"Private" honey holes

[BackOnTheWater]

This topic came up under the thread regarding negative impact to the Chick fishery, and I just wanted to chime in. I don't intend to tick anyone off, but I know I will and it does not bother me at all.

I am NOT a Tx fisherman (though I have been in the past), so I'm just out there a few hours a few days a week to un-clutter my mind and hopefully catch a few fish while doing so. But I DO understand the "code of ethics" Tx guys have and how they feel about sharing "their" spots with others.

I am certainly one of those that study maps before and after an outing, and learn from that and watching my fishfinder. I constantly try to find new-to-me spots to catch fish. If I recognize a tree in the background of a photo, or check out a spot after another boat leaves it, I see no harm done. The same things occurred before the internet and these forums...honey holes got passed around by word-of-mouth and observation. So be it...get over it. I'm pretty sure that I've NEVER found a new spot based solely on what I've seen or read hear. I work over areas pretty good to find my own favorites. And I've never gone fishing in the boat of anyone on this forum, so I could not "steal" their holes.

A buddy at work just bought a boat. I have gone out with him several times, taking him to quite a few of my favorite spots, and showing him others on the map. When he's been in his boat and I've been in mine, I've found him a one of those spots or another several times. We share the area and even follow one another around. Big deal...and he's turned me on to a spot that another buddy he fishes with showed him as well.

While fishing pressure might affect the color or type of lure that works this week, and might even convince the bass to re-locate temporarily, it has no affect on the health of the fishery. Do you people realize just how many fish are out there? Unbelievable numbers...enough for ALL of us to take home 5 2-pounders every time out w/o making a dent for many years.

Get off your high and mighty "I'm a Tx guy and the big fish and their homes should be left for me" bandwagon, and lighten up. You might as well complain that the 7-pounder that I caught this summer was in "your" hole and I should not have been there.

Anyway, sorry for the rant. Just the point of view of an average-Joe that likes to fish. It's all good...but the next time a guy fishing a Tx crowds me outta MY hole or buzzes me like a jet-ski you'll hear about it.

Let the hating begin...emoBigsmile emoGeezer

 

[SpurHunter]

BOTW, you are a brave man...I wish you the best.

 

[BackOnTheWater]

Spur, I've never been called "brave"...stupid, maybe, but never brave!emoLaugh

Just stirring the pot...emoGrouphug

 

[fishinpreacher]

Well the way I see it is that God made all of creation for us ALL to enjoy whether we are fishing, hunting, looking at birds, or simply taking a walk and taking it all in. To think that I can't fish in such and such area simply because someone has fished their before and "staked their claim" is crazy thinking. Now if you are in your boat and sitting on top of "your spot" I'm going to be courteous and keep my distance. But until the government begins selling chunks of the river to individuals, it is all open territory out there. Can't we all just get along? emoAngel

 

[DHaun]

I few points I would like to make on this topic:

1) I understand the $$ and competitive incentive for Tx anglers to protect their holes. I like to protect fish I am on for other reasons, like being able to catch them again. I have had several Tx anglers move in on me casting right at my boat relocating the fish but recreational anglers have done the same. Thankfully, common courtesy can be learned if we post enough about it. I think many seasoned Tx anglers are great conservationalists and advocates for protecting the resource. Many anglers still need maturing and will hopefully learn by example. Recreational anglers should unify with Tx anglers (and vice versa) rather than divide and operate separately. There is strength in numbers. With numbers comes influence and with influence comes power to maintain and improve the fishery for everyone.

2) With time on the water and map/electronics anyone can determine the productive holes on Chickamauga - they are the ones with boats lined up on them. There are no secrets on the water. If you have a license I think <u>any</u> angler has the right to fish anywhere they want on the river so long as they are safe and courteous to others. This is regardless of how they learned of a productive area, which may only exist for a few days or weeks until the fish move or are relocated to a dinner table or weigh-in. I am a strong proponent of catch and release, but I also understand that TWRA limits are established such that legal harvest should have no impact on the overall fishery.

3) We all pay $$ and make sacrifices to spend time on the water. There is no excuse for a lack of safety or courtesy. All anglers should maintain a minimum distance.

4) If you are on fish and want to protect a fishing hole <u>please</u> don't show someone and then complain about it later! Asking someone to keep a spot on the low-down is fine in my opinion, but I would never take someone directly to a spot I fish and then expect them not to fish it again or ask permission ahead of time. Those are unrealistic expectations.

5) Posting a report has never hurt my fishing for any species. I share lots of info about patterns and lures but I try my best to never post pics showing an exact location. It might compromise a hole someone else on CFF is planning to fish and that's just making it too easy for other anglers

 

[Fishin Fool]

I probably should not comment on this thread since most people know my feelings about "honey holes" and tourneys, but I do have one thing that I'll say over and over.

When you take a sport; any sport, football, baseball, bowling, deer hunting, dove hunting, weightlifting, fishing or whatever, and begin to attach money to it, you tend to bring out the worst in some people. I thing you can dice this issue up any way that you like it and the result will always be the same. Fishing should have NEVER, ever been about winning money. I don't mean to offend anyone but if money by gambling is that important then play cards or go to a casino, but don't run over the recreational fisherman to make a dollar. Don't get mad when someone wants to fish in "your spot". Sadly it is not going to matter because "fishing-for-cash" is out of control and there isn't any way to stop it. You will never hear about the true impact on the fishery either because the very people and companies that should be reporting on it are up to their eyes in cash from tournaments.

