Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: milo on October 22, 2008, 03:27:25 PM
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If you rely on fishing reports to find a fishing spot that will catch you fish, you'd better reconsider it.
No experienced fisher posts exact locations - nor he/she should. Some of us have taken great pain in finding those sweet spots that are not frequented by the hordes, and guess what? We want to keep them to ourselves. ;)
That said, I have been known to share my favourite spots if asked kindly and the person came across as genuine.
This doesn't mean you can now email me and ask me about my hot spot.
Not so quickly.
I will only share my spots with people I meet in real life.
I am a pretty good judge of character, so I hardly regret sharing my spots.
Now, even if a fisher gives away the exact location in a fishing report, it does not garantee success.
A fishing report is never news, it's history. Every day the river changes, and a spot that was super productive yesterday can be dead today. Then there is also the technique, the timing, the weather patterns, water levels....a myriad things that can affect your fishing.
Not wanting to go into too many details, here's some advice to people who want to catch fish: Rather than expect a fellow fisher to give you information in a report, just head out there. Walk around, observe, ask questions. Most of us are more than willing to share information if approached in the right way.
If you happen to run into an a$$hole, so be it. Chances are he/she is miserable in life and uses fishing to escape his/her pathetic reality. You don't want information from such an individual anyway. He/she would probably feed you a bunch of codswallop anyway. Keep going, don't get discouraged. Sooner rather than later, you'll run into a nice guy/gal who will be more than happy to give you a few pointers.
Who you are in life reflects who you are on the flow, and believe it or not, it reflects who you are on the Internet, too.
All we really need in terms of a report is something like Chris's water condition updates for the Vedder. ;D
Everything else is just about braggin' rights. It's what fishers do. Keep that in mind!
Tight lines out there.
Milo
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Well said, I tend to put too much information into my reports and people get mad at me, I understand why some people get angry but i disagree with their arguments personally. Now I report less but still share plenty of information when asked nicely and generally privately. That said most people I have asked for information privately have been forthcoming as well which is great.
Jordan
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I agree, well said.
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A fishing report is never news, it's history. Every day the river changes, and a spot that was super productive yesterday can be dead today. Then there is also the technique, the timing, the weather patterns, water levels....a myriad things that can affect your fishing.
Absolutely right on.
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Well said, I tend to put too much information into my reports and people get mad at me, I understand why some people get angry but i disagree with their arguments personally. Now I report less but still share plenty of information when asked nicely and generally privately. That said most people I have asked for information privately have been forthcoming as well which is great.
Jordan
For places I find on my own and post them on reports I have also received a few PMs/Emails from people who didnt appreciate it. Guess what I tell them? I tell them tough tittie!!
If I find the place on my own and choose to make it public thats my choice. So what if you also know of the spot. If you never showed me the spot than tough. If someone has shown me a spot I will never reveal it. I can lock it in the vault as I value my friendships.
Now when I fish some small creeks, streams, rivers, lakes that cant handle much pressure you will never see me post the spots in a report. If I feel the spots or systems can handle the pressure I will gladly post them for people. It encourages people to get out and fish. Just because I have success never means they will have success.
I spent many hours, days, months, years exploring on my own. I have always encouraged others to do the same. Their are many resources available to make the searches easier. For those that want to fish the fraser get Fishing Fever which shows you spots between Mission and Hope. Also one of the best resources available is a Map. One last thing is get a backroads map book for the area in which you fish. If you live in the Lower Mainland pick up the Lower Mainland edition. Their are also books on lakes that give you a list of lakes for your region, what species the lake has as well as a graph of the lakes.
Since living on the island I have already fished almost a dozen different lakes, fished about a half dozen rivers, and also fished beaches and have had success with most locations. Most were found on my own by looking at books and maps but also a few new friends have shown me a few places.
I love reading reports. I never read them to determine where I am going to fish. I read them for pleasure.
Tight Lines
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Amen!
