"Secret" Fishing Spots

[Dubble Haul]

Miles,
My apologies.  I understood your point and appreciated your restrained and polite response.  Others joined in, some less politely, and I didn't get my point across at all, and then the many more emails from other subscribers who supported my position started coming... I appreciated your post and will say that we are in heated agreement on several points.  And if we were not, I'd still defend your right to have an opinion, post and not be accused of being a sour grape, etc.  =-O

I still carry a spinning and baitcasting rig in my kayak (for those windy days or when I just need to "find the fish").  I am sensitive to the perceived arrogance fly anglers project.  I believe it's becoming much more of a "common person" sport/recreation, but there are still many snobs.  It is a wicked expensive sport too and that contributes to the division between angling styles.  By son and I both spin fish, as do most of my fishing buddies.  I prefer to fly fish most of the time, but not always. 
 
To the others: 
The point I was trying to make, and it wasn't initially intended to be provocative and draw attention, is that there are consequences to reporting specific locations not just for other anglers, but for the river and the delicate balance between man and wild on it's fringes.  Until recently, the members mostly posted on areas above the Wilson Bridge, many being very urban. I personally don't care about the obvious ones, but  many of us are exploring the whole river and discovering that by kayak and canoe our options have expanded.  When we find ones that provide good foot access, they are really special to us. In some cases, they are protected areas that are still pretty wild; we could lose them if those that manage them feel we are pressuring the wildlife too heavily (it's not just about the fish, or the angler).  Then we come home, and read about it on TPFR. We're fishing the same spots, but anglers like myself are becoming more restrained about reporting them now. I admit, I used to talk about them more openly.  Wading and tromping through protected wetlands has much more of a negative impact than, say, a kayak or canoe.  So, when we see other generous posters reporting their weekend accomplishments and divulging exact locations of areas we've worked hard to discover and preserve, alarm bells go off for some of us.

Another point to be made is that the very few who really post here, those that dominate the forum, set the tone.  So, I respectfully enjoin all to consider the longer term impact their fishing report will have, as well as their self-imposed rules and overall tone online, which sometimes appears intolerant.  It is possible to point out general locations and still present a nice fishing story.  I won't claim to be speaking for others, they can speak up as well.  Frankly though, it can be an intimidating venue and subscribers are not always eager to post. 

While TPFR is a generous group, that generosity can also have a negative impact on the river, as well other anglers.  I keep hearing that there are "750 members", but the reality is it's probably more like 750 with a google account who've subscribed to the google group.  My perception is that there are far fewer who are active members in the FFF-sponsored club.  I met a guy at Dulles airport who uses the google group to find fishing sites, but doesn't subscribe.  Others do the same.  Maybe TPFR should follow other fishing related forums and offer "private areas" for "members".   The point is that any of the TPFR posts can have a very large audience (good and bad). 

Someone asked what the point of all this was.  TPFR should be cautious about posting data that results in the swarming of sites, increased pressure on the wildlife, as well as spoiling the journey of other free anglers who just don't think it's cool.  I have been guilty of it, too.  I think I read where someone said that ALL TPFR members were committed to conserving the fishery and that's why they practice catch and release.  OK, but that's not an extremely effective conservation technique.  Do more. Your posts matter.  By the way the best shore lunch I ever had was largemouth bass tacos (just saying).  Carbon Fiber production at a facility in China isn't exactly a environmentally sound process, nor is the use of toxic epoxies used to make the fiber sheets into rod blanks.  That three hour drive in your SUV didn't help.  I'm not suggesting giving up carbon fiber rods for sustainable bamboo, or buying a hybrid (I have neither), just one small little detail that has a huge impact -  a modicum of discretion.   

I'm pretty done with this topic now, at least on this venue.   I promise.

Oh, incidentally.  I misspoke.  I am not a TPFR member.  I do not have FFF membership.  I've been a TPFR google group subscriber, not an actual club member all these years and didn't know it.  I think there is a difference but not sure. 

The forum needs more humor - it's pretty sterile and uptight in my opinion.  So, can we go kill snakeheads and eat fish tacos now?  :-D

cheers,

-Dubble Haul

For those who are packing VHF radios on the water, I'm on channel 71 - call sign is "Dubble Haul".  That goes for you unsubscribed snoopers too - need water, another fly, a band-aid...








 

[flyrodder]

Double Haul, no worries man. My opinion is that there are no "secret spots". There are only some spots that few people have yet to discover, which is easily remedied believe me. I think I have found them all in a short span of time. A good map is a wonderful thing indeed. The real secret is knowing what and how to fish at which spot. Unless you have experience at that place, your not likely to be as successful as someone who has fished there for months or years. As far as fishing pressure, well, there is little you can control about that. Fact is, one persons secret is common knowledge to many others. We do our part to try to protect what we can. Posting on a public forum falls pretty far down the priority list though when we could just challenge those we see willfully violating state wildlife laws, as I have several times this year alone. Far too many times I have witnessed fellow fly fishers ignore someone with a stringer of fish pulled out of a protected stream. Its truly sad, but since were talking conservation and all, lets try to put our actions where our words are.

[Miles]

Dubble Haul,

Thanks for your follow-up. You make some apt points. Welcome back.

Miles