I was pondering how the internet has changed fishing. With more information available online, great forums like this, intel on even the most isolated rivers is getting shared at the speed of light it seems. I personally have posted some glory shots on the webz, some with detail of location, some as vague as could be (except to savvy folks who can read background shrubbery like a roadmap!)...many enjoyed them and some sent cautionary PM's.

Personally, when I look at a killer pic online I do take a look at what the surroundings look like to see if I can pinpoint the river, maybe even the exact spot. Mainly I just find it amusing, but on occasion I have added a few new hush-hush spots to my arsenal. Still pics are one thing, but the latest and greatest trend I see is the goPro army...my guess is that this trend will explode as more of us see cool vids and the technology gets cheaper...so here's my question...do you care? Do you think it's a good trend? Are you worried your fav little spot will get exposed to the masses? I personally haven't formulated my opinion fully, but thought it would be an interesting question to pose....

I got rained on by my crew that using my new gopro would be bad for pressure, I disagree , there isn't a fishery in my mind that doesn't have pressure now so.......might as well!

I don't like when people identify the river, let alone the specific location. Fish pictures and stories are just as good without naming or giving away the location.

I like looking at fish pics. I hardly ever take pictures of fish though (kid or wife posing with a catch on occason). Like 2many said, I grew up learning through trial-and-error. They're "just fish" to me, so when we get one, I want to hurry up and get the gear back in the water to catch more.

I've never done the video thing or really even watched them when posted. I don't have enough time in my schedule to watch the vid's generally.

I completely agree. If someone can figure out what river and what hole based on a non-descriptive photo then they've done their homework really deserve to fish it.

When someone takes me to a piece of water that is secret, I keep a zipplerlip about it and only return with him or alone.

Let all of the people who are not into exploring and figuring out different rivers keep the Cowlitz.

I for one love to see fish porn. When I'm stuck here at the office on a nice day and get to see a awesome picture of a summer Chinook, it gets me excited for the weekend.

As others have already said, you'd have to know the location of the picture already, meaning have most likely been there, fished that. I say post away, but don't give specific location of the spot.

I love the banter on this site, it is one of the best for good information about our hobby, with good science based opinions, but it is not where I go to see fish porn.

BRING BACK THE FISH PORN!

Morevec,

Awesome post!

Despite having more and more friends that have them, I have already begun to dislike the GoPro cameras. I couldn't agree more about them giving away WAY too much info about how and where. And while I've seen some really good videos and nice edit jobs, most of the vids are actually unimpressive to me when compared to a great still shot. To me, getting a great still shot is way cooler than fully documenting an experience. The still shot WILL document the experience in my mind.

To those that think it doesn't make a difference as far as pressure, I couldn't disagree more. The years of finding spots and honing techniques can largely be given away in minutes with certain footage. I know that this knowledge has always been passed down from friend-to-friend or guide-to-client. The difference now is that hundreds or thousands of people now get to devour the information at once.

I'm pretty sure plenty of people will disagree with me.

Those that put their time in exploring or fishing on the river will always be more rewarded than those that put their time in exploring or fishing on the internet.

A well edited video that tells a story and paints a picture, stuff from Todd Moen Creative, Felt Soul, etc. are works of art that take time, a great degree of skill, and a huge amount of knowledge and passion to pull off. Those types of videos I find moving in a way that photography can't really achieve. I am not saying it is better or worse, just different.

Ten minutes of blurry helmet cam footage of some dude reeling up a fish on the Cowlitz and high five-ing his buddies I could give a crap about. The technology revolution has brought high end video capturing capabilities and data manipulation down to an everyman level, but the difference between a piece of crap and something brilliant will always be more of a factor of the person holding the camera rather than the camera they are holding.

As most here know, I love photos and good photography and that will never be replaced or surpassed by video footage. They are different art forms and each can be magic when done well. If given the chance to check out 20 average to decent photos or watch a 10 minute go pro clip that has been slapped together by average Joe, I'll take the photos every time.

As for the sharing of secrets, don't give away places to people you don't want to share them with. Pretty easy.

My personal favorite was when I was blamed for the spike in boat traffic on the NFL after I'd post up a report here. Even got some nice threats.



I do regret posting the Kispiox stuff. I really do believe that those posts led to others here posting their trips/photos which lead to others, which leads us to now.

