Locals Only or Local Knowledge Available Worldwide?

Psst... hey buddy... I got what you need. I got the GPS coordinates to all the reefs. All the secret spots from the locals guaranteed to give you what you're looking for... I got it all. In typical wide-eyed frenzy, the angler hungry for information does exactly what has been suggested, he buys it all.

Anything for an edge and everything for a big fish. The quest for big fish flat out drives fishermen crazy. They'll go to extreme measures, sometimes traveling great distances to get it done. And the primary key to their success is knowing the what, when, where, and how of each location.

Here in this wonderful information age, gathering inside fishing information has taken on a new face. For years it was a difficult task to find out anything truly helpful on a new body of water without spending time out there feeling your way along. Still though, anglers went to great lengths to acquire much-coveted local knowledge.

Hiring local guides to gain a Cliffs Notes version of a particular area has always been a logical way to jumpstart the learning curve. For those a little more adventurous and with a few more bucks, there was the overhead method, taking a plane or helicopter for a ride with a camera and a map. B.A.S.S. guys employed the birds eye view for decades, availing themselves to the obvious shortcut of covering lots of water in a short amount of time.

Fast forward to today's electronic wizardry and you can pretty safely make the claim that there are no secret spots left. Google Earth is as good as any plane ride ever hoped to be with entire continents revealed in striking detail incredible satellite imagery available at the click of a mouse.

Another example is the mapping chip now offered by Navionics as a compliment to their GPS systems. These devices are ridiculously detailed and stupidly easy to program and install. And that's not all, they are updateable via any PC with new technology and information from the Navionics website as soon as it is available.

According to Navionics representative Art Wright, they are going even farther with new Smart Phone mobile apps that make it easier to access mapping data on the go. One such app is called Newsstand which geo-references articles from various publications to provide detailed information on practically every major body of water in the U.S. For example you could enter Sabine Lake and access a list of articles that you could then read or download for reference later. It's an amazing app that will help adventurous anglers do it on their own.

Another handy app Navionics is promoting is their Nav Planner which allows the user to plan routes, store waypoints, and download it all to a chip compatible with many brands and models of GPS transceivers. This has been a big hit with tournament guys who are constantly plying new waters as venues change along the tourney trail. Some teams are enlisting the help of a local angler who can use the app to draw up a fishing game plan and travel route to share with them without even getting in their boat. Very useful and time saving to say the least.

Now with all this electronic help its awful easy to get lulled into a false sense of security. Several years ago I saw a boat on Sam Rayburn that had run aground and flipped over on what was supposedly a submerged hump. Two out-of-state anglers armed with a high-dollar GPS were involved in the crash. Yes they were on the right route. Yes they were following the coordinates. No they didn't realize the lake was ten feet below normal pool, so they crashed. A GPS doesn't make you invincible nor will it guarantee you that you will be fine if you follow the track. This is where good old fashioned common sense and basic navigation skill still come into play.

As seen in the example above, even with all the latest electronic wizardry, there is still a great need for hands on local knowledge. If you are so fortunate to find someone willing to share some information they gathered the hard way, by all means respect their areas and do your best to reciprocate the exchange of information when you can. The exchange of information between fishermen can be the difference in struggling and success.

On a recent trip to Gulf Shores Alabama I couldn't wait to hit the surf in front of our condo it was alive with bait and all manner of fishiness going on. I made a quick trip to the local tackle shop, J&M Tackle, and got all the info I needed to make my trip a success. These folks were really nice and very willing to help an out-of-state angler. I have found it very rare when you cannot receive a good tip or useful information at the local tackle shop; it's the first place to start asking around when you go to an unfamiliar body of water.

So bring all your gadgets and stir in a big helping of local knowledge I cannot imagine you not finding the fast track. And whatever you do, don't forget to bring your own secret weapon. Many times I have seen visiting anglers put a thrashing on the fish with lures and techniques the locals would never have dreamed of using. I guess that's what makes this sport so interesting, the fact that there are no absolutes and anything can happen. Here's hoping you find all you need on the information highway and each stop along the way.