What kind of fisherman are you?

[wolverine]

I used to river fish a lot and was quite good at it. Even was a hobby guide for a while. I just enjoyed saltwater fishing more so as time has gone by I concentrated on the salt and rarely hit the rivers. I'll do a couple of trips with old friends each year for old times sake but river fishing just doesn't do it for me anymore. In the saltwater off season I fly fish lakes. I even fish for steelhead in saltwater.
I agree with Pooh about bad behavior out there. It's nothing new, I saw it 35 years ago. Definitely not as prevalent then as now, but this is learned behavior. There has been a huge influx of people from other parts of the world where fishing is for food not sport, and rules are followed only if enforcement is around.
My take on internet fishing news and reports is that half of it is BS and most of the rest is old news. Read the posts, sort out what works and ignore the rest. Just remember that a large percentage of the best fishermen never post info or hero photo shots. Their position is that information needs to be earned by doing rather than internet surfing.

[knotabassturd]

PS- wolverine is THE guy on here posting that I would want to fish with more than any other (although there are several people that would be fun to fish with if life were more about getting out than reading about other reports... Eh, take what I can get Reading reports is better than nothing! ).

[Fish_Bait111397]

I dont think im a newb,i think im about average. Guys at the river asked me how old i was I said "13" they said they thought i was atleast 16 because of expierence I have. I think im alright at river fishing, salmon anyways.
I always cast in order, I never argue, or start fights, I ask people if they would want a net-I net fish good-just the other day i netted 2 kings at once. I hook into alot of fish, and a majority of them are in the mouth ! Everyone gets them in the motor or in the belly sometimes. I follow the regs,always barbing my hooks, never viciously setting my rod unless I know i had a hit. My last 7 times out, i have gotten kings. 3 limits. I only answer peoples questions if I have had expierence, or if they ask me directly in a PM. I get PM's about the skok all the time, i answer those. If i got a question about the puyallup and where to fish, my answer would be
"Well ive only fished one spot at the Puyallup, right there at the soccer fields. I have caughten a few limits of pinks there. Its an alright spot. I have heard that behind Kmart or Fred Meyers are good spots as well-but i dont have expierence there." Im honest about my fishiing.
I think im above newb, about average.

Good Luck.

[flinginpooh]

PS- wolverine is THE guy on here posting that I would want to fish with more than any other (although there are several people that would be fun to fish with if life were more about getting out than reading about other reports... Eh, take what I can get Reading reports is better than nothing! ).

Thats cause your both old hahahaha. Just kidding. But really wolverine, I do enjoy helping people that seem to be nice. My family who Ive been fishing with since Ive been about 4 have gotten on me many times for giving advice and tips out. They all say the same things weve learned what we have by doing year in and year out. Ive been giving newbs leaders that I pretie to try and get them to use gear that is more appropriate for what they are fishing for. I mean 2 #8 corkies a 3/0 hook with barbs and an ounce of lead is not for pinks. Yeah you can get lucky and get a hook in the mouth every now and again but more then likely it will be a foul hook 90% of the time if not more. I was handing out a single pink #14 corky with uv pink yarn on 10# flouro leaders. I was trying to also get them from setting the hooks every 5 seconds to just slowly raising the rod tip up and then lowering while reeling the slack waiting and repeating. Increases the flossing and majority of fish will be in the mouth. Not to mention that due to the soft mouths telling em not to set the hook like your going for broke. I mean just raising the tip of the rod until you feel them and start reeling is all you need to do but if it makes ya happy give a tiny bit extra to make it stick but dont rip the lips. My son listened and came home with 3. A few others listened and started bringing in fish. I felt good about it. Great day on the river and hopefully some of the things I shared will last and make someones habits a little better.

[Bass Woody]

I love rippin lips. bump bump and yank. lol. bass fishing habits are hard to stop when I fish for other species. stopping and helping people even for a second is the right thing to do. good for you. alot of fishers think they are the gift to fishing and everyone else should go home. really? to all those people how did you start? from help or doing stupid stuff till you figured it out. Just like any activity there are going to be a variety of skill levels out trying to have fun and make memories. I always stop for tackle box talk even if they seem like "idiots". if anything its entertaining.

[returnofthefish]

I am a rookie when it comes to river fishing. This is my third season doing it, and I still have a lot to learn. Its through these forums that I learned how to fish in a combat zone like casting order, pulling your line out the river when the guy next to you has a fish on and other things. Thats why I am not the guy fishing with barbed 2/0 hooks, using a spinning reel upside down and leaving 100 pound braid stuck in the river bottom. So I take all the advise that I can get on here. I didnt have any family members river fish and most of my friends dont fish at alI. I fished the Puyallup last year and there was nobody on the river. Even though I didnt catch any silvers, I can learn and build on that experience.