Milo, you and I have to yet meet on the river.
I wonder what salmon fishing feels like in Serbian... ;D ;D
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Cammer, will you PLEASE keep your gripe with Coho-man out of MY thread? ::)
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Amen!
Milo, you and I have to yet meet on the river.
I wonder what salmon fishing feels like in Serbian... ;D ;D
It's not salmon fishing.
It's ribolov na lososa! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!
You know what I look like, Milosevic.
If you run into me on the flow, by all means introduce yourself. :)
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Well said, I tend to put too much information into my reports and people get mad at me, I understand why some people get angry but i disagree with their arguments personally. Now I report less but still share plenty of information when asked nicely and generally privately. That said most people I have asked for information privately have been forthcoming as well which is great.
Jordan
For places I find on my own and post them on reports I have also received a few PMs/Emails from people who didnt appreciate it. Guess what I tell them? I tell them tough tittie!!
If I find the place on my own and choose to make it public thats my choice. So what if you also know of the spot. If you never showed me the spot than tough. If someone has shown me a spot I will never reveal it. I can lock it in the vault as I value my friendships.
Now when I fish some small creeks, streams, rivers, lakes that cant handle much pressure you will never see me post the spots in a report. If I feel the spots or systems can handle the pressure I will gladly post them for people. It encourages people to get out and fish. Just because I have success never means they will have success.
I spent many hours, days, months, years exploring on my own. I have always encouraged others to do the same. Their are many resources available to make the searches easier. For those that want to fish the fraser get Fishing Fever which shows you spots between Mission and Hope. Also one of the best resources available is a Map. One last thing is get a backroads map book for the area in which you fish. If you live in the Lower Mainland pick up the Lower Mainland edition. Their are also books on lakes that give you a list of lakes for your region, what species the lake has as well as a graph of the lakes.
Since living on the island I have already fished almost a dozen different lakes, fished about a half dozen rivers, and also fished beaches and have had success with most locations. Most were found on my own by looking at books and maps but also a few new friends have shown me a few places.
I love reading reports. I never read them to determine where I am going to fish. I read them for pleasure.
Tight Lines
You may only read them for pleasure.. but many weekend warriors use reports as a guide to where they will be fishing the 1 or 2 days they may get out there a week. It's easy to see why many people wont tell anybody anything as i've had guys come down into a run I'm fishing and start doing the Vedder jerk... and I end up overhearing them state that they read on the internet that its been good in that particular spot... now what was a sweet slick for slinging roe for weeks quikly becomes a battleground in a matter of days. Everybody is always crying about the crude fishing tactics used by the majority of the people in salmon season...before when fishing websites were just starting to take off many of the unethical methods were confined to certain areas on the river which kept the rest of us reasonably happy.... now reports, conditions, and even directions are available to many diffrent spots right here in your own home. Seems to me that there has been an outrageous spike in anglers over the last few years...people see a report and figure hell if he did good why cant I, I have all the info I need to get out there and do it right here. I'm not bashing fishing websites as i love them and there are endless educational things on them. Just my 2 cents on reports.
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Here's a thought: you can't control what people do or say, so when you find somebody at your favorite location, find a new one. Thats probably what they did.
Fighting human nature and some peoples insatiable urge to boast is futile (especially with an internet post), all you can do is keep your own mouth shut and just hope that others do the same.
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Well said, I tend to put too much information into my reports and people get mad at me, I understand why some people get angry but i disagree with their arguments personally. Now I report less but still share plenty of information when asked nicely and generally privately. That said most people I have asked for information privately have been forthcoming as well which is great.
Jordan
For places I find on my own and post them on reports I have also received a few PMs/Emails from people who didnt appreciate it. Guess what I tell them? I tell them tough tittie!!
If I find the place on my own and choose to make it public thats my choice. So what if you also know of the spot. If you never showed me the spot than tough. If someone has shown me a spot I will never reveal it. I can lock it in the vault as I value my friendships.
