When I started fishing, it was my father, brother, and I camping in the back of a pickup truck at Nauset in the early 80's. After some coaching from a few regulars, we figured out how to put worms on a hook and throw them into a "hole" to catch stripers. As the addiction progressed, there were many fishless nights over the years due to lack of knowledge and just plain lack of fish. When I got my license and hit Ptown in the mid to late 80's, it seemed like an impenetrable barrier existed with regard to getting information. As I fished more and more, certain guys took note and began to help me out.
When I finally had some successes to report, guys opened up even more, but some were still weary about spilling everything. I found myself in their shoes later on when I fished long and hard with a few close comrades. We were very successful, but secretive. To this day it is still a trusted few guys for me, maybe about a dozen, who mostly fish in different locales, but we all share information freely about our successes and failures. Some of the guys I’ve known for 20 years, some much less, but all respect the need for a level of secrecy in our sport. I regularly get good info from the outer cape, north shore, and Rhody, but seldom act on it, if ever. I stick to what I’m going to do, regardless of the grape vine info. However, on some occasions, I do act, and it has resulted in some of my biggest catches, and biggest fish of my life. As a rule I don’t chase the info, because it usually results in getting there a day too late most of the time.
I still don't give up everything either, and sometimes lie about how/where/when if the person is on the bubble. I won't send anyone on a goose chase, but will creatively mislead sometimes.
Now tell me fellow s-bers, how do you decide when to share with some one, how much to share and how valuable is the grape vine to your fishing exploits? If you are new to the sport, but serious, how will you go about getting the inside edge? Also, how do you know when someone is trying to trade you manure for oats? Lets hear it on this deep, but seldom talked about subject.
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