Was in a good mood and gave some advice for fishing a small lake - bad idea?

[Jack Gp]

Years ago I was using shiners while bass fishing on a 5,000 acre Florida lake. I was near an old sink hole when a man and wife engaged me and asked for advice about what to try. I told them how to rig a plastic worm and cast a nearby weed edge. A couple hours later I had pulled my boat from the water and as I passed the bait shop I saw people standing around getting their picture taken for the bragging board. As I drove by the man holding the trophy bass said " Hey that's the guy who told me how to catch this fish". It felt pretty good.

Jack

[skeetbum]

Like most of us, I’ve nudged people in the right direction many times. Giving fish to those unable to go any more is a special thing that has brought tears to the eyes of the recipient on a few occasions. They don’t believe that folks would do that for them. Small things that we do can change peoples lives and cost us little or nothing. I’ve also shared info with someone and regretted it later.

[Spoonminnow]

Early on there were only three anglers that showed me what lures could do and we competed in the same bass club. One of them got me into the club over the objections of others that owned bass boats and didn't want inexperienced, non-bass boat owners to benefit from their experience and equipment. Competition at the national level is one thing; competition at the local level another thing entirely. What they didn't seem to get was that there can be a type of brotherhood of anglers willing to share for their mutual benefit and improvement regardless experience level or the equipment they own. The winning-is-everything mentality got old and destroyed the club I enjoyed fishing with and learning from.

Maybe a bit of that competition-paranoia of sharing information is still with me causing me to avoid conversations with other anglers that approach me on land or on the water. I already know how to catch fish so why share? Amazing I overcame that with those two young females - at least for that one afternoon.

[Speckalator]

Early on there were only three anglers that showed me what lures could do and we competed in the same bass club. One of them got me into the club over the objections of others that owned bass boats and didn't want inexperienced, non-bass boat owners to benefit from their experience and equipment. Competition at the national level is one thing; competition at the local level another thing entirely. What they didn't seem to get was that there can be a type of brotherhood of anglers willing to share for their mutual benefit and improvement regardless experience level or the equipment they own. The winning-is-everything mentality got old and destroyed the club I enjoyed fishing with and learning from.

Maybe a bit of that competition-paranoia of sharing information is still with me causing me to avoid conversations with other anglers that approach me on land or on the water. I already know how to catch fish so why share? Amazing I overcame that with those two young females - at least for that one afternoon.

Two young females can do things to a man's thinking LOL All jokes aside, unless there was competition and money on the line, I share what I know quite often. We're talking panfish and our local lake has a great population so sharing some info isn't going to hurt anything, at least for me.

Sharing some info and hopefully later see the the folks I shared it with telling me how the tips saved their day makes me feel better as a human. The old treat me as I would treat you deal.

The bass guys are different by nature of the prey. I fish a lot of bass tourney's and would be leary of sharing or asking for info. Lot of difference between fun fishing and competitive fishing.

I am glad you had an opportunity to help someone.

[Spoonminnow]

"Sharing some info and hopefully later see the the folks I shared it with telling me how the tips saved their day"

Very rare in my experience. Can't even remember the last time - even from my wife's nephew who've I've taken out on my boat many times and increased his catches 100%.