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| Over the years when guiding on Pewaukee lake (retired after eight seasons) I was often put in situations where folks would come up to me at the landing and ask questions. I would have no problem answering questions, but the funny thing is I would never get any questions answered when I asked them the same questions back. There answers used to be to me "Your the guide...why should I tell you what I am doing".
Sometimes, I would go to my truck and folks would jump all over my clients at the dock...asking for spots, lures and such. My clients told me this and this kinda made me upset.
The best was...."We got a fish today...Why didn't your guide get one for you". I was a guide on a really public metro water, so after a while I learned to live with it.
I helped Big O out the other day and he got his first muskie..great..very happy for him....But I ran into him on the water..and he did give me info back, he said.."I have fished here and here..with this. Even though he never saw a fish, he helped me out with info of, what not to do and where...that is still exchange of information..and I am happy to do so.
But now I want to be like Joe Public now and fish my own spots with my friends and family, but I still get calls and emails asking for specific instructions...where, when, why... But when I dont tell them spot on the spot...they get mad at me and send me nasty emails, or get mad at me on the phone for not helping them...You see I am between a "rock and a hard place"
I have always said...give me info back... and I will give info out..and happy to do so.
What should a guy say....Do I have to give out all my secrets or be the bad guy for not doing so....? | |
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| Jason,
I totally agree with the way you handled it. I would do the same thing for sure. People think that if you go out with a guide your almost guaranteed a fish. What they don't realize is that you still have to make the cast.
If I was you I would continue to tell info as long as there telling you what they're doing.
Brett Carroll | |
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| Hey Jason, you have always been straight with info. You owe nothing now, and it is pretty nice feeling. enjoy and fish with out the pressure. I have shared with you, and you showed me places on your lake. It was an equal exchanged. Nothing can replace experience and I have to assume these people just need to fish more. Point them diplomaticly in the right direction and enjoy your retirement. One note, get a less flashy boat...ben | |
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| LOL Jason! Send them down here...they'll go broke + become feeble minded trying to find one....Ben gave great advice-- enjoy yourself + blow off those who don't want to pay their dues; STRESS is a high price to pay trying to please others...stay helpful yet maintain silence to the degree that you deem necessary! This type of attitude seems to be prevelant in many areas of life today; everything has to be quick + easy w/ no thought to the old addage that hard work + attention to detail bring joy + satisfaction when the day is over...stay the course + let time wash away their tears....[:sun:] | |
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| Jason
You've been more than helpful with everyone here. Gotta remember though, that there's (at a bare minimum) an idiot in every crowd. Unfortunately the idiots are the ones that you're gonna remember down the road because they caused the most problems.
Be happy with the fact that through your guiding, website and friends you have helped many people. Keep yourself and your family happy, which you have already done by giving up something you love to do, and forget about the rest. The idiots aren't gonna be there down the road. Your friends and family will be.
I haven't fished Pewaukee in years so I can't give you any info there. I am an expert on what not to do on Madison though. Now I'm working on what to do. If I can help, let me know.
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| definition of "free enterprise": once you get an enterprise, everybody wants some of it for free! General types of info should be shared, or traded as you suggest is the edge of your comfort zone. For specific, offer to be hired for their day on the water. Lawyers, doctors, and banks don't give out professional advice for free, musky guides should not be any different. mm[:bigsmile:] | |
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| One thing too.
Local folks sometimes are afraid to let me know details because they feel I will tell everyone on this site. My opening day album was not taken too good by folks on my home lake who like to use the baits I mention.
Funny how the we are all release fishermen, love the sport, we are all proud of others who catch fish, but we want to keep everything to ourselves.
Like the undertaker is a secret bait or something!! LOL[:bigsmile:]
Maybe in time we will all hold hands and help one another.[;)]
Thanks for the remarks guys...[:)] | |
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| Beter yet Jason, have a secret code name for these forbidden baits...since the odds are that nobody would ever figure out what bait is what anyway...the hand holding is a great thought...perhaps a bait commune where peeps gather around a giant monolithic Burmek + name the place "BAIT HENGE"...worship services every Sat/Sun at sun up + sacrifice a bucket of chubs once a month! Anyone sharing info. would be driven from the clan + banished from the commune...women + children would do all the work while the men fished all day...commonly known as the "hunter/gatherers"...hunt stray baits on the shoreline lost by casters like me + gather them for reuse...something to think about....[::)] [:sun:] | |
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| Only you Sponge...thanks for the laugh!![:bigsmile:] | |
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| That's the price you'll pay for being in the spot light.