Want to go to the Kispiox? - just follow the caravans of cars heading North in late September and early October.

Or, just wait until the pictorial posts are put up here, Facebook and in your favorite fishing Mag.

In the past, I was a firm believe that it really didn't matter what was posted up here and other fish sites. Now, that's not the case. Heck, back in the "day" pretty much I was one of the few people that had one of them fancy "digital" cameras, let alone could figure out how to post a peekture here. Guess that's just my nature as an IT guy. I am always embracing new technologies and running with it. One thing led to the other and the next thing you know thousands of people are looking at those pictures and using that information.

The real "gem" of PP is a all the friends I've met and made here. If I truly want fishing information now, I use the phone and just ask.

PP is more of my source of entertainment now.

The reason I have lurked for years here was the quality of the photography. Some top notch photogs on this site for sure. A good picture does not need to give away much information in my opinion. My favorite summer run stream is easily impacted by overfishing. I am very vague when asked where I go. I turn off the gps tagging feature on my camera (I hope. not too tech savvy).

But there is something about pictures of the fish I have caught. They bring back memories. I always try to capture the fish I catch on film. Possibly because I catch so few? lol

First it was newspaper sport fishing columnists, then the fishing magazines, then the fishing books, then the internet, and then Paker and the rest, all whoring out the fisheries to the unwashed masses. With the main difference being the speed, (but it should be noted that speed whoring is not the same as speed dating). However, for all this fish whoring, you guys sure are a stingy bunch, because I haven't learned one single new hole to fish from all my years of reading the PP forum. I think all the fish pimping has certainly contributed to larger crowds of fishermen on the rivers, but I don't recall ever having one of my favorite spots pimped out on the internet - yet. And notice all the photos I post.

Sg

I guess that is why some forums will ban you if you mention the river or spot when posting a report or picture. Some are pretty strict about it.

I am not a fan of "zipper Lippin". I think we need to share conservation, but not be greedy and butt holes about "our spots". I dont bring just anyone to my favorite spots. If I know someone is out for blood (although i love fish, so I bonk some occasionally), I wont bring them to less well known river, lakes, or creeks.

There is nothing wrong with passing on good information, techniques, and places to fish. Just as long as we dont give it to snagger john. I know I appreciate it when my buddies give me their "zipper lip" Locations; but i make sure im not killing every big fish that comes my way when im there(never native). Nor will i go around telling every 3rd person at Cabelas about it when im there. However, on a good forum, in a good group of people, I will tell as many people as i feel like telling. God gave us beautiful places to fish, so I am going to share it, and respect it.

Im not trying to be against the grain, I do respect those who feel they need never tell anyone how to, or where to fish. Trust me, I get it. I have told people about some great spots for cutties, just to get a txt with a stringer full of native fish...sucks yes...but I know not to give them info anymore. We should use discretion, but not be butts.

As for the question...I love watching good videos and looking at some awesome pictures! I think if people are getting excited about fishing...its a good thing. Im a young guy, and im so thankful for info past down from guys that arent arrogant and want to pass down the secrets to 21yro kids like me.

If people get excited about fishing, we can educate them. There is hope!

I tell my buddies too. I will sometimes tell friends of friends. What I don't do is post in the 'net for 1000 people to see.

If you want to know what body of water to fish, at what time, with what bait or lure just pick up a copy of STS or tune in to NW WILD COUNTRY. I think the majority of the photos/videos posted on this board are pretty vague when it comes to locations. Like others have said before, if you can tell a location by the background you've probably fished it before. I just picked up a gopro and plan on documenting some floats this summer and if I do post any footage it will be lacking locations or specifics on bait/lures. So I say keep posting the fish porn just leave the specifics out.

So when we post photos and leave out the specifics, is this the message?

"I want you all to know that I fished this really beautiful place and caught this fantastic fish. I just don't want you to know where it is."

Is that what your avitar is meant to convey?

Many times it isn't the initial picture poster that gives a spot up, it's the guy that wants to show how smart he is by telling everyone where the picture was taken.

the internet is like the miracle grow for people on streams...

i crop the majority of my pictures to hide what i can...

i have watched my favorite small stream get obliterated by people after 1 or 2 posts on the internet each year.

if they start closing down more rivers for salmon or steelhead, there wont be much keeping me in this area any more.