Now when I fish some small creeks, streams, rivers, lakes that cant handle much pressure you will never see me post the spots in a report. If I feel the spots or systems can handle the pressure I will gladly post them for people. It encourages people to get out and fish. Just because I have success never means they will have success.
I spent many hours, days, months, years exploring on my own. I have always encouraged others to do the same. Their are many resources available to make the searches easier. For those that want to fish the fraser get Fishing Fever which shows you spots between Mission and Hope. Also one of the best resources available is a Map. One last thing is get a backroads map book for the area in which you fish. If you live in the Lower Mainland pick up the Lower Mainland edition. Their are also books on lakes that give you a list of lakes for your region, what species the lake has as well as a graph of the lakes.
Since living on the island I have already fished almost a dozen different lakes, fished about a half dozen rivers, and also fished beaches and have had success with most locations. Most were found on my own by looking at books and maps but also a few new friends have shown me a few places.
I love reading reports. I never read them to determine where I am going to fish. I read them for pleasure.
Tight Lines
You may only read them for pleasure.. but many weekend warriors use reports as a guide to where they will be fishing the 1 or 2 days they may get out there a week. It's easy to see why many people wont tell anybody anything as i've had guys come down into a run I'm fishing and start doing the Vedder jerk... and I end up overhearing them state that they read on the internet that its been good in that particular spot... now what was a sweet slick for slinging roe for weeks quikly becomes a battleground in a matter of days. Everybody is always crying about the crude fishing tactics used by the majority of the people in salmon season...before when fishing websites were just starting to take off many of the unethical methods were confined to certain areas on the river which kept the rest of us reasonably happy.... now reports, conditions, and even directions are available to many diffrent spots right here in your own home. Seems to me that there has been an outrageous spike in anglers over the last few years...people see a report and figure hell if he did good why cant I, I have all the info I need to get out there and do it right here. I'm not bashing fishing websites as i love them and there are endless educational things on them. Just my 2 cents on reports.
I am also a weekend warrior. I dont need any reports to dictate where I fish. Its called years of learning of when and where to fish. Also since I am new to the island I will still go out and try many different places without any assistance from others. Its called exploring and learning on your own. After many trips out I will learn when and where to fish over here. I dont mind being skunked more often than not. In a few years those skunkings probably wont be as frequent.
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I won't ask you to share your favorite spot, just what kind of vehicle you drive so I can drop by and say Hi. :)
Actually you borrowed a pen from me once to fill out your license.
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That's all fine and dandy when you live there. However, for those of us who visit for a week or so once a year, we don't have time to hit every hole. With that said, I think it's common knowledge that not everything on here is 100% accurate. I tend to go with the law of averages. It has worked pretty well over the years. However, I'm tired of spending most of one or two days scouting then only have a couple good days left at the most. Next year, I'm going to hit one of you locals up to do some advanced scouting, act as a guide and give us some straight talk when we show up. If you don't mind fishing with some experience folks from the states, we'll be willing to supply the beer and a kick @$$ bbq at the end of the day. We'd also be willing to return the favor with a guided drift on the Sky or other areas in Washington.
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That's all fine and dandy when you live there. However, for those of us who visit for a week or so once a year, we don't have time to hit every hole. With that said, I think it's common knowledge that not everything on here is 100% accurate. I tend to go with the law of averages. It has worked pretty well over the years. However, I'm tired of spending most of one or two days scouting then only have a couple good days left at the most. Next year, I'm going to hit one of you locals up to do some advanced scouting, act as a guide and give us some straight talk when we show up. If you don't mind fishing with some experience folks from the states, we'll be willing to supply the beer and a kick @$$ bbq at the end of the day. We'd also be willing to return the favor with a guided drift on the Sky or other areas in Washington.
