You guys remember a few years ago when we would post reports almost daily, and pictures that weren't photoshopped? I was just thinking about that because of a different forum. It was nice to be able to get tips and techniques and know what lake or part of the country a person was talking about. These forums are pretty much dead now days for fear of competition.
I don't blame anybody for lack of reports because I no longer post reports either. The few places I fish have recieved a ton of pressure over the last 2 years, but I've got one small pond nobody has talked about that I recently started fishing again.
Anyway I know a few guys have got some huge fish already this year, but can really brag about them. I encourage everyone to keep up what they've been doing, even though it sort of sucks. Otherwise these few spots will be way overcrowded with guys who havent put in the time to learn a spot and it's potential. It's kind of like the guy who always runs down the bank next to someone who has just caught a fish and throws their line out in hopes of baggin one as well.

I guess I'm supposed to say something here :)

This topic has come up before and I tell you what, I miss the 'good old days' too. It was fun when everyone was giving reports every day. Reality now is that there are so many people on the internet that if you do post a good catch with all the details, it is basically guaranteed that people will come after your bite.

This doesn't mean we have to stop talking fishing though. There's plenty to talk about without giving up spots or bites or whatever. I'm focused now on things like product reviews, new product introductions, techniques, gear, and general good advice.

For a guy who has started to catch a few big bass, an article like the current main page article on noise factors could help him catch a few more fish. Other guys are trying to make decisions on what baits to buy, and I do my best with the product reviews to give the relevent info on each lure so people can make an informed decision on what to buy. Things like this are where my energy is focused right now and if that means the site gets 200 visitors per day instead of the 400 I'd get by posting all my fishing reports, that's the way it goes. I think the 200+ people who do visit calfishing every day include a whole lot of very serious fishermen who know good information when they see it even if it's not a fishing report :)

-Rob

PS - I'm working now on a major article, on swimbait fishing. It'll be a while before it comes out but stick around, I think it'll really help a lot of people.

Your right Rob. I come to this site every day. I believe this is one of the most imformative sites out there. I'll be waiting for your swimbait article, because I don't know how you do so good with them. I still haven't broke the 10lb mark with the swimbaits.
And by the way, it looks like your off to one of your best big fish years so far. Is this true?

Jerry

Yeah this year has been pretty epic. Dunno what to say, the fish are just biting and things are clicking. I have 11 over 10 this year so far. 10 on swimbaits and 1 on the king kobra jig. I'm fishing a lot of new water and I've had great luck hitting good conditions (rain/wind/clouds). The rain keeps people off the water and makes the fish bite at the same time which works out well lol.

Thanks for mentioning your "Noise" article Rob. I don't go to that page so I missed it until now.

Dan

"Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less"

Deo Vindice

Just had a thought about your article as I was walking tonight and smoking a fine cigar;) ; what about the 'noise' a swimbait makes when it lands? I've read posts before that said it didn't matter or spook the Bass but I thought I'd ask 'the Man':-) .

Dan

"Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less"

Deo Vindice

You gotta cast don't you? lol. Yeah maybe that splash spooks the fish. Maybe ducks spook fish and carp jumping spooks fish too, I don't really know because it is not often that I see the fish I'm casting to before I cast. It is an unavoidable thing, so I don't worry about it.

Yeah..it's an unfortunate thing that you can't be more open about posting fish reports. I totally understand where your coming from. The websites have been a huge help to me....really helped my fishing out. But in the category of really big bass, information can "feel" so scarce it's like I'm trying to figure it all out on my own with no help. I just do my best, read the posts here, and try to apply what I read as best I can. I appreciate what I can get from this site....Mark

I thought you said there never was a "good old days" as applied to trophy fishing! See, this is what I was talking about. The whole thing is screwed up. Everybody is way too paranoid.

Yes, there is no way I tell people exactly what and where I do it, especially if it is a smaller lake (and Im talking just fishing in general here since I dont catch any bass over ten). However, think about it, how many of the people that read posts about catching big bass on Lake X actually go there and try? And of that group, how many actually stick it out to the point where they are successful and can be considered serious competition (i.e., fewer fish for you or me or Jerry or whoever)? It aint easy being consistent, and many people lack the discipline and dedication to go 3 months without a bite, they give up.

