To share or not to share?

I?ve got a question about secrets or in some cases, the lack of secrets. Do you have any secrets about fly fishing or about fly tying that you wouldn?t share with other member of FAOL? I?m asking about things like discovering a new, super-deadly fly pattern, finding a cheap gauzy material that makes PERFECT mayfly wings, discovering a little wrist flick that jumped flies across the water in an irresistible way, finding a common household product that made dry flies impossible to sink-------that kind of thing.

Suppose you found that flies with bodies made from Burger King coffee stirrers were irresistible to brim, bass, trout, bonefish or what ever you fish for and they double or tripled your strikes consistently, would you

1. Never mention your discovery on this board at all---ever!

2. Tell people you had a really great secret body material and not divulge the source! :shock:

3. Share only with a couple of close friends from FAOL by IM

4. Spill the beans complete and share your secret immediately in an open forum.

I?m afraid that I fall into the 4th category. I like helping people to do well. About the only thing I wouldn?t share is the location of a small, stream hot spot that would be damaged by over fishing or something that I had promised another person I would keep secret. How about you guys and gals? 8T :D

If I actually figured out something on my own, and more importantly figured out something that the entire world of fishing didn't already know, I'd probably be so shocked and excited that I'd shout it from the mountain top and tell everyone I met, fisherperson or not.

I think the odds of me being the originator of some secret of piece of fly fishing wisdom are so slim that dreaming about it is about as close as I'll ever come. :)
Jeff

ET,
I'd be totally open, and let everyone know, and probably send pieces of it to whomever asked, along with pictures and detailed directions. As well as posting it all on the forum.
Betty

I would probably share it with my serious ff buddies, like on here, but not to other (casual) anglers.

I'd write a book or make a video and become an FAOL sponsor and SELL the knowledge in order to share it. It's the American Way! :lol:

#2 would be :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

If I told you, I would have to kill you! :lol:

Quote:

---

"Suppose you found that flies with bodies made from Burger King coffee stirrers were irresistible to brim, bass, trout, bonefish or what ever you fish for and they double or tripled your strikes consistently..."

---

Wendy's works better, but don't tell anyone. :lol:
Technique? Yes. Product? Yes. Place to fish? Over my dead body.

Duckster,

Number two has been done on this board a number of times. There was a guy a couple of years ago who posted for about three months and constantly bragged about his secret bluegill fly and the ninety pound bluegills he caught with it. :? Some of you older guys may remember him. I won't mention his name just in case someone was strange enough to like him. I've also seen it done by a regular fairly recently.

Silvermallard, I've got to admire that entrepreneurial spirit. The only thing that would be more impressive would be to take someone else's idea and write about as your own. :lol:

8T :D

I'd tell everybody. How else could I become famous? :D

Besides it's not likely any of you knuckleheads would be fishing next to me.

If I had any discoveries that would revolutionize fly fishing as we know it, I would tell everyone, but since I don't :wink: , I won't. :lol:

Everything I know you all already have.

www.HATofMichigan.org

Nothing there will ever make me famous though.

Bobinmich

When I find something that works well for me, I can't wait to share
it with my FAOL friends. There have been a number of things over
the years but probably the most popular was the dremel bug how
to. I've corresponded with many dozens of FAOLers who found the
article beneficial.*G* Warm regards, Jim

If I see something asked on the board...I try and give a solid answer if I can...Every once in a great while I happen to do it by PM is all.... :lol:

So When asked directly of certian things I guess, I will still share...

For me part of the fun of discovering a new material, technique etc. is sharing it with others. Anyone who won't share must have a very short memory to forget all the things that others have shared with them. Fly fishing and fly tying isn't a competition, it's a pastime that is meant to be shared.

Jim Smith

People that freely give info to each other are my favorite people. It shows their secure with themselves. I also pay attention to how people respond to each other's info. If you post info and photos on the BB, you need to understand that not everyone is going to go crazy for it. So it's nice when people are polite.
Since everybody is sharing music and video files, how bout if we share GPS coordinates of our favorite fishing spot????
Doug :lol:

At Least 99.99% of what I kow has come from other folks.
So the little I know, I try to contribute.
I may take a few friends to my best places, but the rest of you are proabably out of luck.
I have had too many ponds ruined by folks going back to them and messing them up.

If you are on this board and come here to go fishing, you are one of my friends.

Rick

I think that I speak for many of the regulars when I say that Jim and Rick are certainly among the most generous people when it comes to sharing their knowledge about fly fishing and fly tying. We all owe both of you a debt of thanks. We also owe JC, LF, and Al Campbell one heck of a lot. How else would I know to "keepth my backcast upth?"

