Why aren't there more "Fishing Reports" Posted

I think In Seine and GB2 have pretty much summed it up. The only thing I would add is that, in the nicest, most respectful way I can, I actually disagree with the original premise. I think we actually have a ton of reports here. Certainly more than on certain other fishing sites I frequent.

I think it is changing tho', even in the short time I've been here I can sense that people are becoming more reluctant to post reports and I can understand why; every report I've ever posted has come from a place I went to because I read about it on here. That's probably true for almost all other newbs and there's a lot of us now.

Well... I feel a bit guilty, not reporting every time I go out these days.  I used too, and tried very hard to do the best posts that I could every time, regardless of non-productive days.

But then life happened, and I have some serious issues that need attention.  So I haven't been fishing that much (used to be every weekend!) and haven't really had much to report other than I did get out for a day on the water. 

That and when my camera broke, I didn't feel like posting till I got a new one, since that a major part of sharing the outing for me.

But since reading this post, I want to make amends!  So if I can get out fishing this weekend, I promise to make a full  report!

Thanks for waking me up guys!

Great topic Dale I appreciate you posting this as I feel it needs to be adressed.....again.  Participation People! 



Re: Reports, feel free to disagree, feel free to flame me


I read reports purely for entertainment and post in a manner in which I hope provides some insight on how things went for me that day.  Thats also what I look for in a report and thank all those who take the time out of their day to share that with me.  I'm not gonna lie, I have a short attention span, reports that are one block paragraph with no pics get a  quick glance and a quick exit, whether that person caught a skunk or a world record I'll never know, or care.

What I don't do is start divulging all kinds of info thats better spread through a cellphone call or face to face conversation.  In some instances it seems that people have been donkey kicked in the head by the, "sharing is caring," jackass. Everytime someone steps in with a comment suggesting people keep a tight lip on something there's a half dozen care bears that chime in preaching to the greatest joy of their life being sharing. If that was truly the case you can go ahead and give me the keys to your car, your credit card info and/or your wife.  Some things should remain sacred. 

I'm not suggesting you don't report I'm just saying be smart about what you post and what you don't post.  Theres spots that everyone will always know and never be a secret.  Or a hot bite will be posted on another site and we rally up to get in on it.  Thats fine.  Posting a no name picture of the great stringer you got in Big Sur is great.  Getting the shot with the ocean as a background and no landmarks is better.  Renaming the spot to keep the dogs off your tail....perfect.  Posting pics with exact location names and how to piss off the ranger is flat out stupid. You were not the first person to pull a fat stringer out of there (this goes for all locations), show a little respect to those who went before you and don't blow the freakin spot up. Share it with others who are deserving and responsible.  If you haven't read the politics section I highly suggest you read the closing Lime Kiln to kayaking thread...its there. A couple years ago I, along with a few others, were guided around the spot by Chef who had been tearing it up down there.  There were certainly others who had gone before us and posted about it and probably alot more who'd hit the spot before the internet was a twinkle in al gore's eye.  But those times are no more.  At the time we went the info was limited to those who posted and it it wasn't a problem but now its a free for all, this website is getting to big for that level of info sharing and you might be doing more harm than good.

THE "YOU CAN GIVE A MAN A FISH AND IT'LL FEED HIM FOR A DAY," ADDAGE HAS NEVER HELD MORE TRUTH. REMEMBER THAT WHEN YOU REPORT.

 

I haven't been reporting because, well, I moved out of state about a year ago.  Luckily for me Polepole and Bill set up an NCKA sister site up here in the Pacific Northwest called NWKA and our membership is only ~400 right now so it's like NCKA was three or so years ago.   On the one hand I want NWKA to grow like NCKA and at the same time I'm enjoying the small group camaraderie.

Brian

ah, I would report more on this forum but I sold my Dakota and can no longer tote my Caper.  Well, not until I find the time to get my racks put on my new corolla.  I'm posting on surf fishing forums, since I'm pretty much limited to the shoreline.  Oh well...

