Openness

[Bigbass Dez]

Im honest with 99% of my tips and techniques on this forum and ill tell you why .. Im a tourney angler and therefore i invest a great deal of time and money into this sport . With that being said it wouldn't be in my best interest to revel key pin point spots on any body of water in relation to my success for others to follow .. However I will always disclose the dept ,structure , the portion of the lake where i was fishing and the baits i used ...

I tell guys all the time that you don't need to come to the same area , same dock, same point, etc to duplicate the same results ..If I'm catching fish on points in 15ft of water off the main lake channel .. well you better believe "every" point with similar characterises will hold fish ..

As for resident fish holding in key area's well that represents the 1% that i chose not to disclose (obvious reasons) ..

Im not a selfish fisherman and i enjoy sharing info so the last thing i would do is send a person on a wild goose chase ..

As for the folks who choose to keep there fish , soo be it as long as it's not breaking any laws .. As for guys keeping trophy fish , that hurts my heart but i have to respect there right as a licensed angler following the law .. Do i believe that there are at least two dozen of state record bass in Washington still yet to be caught ? YES ... so why not focus on catching those , That 8lb+ caught on the Columbia is not the only bass that river that size or bigger .. A great example of this is located in "mr Tag Watson" photo bucket , he showcases the "number" of bass that he has caught over 8+lbs and thats from a fairly small lake in bellingham ... So with the right amount of time and some luck i look forward to posting a bass of a lifetime and chosing to release it back to be caught again ....real talk

BBD

[BassinBomber]

=d> Great reply BBD,..your reply is one of the reasons that this site is adventagious for all,..thanks!

BB

[racfish]

BBD It makes great sense what you say.I can agree with your point of view with the exception of your point about time and money spent.Big deal.That your choice.If thats how you want to spend it great for you.It dosent make you have any more rights then anyone else or to the guy who buys a .69 cent plastic worm for bass.Everybodies time and money spent has value to themselves..I always like your posts and they are full of good tips.For the time and money part .Who cares.I really dont mean that offensivley.I've got close to 50 grand in fishing gear including boats.But thats where I chose to spend it.
I like everyones post on this site.I ve been to alot of sites and I think the shareing here is real and totally informative.I may not agree with everyone all the time but all the info here is real.This has to be my most fav. fishing site.Good luck to all.

[bpm2000]

Seems like a good thread to say this:

One thing that cracks me up is when some people post up pics saying they C&R'd it - remember this: the eyes dont lie. Some people just take very poor care of their to-be-released fish or are flat out lying. Its pretty easy to spot a fish on its way out or expired and thats worse than saying you kept it in my opinion.

On topic, I'll share with people who are like-minded, as many have stated. I won't hold it against anyone for exercising their right but they won't be a part of the information flow in my book.

[delyakguy]

I dont think BBD meant he has more rights because he spends time & money. People are taking the wrong information from this thread.

[crappiemaster]

Wow-BBD you are the man. I have found that as I have gotten older, (I will be 44 on 8/23) it is easier for me to share info. especially with young anglers or those with children. I fish the Columbia River alot from McNary to Roosevelt and there are so many fish and good areas to fish. Its about a 40 mile stretch of river and have been doing it for a long time and plan on doing it for a long time if the good Lord allows. I guess on a lake it may be different so I can see some your guys points. But I like to think, even though I am not a pro that I have enough skills to be able to find them again on newer water up and down the creek. I love to share info with people with kids, because that means they will do something positive with their kids.

[racfish]

As a fishing sidenote to you all.this weekend is the Danskins Triathalon at Seward Park.I dread these days cuz parking in my area will stink and there will be points you wont be able to fish in Andrews bay.Im hauling my toon up to the U of W area this weekend for perch,bass and anything else willing to nibble.If you guys want i'll be in a yellow pontoon and youre more then wellcome to spray me with your boats.hehehehehe Good luck all.The Stan Sayres pits launch will be closed as well as Lk Wa Blvd.So.

[iPodrodder]

Seems like a good thread to say this:

One thing that cracks me up is when some people post up pics saying they C&R'd it - remember this: the eyes dont lie. Some people just take very poor care of their to-be-released fish or are flat out lying. Its pretty easy to spot a fish on its way out or expired and thats worse than saying you kept it in my opinion.

On topic, I'll share with people who are like-minded, as many have stated. I won't hold it against anyone for exercising their right but they won't be a part of the information flow in my book.

Not to jack the thread, but what will their eyes look like when they're on the way out? Is it a difference in shape or in color? I've never thought to check the eyes to tell if a fish is alive. The only bass I ever kept was my first one ever (when I was like 9) and I never noticed anything strange about it.

Good replies everyone!

[Bigbass Dez]

Racfish- the guys are correct in saying that you took me wrong .. my statement is about investing money into this sport relates to the tourneys i fish , i put money on the line too say that i plan on coming in first place (nothing more).. That has nothing to do with how much money i spend on gear , baits , etc .. No way man, you got me all wrong .. all im saying is that im not going to tell you where a 4lb bass lives if i plan on catching him in a upcoming tourney on that body of water ...

Dude trust me im not the kind of person that thinks im better or have more rights then "anyone" when it comes to fishing .. And there are enough people on this site that will tell you the same .. Im a little concerned that you took it that way , you mentioned that you have read alot of my threads on here in the past .. So my question to you is why would you attempt to label me in that manner if iv never came off that way before in the past ?

No big big deal to me anyway you spin it but dont make me out to be someone im not ..


Crappiemaster and Delyakguy , thanks for the kind words and the support .. man o man the temperture is taken a toll on some people today..lol ....

