Your Favorite Spot?

My favorite spots all have the following conditions…..

1) no cell phone coverage

2) no jet ski’s or ski boats

3) no tuna boats

4) no arrogant pricks who think the lake and spots are theirs.

Jon,
This question reminds me of how the boy and I found a “secret” spot. We were fishing the head of the lake one day and it was windy and rainy and after a couple hours of getting beat up we headed up into the back channel looking for calmer water. This was when the boy was 13 or 14 so it has been several years ago. We found a really good looking spot and pulled in out of the wind. Pretty soon the boy caught his first 8 pounder and I stuck a 5 pounder soon afterwards. We were pumped that we found this out of the way gem but when I posted a picture with limited background everyone knew exactly where I was at. We had found Katrina’s but apparently a few people had found it before us

There are two types of fisherman.

Ones that will use others info (and the internet) to gain info and not share anything.

Others that want to help other catch fish.

The lake, rivers and the internet is big enough for both.

The internet is great for sharing information, but it IMO it could also be a lake killer. I fished a spot for about 5 ice fishing season. Limited number of people out there, great fishing. Then on one of the fishing sites, somebody posted that fishing was great. Sure enough, then next ice fishing season, lake was packed. 3 years now since and you are lucky to catch anything out of there now. It made me sick watching people keep a bucket full of 6 inch crappies.

That is one big catfish on your avatar Brian!! I’d say my favorite spots are spots I’ve been able to develop on my own. Spots that seem to go against the grain of what the larger percentage of anglers are fishing during certain periods. As Brian H. Mentioned all spots that are out of cell phone range are Good Ones!!

My favorite spot changes from year to year I guess…. I have both found them and been shown them. This weekend on pool 2, there were other boats in spots/areas I was planning to fish. So, I switched gears and said to myself – self go try some new areas where you have never dropped a line….see what happens. Low and behold I have a new favorite spot! It was one of those classic “looking” spots. One of those spots you never see a boat on but every time you drive by it that little voice in your head says “Gotta try that one someday”! And yes, I’m sure I will be sharing this spot with someone soon.

-J.

Here’s they way I see it. There’s nothing wrong with keeping a spot to yourself BUT,, for most of us long long ago somebody helped us out. I try to pay it backward/forward to others. This doesn’t mean you have to send a mass text or email telling everyone the exacts to where you caught fish today but pointing them in the right direction is always appreciated.

Crappies for example like to eat my baby walleyes..If I’m on the crappies I get to the nearest mountain top and start screaming details to everyone I know!

When we going Jon!

In regards to the actual question.

Favorite spot “pierbridge” was shown to me and I tell the world every time I post!

Can’t wait to till opener and the chance to catch a bunch of rather small Eyes N’ snake Northerns with friends and family!…

I “had” a favorite spot on the St Croix N of Stillwater. It was 10′ of water that dropped into a 13-15′ small hole and was marked by a steep shoreline of pretty sand that stuck out like a sore thumb.

For several months a year, it was a lock. One strong flood and the spot was gone.

This question really got me thinking…

Winter fishing-absolutely a few favorite spots. Open water-not so much.

Up until 2 years ago, my fishing was usually on Mille Lacs, Winnibigosh, or Lake of the Woods and we had the same milk run almost everytime.

After fishing with alot of IDO members, the FLW league and Tour as a co-angler, and then buying my own boat, I seldom limit myself to the same areas. I’ve been shown so many good spots, that it would take me days to check them all out. Instead now I use these spots as a reference for depth, structure, and time of year to start looking. I do more searching with my electronics to find fish and then try to figure out what they want to eat.

As for sharing information, I’m all for it! I seldom find fish on the same spot on a spot even 2 days in a row, but I think information on the depth, structure, and technique is more useful.

Lately my favorite spots have been shown to me and was asked not to mention them to a lot of people, so I don’t.
Spots I find, I don’t have much trouble mentioning them, many times I might just say “a bit south of the bridge” or something like that.

It is a two edged sword, mention a hot spot on a forum and you may not be able to find room there the next time you go.

Personally I’m more than happy when someone gives a general area and possible bait, at least it’s a starting point.

Al…who doesn’t find many hot spots unfortunately

Every year I seem to have new favorite spots on the river. Thinking back threw a few of them the majority where found by myself. Some with lots of persistence on checking them over and over again.

Now with that in mind what is a good spot if you can not show it to your buddies. Its like buying a new sports car and keeping it in the garage. This pretty much goes for people in my boat. Now on the net or else where I may not be as open with spots. General info is no problem. You might get a little extra every now and again to.

