All this hubbub about the spot, the promised land, posting coordinates, spelling out programs in detail. I'm sitting here trying to remember if I've ever gone to someone else's spot, fished their program (without modification), and been successful.
If I have, I honestly can't remember it. I do however remember trying to without success.
These fish are predators looking for prey, constantly adjust to their changing environment, besides the fact that they are on a major migration. The fish off Sherrod Park swap out overnight, and change through the course of a day. Were we handled 25 walleyes in the tournament on Sat., there was mostly sheephead the next day. The white perch are starting to spawn, and they are going to be a problem. The tailpipers, and copy-catters, don't understand that a wind shift, a pressure change, time of day, boat traffic, and a zillion other things effect the fish, and need to be considered.
Trying to duplicate someone else's program, or chasing radio fish, are for the most part a waist of time. The secret about the secret spot is that THERE IS NO SUCH THING !!!
If you tell me your program in detail w/ coordinates, what I'm going to do is go straight towards those numbers but stop a mile or so short, and set up, what I have confidence in, and approach. As I approach, I'm going to be paying attention to other boats, watching for flying nets, or just the interest level of the fishermen. I'll be checking the screen, but also looking for birds, slicks on the water, scumlines & insect pupa cases. I'll run through the numbers and then start a search pattern, usually making loops, but maybe heading off in 1 direction, if that's what feels right.
My point is if you want to be consistently successful, you've got to make the right decisions, the right adjustments, you've got to THINK FOR YOURSELF.
This is all doubly true if your interest is in big fish or tournament fishing.
Maybe the guys who are stirring the pot, get upset because they seldom catch fish. Well I like to try and help everyone, not because I'm some do-gooder, but because I know how much I enjoy our great resource, and I want to see everyone maximize their enjoyment (catch more fish).
The truth is not everyone has had the opportunity to spend the time needed to learn as much as others, but if you don't start trying things, and searching, you'll never learn.
It's also true that posting coordinates may do more harm than good, if an inexperienced guy spends 1/2 his day there, because it's the secret spot.
I gather information, but I don't expect things to stay locked in, and neither should you.
So the next time you go fishing, be ready to go hunting first, and I'm not talking about hunting for packs of boats. (that's another rant, for another day).
Sermon over .... have a great evening.
If I have, I honestly can't remember it. I do however remember trying to without success.
These fish are predators looking for prey, constantly adjust to their changing environment, besides the fact that they are on a major migration. The fish off Sherrod Park swap out overnight, and change through the course of a day. Were we handled 25 walleyes in the tournament on Sat., there was mostly sheephead the next day. The white perch are starting to spawn, and they are going to be a problem. The tailpipers, and copy-catters, don't understand that a wind shift, a pressure change, time of day, boat traffic, and a zillion other things effect the fish, and need to be considered.
Trying to duplicate someone else's program, or chasing radio fish, are for the most part a waist of time. The secret about the secret spot is that THERE IS NO SUCH THING !!!
If you tell me your program in detail w/ coordinates, what I'm going to do is go straight towards those numbers but stop a mile or so short, and set up, what I have confidence in, and approach. As I approach, I'm going to be paying attention to other boats, watching for flying nets, or just the interest level of the fishermen. I'll be checking the screen, but also looking for birds, slicks on the water, scumlines & insect pupa cases. I'll run through the numbers and then start a search pattern, usually making loops, but maybe heading off in 1 direction, if that's what feels right.
My point is if you want to be consistently successful, you've got to make the right decisions, the right adjustments, you've got to THINK FOR YOURSELF.
This is all doubly true if your interest is in big fish or tournament fishing.
Maybe the guys who are stirring the pot, get upset because they seldom catch fish. Well I like to try and help everyone, not because I'm some do-gooder, but because I know how much I enjoy our great resource, and I want to see everyone maximize their enjoyment (catch more fish).
The truth is not everyone has had the opportunity to spend the time needed to learn as much as others, but if you don't start trying things, and searching, you'll never learn.
It's also true that posting coordinates may do more harm than good, if an inexperienced guy spends 1/2 his day there, because it's the secret spot.
I gather information, but I don't expect things to stay locked in, and neither should you.
So the next time you go fishing, be ready to go hunting first, and I'm not talking about hunting for packs of boats. (that's another rant, for another day).
Sermon over .... have a great evening.