I was on my way home from So. Co. last night and around
11pm I am just coming off rt. 4 going onto 95n I am getting
tailgated really bad, I was doing 80 mph and next thing you
know the guy passes me on the right so I give a quick look
and it is a red Toyota pu and on the side says On The Water
to guys in it and 2 rods in the back. this guy was weaving all
over the highway. watch out Rhody OTW is invading

Yeah i seen em in gansett last night, youd never guess who they were fishing with

looks like they are gonna do a show on south county

That's all we need, stick to boat fishing OTW

Yep - I heard, disappointing really.

That sucks BIGTIME :yak6:

:skulz: :hs:

Oh No more X's and fish here ??? :tm:

Not to diminish just how wrong it would be to do a show on a specific area, I was doing a little looking back on the season today and thinking about "spots" and fishing in general.

Several of my biggest fish this year have come from spots where either the old guard forgot about them or maybe they weren't fishing them right in the first place. Quality fish, nevermind the ones I lost. :lossinit: And I never saw anybody else out there. Another came from a spot where fish over 30#'s supposedly aren't caught at night.

For that matter, the biggest shore caught bass weighed in for the Newport County Fishing CLub so far this year was caught by someone who has only been fishing the Newport area for 3 or 4 years. He was in a spot at a time when no one really expected it. (Except DZ) Hindsight being 20/20, where that fish (and many others like it during that week) were caught made perfect sense, it was just over looked.

Put a wetsuit on for the first time and re-approach familiar waters. Throw some unconventional plugs at the so called "wrong" times. Knock on someone's door and try and be charming and get yourself some private access. Bottom line, think outside the box and discover or re-discover spots. And then don't tell anybody. To some degree all spots are known as are the best ways to fish them, but you can still find some "new" spots or at least some well hidden ones if you try.

"For that matter, the biggest shore caught bass weighed in for the Newport County Fishing CLub so far this year was caught by someone who has only been fishing the Newport area for 3 or 4 years. He was in a spot at a time when no one really expected it. (Except DZ) Hindsight being 20/20, where that fish (and many others like it during that week) were caught made perfect sense, it was just over looked"

God that was a good run of fish!

sure was :faga:

saw em too. sensitive spot :behead:

They're fishing sensitive spots in Rhody with an OTW logo on the side of their truck? :doh:

What's the over/under on a tire slashing or their valve stems disappearing? ;)

Yeah i seen em in gansett last night, youd never guess who they were fishing with

Yup, that should really make the natives restless.....

Yep, there was a fisherman article on the Q this week, of all sensitive places..

Is Steve is in trouble again? :eek: :eek:

Here we go another internet bash session....................

Guys,

Here we go again, lots of condemnation for a show that hasn’t even aired yet. Does anyone know what the focus of the show was about? Was the theme, “Top secret spots of RI?”

Let’s hang them all now!

While we are at it, let’s make sure we get the whole staff from The Fisherman; they just blew the lid off Q…but then again over the past 20 years they seem to put “A Spotlight on Q” in about one or two articles a year. After we wack those guys, we can get those rotten tackle shop owners that just can’t keep their mouths shut. It’s like the bird flu, we’ll have to quarantine a lot of the area fishing clubs too…there’s a lot of spot burning taking place at those monthly meetings. From now on fishing reports should be censored by at least a few members from this board. Then when you turn to ProJo you’ll be reading, “There were some really big stripers caught in Narragansett Bay last week, especially near the shore. Anglers fishing from boats found them on the reefs, points, sand bars and breakwaters.” Have you seen the Seagull Charts? They have the guts to name names and even circle them in red. For that matter Goggle Earth should be banned. Imagine being able to see what the shoreline looks like up and down the striper coast. Hell, all charts, maps, satellite views and cave drawing should be destroyed.

Believe me, I understand why people are sensitive to having limited access areas labeled as this week’s must-fish location. IMHO finding striper hot spots is not rocket science. As an outdoor writer, photographer and video producer I try to pass on (in pretty generic ways) techniques on how people can find hot spots on their own.

I know that OTW is listening to its readers and they too are sensitive to this matter. They’ve received a lot of letters as a result of Steve’s article, and you might be surprised at the percentage breakdown for and against his tell all story. I’m sure they’ll be responding to a survey they’re conducting in an upcoming issue.

