Don't put out the "good fishing" sign!

[Hoop Goobner]

Having a competitive edge when tournament fishing is critical.  These advantages come in lots of forms, and one of the best is the "secret spot".  A spot (typically offshore) that looks like 90% of the rest of the lake, but you know what's down there and why it holds fish.  You have a good waypoint in your GPS for the dirty little secret that you wouldn't even share with your mother, yet you are probably advertising to everyone that the spot is worth investigating. 

How?  Well, spots like this are typically small, and seemingly in the middle of nowhere.  Even though you have a waypoint, you often times need to throw out a marker buoy because of wind, important casting angles, etc.  These markers are often orange or bright yellow, and a passing boat can pick up on the "good fishing" sign from pretty far away.  I've ended up sharing secret spots with guys in the past because they did a drive by, saw the marker, made a mental note or dropped a nearby waypoint, and then came back later and investigated (and found) my little secret. 

My tip is... paint your marker black.  It's much harder for others to see who aren't looking for it.  Sure, every now and then you might drift far enough away to lose track of it, but only you will know the general area and you'll be able to find it every time.  Since I highly recommend using the marker for boat position and NOT structure or cover position, you're boat will rarely be very far away anyhow. 

Don't deny it.  I think everyone has seen a boat fishing nowhere particular, then saw that bright marker buoy and thought "hmmm, now I wonder what is there that's worth throwing a marker out?". 

[Mike Cork]

I'll admit it, I've stopped in and checked a few places I've saw the tell tale Orange Buoy

[leatherhead]

Maybe I will put out distraction markers and confuse the whole lake.

[Creel Limit Zero]

Heck, I don't even need the orange "marker" buoy.  If I see a boat fishing "nowhere", and staying there more than 10 min, you better believe I will check it out at some point when they are no longer fishing there.       Just takes longer when not marked. 

[Makaira76]

I do know people throw out brights markers to throw off other fisherman during competition and such. Its all about tactics. :D

[Polaris425]

Last weekend I was fishing in a creek, then moved out to fish the mouth of it (nice hump there) and someone was fishing 1 spot out in the middle of the river... had his marker out and everything...

So I dug out the iPhone, opened up my Navionics App, and sure enough, they were sitting on a small hump, under water island if you will, that was 17' deep to the top w/ 25' and deeper all around it... Never saw them catch anything but, now I know where one more spot is to go sit and throw a C-Rig worm when the fish are holding deep

[Mr1ply]

couldn't you also use a GPS and set it to alert you when you are "x" distance from your datum? i know they are more than capable of doing this. then there is no markers at all

[Hoytman1018]

Having a competitive edge when tournament fishing is critical.  These advantages come in lots of forms, and one of the best is the "secret spot".  A spot (typically offshore) that looks like 90% of the rest of the lake, but you know what's down there and why it holds fish.  You have a good waypoint in your GPS for the dirty little secret that you wouldn't even share with your mother, yet you are probably advertising to everyone that the spot is worth investigating. 

How?  Well, spots like this are typically small, and seemingly in the middle of nowhere.  Even though you have a waypoint, you often times need to throw out a marker buoy because of wind, important casting angles, etc.  These markers are often orange or bright yellow, and a passing boat can pick up on the "good fishing" sign from pretty far away.  I've ended up sharing secret spots with guys in the past because they did a drive by, saw the marker, made a mental note or dropped a nearby waypoint, and then came back later and investigated (and found) my little secret. 

My tip is... paint your marker black.  It's much harder for others to see who aren't looking for it.  Sure, every now and then you might drift far enough away to lose track of it, but only you will know the general area and you'll be able to find it every time.  Since I highly recommend using the marker for boat position and NOT structure or cover position, you're boat will rarely be very far away anyhow. 

Don't deny it.  I think everyone has seen a boat fishing nowhere particular, then saw that bright marker buoy and thought "hmmm, now I wonder what is there that's worth throwing a marker out?".

I also use black markers.

Use flat black, gloss will have a little shine in the sun on flat water.

[H8R]

Just dont be surprised if the marker disappears from a prop grabbing it...

[coldfront]

know the minnkota boys have the 'lock on a spot' capability in some of their TM's (terrovas?).  would love to see it on all of them.

watched as show the other day where a walleye pro talked about unloading his boat by himself, electronically/remotely steering it out off the dock and 'anchoring it'.  Parking the trailer, then remotely guiding the boat back to the dock and taking off.

seems a good way to do it when along on busy docks.

[Princeton_Man]

I've never been a big fan of the store bought marker buoy because it is a tell. I used to be a co-angler with a guy who used them almost every time out. I've mostly relied on GPS. Even years ago, I carried a Garmin E-Map (still have a couple of them) and used my way points.

I have been known to use Mountain Dew and Mellow Yellow bottles to mark something special. I try to keep a bottle or two stuffed with 30-40 feet of old line with a lead weight in the junk drawer (battery compartment). If I want to drop a marker I'll grab one of them, remove the top, and let out enough line to hit bottom, put the cap on, and I'm done. Adding just a little water to the bottle helps keep it bottom up.

When I retrieve one I usually don't re-use it. Just remove the weights, wrap the line around the bottle, and add it to the trash bag.

I've improvised quite often using rocks from the shore for weight and even a paper juice box for a marker. I'm the guy who can't walk past the gum wrapper on the ground, I've gotta pick it up. I usually do this when I'm on the water as well. As many bottles, cans, and other floating debris that I've collected while on the water, I've never found anything being used by anyone else as a marker. I've also never lost one of my markers to a good samaritan. 

[cmr287]

couldn't you also use a GPS and set it to alert you when you are "x" distance from your datum? i know they are more than capable of doing this. then there is no markers at all

+1

[coldfront]

Maybe I will put out distraction markers and confuse the whole lake.

just like a good duck/decoy spread...