I dont try to act like I know it all, but if someone asks me personally for any advice, I will share what I know. It might not be the best advise, so take it at your own risk.

[chefjake99]

Thanks hooked I appreciate the compliments. I like to catch fish thats what kind of fisherman I am. I was first taught by my dad who is a person that enjoys more of the solitude of the sport and would purposely find places where not many people fished. I caught my first and biggest steelhead with him. Then my step dad came a long and taught me to fish in the combat zones and his motto was if you want to catch fish you have to go where the fish are. So now I believe that I am somewhat a hybrid byproduct of both "dads". Now with all that said I am still learning and will continue to learn for the rest of my fishing life I hope. There are some ways of fishing that I think I do pretty good at and other ways that I am definitely still learning. If someone asks me for my advice my answer will be my opinion based on my experiences, I am sure others would say something different and that's fine. I really don't care how others fish as long as they are polite and sportsmanlike. The bottom line for me as I go fishing to enjoy the outdoors, the challenge of catching fish, and I expect to catch fish.

[EAmon___hoffman123]

i slay squawfish with worms then bite there heads off:-"

[curado]

thanks for the compliments hooked. fishing weather it be in the salt, lake, river or pond i have been doing it since i was alot yonger its in my blood. my dad used to fish thomas's eddy alot and be out 3x as much as me. alot that i know i have either learned from him or have asked old timers near me. fishing is no hobby for me, its a passion. and when i got offered a couple years back to be a deck hand on a guide boat i jumped on it, and even the guide was surprized at alot of the knowledge i knew. yes some people talk alot of talk but i am one that wants to get more people into fishing and have better success rates. i am not afraid to hand my rod off to a kid near me hooking anything. i have dont it a few times on the wallace fishing for silvers. the look of excitement on their faces is what matters to me. and time you spend with the person that taught you most.
here is from my outing this weekend with my dad. i was quite mad that i caught 2 squaw fish on a k3 kwikfish.

[jens]

I lie awake at night for countless hours and hours thinking of new techniques or a new pattern for my jigs to get a fish to bite. I get a greater satisfaction as an angler when there is no doubt a fish took my offering versus flossing.

I keep a tiny small circle of guys who I Steelhead with and we all have the same distraction.

I remember last summer after fishing all day with my son and some friends Jiggin it for Steelhead, he looked a little down especially after losing 2 nice fish. On the way home I asked him, "Well, what did you learn from today?"

He thought to himself for a second and replied, "You and Rob(fishinrob) are so serious."

I was hoping he would say something about mending his line, or something about the Palomar knot or how high a Summer Steel will jump. Nope, but his reply I took as a compliment.

He is 14 now and has already caught a bigger King and a Steelhead than his old man. I can't be any more proud. I just can't wait for him to get old enough to start driving.

[knotabassturd]

jens- you have been a very quick learner on the rivers for sure. Guess your son takes after you in that regard if he is already finding and landing bigger fish than Pops

[Rob G.]

I hook em' in the dorsal and then yell coming down! Then when noboby's lookin' I pull the hook out and yell "right in the mouth".... hahah...sorry, I couldn't help it..

I've fished my whole life, but just started river fishin' within the last few years. It's definately a challenge which is why I love it... As far as advice, I only tell people what's worked for me, or what I've witness work for others.. as a matter of fact, I use that same philosophy in all areas...

[racfish]

I mind my business and hope others mind theres. We all fish for different reasons. If you dont like advice from others dont read their posts. Its really that simple. I fish the rivers alot. I find nice virgin spots and give it a try. If I have to cut in to a spot I'll do it. I like fishing as a way to unwind. I dont do trophies nor do I take pictures of fish. I have albums of fish pics. Whats the point of it? I dont need to show off pics to get an ok from the sites I visit.Besides "I Fish Therefor I Lie"

[A9]

Can you please tell me how to catch salmon I really want to get one and can you also tell me what exact lure you were using and where you were fishing and what rock you were standing on and where exactly you casted?

All kidding aside, WHO CARES whether someone "knows what they are doing" or if they can "back it up and catch fish consistently?????"

I've always said the guys having the most fun are the best fisherman. The biggest thing that ticks me off about the internet fishing forums is all the bs and people who think they are better fisherman than everyone else. Don't like fishing for pinks or how they taste? Than shut up and don't piss on everyone elses parade. I hate seeing people make fun of someone for fishing for some certain fish that they don't think is worthy or when people make fun of the way someone fishes or gets skunked or doesn't have the skills they do. None of that matters.....

