Oct. OTW - Page 2 - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

CAL · 09-19-2005, 09:16 PM

I havn't got my copy yet but regardless of his intentions it sounds pretty moronic if you ask me. What good can possibly come from being that specific?

Next thing you know, Powers will be including hand drawn maps too and GPS coordinates just to one up him.

Karl F, I knew someone was gonna jump all over the Arlo Guthrie thing

Krispy · 09-19-2005, 09:29 PM

Eben

Moses · 09-19-2005, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nebe

well i had a freind read it to me over the phone.. im not pissed at all.

those spots are 'has been' spots. kinda like some of the old spots you read about on the cape that no longer produce like they used to.

if anything i am glad, as it will send the googans in the wrong direction.

Steve is no fool.. i fish with him occasionally and while i am surprised at this, i'm not going to loose sleep over it.

Eben - always remember, "has been" spots to one are "prime" spots to another. With all the constant talk about spot burning on this site, I'm surprised anyone would give him a break since he mentioned exacts vs generalities. One of them is definitely a spot I fish every fall and there is very limited parking to begin with. Just some food for thought.......

Slingah · 09-19-2005, 10:23 PM

like BF said.....R.P. does it all the time...in VERY sensitive areas!!!....he just don't care.........just tryin to sell magazines, I guess...

BigFish · 09-19-2005, 10:25 PM

RP is a tool!

fishaholic18 · 09-19-2005, 10:52 PM

I don't even want to read it....

It's getting harder and harder ...

snake slinger · 09-20-2005, 12:23 AM

otw needs to change or we need to stop buying it!

eelman · 09-20-2005, 01:33 AM

Steve is my partner and best friend, I cant sit here and see you rip the guy apart for something you all know you want SPOTS ! The spots he talks about are very well known and in now way "secret" or more importantly PRIVATE.

They all have public access and public parking and are for the most part already over crowded, I think his thought process on this was whats the difference? if there are going to be a hundred guys at a spot , they may as well at least fish it right. Sure some people are going to get pissed off, pile on the crap, look cool by saying what a spot burner he is etc, etc, etc..

Does he fish these spots anymore? nope, very rarley, would he have mentioned them 10 years ago? no way in fact he was pushed out long ago from overcrowding, you may occasionaly see him at the river but thats it.

The number one question he gets asked in the baitshop is about spot, 24/7 all people want to know is spots, spots, spots... So he gave them some, as for the kowledge he gave, If your smart, you would read it 10 times and apply what he has written, you may just get yourself a dream fish, If I was new I would take it as a blessing, you may end up shaking his hand.

So if your this unhappy and dramatic over this then be straight up and go see him at the shop and tell him to his face, stop knocking the guy on the internet when he has no defence here as he does not have a computer.

Steve has helped many people improve there fishing, he is nothing but helpfull at the shop, and does whatever he can to better someones experiance on the water....Lay off and take a time out , I think you will all see that those are spots that every googan with a surfstick has already fished... Its crap like this overblown thread that make me stay away from the boared

It also makes me sick that some of these people will smile to his face and then rip him here you, know who you are.

Clammer · 09-20-2005, 02:03 AM

Go to Bed /// write thigs down //

Zeno · 09-20-2005, 04:15 AM

As an occasional contributor to fishing publications I read this with more than a passing interest.I got a feeling after November otw my a$$ is going to be sore as much as Steve is reading this stuff.But I am getting ahead of myself.
I got these felling (and correct me if I am wrong) that spot burning is ok as long as the spots are not your own.Because when someone s talking about a rip off Montauk Point ,NY or Sandy Hook ,NJ you read it with drool in your mouth ,taking in every sentence and imagining standing in with stripers bumping at your boots.Written words take places you only heard of and makes them familiar .But when it comes to places you fish ,oh no.God forbid somebody even mention about their existence ,even if they are not as productive as they used to be.Send everybody to Cape ,I say.
I'll reserve my judgment until otw shows up a week or so ..........