I've ever posted has come from a place I went to because I read about it on here. That's probably true for almost all other newbs and there's a lot of us now.

so, I'm actually gonna chime in on this with a bit more I suppose. Feel free to skip the next paragraph if you don't want background and only want the point.

background-- I've been yakfishing for over 12 years (only 8 here in marin). I grew up fishing here.  When i started yak fishing here i first frequented the places i used to shore fish. I hardly ever saw anyone else out there. Then I started trying to find launches that were close to those places that were posted on Coastside and other sites. I've kept logs of all those trips, dates, times, tides, lures, catches, weather....Today when i try to figure out where I'm gonna go I first dig through my aging brain to figure out where I THINK fish might be (depending on what i want to go after), then I go to the boards and sites to try to confirm. If the result is an ocean thing-- i look for others going to the same place (Now I'm kind of an anti-social fishing guy...I want to fish by myself or with a couple of guys)

Point-- I actually think that those that are more experienced "owe" it to the newbies to help them build that base of knowledge. I'm guilty of course of not posting reports now (mostly cause I was fed up with the "not enough detail" vs. "too much detail" threads). So, whether you take a couple of new guys out, PM them info (my fav), or post a report...I still think that this sport is small enough to help those that are learning out.

...preaching to the greatest joy of their life being sharing. If that was truly the case you can go ahead and give me the keys to your car, your credit card info and/or your wife.  Some things should remain sacred. 

you cant have my truck damn it!

I tend to post trips that I initiate, but not ones where others do and I am tagging along.  I have reported many "small gopher and blues" trips as well as skunks.  Boring but maybe helpful to someone planning on going to the same spot the next few days.  I dont have enough epic trips to brag.

Especially for well known spots, I dont think anyone is exposing anything. 

I'd report more, but it would piss off what few friends I have.

If fish were unlimited, I'd help everyone, including the 2X number of lurking guests by giving out GPS points to my favorite spots. 

But sadly, there not......

By helping albeit strangers, we increase the take, which leads to lower fish stocks and tighter restrictions.  Spots that used to produce heavy stringers, will have sub par results. 

I believe in sharing the outdoors and passing it on.  To your friend, co-worker, son, daughter etc......  However I don't post it on the WWW for everyone.  If we all did that, there wouldn't be any more "honey holes" left.  Besides, exploring is half the adventure....

 

I am also in the category of a person that wanted to learn how to yak fish but did not know how, like northern boy.

Initially, I paid brendan for 3 guided trips (expensive, but worth every penny). The rest of what I learned I got from guys on here, and if it weren't for NCKA'ers I would still be an aging surfer thinking I'd like to do a little more fishing. After 3.5 years of kayakfishing I am feeling pretty self sufficient for a bit.

reports that teach something whether it be equipment or technique or safety or whatever are very valuable for learning. It is not all about the spot location. that can be safely omitted and the report still has a lot of value.

I would post more if I was fishing! With a new business and the lagging economy I've had to pay attention more than before. This "Shore Patrol" duty is driving me crazy. Also need to replace Optio that got "Kid"napped.
 
I have feelings similar to GB-2's. I am happy to share tackle tips and other knowledge about how to fish.
We post to share with our brothers and friends, but sometimes forget who the whole audience is......Something we forget to think about when posting for your friends to see.

Fishing with people you know have have similar respect for those treasured spots is a great pleasure and with us a lot of fun. Going back and not having a place to park or finding the spot plastered with PB's is a bummer.

Catcha twenty two... What?  Catcha twenty two...

PJ

Troutnut had it right.......
1. Duck Season
2. Deer Season
3. Quail Season
4. Football Season
5. It's GWB's fault!

I would add to that:
6-Wild Pigs
7-My new .50-cal muzzleloader
8-Range sessions for the above
9-My mountain bike
10-Oh, and my wife....

But even more, I would add to that:

11-No Salmon Season
12-I will NEVER fish for a planter fish, not ever and nowhere
13-Ludicrously complicated game regs.....I was just told a few days back
     right here at NCKA that on the Russian River it's the LAW that regardless
     of species, you can only fish barbless and Bait Is Illegal...!!!...

     I didn't know that.
     If I'd gone up there, I'd probably have been giged.
     It's an ugly ugly business and the motivation is evil-squared

14-But I do fish.  Documentary Proof: I'm the owner of a $61.50 Non-Resident Oregon Fishing License...(Hey Brian, I hope you are reading this...Here I am in Berkeley, CA contributing to the Pacific Northwest Economy).     On the basis of ($61.50)/(the number of fish caught) it's a level of donation that makes my wife roll her eyes. 

Even Oregon is getting wierd about their fishing regs.   All streams lieing West of the Cascade Mountain Summit.....as a default condition are "Catch & Keep."    BUT GET THIS......All streams lieing East of the Cascades......as a default condition are "Catch & Release."......with exceptions (many many exceptions) individually listed in the reg-pages.