As far as the OTW shoot yesterday, I SUGGESTED IT and I’ll take all the heat for it.

First let me set the record straight and explain the storyline for the show.
Every shoot starts with a goal, an objective, a theme. I thought their audience (and every member of this board) would enjoy seeing a tribute segment to the surf angler…especially one the deviled into the hard-core world of night fishing. When is the last time you saw a surf fishing show, never mind one at night? How about a show that shares the intimate secrets of how to catch big fish on soft plastics? How about a show where the talent is someone who has perfected the technique to the point where he has given up fishing with live eels (something he had done for 33 years)? Soon we may not be able to fish with eels; I would think an alternative method would come in pretty handy.

The shoot took place at Beavertail State Park, an area where Arthur Clarke caught a 65-pound striper 69 years ago this October…it was the largest shore-caught striper for almost 36 years. He caught it on his patented eel bob rig. Why not fish those historic waters with a 21st century version of that rig?

Plenty of time was dedicated to showing the step-by-step rigging. Then the camera turned on Steve as he demonstrated how to fish the Slugo to its fullest potential. The wind was blowing from the SW and there was plenty of salt spray in the air. It was just before sunset and with the third oldest lighthouse in the US as a backdrop Steve and Chris Megan (Publisher of OTW) fished the rising tide. I shot the anglers from a water’s edge perspective you'll never see unless the camera is protected by an underwater housing. The setting was beautiful, but only a few fish hit the plastic, and only one was landed.

Under the cover of darkness we switched spots and then introduced the viewers to “The East Coast of Narragansett.” Not “F,” not “A,” not “X” marks the spot.

On a perfect night for fishing, there was very little catching. However the image of two savvy anglers working the suds under a cloudy sky with only a few brief peeks of the moon was spectacular. With the aid of high intensity underwater lights we were able to light up about a 20 foot stretch of shoreline and thus reveal the rugged world of rock hopping RI style…all without revealing where.

We burned a couple of hours with only one small fish. If you think a truck's high beams are bright you should have seen how much my HID lights lit up the surf. To a man, we all agreed that a light on the water turning off the bite was more myth than fact. Case in point, five minutes later Chris was into a nice fish. It was a great battle with lots of leaping from rock to rock, and a really cool finally when Chris coaxed the fish into a deep bowl. Chris jumped in up to his chest and I was able to get some unbelievable “half in the water – half out of the water” scenes. The underwater release of a near 20 pound fish was pretty darn dramatic.

Five minutes after our Hollywood lights on and in the water sequence, Steve was hooked up. I frantically worked at getting the salt off my lens in time to capture Steve struggling to keep a big fish out of the rocks. With perfect timing he brought the fish up to the top of a wave where he surfed it onto the rocks next to him. It’s great when a plan all comes together. The fish weighed 39.55 pounds and it made for the perfect ending to a perfect night of fishing. Hopefully when the show airs in January you’ll appreciate all the effort we put into creating a breathtakingly beautiful show that’s as informative as it is entertaining. I’m confident that you’ll also appreciate the fact that no specifics, other than how to get to Beavertail, were discussed.

Now stop worrying and go catch some cows…a 46 pound fish was also taken somewhere nearby but nobody is quite sure where :rollem: .

Mike

I have not seen a show dedicated to the surf angler. There was one show where a woman and a member of OTW staff were fishing at wasque point on MV it was one of the best shows I have ever seen!

Unfortunately I have been missing the OTW show because I have been out fishing and cannot wait for the new season specifically the show fish eye mentioned!

Some day I will get to RI to fish but dedicated time is needed which I do not have :(

I need to move to southern Ma.

Tires slashed? That's it. You people have become pathetic. We all love it, but I have some news. IT'S JUST FISHING. Get a friggin life. So long forever, you losers.

Lurch,

I hear what you're saying about I have been missing the OTW show because I have been out fishing and cannot wait for the new season It's time to be out there fishing NOW!