MartinD18 · 09-20-2005, 04:41 AM

Zeno - PERFECT!!! oh the horror, the horror... a fishing magazine that tells people where to fish. And at such "secret" spots too (!!!!). Hey I know - maybe the newspapers should stop being so site specific about the Red Sox and the Patriots and then I'll be able to get tickets! I used to go when there were a lot less people and I could get tickets easily, and now those damn papers keep talking about them and all those googan fans show up....grrr...let those googans find their own teams to root for, that's what I say. I worked hard to be a fan of those teams, and now I show up at Fenway and there are all these PEOPLE. I deserve to be there way more than those googans do. And the trash, lemme tell ya.

kippy · 09-20-2005, 05:23 AM

I'm still waiting for my september issue..

..

BigFish · 09-20-2005, 06:06 AM

So #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&..."burn the spots as long as they are not your own"..."and he has not fished them in years"....."apply what he has written and go there to catch a dream fish???" If there were dream fish there why is it your buddy does not fish there????? I recall not too long ago a certain someones spots got burned in a similar way and it was an issue for him.....well I guess take care of number 1 and screw everyone else is the moral of this story!!!

You also were ripping people for helping and being generous with spots and information.....when it affected you it was a problem but since this does not...then its alright! Too funny!

The point is write about a general location as most of the writers do, but don't draw a detailed map, list parking spaces, give GPS co-ordinates......give the general area and let the dang fisherman find their own way....else how are they supposed to improve, be good at what they are doing and be the kind of fisherman you guys are always whining about???

Example.....Napatree....its a great spot to fish...go there and try your luck!

bassmaster · 09-20-2005, 06:25 AM

send them to the cape

got spare

beachwalker · 09-20-2005, 06:35 AM

you're all a bunch of poofters

seriously, I think the only guys upset should be the guys who call that area home and/or fish it "regularly".

All you dissenters CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION RIGHT NOW !

fishaholic18 · 09-20-2005, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beachwalker

seriously, I think the only guys upset should be the guys who call that area home and/or fish it "regularly".

I resectfully disagree with that.
We all must stick together and have each others back.

SBASS1 · 09-20-2005, 07:26 AM

Looks like we have another Tim Coleman on our hands. So I guess there will be two people bannished to Napatree.

afterhours · 09-20-2005, 07:26 AM

right on the money fa18

chris L · 09-20-2005, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slipknot

Chris, it wasn't an internet writer

I could not belive what I was reading either, and it wasn't just RI

If a spot is common knowledge, that is one thing mentioning it but to take ya by the hand and explain what to throw, when and where, that's a bit much

I havent even received my copy yet but just cause that one wasnt written by someone on the net . there have been and will be plenty in the future .

eelman · 09-20-2005, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigFish

So #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&..."burn the spots as long as they are not your own"..."and he has not fished them in years"....."apply what he has written and go there to catch a dream fish???" If there were dream fish there why is it your buddy does not fish there????? I recall not too long ago a certain someones spots got burned in a similar way and it was an issue for him.....well I guess take care of number 1 and screw everyone else is the moral of this story!!!

You also were ripping people for helping and being generous with spots and information.....when it affected you it was a problem but since this does not...then its alright! Too funny!

The point is write about a general location as most of the writers do, but don't draw a detailed map, list parking spaces, give GPS co-ordinates......give the general area and let the dang fisherman find their own way....else how are they supposed to improve, be good at what they are doing and be the kind of fisherman you guys are always whining about???

Example.....Napatree....its a great spot to fish...go there and try your luck!

spots I fish are private, hopefully that answers your question

ThrowingTimber · 09-20-2005, 08:00 AM

Steve, has always been helpful the few times I stop into the shop. I havent read the article, I dont subscribe. But this seems like an issue worth reading, even if its for sng's

JohnR · 09-20-2005, 08:05 AM

I'm a little short on time so I can't address this the way I want to.

I have not read the article yet so I can't go into detail on that but I can assume a few things from this post. Sounds like Steve went pretty detailed on spots, that is a shame, his spots or someone else's, its a shame. Someone is going to lose access and someone is going to suffer.

But while you are trashing Steve McKenna now, I guess you need to trash everyone else that talks spots too. So let's all throw Joe Lyons and Dave Pickering under the bus, Canalman, Powers, Flaptail, looks like Zeno has some spot embers coming soon, ooops Charlie Soares has diarrhea of the mouth lately, #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& did a few in 5-6 years ago, Daignault - the original mass torch, wrote a book and made $$ by coopting others to burn THEIR spots, Tim Coleman (Sbass - TC is one of the good guys), Bassmaster, Mike P, et all.

Now, when you are done, go blame the Bait and Tackle shops too. I think Captain Don's has sent more people to Q in the past few years than any other source. Ballstons - what shop does not say "Balstons"????

Now that we are done crying, maybe we should address the root of the problem? PEOPLE WANT SPOTS!!! New people, old people, where are the fish at?? This is an over-generalization but you know what makes profit for fishing maggies? Boat and boat / fishing related advertisements, you know what makes people buy the maggies so they can sell the add space? SPOTS!!!!!!

I have talked to a few people (probably not who you think) that write articles for our two heroic local SW periodicals. There are more and more encouraged to write about SPOTS. Sure, give me a How-To, but be sure to add the where-to. SPOTS SELL! Sells magazines, sells books, sells website traffic. SPOTS SELL!!!!

People follow trucks to see where they are fishing because of SPOTS. It's all about SPOTS. Some of the nicest people turn into the shrewdest scum beacause of SPOTS.

What is the negative ramification of all this spot talk? ACCESS IS FOREVER LOST!!!! When a bunch of people park at X and leave trash, make noise, talk loudly at 3 in the morning, we put undue pressure on spots. It is only worse when it is on OTW or NEF just in time for the Friday crowd. And even some of the "smart sticks" from here make more noise than a heard of holsteins with their bells on. Trash, people, noise, disrespect - these are all eroding at our access. But it gets worse when things are concentrated because of an article in the maggie, or a thread on the 'Net.

You want to do something about it? Form a Coalition to stop spot diarrhea of the mouth. Tell the maggies to stop talking spots and encouraging, or practically demanding spot info in the articles. It is the CULTURE that needs to change.

But don't be a complete hypocrate and bash when odds are you have sucked up to people for spots or waited with foaming mouth for NEF or OTW to hit your mailbox and make that magical flight up into the library. Do something about the root of the problem and tell Bourque and Harvey to be far less descriptive on publishing specific locales. Or better yet, invite Gene and Zach to a lot of these spots when the floodgates open.

piemma · 09-20-2005, 08:19 AM

OK, old guy weighing in on the topic. I guess the First Amendment gives all of us the right to say (or write) whatever we want. That's why some of us went to war and fought for our Country.
I think that the issue comes down to one of ethics. Would I do it? No. Steve McKenna is a good guy but I am shocked by the article and the detail he went into. I think, in some ways, he has let down the RI fishing community that has supported him and his employer.
Bottom line, the spots he gave up will be crowded for the Fall run, but they probably would be anyway. I don't think that there is any material harm that has been done. I do think that he has done an insurmontable amount of harm to his reputation among the guys who have know and respected him for years.
It's a damn shame.

choggieman · 09-20-2005, 08:31 AM

As solely a soco fisherman, this is very disheartening. My biggest problem is that he can write this article about the places he doesn't fish and have no reguard to the rest of us that do not have private property to fish on. If he wouldn't talk about these spots ten yrs ago, then why now? Because he has nothing to lose, his spots are safe. But, I have always respected him and listened when he spoke because he is a very knowledgable "old salt", but that respect just flew out the window and he seems to be just another hero....

Pete F. · 09-20-2005, 08:38 AM

Well, hopefully my OTW will be there when I get home. I for one would love to see OTW do a series on how to find your own spots, A sand beach guide with pictures of various soft structure, rocky areas, esturarys and rivers. Fishing spots are not that hard to find but parking spots are and are in short and endangered supply. For me a good spot will never be the one that is over publicized and crowded, but it might be close to it or even be it at the right time of night. I fish one of those spots in Maine and you should see the crowds come a few hours too late, especially on bluebird days, I don't see them out on the bar on a foggy night though or anytime when it's good fishing weather in my view.

JFigliuolo · 09-20-2005, 08:43 AM

I spend all summer learning a spot to have it "outed" since it's not fished by the author any more. great. I guess when you only fish private spots it doesn't matter to you anymore how it affects others. How would he feel if his public spots were published back in the day? I imagine he would not have been too pleased.

And to those comparing this to tackle shops burning spots... Telling (being generous here) a few hundred people "hot spots" is nothing compared to all the reader who read OTW.

I noticed a slight uptick in traffic after his seminars, now? Christ I can only imagine.

Thanks Steve I really appreciate it.

I guess the only saving grace is that after a few times getting skunked, The googans will go somewhere a little easier to get to (I hope).

JoeP · 09-20-2005, 08:58 AM

I agree with Piemma's and Choggieman's take on this.

I have not read the article yet but I can only imagine what it says. My problem, as others above have said (choggieman), is the basic premise that it is OK to burn spots that you are no longer fishing for whatever reason because in your small world those spots are not worth fishing. Nebe said this, #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& said this, others agreed, and it seems according to #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& that it was part of Steve's mindset in writing the article. Not trying to start an argument with you guys but that thinking is very close-minded and a little bit ignorant. Don't you realize that just because you don't fish them alot of other guys do? Do you think that because you think those spots are not productive any longer there are not fish there when you are not there? Maybe the reason that you stopped fishing those spots is because they became popular & overcrowded -- which is now even worse.

Sorry, I am not trying to be an A-hole, just giving my opinion & some constructive criticism.

Now, with that said, I have talked to Steve at the shop on many occcasions & seen him with customers and my opinion is that he is just a good guy who has fished alot and really takes pleasure in putting new & seasoned fisherman on fish. I really think his sole intention is to help people. Go talk to him - he is a genuine guy.

It is just a shame that the format he chose to use this time was in OTW and will cause problems at the spots he named. Unfortunately, as Piemma said, he is taking a beating on this.

snake slinger · 09-20-2005, 09:11 AM

i dont blame steve he gave OTW what they wanted its all about sales for them

BigFish · 09-20-2005, 09:51 AM

Choggieman hit it on the head...he gives no regard to the folks who fish there! I don't fish there.....but I have seen a few of my spots torched of late....and one of them is private #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&.....torched in a magazine by the way! You guys who see nothing wrong with this....you only care about yourselves.....cause its not your spot! I don't fish Rhody but I care about the guys that fish that spot because now they have to pay for Steve McKenna's error in judgement for the rest of the season and maybe longer if the place fills up with uncaring jacka$$e$ who make alot of noise and pollute the place....loss of access!!!

Alright...I have weighed in twice on this subject and that accounts for about 620 pounds past my .02 cents worth......I got no problem with giving general areas...but keep the details quiet and let the folks earn their stripes!

JFigliuolo · 09-20-2005, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snake slinger

i dont blame steve he gave OTW what they wanted its all about sales for them

right, I never heard that excuse before... You know the things someone will pay you for? I guess that makes it ok? What disturbs me the most is Steve seems like a very nice guy. Here's the way I see it:
either:
A. He REALLY needs the money (which I doubt but hey, who knows).
B. He made an error in judgement.
C. These spots were not HIS spots, so, who cares if they get overun.

(My money is on a combination of B and C)