Sharing how you catch fish, depths, colors and so on make us all better fishermen. I agree, that I don't put location information in a lot of posts but the reason for that is NOT the average guy, but the occasional TX fisherman, that never posts, never shares, and is simply on to gather information to make money. Sure I've heard everyone say it's not about the money, it's about winning enough to pay for gas, or the amount you spent on lures. Really? So your gas costs more than everyone else's? You pay more for lures and bait? If it is not about money, then give out trophies only and see how quickly the TX industry falls apart. The day that happens you won't hear near as much about "honey holes", "secret spots" and information sharing, or lack thereof.

 

[SpurHunter]

I put this one on the Growing good corn thread of Dhauns, but it applies here as well.</p>

I recieve a newsletter via email about everyday. They always include a thought-provoking quote. Here was todays:</p>

<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0"><tbody><tr><td><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="bottom" width="100%" height="32"><table style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #666666 1px solid" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0"><tbody><tr bgcolor="#666666"><td style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: #ffffff; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap">SmartQuote </td><td>

</td><td width="100%" bgcolor="#ffffff"></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><a name="7CBCAFDD-38B5-4591-B7EF-3932A12D18B4"></a><table style="PADDING-RIGHT: 6px; PADDING-LEFT: 6px; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #666666; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; PADDING-TOP: 10px; BORDER-BOTTOM: #666666 1px solid; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #666666" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" bgcolor="#cccccc" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" width="45">

</td><td style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana" width="100%">Success shouldn't be measured by how much you have but by how much you give back."
<div align="right">--Danny Villanueva,
Bastion Capital Fund chairman and former pro athlete

</div></td></tr></tbody></table>
</td><td width="78"> </td></tr></tbody></table></p>

 

[MrWiskers]

So far this thread is basically repeating the post I made in the other thread. Glad to see there are more people than me that has this opinion.

 

[SpurHunter]

THat is because your a leader Michael!

 

[Guest]

Very well put DHaun.........

 

[SeqBass]

I love Tx fishing. I have spots that I tend to go to, but wouldn't call anything "honey holes". If someone is sitting on a spot I like to go to, I do a crazy thing I like to call "go somewhere else". It's everyone's lake people. Let's all enjoy it together. No matter who is on "your" spot...they still have to catch 'em. And that ain't always easy...

 

[Cathooker]

I have no problem with tx fisherman as a whole. A few "elitist" type personalities give it a bad name sometimes. I was watching the Professional Tarpon Tournament on tv the other night and one of the pros lines got tangled with a "recreational" fisherman. The pro cut the guy's line and acted really po'ed about it. The announcer made the comment that the recreational anglers do not know to get out of the pros way....this was almost as if he were saying that the recreational angler had no business to be fishing there. I have seen the same attitude while watching bass tx on tv. I have had folks act that way to me on the water. I pass it off because I know those type folks are jerks in everything they do in life. I have no honey hole secrets...never have ...never will. God made the water for us all and no one has a right to claim it for himself alone.

 

[Buoy-Master]

Thank You DHaun. Thats what I've been saying all along but never heard anyone reply back like you did!

</p>

 

[beetlespin]

I do fish tournaments very frequently. Unfortunately my work schedule has prevented me from doing a lot of practicing this year so I haven't done to well but, I may a lot more money at work than I will ever make fishing. If you show take someone to a spot and they catch fish they are most likely going to come back to it. If somebody shows me a spot and I catch fish I will most likely come back to it. What I won't do is go back to it if I am fishing against that person or if I know they have a tx soon. I don't like to share a spot with somebody and then have to outrun them to it the next time I fish against them. That has happened more than once this year. To me that isn't courteous and don't say "well I would have found it anyway" because thats bull. You hadn't found it before so whats to say you would have found it?

Other than that, it is a public lake and none of us have ownership of any particular hole. At least not that I know of....

Lance

 

[Gator]

Come on guys. David said it very well.
It's simple. "Do unto others as you'd have them do unto you".

 

[fishinpreacher]

My boat stays in Decatur so if you do show me your secret place, its safe from me because I never fish down here unless taken. My boat generally only gets in the water at Cottonport. Now, if you want to go fishin up that way, I'll show you my spot, and you can fish it all you want. Just know that if I take you and your fishin there when I get there, I'll tie my boat to yours and we'll just fish the hole together. emoCool

 

[SpurHunter]

 Toby! 

 

[shocker]

Life is short, just go fish, and enjoy the day, or night of fishing. Theres always going to be things out there to bother you if you want to be bothered. Jet skis, big boat wakes, weather, house chores and just about anything you want to think about. Fishing is a time to relax and enjoy the time by your self, or the great company with you. JUST FISH and the CATCHING will come at sometime hopefully.

 

[Fishing machine]

I know yall get tired of seeing this pic but this smile is on Morgans face because two people on this forum was willing to share one of their holes so I could put her on some bream. Like I said before, share and bring a smile to someone elses face

 

[action jackson]

I myself and my partner work very hard on putting or fixing a place so we can depend on to tx fish and what is bad is you will find alot of lookers out on the water that all they do is look for someone fishing so they can learn something about fishing.We put alot of time in on our "private honey holes" to find someone watching them so they can call them selfs a fisherman .....