Doug and James, I think you really hit the nail. We all owe other people a great deal and the nicest people are the ones who remember that and want to share freely with others. 8T :D

For me, I share anything I have learned with anyone who really wants to learn whatever I know. That is why I love teaching the Beginner's Fly Tying class. I have shared some fly patterns on FAOL that have been really good flies and still are, but, I really do not feel anyone believed me since no PM's or posts were made by anyone which, I assume, means no one tried them. Oh, well, that is their lost not mine.

As for fishing spots on the local rivers here, I share them with anyone who is into "catch and release". I don't mind sharing those spots that are close to the access areas since I feel any good fly fisherman will eventually find them anyway. I usually do not share the spots where I use my Hobie Cat 75 to get to. Those areas could be as far as 4 or 5 miles up or down river from any of the access areas. Those are my areas to just get away from everyone and I consider them "my spots".

I give many flies and furled leaders away to other fisherman on the rivers if they seem interested in them.

I think most people just do not believe you when you do tell them about a good fly, fishing spot, etc.

I will read, listen to others and watch others to learn anything I can. There is no telling how many times I have spent well over an hour just reading the fly tying tips pages on FAOL. It seems like everytime I visit those tips, I learn something new.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by James Smith

For me part of the fun of discovering a new material, technique etc. is sharing it with others. Anyone who won't share must have a very short memory to forget all the things that others have shared with them. Fly fishing and fly tying isn't a competition, it's a pastime that is meant to be shared.

Jim Smith

---

I agree wholeheartedly. I used to frequent another website forum that went from a sharing site to a chest-thumping, ego driven, tight-lipped blog for a handful of the Moderator's friends. When i called the moderator to task on the direction the site was going, I got my IP banned and cannot even access the site as read-only. An online friend came to my side and he was also banned. I was upset at first, but then I realized I could not be happy there without openly sharing information, and these guys deserved each other. I found FAOl and the rest is history. I share as much as I know as often as I can, and I'm thankful for everyone here that does the same.

Joe

Warren P

It may not be that no one has tried your flies long enough if that was what you were talking about. It sometimes is confidence in what you are fishing and staying with it long enough to be productive. I've had people in the boat with me that wouldn't fish what I was catching fish long enough to feel confident with it.

Knucks

I have always been a bit overwhelmed by the generous outpouring of information so freely given by everyone on this website. I have always received a prompt answer to any question I have ever asked on here and in the Chat.

How on earth could I ever hold back anything from you folks? So Yep If I ever come up with anything original and helpful in any way I will crow about it loud and long on here.

Many times I have been in the fishing section of Wal-Mart , Cabelas ,Sears etc .... you name the store.... and watched some poor Dad buying fishing equipment totally unrealistic for the type of fishing in my area so he could take his son/daughter fishing ? Do I offer Him some helpful suggestions or did I just cringe and walk away. Yes I help Him out if I can.

I could never pass by some kid on the dock with hooks big enough for halibut fishing but not for the sunfish he is angling for and not handed him some flies that will really work for him. That along with some advice on how to use them for the sunfish. I couldn't pass that kid by and I bet you couldn't either.

I do however keep the location of my favorite asparagus patch secret so your will have to find your own.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gnu Bee Flyer

I do however keep the location of my favorite asparagus patch secret so your will have to find your own.

---

You have a secret asparagus patch??????? :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: Can I be your new best friend? Please, please, pllllleeeeeaaaaaasssssse? :lol: :lol: :lol: I have to admit that I keep my favorite blackberry patch secret as well. My own son walks past it when we go fishing for bluegills and he just rolls his eyes when I stop and fill a zip-lock bag with them in August. Funny, he always shows up just as the pie is coming out of the oven. Hmmmmm?

Joe

Quote:

---

he just rolls his eyes when I stop and fill a zip-lock bag with them in August. Funny, he always shows up just as the pie is coming out of the oven.

---

Here in the Sierra foothills we have TONS of blackberry bushes everywhere. Any hike near a stream will take you to blackberry bushes (and poison oak). My wife makes pies with them in the fall. She puts slices of pears in the blackberry filling so the filling won't be so runny.

Now, as far as Fly Fishing secrets go, here's one: I'm actually even worse at fly fishing that I appear to be. :lol: Oh, and I always get the terms "Mend" and "Strip" confused. I just hope that nobody notices.