I would have you over anytime. Those types of things are always a given with the likes of Milo and myself. Now that our dollar is under .80 you guys can now be kings again in our country ;)
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I won't ask you to share your favorite spot, just what kind of vehicle you drive so I can drop by and say Hi. :)
Actually you borrowed a pen from me once to fill out your license.
Hmmm...I think I remember when it was (as I don't keep that many fish that need to be recorded).
Let me see...late July or early August this year...upper river...I caught a red spring when fishing with my son?
Or...last year...late winter time, a steelhead in the lower river?
Those are the two instances I remember borrowing a pen to write in a fish. ???
Either way, thanks for the pen.
And yes, cammer, you are right, the world of fishing has changed with the Internet, but not all of it is bad.
Heck, I would still be flossing fish thinking I am actually fishing if it weren't for what I learned online or from people I met online. ;)
Nor would I be looking forward to the river cleanups. ;D
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BB2, You're on the island right? Are you on the West or East Coast? I've thought of going up there one of these years. I might have to take you up on it. We've been debating a change in venue.
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Rodney already is involved in some sort of plan with the above and i think they should add you and a few more of the ethical EE fishers to get to this group of fishers, so how do you like being nominated lol
Thanks, cammer.
Rodney knows he can count on me.
I will be looking forward to helping out in a formal initiative.
In the meantime, I do what I can, when I can, on my own.
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I like the reports to get a general idea of where and when things are happening. As for specific spots - exploring is half the fun for me.
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I won't ask you to share your favorite spot, just what kind of vehicle you drive so I can drop by and say Hi. :)
Actually you borrowed a pen from me once to fill out your license.
Hmmm...I think I remember when it was (as I don't keep that many fish that need to be recorded).
Let me see...late July or early August this year...upper river...I caught a red spring when fishing with my son?
Or...last year...late winter time, a steelhead in the lower river?
Those are the two instances I remember borrowing a pen to write in a fish. ???
Either way, thanks for the pen.
Milo,
That was me in the lower and I still have my pen.
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I won't ask you to share your favorite spot, just what kind of vehicle you drive so I can drop by and say Hi. :)
Actually you borrowed a pen from me once to fill out your license.
Hmmm...I think I remember when it was (as I don't keep that many fish that need to be recorded).
Let me see...late July or early August this year...upper river...I caught a red spring when fishing with my son?
Or...last year...late winter time, a steelhead in the lower river?
Those are the two instances I remember borrowing a pen to write in a fish. ???
Either way, thanks for the pen.
Milo,
That was me in the lower and I still have my pen.
Yup, I remember that occasion, too.
But that was this year.
Thanks for lending me the pen, 4X4. :)
Incidentally, I only caught one more keeper that season.
All others were wild fish - which is a good thing, if they are true wilds.
There's a rumour out there that all unclipped fish in the Vedder are still hatchery fish, that there are no real wild steelhead or coho in that system anymore. I hope that is not true.
Does anybody have any factual information on this, not just hearsay and speculation?
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BB2, You're on the island right? Are you on the West or East Coast? I've thought of going up there one of these years. I might have to take you up on it. We've been debating a change in venue.
East coast.
Are you a flyfisherman? Do a search on the Cowichan River. Its right on my doorstep.
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Pretty much use whatever it takes to catch fish. Can't wait to get my 9 wt. bent though. Thanks for the info. I'll check it out.
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I used to give out info on which rivers fished and secret fly patterns to everybody.
Then my favorite rivers became very crowded, something I detest.
No longer give out what river and what flies caught fish.
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There's a rumour out there that all unclipped fish in the Vedder are still hatchery fish, that there are no real wild steelhead or coho in that system anymore. I hope that is not true.
Does anybody have any factual information on this, not just hearsay and speculation?
I truthfully doubt that there are no truly wild fish in the Vedder anymore. I volunteered at the hatchery over Spring Break last year and they don't release that many Steelhead to begin with, and all of them are clipped to my understanding.