You can't make everyone happy! | |
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| Jason just be your self,there will always be the fifty questions at the launch. There is no way around it. Saw a few,cought a few works for me. After that its info for info. If there is nothing comming back then your on your way,if there is info both ways then it works for both of you and who ever is in on it.
The last few days on the water there was lots of questions at the launch,with three rangers and a stratos pulling out at the same time there was soon a group of fisherman talking and sharing info,most was going both ways. Info is give and take,nobody shouls expect a full report from a guide unless there is something in it for him/her. The hours we put in to learn the lakes and the patterns used to put fish in peoples boats were earned not given to us. Guides are eager to please, some people just push it a little to far. | |
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| Jason,
You are very generous with info and no reasonable person would expect you to tell all. If they do expect you to tell all, then they are not reasonable and so are not worthy of your concerns. So you see, you've placed yourself within a phantom rock and a false hard place. Consider all the good tips and support offered above, change the way you look at your situation, and !POOF! you're on Easy Street.
Rick | |
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| Jason, it is the same here and elsewhere I am sure. Now that you are not guiding anymore and just fish for pleasure you may want to invite them to join your network of information exchange, make sure they understand that it's a give and take or nothing. [8)] | |
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| Jason,
I was 'out' of guiding for nearly 7 years, and during that time probably marked a hundred maps. Most of the guys wanted to hire me, were sharing info, or were plain and simple in need of good fishing information.
I never worry about whether I get good info in return, as the minute I hit the water, things will change and the info will no longer be germain. I keep things general, but workable. I guess I am from a different mold than some; I feel any time I can help another angler have a better fishing trip, I have done a good thing. If someone complains I don't give enough info, they didn't ask!
In the long run, I have found no one has really stepped on any of my water hard. Some of the anglers I have helped have sent me letters, pictures, and thank yous, some never do. The few that thank you will more than make up for those who do not.
Pay no attention to anyone who 'downs' you for talking about the baits, techniques, or methods you use to catch fish on 'their' water. They forget themselves! That water is stocked, maintained, and cared for by us all under the watchful eye of our Department of Natural Resources. OK, Muskies Inc has stocked many fish there. Have you done nothing over the years for that organization? And what does it say in their own literature? WHat is the purpose of the club? Any detractors from there TRULY forget themselves, I hope there are none.
The anglers here at MuskieFIRST are conservationists;good folks. None of them will dash out to the water you describe and beat it to death ripping dozens of muskies a day...the 'concern' your detractors voice is mostly selfish, and not based in reality. They can get over it, or not, whatever suits!
A bit brash, this is, but I feel strongly that this is a situation repeating itself all over North America. I think things are improving, and I would like to think the improvement is a result of discussions like this one.[:bigsmile:] | |
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| Jason, you still on top of the hill and they are still trying to knock you off. I would not worry about it.
Besides, not only is the undertaker not a secret, he is wrestling hulk hogan this weekend for the WWE(was wwf) championship![;)] | |
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| Jason- Don't dispair. You've every right to do & say what you want. If you want to mark a map, share a spot or pattern w/ someone, that's your choice not their's. If you want to post it on MF, more power to you, as it demonstrates you're a standup guy. Have a great season & ignore the a**holes. They're nothing but a bunch of wantabee's. As for someone ridiculing a Guide/former guides for not catching muskies or for their clients not catching muskies. The butthead's don't understand muskie fishing or muskies. Every hunter has good & bad days. Hopefully we learn from both and reduce the ratio of bad days. However, any day on the water is a good day. Enjoy yourself- Wahooo! Fish-on!!!!
Al Warner
www.icantplayfindmyfoot.com | |
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A rock and a hard place