Greg

LOL!!! I thought someone was going to give me a hard time for telling Perch I'd give him pertinant information about Black Hills fishing in a PM!!!!!!! I will tell you where you can get the worlds best Mountain Medley pie ... made with strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries. The Cheyenne Crossing store! (sometimes, if the timing is right, there'll be some rhubarb in it too!) See! I can share!! :roll: :wink:

I believe one of the beauties of this passion is in the sharing. I'm amazed at how many times I've seen folks in parking lots studying each other's fly boxes, comparing and sharing flies. Not once have I ever seen folks swapping Rapalas. Not saying it isn't done. Just saying I haven't seen it happen. Around here, though, you simply don't tell where you've been fishing. The cadre of meat hunters will clean a lake out between weekends. Sad but true. JGW

With fingers crossed behind my back.........I have no secrets....honest....I didn't do it...It was, ah, the volcano?....Locust?.....nah, that fly came in a box of Wheaties.....really, cross my heart and hope to die.....you don't want a fly like this....Trout laugh at it....no that's not a Whipperwill ear feather....plain variety garden sparrow....honest....Jungle Cock?....you gotta be kidding?....a kid could tie this fly....Polar Bear hair?....I wouldn't be caught dead using it.....honest. But in all honesty, I did find a very old box of Christmas ornaments in my grandparents basement that had some old tinsel that appears to be made of lead or a lead alloy. Great for weighting down sinking flies when wraped on the shank before other materials. Whew...that wasn't easy.

Definitely #4!! Without someone or a number of someones, where would ANY of us be? I have no secrets (other than my fudge recipe) & I wouldn't have it any other way. My fly fishing skills are still suspect, but they are improving, thanks to my FAOL family.
Mike

What a bunch of nyutcases. I would gladly share anything I know here, because I get so much from it.

On the stream, while maybe not totally tight lipped, I might be a little more guarded with my personal treasures. (Ha! I wish I had some!)

It is a joy to exchange info here with you guys.

I'd tell anyone ...Who Posted as that they were seeking the info I had....But fishing spots.....Thats where I draw the line...I'll not give out my favorite waters...Except those that have been published a million times over....Those waters are so crowded they won't get a cast in any way....

My biggest secret that I will always share openly.(And this holds true more often than not!).Is simply to avoid bridge holes or most any water within 200 yds of any type of roadway....and you will double your chances...!

I kind of missed this in my first post. But re reading the replys including my own this morning it hit me like a brick.

I follow example set by Al Campbell.
Al Held nothing back from us, He helped everyone who needed it. He always gave us his very best, I can do no better than follow his example.

well said, Gnu Bee!

OK, OK, I'll let my secret out of the bag (pipe). I have attached a photo of Angus, my pet gorilla. Angus makes sure my favorite fishing hole is always there for me when I want to flip a fly in the evenings on my favorite (secret) little steam here in SE Michigan. Angus also seranades me with "Amazing Grace" as I wade up and down the stream. You have to truly experience it to appreciate it. Now there you have my big secret.....by the way, pipe playing pet gorillas are not easy to come by. Hope you find your gorilla some day soon.

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...laMacClain.jpg

Quote:

---

My biggest secret that I will always share openly.(And this holds true more often than not!).Is simply to avoid bridge holes or most any water within 200 yds of any type of roadway....and you will double your chances...!

---

Bill, another gentleman, also named Bill, from the Auburn Fly Fishing club just gave me the same advice. He said "If you hike 1/10th of a mile you'll avoid 9/10ths of the fishermen". I've certainly found that to be true.

I spend time every year teaching people to fish. I am part of the Mass Angers Ed program. I've created a power point show that shows many major fishing areas in this part of Western MA. Given that, I guess I don't hold back info. If you ask and I know, the answer is yours.

jed

Jonezee,

Do any of our sponsors sell bagpipe-playing gorillas? Do you have any choice concerning their age or gender when you select one? I'm afraid that you have hit on the one fly fishing accessory that I don't presently own. LOL. :lol: 8T

Angus, as the name implies is a male, I can't say I ever knew a woman named Angus, Gorilla's that is. You might try e-bay? I don't think there is anything you want that isn't for sale at one time or another on e-bay. The Detroit Zoo is low on funds, I think they have a couple of Gorilla's they might part with. The tricky thing will be finding a nice set of bag pipes. Angus was all thumbs for the first week or so, after that you would have thought he had been playing the pipes for years. Start them out on simple tunes at first...you know....like Inagodoughtavida baby....he learned very fast. Keep looking, you can then say you own it all.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Eight Thumbs

I like helping people to do well. About the only thing I wouldn?t share is the location of a small, stream hot spot that would be damaged by over fishing or something that I had promised another person I would keep secret. :D

---

My thoughts exactly.

I believe it is all summed up in Luke 6:38 "Give, and it shall be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye give to others, it shall be measured to you again." It has never failed me when I have given freely with no expectation of being rewarded.

Joe

Jonezee,

You must be a gifted music teacher! :lol: 8T :D :D