However, the shooting for the above mentioned show only took place two nights ago and won't air until January...the run might be over by then. :wid:

I'm sure the other fisherman didn't mind lights in the water.. :rollem:

kippy,

Give me a break, the whole point of what I was saying is that the lights just didn't make a bit of difference...not one bit. Besides, we weren't exactly covered up with other fisherman.

Is this the type of spot burning you expect?

http://fisheye.striped-bass.com/images/OCT05/xspot.jpg

Find the rock with the red "X" and cast towards the water.

Again, the entire shoot in this location was under the cover of darkness with no mention of how to get there, where to park. It just deals with how to catch cows on plastic -- a timely subject with eels likely to disappear.

Problem is, fishermen gossip like 13 year old girls :hee:

Steve M. is damaged goods for a while. I doubt there's much he could do right in the eyes of some...

-spence

Spence,

You are so right about the gossiping, but if Steve is damaged goods (despite all the help he's offered to countless anglers over the years) , I'm surprised David Pickering and Tim Coleman are still alive after writing dozens of "where to" stories. Tim's weekly fishing column in CT is reason enough to hunt him down.

Charlie Soars only has to worry about the guys that fish in boats as he gives away spots like Sakonnet Point, Warren Point, Land's End and Quicks Hole, etc.

I have no problem with it. Sounds pretty cool to me.

_Z_

IF the shoot was as innocuous as fish eye says. I'm willing to give then the benefit of the doubt until it airs.

Do you people really think there is a spot on God's green earth in striperdom that hasn not been written about in the last 40 years? Most of you guys are rank amateurs, period. Grow up! Frtank daignault writes Striper Hot spots and people from this site are regurtlay seen on the SS.COM site still s#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&g up to him! And Like FishEYE said, Beavertail and one small fish. Mike P., slash tires? I thought you were above that %$%$%$%$, I respected you until that comment. JohnR. , "VERY DISAAPOINTING"? Soco SoHo, Boho who the %$%$%$%$ really cares and when that show airs for fifteen minutes on a Tuesday morning at 8:00am in February who will remember? Grow the %$%$%$%$ up, all of you. Most of you rookies can't keep your mouths shut anyway. "Charlie Soares gives up places like Sakonnet, Quickes etc.. First of all most of you couldn't hold Charlies bait bucket and secondly ever see a chart? Got half a %$%$%$%$ing brain? The Elizabeth Islands are top secret? I am ashamed of you guys, really, petty assed girls the whole %$%$%$%$ing lot. :lossinit:

Tattoobobs concern I believe as first mentioned was being tailgated by someone who after passing him at 80 plus m.p.h. was weaving, not driving staight. I think he felt his safety was in jeopardy. After the next post this thread was mugged big time. Used to be if your vehicle had commercial markings you drove in a sane manner. When its so easy to be i.d. (your name plastered in big letters on side of truck) one would think one would drive better. I think his mention of R.I. being invaded by OTW staff had to do more with the way whoever was driving was operating the truck.

Whatever happened to this thread after that is anyones guess.

Do you people really think there is a spot on God's green earth in striperdom that hasn not been written about in the last 40 years? Most of you guys are rank amateurs, period. Grow up! Frtank daignault writes Striper Hot spots and people from this site are regurtlay seen on the SS.COM site still s#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&g up to him! And Like FishEYE said, Beavertail and one small fish. Mike P., slash tires? I thought you were above that %$%$%$%$, I respected you until that comment. JohnR. , "VERY DISAAPOINTING"? Soco SoHo, Boho who the %$%$%$%$ really cares and when that show airs for fifteen minutes on a Tuesday morning at 8:00am in February who will remember? Grow the %$%$%$%$ up, all of you. Most of you rookies can't keep your mouths shut anyway. "Charlie Soares gives up places like Sakonnet, Quickes etc.. First of all most of you couldn't hold Charlies bait bucket and secondly ever see a chart? Got half a %$%$%$%$ing brain? The Elizabeth Islands are top secret? I am ashamed of you guys, really, petty assed girls the whole %$%$%$%$ing lot. :lossinit:


Flaptail, as I read your post It helps to really see the light, your post above is one of the best I have seen and really says it all. I agree 100% with everything you say and really dont have much more to add exept to echo everything you said.

Good recap Swimmer...

