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Posts: 10
| I have been coming to this site as a non-registered guest for a long time(years), I just recently registered. I'm curious as to why so few "Big Fish" pics in the last few years. After 2017 the number of pics declined significantly. Why would this be, anybody have a theory? Any definite factual reasons. Are big fish just not being landed as often or are people just keeping quiet because of fishing pressure and competition. Am I missing something? |
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Posts: 3896
| That's a good question. The long timer good sticks I know don't post pics because it feels like flexing. |
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Posts: 5
Location: Wright County MN | I would imagine its blowing up spots and posting pictures is seen as a way to feed your ego. |
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Posts: 2050
| They also would pick a free LAX replica from the big fish pictures - I think the free replica stopped around the same time possibly as well? Plenty of big fish being caught
Edited by IAJustin 5/2/2025 3:36 PM
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Posts: 8810
| I don't post pictures anymore, because I really don't need/want/or like the attention. And we've all seen soooo many "look at me" pics... I suppose if it was an odd, unusual, or particularly huge fish, like 50# kind of huge I might be inclined. I think it's mostly the fallout from spots, lakes, and general areas being pressured beyond what they can handle already. I know from experience what telling others about what/where/how you caught a fish can do. I used to have a secret lake. Took a buddy there one afternoon. Next time I showed up I was basically thrown out and threatened at gunpoint, because said buddy decided to show up with a carload of his other buddies and some sort of mayhem apparently ensued. Between the cursing and yelling all I could discern was something about a bonfire, and fireworks, lawn chairs in the lake, loud music, drugs, naked people, and and beer cans all over. Sounds like one hell of a party, but F me on being able to fish there ever again.
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Posts: 76
| Here's what happens when you post a picture of yourself holding a big fish:
1. People check the photo for metadata, which includes your GPS coordinates if you don't explicitly disable it
2. If there's no metadata, there are tools to estimate your location from the picture (I know for sure that Youtubers use this)
3. Youtubers show up on your spot and make a video
4. Guides and everyone else start fishing the spot
5. No more big fish for you
So at this point, you have to ask yourself if it's worth blowing up a good spot in order to impress the 47 people in the world who care about such things. |
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Posts: 1355
| Unless the fish is some sort of oddball fish, or the biggest fish any of us have ever seen, what's the point? |
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Posts: 3896
| Wow, I didn't know about all that technical #*#*. We used to just say "Lake X". But I think the real trip is that good sticks don't brag. no need. |
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Posts: 145
| hahdawg - 5/2/2025 4:40 PM
2. If there's no metadata, there are tools to estimate your location from the picture (I know for sure that Youtubers use this).
I finally have an excuse to MS Paint David Hasselhoff as my fish shot background. |
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Posts: 3896
| esoxaddict - 5/2/2025 4:44 PM
I know from experience what telling others about what/where/how you caught a fish can do. I used to have a secret lake. Took a buddy there one afternoon.
Exactly like growing an illegal weed patch. The old saying holds true, "Tell one person and ten people know." |
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Posts: 577
Location: deephaven mn | that and the number of people using this site is down |
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Posts: 1773
| Go to Facebook and the other social sites, I'm sure the "look at me" crowd still exists. |
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Posts: 1491
Location: Brighton CO. | The fish are just the cherry on top of the whole thing of getting away in a breathtaking landscape with friends and family that photo's with are priceless that don't always do the experience justice along with all the reasons above too. |
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Posts: 389
| All of the above. There's also the "that fish isn't xx inches long... bla bla bla." The juice isn't worth the squeeze. I know how big it was and how awesome it was. Good enough. |
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Posts: 8810
| And the possibility (this actually happened to me) that someone will post a picture of a fish with something in the background that you immediately recognize, and when you reply "hey, I know that spot!" they get all sorts of bent out of shape over it.
No you don't nobody knows that spot, you better not tell anyone bla bla...
Dude.. Everybody within 30 miles of there knows that lake, and that spot, and the reputation that goes along with that area, going back, I don't know... 50 years? I found it (on my own, hahhaha) by reading one of those famous fishing books, and the note on the map that says "fish over here"... |
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Posts: 1491
Location: Brighton CO. | Over the years I've fished some good water (I own a lot of map books and word of mouth a ex Muskies INC board member) I know I fished good spots because I've seen them on TV, From 2000-204 we fished at Manaki every year then see these spots on In-Fisherman and try to pass them off as Lake Of The Woods. Then later after everybody know then credit Manaki. |
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Posts: 7064
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | kap - 5/3/2025 7:16 AM
that and the number of people using this site is down
This is part of it. The other part is simple: we didn't promote this.
We did it for a lot of years and then stopped giving it a ton of focus. |
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Posts: 1145
Location: Minnesota. | I have a pert little saying when a guide posts on my best lake I fish......"I know those trees".... And sometimes I honestly do!:))
Keeping things light 'n lively.... I don't post fish pix online anymore, don't care how nice the fish! Took me 75 yrs to say that though... |
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