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Muskie Fishing -> General Discussion -> Big fish
 
Message Subject: Big fish
snowman
Posted 5/2/2025 2:47 PM (#1033629)
Subject: Big fish




Posts: 12


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?
Ranger
Posted 5/2/2025 3:14 PM (#1033632 - in reply to #1033629)
Subject: Re: Big fish





Posts: 3902


That's a good question. The long timer good sticks I know don't post pics because it feels like flexing.
youbetcha
Posted 5/2/2025 3:20 PM (#1033633 - in reply to #1033629)
Subject: Re: Big fish




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.
IAJustin
Posted 5/2/2025 3:33 PM (#1033634 - in reply to #1033633)
Subject: Re: Big fish




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
esoxaddict
Posted 5/2/2025 3:44 PM (#1033635 - in reply to #1033629)
Subject: Re: Big fish





Posts: 8814


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.

hahdawg
Posted 5/2/2025 4:40 PM (#1033637 - in reply to #1033635)
Subject: Re: Big fish




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.
TCESOX
Posted 5/2/2025 4:53 PM (#1033639 - in reply to #1033629)
Subject: Re: Big fish





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?
Ranger
Posted 5/2/2025 4:57 PM (#1033640 - in reply to #1033629)
Subject: Re: Big fish





Posts: 3902


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.
bloatlord
Posted 5/2/2025 6:09 PM (#1033643 - in reply to #1033637)
Subject: Re: Big fish




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.
Ranger
Posted 5/2/2025 6:41 PM (#1033645 - in reply to #1033635)
Subject: Re: Big fish





Posts: 3902


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."
kap
Posted 5/3/2025 7:16 AM (#1033648 - in reply to #1033629)
Subject: Re: Big fish




Posts: 577


Location: deephaven mn
that and the number of people using this site is down
Brian Hoffies
Posted 5/3/2025 7:29 AM (#1033649 - in reply to #1033629)
Subject: Re: Big fish





Posts: 1775


Go to Facebook and the other social sites, I'm sure the "look at me" crowd still exists.
chuckski
Posted 5/3/2025 8:14 AM (#1033653 - in reply to #1033629)
Subject: Re: Big fish




Posts: 1496


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.
FlyPiker
Posted 5/3/2025 10:04 AM (#1033655 - in reply to #1033629)
Subject: Re: Big fish




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.
esoxaddict
Posted 5/3/2025 5:36 PM (#1033664 - in reply to #1033629)
Subject: Re: Big fish





Posts: 8814


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"...
chuckski
Posted 5/4/2025 8:21 AM (#1033666 - in reply to #1033629)
Subject: Re: Big fish




Posts: 1496


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.
Slamr
Posted 5/5/2025 9:23 AM (#1033684 - in reply to #1033648)
Subject: Re: Big fish





Posts: 7065


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.
Jeremy
Posted 5/5/2025 3:31 PM (#1033695 - in reply to #1033629)
Subject: Re: Big fish




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...
CincySkeez
Posted 5/7/2025 2:57 PM (#1033716 - in reply to #1033629)
Subject: Re: Big fish





Posts: 661


Location: Duluth
I share them with people who would care to see them. I rarely post them on my home water because it's an insanely seasonal fishery, but the spots don't change much.
chuckski
Posted 5/8/2025 9:10 AM (#1033721 - in reply to #1033629)
Subject: Re: Big fish




Posts: 1496


Location: Brighton CO.
There are a lot of famous places that get pounded and a lot places that don't get talked about (like there's a secret) and get pounded too. Every one keeps them a secret in reality there are no secrets in the Northwoods.
miket55
Posted 5/8/2025 12:29 PM (#1033726 - in reply to #1033629)
Subject: Re: Big fish




Posts: 1297


Location: E. Tenn
There's one spot on a smallish lake on a particular chain up in the Northwoods, that's off a prominent shoreline feature.. I'd put in at the boat ramp, and fish the shoreline all the way up to this feature, and then to the channel connecting to another lake. Other boats would blast by on their way to way to the channel and the rest of this particular chain, showing no interest in fishing this particular lake.

Five years ago, a well known Youtuber caught a big girl off this shoreline feature, and posted it making no effort to be the least bit subtle about the precise location.. Since then the spot in particular, and the rest of the lake in general gets hammered.

Edited by miket55 5/8/2025 12:38 PM
djwilliams
Posted 5/11/2025 7:05 PM (#1033753 - in reply to #1033629)
Subject: Re: Big fish




Posts: 791


Location: Ames, Iowa
I think there are less big fish pics because the population of big fish is dropping. I believe that is the case on Leech where I fish and in Iowa where I fish. More fisherman means more unprepared fisherman means more dead big fish. Just my observations.
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