Do you people really think there is a spot on God's green earth in striperdom that hasn not been written about in the last 40 years? Most of you guys are rank amateurs, period. Grow up! Frtank daignault writes Striper Hot spots and people from this site are regurtlay seen on the SS.COM site still s#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&g up to him! And Like FishEYE said, Beavertail and one small fish. Mike P., slash tires? I thought you were above that %$%$%$%$, I respected you until that comment. JohnR. , "VERY DISAAPOINTING"? Soco SoHo, Boho who the %$%$%$%$ really cares and when that show airs for fifteen minutes on a Tuesday morning at 8:00am in February who will remember? Grow the %$%$%$%$ up, all of you. Most of you rookies can't keep your mouths shut anyway. "Charlie Soares gives up places like Sakonnet, Quickes etc.. First of all most of you couldn't hold Charlies bait bucket and secondly ever see a chart? Got half a %$%$%$%$ing brain? The Elizabeth Islands are top secret? I am ashamed of you guys, really, petty assed girls the whole %$%$%$%$ing lot. :lossinit:


Simmer down flap. Yeah, I admit I couldn't hold Stevies eel sack. That being said. There is a difference between a spot being written about a few year ago and one being burned today... IN THE SHORT TERM due to immediate increased pressure. I can attest to this since I regularly fish one of Steve's top 5.
This CAN lead to long term damage due to POSSIBLE loss of access. No one like to see their spots talked about due to these issues. I don't think that is very difficult to understand. This behavior is NOT limited to use fisherman. Hunters are the same as are some surfers "Surf your own beach". I'm sure other groups can be included as well.

Should the guy get threats? absolutely not. But NO ONE can judge whether or not individuals lose respect for someone due to something that person does. It's an individuals call.

They're fishing sensitive spots in Rhody with an OTW logo on the side of their truck? :doh:

What's the over/under on a tire slashing or their valve stems disappearing? ;)
Mike that really surpises me from you.........

I was studying it and then it disapeared put it back. :lurk:

Mike that really surpises me from you.........



I think Mike was talking in jest. Notice the little ;) in his post. He's in the law business and I'm sure he knows the consequences of mischief like that.

With the way some are acting about this spot burning issue, it makes me affraid to come up and fish there anymore. Last thing I need is to have someone messing with my truck, or messing with me with me for that matter. I have had people in Rhody gimme the evil eye before after seeing my NJ tagged truck, but never was fearful of anything. I come to fish and fish is what I do. I dont bother anyone and I dont wanna be bothered ;)

Like someone said in a previous post, there is'nt one spot that hasnt been written about, or talked about at some point in time. You wanna see crowds? Come to NJ any day this week thru December when there's a west wind blowing, it would make ya slit your wrists.

Why? has this stuff gone so far overboard?? You know people will hang themselves...get my drift?? there is no need to beat a dead horse horse. You cant change people or twist there arm to do what you want them to do, It is what it is.

Do you people really think there is a spot on God's green earth in striperdom that hasn not been written about in the last 40 years? Most of you guys are rank amateurs, period. Grow up! Frtank daignault writes Striper Hot spots and people from this site are regurtlay seen on the SS.COM site still s#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&g up to him! And Like FishEYE said, Beavertail and one small fish. Mike P., slash tires? I thought you were above that %$%$%$%$, I respected you until that comment. JohnR. , "VERY DISAAPOINTING"? Soco SoHo, Boho who the %$%$%$%$ really cares and when that show airs for fifteen minutes on a Tuesday morning at 8:00am in February who will remember? Grow the %$%$%$%$ up, all of you. Most of you rookies can't keep your mouths shut anyway. "Charlie Soares gives up places like Sakonnet, Quickes etc.. First of all most of you couldn't hold Charlies bait bucket and secondly ever see a chart? Got half a %$%$%$%$ing brain? The Elizabeth Islands are top secret? I am ashamed of you guys, really, petty assed girls the whole %$%$%$%$ing lot. :lossinit:


It's all George Bush's fault I'm sure. :vamp:

Hi Bill , I think Mike P was stating what could happen, Thats not his Style.It happened to me sleeping in my truck a few years back someone keyed it................. You know this SPOT THING IS SAD, Just let it go, It's not even Winter YET :fishslap:

Habs, where they bitin'? :hidin:

Have to take the 5th on that question, Just kidding. Best to call.

