. Then apply what you learnt on your home waters.

Excellent! Knowledge is power! as FlyMaker said. Learn, learn and learn.

If you want to turn a good spot into a lousy spot, just tell someone. It's not much more complicated than that.

Absolutely true! I had some spots on the Rideau that consistently produced big largies. I was naive and told someone who asked where are good spots to fish. I had never seen anyone fish these spots before. two weeks later there were three boats camped out on the spots I told one person about. Now these spots do not produce any fish.
When I post pictures I mask the background out. Why? because of the lurkers on this and other fish sites. These are the same type of people who will shadow Renegade Bass anglers to mark waypoints. Rather than doing the work themselves.

Part of the fun of fishing for me is to get on the water and figure out how to catch fish. Yes I am guilty of going back to spots that have always produced. But what happens when the spot is burnt? or the fish aren;t co-operating? Thats when you need to do something different. Change tactics - start looking for other areas. What happens when that weed beds that used to hold fish are not there? (Charleston lake comes to mind). Start using the map to find other spots. Shallow not working try deeper and vice versa. Moving baits not working try finesse tactics etc.

If you are looking for areas for your kids to have fun do what others have said find the channel cats and have at it. If your looking for a walleye feed Lapointe's sells them. AND what I mean by that is that is tougher to pry out of someone than a musky spot.

[bostonwhaler]

I cant stand people that lie. Even if its about a fishing spot. If you dont want to tell me your spot then just say it.

[zippyfx]

I cant stand people that lie. Even if its about a fishing spot. If you dont want to tell me your spot then just say it.

I totally agree! I sometimes play dumb and ask questions I know the answers to, to determine the honesty/integrity of the people I bump into. It's a,amazing how many people steer you in the wrong direction on purpose.