I've never paid for a guide nor have I entered into a derby. For me, fishing isn't about money or competing or being the best or having to back myself up by catching fish. I want to fish for myself, be amongst good company while doing it, and most importantly have fun. Having had a life changing experience of nearly losing the functionality of one of my arms has changed my perception on everything. Now I'm just glad that I can fish, for a while I wasn't sure if I would be able to have a functioning right hand. To be able to hold a rod now and enjoy everything I used to is all that matters.

I also want to help others learn to fish so they can enjoy fishing as well. I've taken fishing trips to some spectacular places and also have had some epic days out fishing, but some of my most fun and rewarding fishing experiences have involved fishing for species that most people would scoff at or with people who can't even cast or tie a proper knot... Nothings more fun than handing off your rod to someone who hasn't caught a fish all day or setting someone up with the right tackle and seeing them catch fish after you gave them the right gear or bait to fish with. My best outings haven't necessarily involved big trophy fish, but rather taking people out who don't get to fish much or haven't at all.... Like taking coworkers who've never caught a fish in their life to fish for pink salmon on the Snohomish river and watching them go from not being able to cast at the start of the morning to grinning from ear to ear after they've caught their first "salmon." Or teaching my younger cousins to fish on the shores of Lake Washington for the lowly yellow perch, sitting on a dock all afternoon and watching them fill up a bucket of yellow perch.

At the end of the day, this site shouldn't be full of people who are expert fisherman who know everything about how to fish and can back it up.. Walakes.com should be full of newbies who are looking to catch their first fish and its our duty to share whatever and any knowledge with them so they can partake and enjoy the sport we love so much. Mike would agree that he didn't make this a site for self called expert fisherman to compete and boast of their success, but rather a place for people to learn and share the knowledge they've gained with others who may or may not have the same skills they do.

[Bodofish]

[chefjake99]

Well said A9!

[Marc Martyn]

All kidding aside, WHO CARES whether someone "knows what they are doing" or if they can "back it up and catch fish consistently?????"

I've always said the guys having the most fun are the best fisherman......

Hear! Hear!:cheers:

[Rob G.]

@ A9 BOOM! That just happened.... Love it!

[sickbayer]

Can you please tell me how to catch salmon I really want to get one and can you also tell me what exact lure you were using and where you were fishing and what rock you were standing on and where exactly you casted?

All kidding aside, WHO CARES whether someone "knows what they are doing" or if they can "back it up and catch fish consistently?????"

I've always said the guys having the most fun are the best fisherman. The biggest thing that ticks me off about the internet fishing forums is all the bs and people who think they are better fisherman than everyone else. Don't like fishing for pinks or how they taste? Than shut up and don't piss on everyone elses parade. I hate seeing people make fun of someone for fishing for some certain fish that they don't think is worthy or when people make fun of the way someone fishes or gets skunked or doesn't have the skills they do. None of that matters.....

I've never paid for a guide nor have I entered into a derby. For me, fishing isn't about money or competing or being the best or having to back myself up by catching fish. I want to fish for myself, be amongst good company while doing it, and most importantly have fun. Having had a life changing experience of nearly losing the functionality of one of my arms has changed my perception on everything. Now I'm just glad that I can fish, for a while I wasn't sure if I would be able to have a functioning right hand. To be able to hold a rod now and enjoy everything I used to is all that matters.

I also want to help others learn to fish so they can enjoy fishing as well. I've taken fishing trips to some spectacular places and also have had some epic days out fishing, but some of my most fun and rewarding fishing experiences have involved fishing for species that most people would scoff at or with people who can't even cast or tie a proper knot... Nothings more fun than handing off your rod to someone who hasn't caught a fish all day or setting someone up with the right tackle and seeing them catch fish after you gave them the right gear or bait to fish with. My best outings haven't necessarily involved big trophy fish, but rather taking people out who don't get to fish much or haven't at all.... Like taking coworkers who've never caught a fish in their life to fish for pink salmon on the Snohomish river and watching them go from not being able to cast at the start of the morning to grinning from ear to ear after they've caught their first "salmon." Or teaching my younger cousins to fish on the shores of Lake Washington for the lowly yellow perch, sitting on a dock all afternoon and watching them fill up a bucket of yellow perch.

At the end of the day, this site shouldn't be full of people who are expert fisherman who know everything about how to fish and can back it up.. Walakes.com should be full of newbies who are looking to catch their first fish and its our duty to share whatever and any knowledge with them so they can partake and enjoy the sport we love so much. Mike would agree that he didn't make this a site for self called expert fisherman to compete and boast of their success, but rather a place for people to learn and share the knowledge they've gained with others who may or may not have the same skills they do.

Best reply yet!

[curado]

i agree with sickbayer