When Do You Squeal? Aka Bump Gums, Flap Lips, Run Mouth...

[John Andrews]

I give up some spots, But there are two I have only shared with my best friend and fellow kayaker. We are both catch and release guys. I learned a lesson here. You post a good spot, what lure, etc, and the next thing you know it gets hamered. I 'll post info about "ok" places.

[Bird Watcher]

I give up some spots, But there are two I have only shared with my best friend and fellow kayaker. We are both catch and release guys. I learned a lesson here. You post a good spot, what lure, etc, and the next thing you know it gets hamered. I 'll post info about "ok" places.

This is kind of a weird story, and I don't know if it comes from this site or somewhere else, but I casually know a couple of the younger guys that work the counter down at Academy. Friend of a Friend kind of deal.

Well, I guess there's a couple of fellas that frequent the store that have walked up to the boys and asked them if they know me, by name, described my truck, described my boat and whether or not I had been catching any fish. The boys told them that I had, I'd shown them some pics on my phone the week before. The fellas asked them all about where I'd been catching them and what on.

These fellas came in 2 or 3 times and always pumped the boys for information. I had the boys get their names, I have no idea who they are. Kinda weird.

My point being, it's kinda weird that you never know who is following you around. Whether in real life or on the internet. I really think these guys must have been following me from the launch. There's a boat down there that always does a U turn if he sees me anchored up fishing. Might be them, I don't know.

The thing is, I'd gladly tell these guys what I've been catching if they'd just pull up and talk, but instead they lurk and wait to see if they can potlick off of me without me knowing it.

Luckily, I've got enough spots that I rarely fish the same one twice a month. I can guerilla tactic them or even go to a completely different lake for awhile, but you've got to be aware of the mindset of the anonymous lurker when laying out specifics about where you've been catching them.

[blue79]

When im cleaning fish at the marina and people walk by and say (wow...where did ya catch those?) ill tell them if they are heading to their boat with their fishing gear.I will tell them what worked for me if they are going fishing (especially if they have kids).If they dont have their gear with em,i just assume they are their to cruise around on their jetskis or tube,then i lie.

Small lakes and ponds,i lie and tell family and friends i caught them at a different lake or pond.If you tell them then the next time you go there you will find trash and cigarette butts everywhere,and that puts an end to a fishing spot real quick.

[Goggle-Eyed]

Wayne.... I do not fish for them. But I know people in my Elks lodge that catch them a lot. But i think it is way up. But I would bet there are some taken in other places. I have only caught a few down here. Has been a lack of white bass in the lower lake for the most part. I think LOZ is having a problem with big boats. The wakes have been such that they appear to drive the fish off the banks and they lay deep most of the time. But when you can get too them fishing is good.

Yep, everyone stop fishing the back sides of boat docks on the shallow side. The waves have driven the fish off the banks (Well Maybe In August it's temp not boats). I wouldn't even bother fishing a boat dock on LOZ, I would fish all the No Wake Bouys that have the brush Guido and Dion tied underneath "all of them" on the Gravois Arm... LOL

[Old plug]

I do not know about Guido or Dion. I do not relate anything about fishing spots to anyone in that family. I like them but I learned not to tell them anything about fishing holes, if you git my drift goggle-eyed.

I am sure heat has a little to do with it driving fish out of the shallows. But the wakes have gotten so darn large i think they they are more to blame.

[Ham]

I've gotten burned enough that I won't put much detail online anymore. If I know you, I'll tell you everything in person. If I'm familiar with you online, PM me and I'll try to help.

I don't talk online AT ALL anymore about river smallmouth trips. I go. I catch em. I don't talk about it. I really value going and catching the fool out of them and never seeing another fisherman all day.

They dump 1.5 million trout in the White River every year. I'll talk trout online, in person, whatever.

[Al Agnew]

Interesting point, Ham...

River fishing is about halfway between addiction and religion for me, and talking about it is the next best thing to doing it. But by talking about it so much, are we contributing to its popularity and the pounding the rivers get? Should we not only clam up about where we fish, but also how we fish and how many we catch, in "public" places like this? It's a question that I've wrestled with at times.

[Mark]

Pretty common knowledge that most people will not divulge secret private lakes and ponds. Public waters are different story - without specific holes being mentioned but it's nice to have info on water conditions, type of bait working, etc. - and I'm sure it's good for businesses in the areas to have information out there.

[Bird Watcher]

Pretty common knowledge that most people will not divulge secret private lakes and ponds. Public waters are different story - without specific holes being mentioned but it's nice to have info on water conditions, type of bait working, etc. - and I'm sure it's good for businesses in the areas to have information out there.

I see what you are saying, but I've got spots on public water that if I even mentioned the type of water it is, it would give it away. On top of that, the spots are so tiny that they just can't take the pressure. Hence, I say nothing.

[Wayne SW/MO]

The wakes on LOZ are definitely more common, but not new. I can't really say when they began at a high intensity, but it was going on about 30 years ago on the east end. I don't think it bothers the fish. It might dictate their patterns, but they will still eat and pattern.