[delyakguy]

I agree BBD. Heat does crazy things to people.

[racfish]

I wrote my story in a couple other forums here but Saturday I went out Bass fishin.I hooked into a nice fish.Got him to the side of my toon and couldnt quite reach him.I leaned to far forward and slipped into the lake.I did mange to relese the fish and kick back to shore.Its a long story.I released the fish and it swam off.I have to say it was a good feeling.I had disasters the rest of the morning so I quit for the day.Looking forward to get back at it.I'm sorry I read you wrong and got the wtrong impression.No worries mate....

[delyakguy]

Glad to see you felt good after releasing your catch.

[dilbert]

I wrote my story in a couple other forums here but Saturday I went out Bass fishin.I hooked into a nice fish.Got him to the side of my toon and couldnt quite reach him.I leaned to far forward and slipped into the lake.I did mange to relese the fish and kick back to shore.Its a long story.I released the fish and it swam off.I have to say it was a good feeling.I had disasters the rest of the morning so I quit for the day.Looking forward to get back at it.I'm sorry I read you wrong and got the wtrong impression.No worries mate....

Normally the fishing gods are nicer to you after you release a bass... I'm not sure what happened there, but it surely would have been worse if you hadn't released the lil' lunker. Maybe try a seatbelt for the toon?

[cavdad45]

Releasing fish does feel good, doesn't it?

[HillbillyGeek]

Seems like a good thread to say this:

One thing that cracks me up is when some people post up pics saying they C&R'd it - remember this: the eyes dont lie. Some people just take very poor care of their to-be-released fish or are flat out lying. Its pretty easy to spot a fish on its way out or expired and thats worse than saying you kept it in my opinion.

On topic, I'll share with people who are like-minded, as many have stated. I won't hold it against anyone for exercising their right but they won't be a part of the information flow in my book.

Not to jack the thread, but what will their eyes look like when they're on the way out? Is it a difference in shape or in color? I've never thought to check the eyes to tell if a fish is alive. The only bass I ever kept was my first one ever (when I was like 9) and I never noticed anything strange about it.

Good replies everyone!

Fish eyes get "cloudier", as their condition digresses. Looks similar to cataracts in mammals. Not sure why that happens, but it is consistent.

If the eyes look "bulged", that's an indication that the fish was caught in relatively deep water. This is especially true for bass. Not sure about trout & salmon...

[PaulReilly]

I wrote my story in a couple other forums here but Saturday I went out Bass fishin.I hooked into a nice fish.Got him to the side of my toon and couldnt quite reach him.I leaned to far forward and slipped into the lake.I did mange to relese the fish and kick back to shore.Its a long story.I released the fish and it swam off.I have to say it was a good feeling.I had disasters the rest of the morning so I quit for the day.Looking forward to get back at it.I'm sorry I read you wrong and got the wtrong impression.No worries mate....

Racfish - I've said it on a different thread, and I'll say it here.

I'm glad you are getting in CNR! Nothing speaks more of a fisherman than one that lets a trophy swim away.

There have been several times a WORLD RECORD bass have been caught, and duly released prior to certification due to the fact waiting for the certification might have killed the fish. Some people would call those individuals crazy.. I think they are true fishermen (fisherwomen too!)

[Bisk1tSnGraV]

Honestly as I began this adventure into bass fishing I had never really given the idea of CNR any real thought. The more I learn and the more people that give me help and guidance does shift that feeling. Granted my largest bass I have caught to date is an ounce shy of 2 pounds and I did keep that one. But know I can appreciate the larger fish and what it has taken to get them to the size that they are. I appreciate and am very thankful for the friendly openness that is shown and given within this forum and also the great insight that has been freely given to someone that you don’t even know. I get a great sense of pride within the sport being associated with everyone here.

[EastsideRedneck]

I doubt many of us started out as C&R guys... As I've grown older my perspective has greatly shifted and now I harvest very little if any bass(only one in the past two years.) As far as openess goes I feel much the same as a lot of guys here- if you're in it for sport I will tell you more than if you're in it for food. IMHO if you are bass fishing for food, there are much better tasting species that are far easier to catch out there and I'll tell you exactly where to catch'em. Without the tips from others I would never have had some of the amazing days I've had on the water and I am forever grateful for that. Hopefully I have done the same for someone else.

[racfish]

Bass was never a fish that Id keep anyway.My whole big thing against C&R are people who target spawning salmon or Native Steelies.There are too many times as someone else said about handling fish then let them go.Thats why I fell out of my toon.I tried to release the fish w/o yanking him (or her)out of the water.I agree ESRN Bass isnt the most tastey.I'd prefer a yellow perch or crappie over bass.I guess another big reason for release now is that im on Weight Watchers and fried fish are a taboo now.The lord works in mysterious ways.He (or she) mustve seen me keeping fish.Hehehe.
I was on a job today where this guy told me he rents a huge pontoon with kitchens bedrooms and hot tubs and dopes the Lake Roosevlt fishing trip.He told me he kept 70 bass over his vacation and froze them all.I almost cried.I say the beauty of living in Wa State is being able to catch fresh fish all year long.I DONT freeze any fish lessen its gonna be crab bait ie...chum or Humpies.
I am an old dog willing to learn new tricks.I value all y'alls opinions and suggestions.Thats the total beauty of a site like this one.Good luck all.

[ral]

I do not hold back anything. I share where and how I fish. If others can make use of that information then good for them. I come to this site to learn where and how to fish and believe I should share what I know just as others share. I practice C&R and hope that people who keep fish use their judgment and limit what they take to what the resource can support.