There's only 2 places I fish in the whole state. :faga:

Flap - it is a shame that things like "spots" have come to this. It is a shame when you can't say online that you got a good fish last night or put up a picture because you will be inundated with PMs, Emails, Phone Calls about where you were. Or that people say you are full of BS, you were lying. All that. Yeh, it is frequent enough both online and offline. It truly is a shame that you can't give detailed locations on a spot without hordes of people running amok. Yeh - you are right, there ARE NO SECRET SPOTS. Nobody says there are, really. ABout every place HAS been fished before, some more so than others, often due to access issues or simply how willing one is going to go to fish a place.

It is also a SHAME that entities have to PROMOTE locations in order to SELL stuff. It does not spread the "wealth" so to speak of fishing pressure evenly across spots that can handle it better. Access and the Fish - are not those the TWO MOST IMPORTANT ITEMS to us as surfcasters? We spend so much time, often innefficiently, working the fish issue, yet we as a group are so harsh on access. You think the ratio of anglers to those that go to fisheries meetings is tough, imagine the ratio that goes to ACCESS issues. Yeh, I go when I can. Not often enough or as much as I'd like but I go. You do too. You know what is at stake here. And we are fortunate enough that you know the balance between writing about access and speaking generally.

Flap, as for losing respect for MikeP on his comment - do you REALLY think Mike is advocating slashing OTW's tires? Really? I know Mike a little and I think we can all agree that he is making notice of what potentially might happen by OTHERS. And I truly hope something like that would not happen, and truly hope nobody from here would do just that. Would I put money on that not happening? Uh, no... Some have more impulse than brains... Mike is in the brains camp.

I guess it pisses off a lot of people that I take this stand but as being someone that persues access issues when I can, I hate to see it face loss due to making money.

I also get that ill feeling in the pit of my stomach about this whole McKenna thing. Really torn. He really is a great guy, an awesome surfcaster, that in my opinion has made a large, unnintentional mistake. He has tried to do something good. And he is taking the heat unproportional to what he has done, certainly when compared to all of those that have done it before - including members here. But does an atmosphere that fosters that make it all OK? Becuase it is traditional to burn stuff in ALL of the different medias? I've done it here too and I'm pissed that I did. In fact, next revision of the site has NO reports section. Sure, a lot less people will sign up as members, but I think it is the responsible thing to do either way. Plenty of places online and in print to get SPOTS & Reports :doh: Anyway, I'm really sickened over this stuff. Steve is getting hammered, certainly more than deserved, and others are going to profit from it. Sucks.


#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& - did you change your mind on what you said before you talked to me or after? Your earlier posts on this thread don't necessarily jive with your phone call...

I habe more to say on this but I need to get back to my real job.

Oh, Laptew - WTF do you think is wrong with dragging a camera crew and staff down a PRIVATE road to FILM ? Do people walk that private road to fish? Yep. Do you think the handful of wealthy people living in there are nice enough to look the other way when anglers respecfully walk down there? How long will that last with film crews walking down there? Do you think the handful of wealthy people in there would really react if a crew of 10 walked down with cameras and equip bags? Obviously, this is not the first time you have dragged cameras and crews down there to FILM fishing.

Is getting he right shot MORE important than access to a location? Ask yourself that. I trruly hope you advised against going into there with a film crew - though somehow I doubt it.

never underestimate the reach of the internet.

nowadays, you could have a bunch of dudes from siberia flock to your favorite spots if they felt like it.

Oh, one very important thing for people to remember - the show was not (and hopefully won't be) about spots - it is a How To show!!


First let me set the record straight and explain the storyline for the show.
Every shoot starts with a goal, an objective, a theme. I thought their audience (and every member of this board) would enjoy seeing a tribute segment to the surf angler…especially one the deviled into the hard-core world of night fishing. When is the last time you saw a surf fishing show, never mind one at night? How about a show that shares the intimate secrets of how to catch big fish on soft plastics? How about a show where the talent is someone who has perfected the technique to the point where he has given up fishing with live eels (something he had done for 33 years)? Soon we may not be able to fish with eels; I would think an alternative method would come in pretty handy.