Too many laws......they can gig you for snot on your upper lip...

Judd

I've  been seriously kayak fishing for about 10 years now and have seen what many of you talked about regarding the explosion in kayak fishing.  It was truly a novelty not so long ago and is gaining popularity quickly, but I think many of you are overestimating the impact that kayak angling is having on most fisheries.  The fact is, people that seriously kayak fish would be fishing via other means if kayaks had never been invented and there are always other ways to obtain information on conditions and bites other than NCKA.  I fish some remote places, but I also fish a lot of so called "popular" spots as well and there really are not all that many people out there fishing them, especially from kayaks.  I hope we don't loose the sense of community that I have been pleased to see this site foster in the few years I have been on here under my current name and my previous one.  Compared to the LA and San Diego area where they routinely get kayakers numbering in the hundreds to fish a tournament series for calico and sand bass, the pressure up here in the beautiful part of the state is really minimal. 

This is not to say that we should all get on today and broadcast every detail of every spot you go and how exactly you catch the fish, but I'd like to see more and more people trade in their gas spitting two strokes for paddles and that happens by encouraging newbies and sharing helpful information and techniques that get folks hooked on the kayak version of fishing.  I don't know many people who never fished before they started kayak fishing so I don't think it's like information here is breeding new anglers for the most part. 

I do get the sport boat and private boat concern, but again, that is more of a problem when you are kayaking close to sportfishing fleets and major boat launches, like with the WSB scenario that was brought up.

I try to post every time I kayak fish, good or bad, but I know lots of folks who don't.  It seems a lot of the time that people with the most good information to share are reluctant to post as well, which is a shame.  I've found that telling someone exactly where and how to fish a hot bite often fails to yield the same results for them, but maybe it lets them catch a few fish and that is enough to keep them going and grow our sport........

Norm

PS - I hear you agarcia, and I don't completely disagree with all your sentiment, but you seriously need a hug bro!!   

It is very nice that some of you guys are willing to share your honey holes on line with fellow kayak crowd. Many in here benefit from it. However, many outside of here do as well. And they most likely outnumber the people here by a large margin. Sure, the ocean is huge and can take a hit or two, or may be even a big reservoir in a remote area like O’Neil Fore bay. And even one of my favorites in the south bay, Anderson reservoir. They have enough fish for everyone and I have no troubles sharing that.

That is until you go to O’Neil Forebay in a weekday and find all kinds of people on kayaks, power boats, float tubes, pontoons, you name it, they were there.

It is true that a lot of people go for the excitement of C&R. Yet at least half of them will keep a fish or two if they catch one. If you guys think that this lake can handle the pressure, well, think again.

I fished San Luis in the early 70's when the limit was 5 fish and there was no size limit. In those days, the reservoir was relatively new, less than a decade old and the lake was very fertile. Hence the striper population exploded. We (my friends and I) were able to keep limit after limit of 2-3# fish. At times, we would hook up 3 fish on 3 hooks with cut bait. Yea, you heard me right! How many times have you guys seen this type of action lately?

So here is the dilemma. If you tell every one in here, will the fish population decrease again when the pressure builds up? My hunch is that it will and those of you that are posting every detail will see for yourselves and cut back on the posting eventually.

I am not saying don't post in here as we all get satisfaction in sharing the news and the fun with each other. I for one post most of my reports on another forum and will keep on doing so. But I will always withhold where I catch my fish unless it is from a lake I think that could handle the pressure.

There is a fine line in posting enough and posting too much. I live in the South bay and there are only 4 reservoirs near me that I can fish in a float tube. A picture taken that show only water and the fish can help identify what lake the fish came from because of the water coloration. Yes, I have had people tell me exactly where I went just by looking at the water coloration. Publishing water conditions, the type of fish targeted and even wind conditions can tell a tale.

I am not trying to make you guys paranoid of posting. Just be aware of the ramifications of doing so. And again I will post a report, good or bad. But I will withhold critical information of where I have been.

As for the reason I don't post much here it is because I feel out of place being a float tube guy in a kayak board.

Happy reporting every one!

My hunch is that it will and those of you that are posting every detail will see for yourselves and cut back on the posting eventually.

Zactly.

The problem is you can never know how many lurkers, kayaker and otherwise, scan these public forums. Ten? Twenty? More? Then think about the geometric multiplier of all their friends, friends of friends, etc..