Writing a fishing column is inherently contradictory to life’s mission of finding and fishing the world’s best waters.
Fly-fishing magazines feature the same thing: articles and pictures about locations with descriptions rendering them as alluring as possible. The articles will tell exactly where the fish are and how to catch them.
The conclusion of this is the inevitable annihilation of the said fishing waters.
Anglers look at the stunning photographs of large fish and beautiful scenery with mouth-watering envy. They then read the words by an expert and realize they too can go to a said location and catch the same fish in the same way. All they have to do is follow the writer’s advice.
After the writer has spilled the beans, said location is soon filled with a flock of the writer’s disciples. All of whom, of course, fish the same way, and sooner or later they wonder, “What happened to the fishing?”
This approach of revealing to others the prime spots is a temptation that is impossible to control. Only the strong-willed can keep fishing secrets secret.
The reason: Fishing and bragging are inseparable.
Everybody knows someone with a fishing tale about the big one, and the big one mysteriously keeps getting bigger and bigger each time it’s told.
When anglers are asked, “Where should I go to catch fish?” it’s like they turn into a brown trout tempted by a large cicada fly writhing on the surface of the water. Instead of protecting the secret by saying, “I don’t know,” they want to show off their skill and their bevy of fishing experience. If they name the spot, it means they have caught a lot of fish; in essence they’re bragging.
It’s impossible to resist, especially among friends. As a result they say, “Well, don’t tell anyone else, but “
Friends always have other friends who have other friends. The phrase, “Don’t tell anyone else, but ” is repeated infinitely.
This last summer, I was teaching a good friend how to fly-fish at a “secret” bass fishing pond when some stranger crashed through the bushes.
“I drove by and thought I saw some people fishing here,” he said, holding a spinning rod up high. “I had my rod in my truck. So, are there any bass in here?”
“Just a bunch of bluegill,” I said, hoping that would prompt him to walk back to his truck and never return.
My friend, however, didn’t understand why I was lying.
“Yeah there’s bass here, huge ones,” he said to the stranger.
“Really?” the man responded.
The man immediately walked down right next us and started throwing a plastic lure into the same area we had just thrown our lines.
I threw a morbid scowl at my friend.
“What, Dan? You’d want him to tell you there were fish here,” he responded.
It’s true. I would have wanted him to tell me, which made me question the whole “keeping secrets” thing.
I’m always grateful for those anglers willing to impart advice. Much of my learning has been because of other anglers.
There are those who have a strong will and don’t reveal their secrets, just as there are those huge rare browns that will never take the bait, fly or spoon, regardless of the pattern. Those stubborn fish are incredibly frustrating. Similarly, those who keep too many secrets are equally annoying.
Fishing isn’t solely about keeping a secret. It’s more so about sharing the magic of the outdoors with others. If that means giving away a few secret techniques or locations, so be it.
However, one shouldn’t give away everything.
For example, in the novel “The River Why,” the main character starts a small business in his home. He puts a sign outside the reads: “HANDMADE FLIES & RODS FOR SALE: fishing tips free. Some true. Maybe.”