So, how many of the new "recruits" from internet posting are still fishing "your" lake? Many come, but how many stay?

Quite honestly, I would not drive more than 2 hours to fish Lake X (Jerry and Rob you know whre that is), and if I didnt just happen to move close to it, I never would have fished it. Point of this is that me fishing lake x is not because I read about it, it was because I moved near it. And the fact that I keep fishing it is because Im a little more stubborn than most, and because I have nothing better to do on saturday night (gee, thats lame). In my short time there Ive seen many come, and most go. Very few stick it out. Do you guys think we will see Mr World Record again this year?

So the whole point of this is that in general the people who are really into this trophy thing are a very small minority, and there is no reason why you cant share info freely amongst yourselves, non of us are leaving and few are joining. No reason to name lakes, but all else should be gladly revealed.

Yeah the good old days were fun!

Did it add presure? Yeah!

I myself didn't stop posting just because of the increased pressure. I stoped telling the story because there are people out there that read this stuff and don't catch and release.;( You can tell a person where and how to catch them and....guess what they will figure something out. I've seen to many big fish caught and killed to talk anymore.

Urban I'm like you fishing close to home! No driving to Dixon for a lunker! Anywhere within 2 hours and its on!

It was fun while it lasted.....but these are the times we live in!


Josh D.

Urban

You are right that there are few guys who stick with it through the years, especially in nor-cal, but there any many many who try. Here are my thoughts. When I say 'big bass guy' I'm talking about someone with a few years of experience who has caught a couple dozen over 10lbs.

I think if you ask any big bass guy how it affects the fish to have a lot of people around trying with the same or similar techniques as you, they'll all tell you its a bad thing - whether those people catch fish or not.

I think if you ask any big bass guy how it affects the fish to have one guy who knows what he is doing fish one small lake often (like every weekend or several times a week) they'll tell you it can affect the lake a lot.

Consequently you don't see many, if any, big bass guys posting exact techniques and locations of recent catches because they fear either a lot of people will come and try or they fear a few guys who really know what they are doing will come and camp out.

I have directly and indirectly turned a lot of people on to big bass fishing. I have directly and indirectly put many people on thier personal best big bass, perhaps you included. Not many have stuck to it but some have. If those guys who stick with it can fish 2 or 3 days a week on the same lakes that I fish with the same baits, they can directly affect how I do. It's happened in the past and it will happen in the future.

I could go hide under a rock and not say anything to anyone, but I enjoy talking it up so here I am walking a fine line between helping people out and hurting my own chances. I feel good about where I'm at in that regard so I'm content. Some people think I should say less and some people think I should say more and that's their opinion. It's impossible for me to make everyone happy but I hope I can at least earn everyone's respect.

-Rob

Well said Rob.
Brian

If anyone questions what can happen when a "bite" is posted on the internet, just look at what happened to Casitas last month. A few reports of big bass and the place got straight up hammered by guys chucking swimbaits. Not that that could've been kept a secret anyway, but things like that happen on smaller scales anywhere a hot bite is reported.

I don't think all is lost by not being able to post reports though. I think the way Rob has the photo album set up is awesome. It gives us all a way to show off the fish we catch without giving up the specifics. That's all I really care about anyway. I just want to see pics and maybe see what it was caught on. The lakes aren't that important to me. Just show me the picture!

Also, when you're around for a while, you figure out the guys that live around you. I do alot of emailing with locals in my area about our lakes. Anyone that i've talked to through email knows that I don't hold much back and am happy to give up the goods. It's cool being able to share info and hear how it worked out for people. The return reports are something that happen very rarely on public forums for some reason. Back during the good old days, there was alot of info going out and not much coming in.

By the way, I live on the Central Coast for anyone who does not know. Most of the fish in my album are from Lopez and Margarita. That's no secret. http://calfishing.com/gallery/phil_van_zee

If you want to talk fishing, PM me and we'll talk.

-Phil