Not long ago, I received an email from a P'O'd board member informing me I shouldn't be telling folks about "secret spots" in the Sound.

Just this afternoon, I received another email from a different individual claiming I give away too much information period. Not to mention that I am arrogant (maybe a little) and don't know a damn thing... (OFW... I am over it already.)

Where's my questions:

Do I give too much away?

How in the hell can someone give away too much information about fishing the Sound?
(I can see being hot about a river, but the sound? Come on...)

My mentor(s) made me promise to pass along what I was taught- I am just keeping my end of the deal! After all it is part of being a sportsman.

I hope you guys have picked up a few tips and you all catch a metric butt ton of Blackmouth while I am gone!!!

Downriggin'

I think your doing a great job! People who dont know much about the area you gladly share information. I dont see either how one could give up "to much" info on the sound. Keep up the great work and the fishin information!!

Skeets

Don't worry about it DR! You are doing just fine. After all, aren't BB's, like this one, here to share and learn from? How else are you going to get people excited about fishing? You got me excited about blackmouth fishing.

Downriggin,

Screw those jerkoffs!!

What is a board like this for, if not to bring fishermen together to share and learn from one another? Those are probably the guys that use this board as a spot to whine about everything under the sun without ever contributing to those seeking to become better fishermen.

I want to thank you on behalf of everyone who has ever learned something from you or any other regular contributor to this board.

I, for one, am an inexperienced salmon fisherman and have taken a great deal of information from this, and other bulletin boards.

Thanks again!!!

Funny you should post this now. I was just thinking about you yesterday. A couple "Thank Yous" are in order.

The first is for sharing your "secrets". My blackmouth catching has increased dramatically since I began "ringing the dinner bell" at 150'+. Your "secrets" work just as well at Pt Defiance, the Slag Pile, and Quartermaster Harbor as the places you fish. The selfish morons that email you are just that: selfish morons. Don't give them a second thought. They don't deserve the fish they catch. This is a PUBLIC RESOURCE paid for by our taxes. These morons have no more right to the fish than anyone else. It takes a true sportsman to enjoy sharing "secrets".

The second "Thank You" is for what you are doing now. We are all able to enjoy our public resources because of your service. I look forward to hearing that you are back at Green Point slaying the blackmouth. Take care!

Downriggin,
Who cares what a couple aholes have to say to you anyway? Your not giving away secret hole on a small river, your not giving away National Secrets, your just helping fellow fisherpeople catch more of the fish that we all pay for.

I say forget what a couple jerks say to you, and keep up the good work! I just hope that someday I get a chance to fish with you, or some other knowledgeable South Puget Sound Salmon fishermen, that will pass on what they've learned....

Keep up the good work, and be safe out there...

As if 100 more boats is gonna make the sound that much more crowded . You're doing a great job! I think you give more tips than anybody else on this BB.

Keep at it,piss em' off that much more!

Don't worry about it. If it is okay with you, then it is okay. As long as you are truthful, I don't see the problem.

DR.
I think ya gotta consider the source.

We all know that catching Steelhead and Salmon is difficult. Further, fishing as a sport has been declining in numbers over tha past five years.

I feel a responsibility to share as much as I know (less and less the older I get), to help secure a future for our fisheries. Having people go away frustrated( ie not catching) is not good for the sport. I know I enjoy the outdoor experience now more than the catching, but it took me a bunch of years to get to that. I only wish I had had a mentor or two along the way.

Besides for me there is nothing better than seeing that certain smile from someone who has just caught his/her biggest/best/whatever fish and knowing that you maybe had a small hand in it.

Keep up the good work. Thanks for your posts!

Downrigger,

I quess there just isn't enough room on the zipperpond for everyone. Or maybe it's because you can actually catch a salmon. But God forbid you should ever share with others what you have or know, that would be downright unselfish of you.

Be at peace and know you are among friends. There will be plenty (friends and fish) left when you return.

And by the way, a big thank you for what you and our boys are doing for me and our country. God bless and pass it along.

I second and third what everyone else has said DR, and as proof I offer the boat count at Green Point when you were posting about it the most - 4 boats including me on a weekend were the most I ever saw. So what is the problem? Certainly not too much pressure from too many fishermen. Likely the opposite is true - we isolate ourselves from each other far more often than we get together on anything, to the detriment of our sport. United we stand - divided we fall works pretty universally doesn't it?

Thanks again for the good fishing spots and info, and for giving them up to go overseas and keep them safe. You are a rare guy DR and I'm proud to be your freind

Okay DR,
You really did it this time! You gave away my Zipper Lip Sound! I could tell last Saturday when I was out there too, I could only troll for about a mile or so before I ran into another boat. Screwed up the whole day.

Hey, More fisherman like ya is what these boards need, not less info!!

In the words of Ol' Capt Crocker (I know you know who I am talking about) " Good on ya!"

As far as I'm concerned we need more people like you who are happy to share what they know. It makes the sport more fun for all of us. And...if you're good at what you do.....what can you say?

DR-
Although I am not much of a blackmouth fisherman...its been easily a year or so since I've chased after them buggers, I can still appreciate the information you have provided the board.

You are a wonderful contributor to the board and we all appreciate it...and you have in no way given out too much info...dont let the asses bother you!

Thanks!!

DR,
Your doing a great service to this board. And the guys that are crying about it are most likely in the group that cant catch a fish anyway so let them whine. Great job and thanks for alot of good info.

Commercial's mantra: "I found this spot, I don't want to share it, those fish are mine, ALL mine."

Indian's mantra: "I found this spot, I don't want to share it, those fish are mine, ALL mine."

Zipperlip fisherman's mantra: "I found this spot, I don't want to share it, those fish are mine, ALL mine."


I believe that mentality is the same is all those folks.

I agree with John B.; "Having people go away frustrated( ie not catching) is not good for the sport. " Many of us keep harping about consolidating for a common cause, but so many are not willing to embrace one another as comrades and share all we know.

It's funny how some guys think they were the first ones to ever set foot on a piece of soil, or wet a line in a particular stretch of water, in the history of the earth.

I hate that "zipperlip" mentality. It's greed; pure and simple greed. And greed is the cause of most of the problems in the world today.

Forgive my ranting, please.

in a river, where there is a limited # of fish in any spot and usually way too few spots, keeping quite is most likley a good thing to do, but the saltwater is a big place, usually more fish and sometimes a whole lot harder to figure out the depth, bait, tide or place to be. Sharing good info in the saltwater, most times will not come back to bite you in the rear like telling your favorite little pocket in a steelhead stream. So keep at it.

Don't sweat it! You can tell people where all the fish are, how to fish for them, but they still have to go out and apply that info and maybe catch a fish.
Maybe Bob needs to start a Saltwater specific board, where those who want to share info can go guilt free without getting hate mails, which I think is kinda chickensh!t.
Keep it up DR, it's been fun comparing notes, riggings, techniques, etc. Looking forward to fishing with you sometime, especially out at Sekiu and/or Neah Bay. OOOPPPSS! Just gave away another secret spot......

Kev

Okay,
Now you did it too Kev, I thought for sure I'd have Sekieu all too myself this July. Ooops , did I say July!