Does anybody find it annoying when people come on the forum and post something like this: I went out to the lake (can't tell you what lake) and did really good. Caught fish in water between 2-100 ft. Caught about 50 bass and most were 2-5 lbs. But I can't tell you where I was fishing or what technique I was using. I thought this was a website to tell secrets, tips, and tricks. I have read 3 posts like that in the last couple of days. If you are fishing a tournament and dont wanna tell anybody then fine, but dont post either.

Just my opinion,

Mine too.

Those type of 'posts' are to remind everyone what a good bass fisherman they are.
-Jethro

Who told you that?? I've never seen it posted anywhere on this site that anyone owes you any secrets or tricks. How exactly did you come to that conclusion?

Sure, many people will post suggestion and tips and tactics, but no one is obligated to report any of the things you mentioned. Most of the tips and secrets will be in general terms. Bait, color, depth and structure would be revealing much more of a pattern that most would care to reveal.

A fishing report should also be in general terms, otherwise everyone who read it would be at the exact same lake at the exact same spot, doing the exact same thing. How fun would that be??

Most will share as much info as they chose to share. Once people start demanding or expecting it, you can expect the numbers of that type of info to quickly drop.

Personally, I find it more annoying when people make new posts complaining about other posts.

Kelly

I think most of the above mentioned posts are individuals that like to talk up a lake just before a tourney is going to be fished...they just enjoy trying to get other anglers (their competition) second guessing themselves on the fish they are on...notice how often the weights are much higher then it ever takes to win tourneys on that particular lake...TFF is a great place to read about different techniques to try, but if if you are trying to find out were the fish are biting then just go fishing...

Like I've said before, just enjoy reading the posts. If you find a nugget of information you can use, great, if not, consider it cheap entertainment. I don't ever feel obligated to give detailed reports but I do at times give "general" information regarding patterns, baits, water temps, etc. I receive the same information too. Afterall, it's FREE, so what do you expect? Send me a check and I will give you minute by minute details and locations..

My first post might have been a little harsh. A more concise, friendlier version follows:

If you keep complaining about how people give fishing reports, they won't give more detailed reports. They'll stop giving them.

Better??

Kelly

preach on brother! It does get a bit irritating reading the vague tell you nothing report. But
bass fisherman are sure some secretive types.

I guess I am one of those 3 that are guilty of not giving specific information. Well, if I gave the information I have to everyone, how am I going to help the people that helped me, when I didn't have a boat? I could NOT make a post and let nothing be known that the fish just aren't biting. But, THEY ARE, but you have to WORK HARD to figure out what/how they are biting on. On Wednesday and Thursday, I burned over $80 worth of gas and spent over 12 hours trying to pattern some fish for some friends that helped me last year. They probably didn't need the help, but I wanted to do what I could. I try to pay my debts. Most are people that come here and read a few things and make up their own minds. This is just DOCK TALK here, anyway. If you want to know more about fishing situations, go out and get some TOW. Let the fish tell you.

If I told everyone that the boat was in 4 to 12 ft of water, throwing the bait on shore and bringing it back into the wood and slow rolling a 1/8th oz black colorado blade bait, taking up to 2.5 minutes on each caston 8# fluorcarbon, how many people would DO that? This time of year, as a general rule, the fish are more active, but the are finicky. That may/not be the pattern I developed, but it is not something that everyone feels comfortable doing. Let's say that is the pattern I developed (yeah, right, 1/8 and less than 17 lb test. LOL) I would expect everyone to weigh that as an alternative to what they found during their prefish. In that example, I didn't mention wind blown or not, where the fish hit, how to keep the spinnerbait above the slime moss, steady/stop and go retrieve, N, W, S or E facing bank, cover or point, water temp, wind direction, well, you get the idea.

That is one reason that fishing is such a personal endeavor. The knowledge you gain by fishing and spending time on the water (TOW) is what teaches you that you have to adapt and not to always throw a jig or spinnerbait or crankbait, but to read the water and determine what you think might work.

If this post was not aimed at me, I apologize, but it is what I feel, like Kelly said. I hope this helps clarify what I was trying to do, telling everyone to THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.

Tight lines, keep safe and good luck.

Thad Rains

Well, I no longer mind it! It use to get under my skin.....

BUT AFTER I asked for advice on a certian lake and a bunch of schmucks came back with over-acted fake infomation and then JOKED about it.....

I GAVE UP ASKING.

It just goes to show the class of some.....

Personally I do not mind the vague posts. I think if someone admits that the fish are biting on a lake then it helps folks out a bit. As far as patterns and baits I agree with Kelly, no one is obligated to put anyone on fish or divulge specific patterns. I spend a ton of time on the water and if I have a touranment chances are I have put forth a significant chunk of $$ with entry fees, prefishing gas and T-day gas to simply give up what I have worked hard to find until after the event ends. I personally use very little if any info on lakes from others unless it relates to water clarity, depth, and possibly structure. I truly feel more people would be better off if they worked harder to find fish and learned certain things on their own instead of trying to find an easy shortcut. In the end they would be better anglers.

As far not posting vague information when people have tournaments please remember we are all free to post what we want and our posts do not have to conform to exactly what you want or expect. Maybe you should not read it if it bothers you. Not a shot just my opinion.

P.S.- I speak from experience as I posted an EXACT report of a pattern we used to win the TFF event on RR last year. The nmext weekend there were 15-25 boats on that spot doing the EXACT thing we had done prior. It was a lesson learned and a great fishing spot ruined with TOO much info. I will not be that exact on the forum gain but I have no issue doing so in an email. Thanks

LOL...I'm amused. :-)

Right on Kelly.... YEA!

LC ...if there�s a lake you need help with e-mail the person that is posting and ask them for some detail. You have nothing to loose and everything to gain Just remember there are thousands of people reading the forum everyday. I have heard that this site receive over 60,000 hits per month.

In MY opinion, somewhere between EACH of the above extremes should be what we are all after. I am NOT going to give a blow by blow account of my successes, but a little bit of help goes a LONG way ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE POSTING IN THE FRESHWATER FISHING REPORTS section!!! There are some of us that want to know the color, weight, AND blade configurations on a spinnerbait that is working....There are others on this board that might wonder WHAT a spinnerbait is! Lastly, tell the truth as the doubters won't believe you anyway!