I have no problem sharing info on spots I’ve found myself. On the other hand, I don’t EVER share anything about spots found with someone else or shown to me.

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I have no problem sharing info on spots I’ve found myself. On the other hand, I don’t EVER share anything about spots found with someone else or shown to me.

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Same here, its kind of like the golden rule for me

As Grow says, it’s part of the circle of men.

Interesting topic, Jon

I’ve come somewhat full circle regarding what and whom I share specific information with. I used to be very liberal in handing out information on specific spots, what to use, and how to fish them but several times now it’s really come back to bite me, not even specifically talking about the river.

While I normally have no issue sharing techniques, water depths, and generic areas of focus, to many people that’s not enough Swapping fishing information to me is definitely a two way street, however it seems many only hang on the receiving end.

Since then I’ve really thought long and hard about who to share information with and why. I do share very specific information with certain people, but like it’s been stated above, only spots that I’ve found myself. It’s truly not any of my business to distribute other people’s information, but only to be grateful they shared it with me in the first place.

That being said, don’t be afraid to ask for information, however don’t expect the GPS coordinates either

Ok back on track… I’m not sure I have just one favorite fishing spot and it seems like my ‘go-to’ spots change from year to year.

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Interesting topic, Jon

I’ve come somewhat full circle regarding what and whom I share specific information with. I used to be very liberal in handing out information on specific spots, what to use, and how to fish them but several times now it’s really come back to bite me, not even specifically talking about the river.

While I normally have no issue sharing techniques, water depths, and areas generic areas of focus, to many people that’s not enough Swapping fishing information to me is definitely a two way street, however it seems many only hang on the receiving end.

Since then I’ve really thought long and hard about who to share information with and why. I do share very specific information with certain people, but like it’s been stated above, only spots that I’ve found myself. It’s truly not any of my business to distribute other people’s information, but only to be grateful they shared it with me in the first place.

That being said, don’t be afraid to ask for information, however don’t expect the GPS coordinates either

Ok back on track… I’m not sure I have just one favorite fishing spot and it seems like my ‘go-to’ spots change from year to year.

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Fantastic post

Tough to answer the favorite fishing spot question, when it depends on what body of water I am on, but I answered it based on the if I had to choose just 1 one spot to fish for the rest of my life.

That spot was stumbled upon first while fishing bass, and then later rediscovered for pike during a certain time of the year. The spot is located on a lake where my brother has a cabin and I go there a lot. He is paranoid about info going out about the lake on the internet, so I would never be specific about anything out of respect to his wishes. That being said, I still would never be specific about this spot, because it cannot have more than a few boats fishing it.

Well, the honey hole is no longer a secret. I am not sure if it was word of mouth or just people seeing fish being caught. The increase in pressure has affected our success there now. Case in point was last year. We hit it during the late afternoon and basically were skunked. There were boats moving in and out of there, probably all day. So I decided to get up early the next morning and fish it and ended up having the kind of success we were used to. I only had a little over an hour and a couple of boats had arrived and I bet they couldn’t wait for me to move. Still, every year at a certain time we get excited and now I think the crack of dawn, and even night fishing, is the new strategy.

I have no problem sharing spots with family and friends. Sharing it openly on the internet is foolish in my opinion. Unless of course you are talking a large enough structure, massive lake and/or a lake that is a ways away from an easy drive. I’ve been the benefactor of plenty of people on IDO sharing spots with me, but it is mostly, if not all, from guys who I have fished with at some point. Still I am always on the hunt for my secret little spots and if I ever find a honey, friends will be welcome to tag along. For me, finding that hot spot with the hot bite is what it is all about, a never ending quest.

I am more than willing to share details like techniques, depth and even structure, if that structure is not the only one of that type on the lake. I would not say I was fishing a point on a one point lake. But if there are plenty of points to choose from, I would give that up too. That way you can give people a head start, but they are still learning by doing some work on their own.

One point that I would like to bring up is your secret spot, may be a couple other people’s secret spot. For me, I’d hate to have my fishing marred by one of these people spreading the word, so in turn; I don’t spill the beans out of respect to these unknown anglers.

My 2 pesos.

i don’t worry too much about “secret spots”. in a metro area, on the river, there is no such thing. any place you think is “private”, has been, or is being fished by other parties too, you just don’t stumble across one another is all.

thats why i’ve never been too secretive about that stuff. and besides, its nice to know you helped someone else have a good day fishing, and helped them be more successful. I find it somewhat rewarding.

To me, its a simple rule to follow. I guide, so I will always have people fishing the spots I show them. A “Spot-on-the-spot” that has been shown to me by others are kept off-limits for guiding and I show no one!