The shoot took place at Beavertail State Park, an area where Arthur Clarke caught a 65-pound striper 69 years ago this October…it was the largest shore-caught striper for almost 36 years. He caught it on his patented eel bob rig. Why not fish those historic waters with a 21st century version of that rig?

Plenty of time was dedicated to showing the step-by-step rigging. Then the camera turned on Steve as he demonstrated how to fish the Slugo to its fullest potential. The wind was blowing from the SW and there was plenty of salt spray in the air. It was just before sunset and with the third oldest lighthouse in the US as a backdrop Steve and Chris Megan (Publisher of OTW) fished the rising tide. I shot the anglers from a water’s edge perspective you'll never see unless the camera is protected by an underwater housing. The setting was beautiful, but only a few fish hit the plastic, and only one was landed.

Under the cover of darkness we switched spots and then introduced the viewers to “The East Coast of Narragansett.” Not “F,” not “A,” not “X” marks the spot.
So let's not jump over Steve, and OTW if it is a How To show...

I am sure Mike meant his remark in a funny fasion however, its the thousands of people who lurk and read and it only takes one nut to acually do something as malicious as slash someones tires.

John,

Oh, Laptew - WTF do you think is wrong with dragging a camera crew and staff down a PRIVATE road to FILM ? Do people walk that private road to fish? Yep. Do you think the handful of wealthy people living in there are nice enough to look the other way when anglers respecfully walk down there? How long will that last with film crews walking down there? Do you think the handful of wealthy people in there would really react if a crew of 10 walked down with cameras and equip bags? Obviously, this is not the first time you have dragged cameras and crews down there to FILM fishing.

Did you read my earlier post?

The crew was made up of four people that walked in under the cover of darkness and left a couple of hours later. I made certain, as did Steve, that nothing revealed where we were fishing. What the hell is wrong with that? A show featuring a top angler using a productive technique on a pitch-black shoreline. The only on camera reference was to the East shore of Narragansett Bay. As far as people profitting on that show, yes it's business but it is the business of entertaining and informing people. My whole follow up to the post that announced the arrival of the OTW crew was to assure everyone that it was not a where to piece it was all about how to fish plastic. In my humble opinion I think we did justice to a very special way of fishing, one that's seldom seen on the silver screen. I'm sure everyone that watches the show will be very impressed by the footage and even more impressed at the sensitivity to limited access nature of the location. I've quite honestly never seen such a kangaroo court where everyone is guilty until proven innocent. To set the record straight, I've been diving that area since 1973 and I've filmed fishing off the shoreline there only once before...and I never gave up where we were fishing.

No one is more sensitive to access issues, I've suffered as much as anyone when it comes to lost spots. In fact I sent a previous thread from S-B to a young writer for The Fisherman who's working on a new surf fishing book and I suggested he make sure that it wasn't another "where to" book -- fortunately it will not be.

I'm willing to roll up my sleeves and help solve the problem and I'll bet there are a lot of others here that feel that way.

Where do we start?

You know something Mike - I did read and reread your post about that and put a follow up for people. And I understand what you are saying about a how to. But you HAVE previously filmed their and spread it on the net. Hopefully you would not do THAT again.

People - I think these threads are not doing anyone any real good (other than exposure for OTW)

I think we all need to settle down on the spot issue and back off. We also need to see people NOT burn McKenna in effigy unless they are perfectly willing to hang in effigy everyone that has ever scribed or posted about a spot... Let's give this a rest...

Hi Bill , I think Mike P was stating what could happen, Thats not his Style.It happened to me sleeping in my truck a few years back someone keyed it................. You know this SPOT THING IS SAD, Just let it go, It's not even Winter YET :fishslap:

I'm glad someone still has his head on straight.

Jesus, you guys really think that after all I've stood for I was advocating a tire slashing? :rollem: It was a comment on how out of control this whole OTW/spots thing has become.

Bill, the poeple who do things like that don't need me to suggest it to consider doing it. It happens at the Cape. I've had it happen to me for the greivous offense of parking with NY plates on my truck. I had a key mark all the way down the passenger side of my old red Cherokee.

Let's give this a rest

Please !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let's give this a rest

Please !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:claps: