Well put Downriggin. Good post.

There has been a long used phrase concerning this general subject - "Show them how but not where". This certainly applies to zipperlips. Please keep them that way! The one thing I take issue with to an extent though is your comment about magazines. Some will sell out zippers and many won't. As a columnist for STS mag I won't give out any zipperlip rivers, or areas of more solitude on more known waters in Oregon or Washington. I won't be quite as careful about BC and AK - they need our tourist dollars and have more water and fish than they can use. With a few past exceptions, STS has pretty well stuck to this position.

As for helping newcomers to learn how to fish effectively, I obviously think that's fine; or I wouldn't have gotten into the biz. Seemingly, the only guys who mind about fishing tech info being shared publicly are selfish guys, who themselves have learned a lot from others. Too bad; try to get over it. I had to come to terms with it, as I used to be secretive about fishing techs. But once you have learned to get over the eroneous notion that you are some kind of gifted human being for being able to catch more fish than average fishers, you have grown to a better place. Because you aren't 'the [Bleeeeep!]' you think you are for that (despite the recent trash talkin threads, that are in fun). Those who have spent more time studying material, and particularly have more time to be on the water dialing in all the time, are going to have higher catch rates. That big of deal? I don't think so. Maybe worth a little self pride.

And ET, I can't go along with your old axiom that 10% of the fishermen catch all the fish, with 90% getting mostly skunked all the time. Certainly the exceptional fishers are in the minority because they are really into it. But the average fishermen these days (after years of info sharing in books, mags, seminars, fishing/outdoor expositions in the bigger cities, TV shows, tackle shop education, Luhr Jensen 'how to' pamphlets, etc) are pretty good fishers. As for a group of guys on here that will only share info with 'their own', well that can't happen on here. Everybody can read what gets posted. What guys share outside of this venue is their biz.

IMHO