It may be true that the run is stained with hatchery genes as some of the hatchery spawners will spawn with the wild fish, but that is why the brood stock program happens. Brood Stock keeps the "wild" genes of the hatchery fish in play so that they are not totally removed from the wild population. My bottom point is that that the wild fish of the Vedder have not been raised in the hatchery, because all the hatchery Steelhead are clipped, but may have had both a hatchery and wild parent which could explain why people consider them hatchery stock (assuming they are Steelhead). As far as coho go, I have no idea whether all of them are clipped or not.....
I hope buck sees this part of the topic, as he will be able to elaborate on this a lot more (maybe even correct me ;) )
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Back on topic of the "reports". I use to give them quite often, I have started drifting away from that. There are a few reasons why I do not do it any more, but the one about bringing the internet jockeys out is by far the main reason. I have had a few times on these forums where I have seen pictures of my favorite spot posted, which kind of disappoints me, but I simply move onto another spot. I have all summer to explore the river and find areas that will not be busy.
That being said, I am by far not against the forums at all. I have made many fishing buddies and friends off of these forums and have met a lot of awesome people, whether from the Cultus Lake derby or river cleanups or just by talking on msn and meeting on the river. I am more than willing to help someone who approaches me on the river, and I have done so many times this year. I am out to have fun, sometimes I get frustrated with the crowds, but in that case I just go home and wait for the weekdays ;D
There are no secrets on the Vedder, but there are areas that are out of the way or simply areas that people pass up because they don't find them suitable to fish. Go find a spot for yourself, even if it doesnt look like it will be holding fish, it probably will be at this time of year with the fish being spooked by the rippers. Half the fun is finding the spot, the other half of the fun is the satisfaction of catching a fish in the spot you worked hard to find. ;)
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I really don't pay a lot of attention to fishing (catching or nt catching) reports. What I do pay attention to is water levels, clarity, and overall climate. There are lurkers on every fishing board who never contribute to the board or the resource. Dead fish "grin & grip" shots bring the lurkers out every time. I've been fishing the Vedder for over 30 years and every year it seems that more people are attempting to participate in the fishery. Most of the "new" fishermen are not very adventurous and tend to stack up in or close to the well known meat holes. Every August I make a few trips up a do a trek from below Tamahi down to Hwy 1 on foot or in my pontoon boat looking for fishy water that is a bit more difficult to get to that is away from the meat holes. I bring my GPS unit along so I can record the runs that show promise for fishing at a later date. Since I mostly fly fish my water requirements are different from gear fishermen. I prefer to fish on moving fish rather than stacked fish do I can still find water that I like to fish.
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Well stated first post Milo. Cammer your statement "bragging is usually a sign of a need for acceptance or belonging , brag to your friends but not the world" is more true than not. Certainly there are those of out there that post to be helpful, because they enjoy writing, or because they want to share the joy of their fishing experience; there are examples of that on this very board. However for the most part, fishing reporters are looking for an ego stroke...particular those that post across multiple boards. When that happens I just shake my head and wonder if there weren't affirmed enough as children. Whenever I am thinking about posting a report, I question my motivation: to be helpful or to brag. If it's the latter, I usually don't do it. I have enough hang ups in my life without needing to add "needs affirmation from strangers" to it.
I rarely post fishing internet reports but I do burn up the email when I get home within my own fishing network.
In my mind, the risks of posting reports far outweight the benefits. I had a spectacular season on the beach this summer, landing over 35 coho and 15 cutthroat. I only posted about it once but in hindsight, it was bragging. Several years ago Biffchan posted about some good coho fishing he had on a local stream. He didn't name the stream but he left enough clues in his post that I was able to do some research and figure it out. Although I didn't name the stream online, others were upset with me, but my point was made. If you are going to make reports and drop hints, sooner or later folks will do the math. I also taught myself my own lesson (its just hard to follow) hence why my fishing reports are few and far between...and getting fewer and farther.