The “fun” fishing I do is time spent seeking out new locations. Funny that as the years go by, you stumble across a hot spot and find out its someone else top secret spot. I’ve had guys at the launch try to rip me a new because I had a client in their spot????? I didn’t see the no trespassing sign and i found it on my own…so why couldn’t I take some one there?

Bit off topic, but shows the irony. A fellow IDO’r was up in Northern WI fishing and was looking for a little info on here. I shot him a PM and he gave me a call. Found out not only was he fishing my favorite land locked lake, and not only was he in our neighbor’s cabin, but he also stumbled across a couple locations on there that took me about 10 years to find. I think he did great finding something.

The internet is a powerful tool and great for sharing information. Its also an evil in the sense that too many people abuse the information they gain from it. No matter how you debate it, it comes down to using common sense with our renewable resources.

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i don’t worry too much about “secret spots”. in a metro area, on the river, there is no such thing.

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I’ve been fishing recently with a guy who thinks every single spot on Pool 2, 3 or 4 is his spot…

He’s always bitching about someone fishing his Wing-Dam, current seem or back water area….

Q: Finally I said to him don’t ya think that Wing Dam has been there for like 50 years or more?

A: Yeah but no-body fished it until so and so posted a report on the internet…

Carla’s hole is a favorite, Carla is my buddies wife and managed to do pretty well in this particular area, so we named it after her. We enjoy fishing in her “hole” at least once a year, especially around opener her “hole” can be quite hot. I don’t think she would mind if others fished there.

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As Grow says, it’s part of the circle of men.

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Amen to that I have many lakes I talk about…. they are Lake X…Lake Y…Lake Z….heck with spots, I have whole lakes I keep to myself…

big G

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Carla’s hole is a favorite, Carla is my buddies wife and managed to do pretty well in this particular area, so we named it after her. We enjoy fishing in her “hole” at least once a year, especially around opener her “hole” can be quite hot. I don’t think she would mind if others fished there.

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I hope your buddy doesn’t care that you are talking about his wifes hole on-line.
DT

I learned early on here that there’s a big difference between a spot you found and a spot someone else showed you. There’s also a huge difference between broadcasting information about spots to random strangers and sharing information between people you’ve met face-to-face.

I got to go out with a guy last year, he took me to the river, showed me some spots, showed me a special rig he’d learned from someone else. I learned a lot and got to catch fish I’d never have caught otherwise. But it was based on personal contact, not a forum post.

And I’m guessing that if I’d been a loudmouth donkey’s bottom I’d probably have received little info, ruined the guy’s day and never been invited back. When you’re in someone else’s boat, being helpful and polite goes a long way toward building a good reputation earning some of those detailed tips.

I think, though, that the word “earn” is key, and not very well liked in today’s society. You earn your stripes (or your stripers, as the case may be) on the forum and on the water. You build a reputation and that reputation will get you places or get in your way.

Here’s the kicker: in reality, it’s really all about respecting people and not at all about where anyone does or doesn’t fish. I’ve received everything from incredibly general tips to something as specific as “cast from the 4th fence rail toward the second sign on the far side of the channel”. I think there’s a direct correlation between detail in fishing tips and the level of respect between fishermen, because anything detailed I’ve gotten has come from people I’ve met personally _and_ shared stores and a few spots of my own.

Ultimately it’s about building trust, and in this state, where fishing pressure is only increasing, trusting someone not to abuse a spot that still holds decent fish is a big deal. It’s a privilege and one you have to earn. I only hope I am found ever more worthy!

Good post Pete!
Especially ice fishing locations where fishermen are little more confined to select areas of the river and “spot on spot” location takes on a whole a new meaning.

I dislike community spots. There is a rule of 3 that basically states if 3 are fishing it they must be catching and then you attract others. When i was chasing flatties mainly, spots are golden. Since it isn’t my home water, I’ve given up a few of my favorite spots to complete strangers who have done pretty well. I like to find little tiny spots that nobody ever stops at. On our Red Wing trip this last march we were fishing below the high bridge and popping a few. this guy pulled up with his son and very nicely asked what we were using. He had his kid with him and I tossed him a pack of ringies that we had spent long hours finding what was working. His kid popped 3 fish in short order and I was happy as a clam. I will share a lot with folks but I have a few spots here I am ticked off when someone is there but usually they don’t know what they are doing and often leave just before the fish get going. I also won’t share a spot someone else has shown me. We learned a lot this March from a few folks who were willing to share with us. Comes around goes around. I’d even help a Viking fan if they weren’t named KOOTY.

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There is a rule of 3 that basically states if 3 are fishing it they must be catching and then you attract others.

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On the river, that is only 2.