I have a few secret spots that I don't share with anyone without some kind of blood oath. So I understand why some like to keep their rivers\spots under wraps. But I find more and more the it's not the actual river\creek that I consider 'my spot', but rather the strech of water that I worked hard to find that does not offer easy access or is overlooked by most for some reason. I have a few spots like this on the snoqualmie for steelhead, on the Middle Fork snoqualmie for trout, and even on the Yakima for trout. Some would say that their are no secret spots on those well know and heavily fished waters, but on the days I go, and on the specific stretches of water (very productive I should add) I fish, I rarely see another angler - and see way more wild life than people. I worked hard to find these spots and try to keep them somewhat to myslelf. But I freely share reports from my trips and tell what I was using, what river I was fishing, and maybe a general location (like near fall city).

On the other hand, I know for a fact that many 'locals' like to keep others off 'their' river because they prefer to poach in private.

Anyway, this kind of post really won't help anyone. They still have to pick a river to go to - and there are many to choose from, find access, and find the fish. Most of our zippers are dear to us because we've learned where to fish and when. We have put in the time and are dialed in. If someone else is willing to do that - then they have just as much right to be there as I do. If the get lucky and find my spot (and get there before I do), I'll low hole him and slash his tire - ooops, I mean I always have a back up plan \ spot. If I'm already there and they ask how I did, I'll probably tell them the fishing is pretty slow and recomend they fish 'up by the meat hole'... But to be honest, I never see anyone that close to worry about it in my secret spots (a few guide boats go by with sometimes a little glare because I found one of their secret spots )