Spot finder fees. First I have heard of such a thing

[dudemanspecial]

A recent youtube video from drew looknfishy talks about how he intends on raising money to support his channel (or lifestyle is probably a more accurate descriptor) by charging 400 -600 dollars to tell you where and how to get to the remote fishing spots in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and Idaho that he posts on his videos.

As you can imagine, the comments were ranging from people telling him they already emailed him to pay for this information, to others with the torches and pitchforks ready to march to stop this madness. He was defending himself saying that outfitters already do such things while the masses replied that they don't do it for the remote places he is posting.

He has since turned the comments off.

What is everyone's opinion on such a thing? Personally, I think a map is a hell of a lot cheaper than paying someone hundreds of dollars to tell you where to fish.

He starts talking about this at the 4:00 minute mark.

 

[wildtrout2]

A recent youtube video from drew looknfishy talks about how he intends on raising money to support his channel (or lifestyle is probably a more accurate descriptor) by charging 400 -600 dollars to tell you where and how to get to the remote fishing spots in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and Idaho that he posts on his videos.

As you can imagine, the comments were ranging from people telling him they already emailed him to pay for this information, to others with the torches and pitchforks ready to march to stop this madness. He was defending himself saying that outfitters already do such things while the masses replied that they don't do it for the remote places he is posting.

He has since turned the comments off.

What is everyone's opinion on such a thing? Personally, I think a map is a hell of a lot cheaper than paying someone hundreds of dollars to tell you where to fish.

Now, that's interesting! I've watched a lot of his videos, which I thought were quite good. I would NOT have expected this business concept to come from him, at all. Especially, considering how he often mentions the solitude of his trout fishing experiences. Expect the unexpected though. Not much surprises me anymore. It will definately add pressure to the streams he "sells out".


And yes, a map is a lot cheaper, but it doesn't tell you which streams will produce the results you desire, or the species of trout you can expect to catch. Money makes people do some strange things!

Edit: I have often wished I knew the locations of some of the streams he fishes. I wouldn't pay $400-$600 for that knowledge though.

 

[Swattie87]

Now, that's interesting! I've watched a lot of his videos, which I thought were quite good. I would NOT have expected this business concept to come from him, at all. Especially, considering how he often mentions the solitude of his trout fishing experiences. Expect the unexpected though. Not much surprises me anymore. It will definately add presure to the streams he "sells out".


And yes, a map is a lot cheaper, but it doesn't tell you which streams will produce the results you desire, or the species of trout you can expect to catch. Money makes people do some strange things!

Edit: I have often wished I knew the locations of some of the streams he fishes. I wouldn't pay $400-$600 for that knowledge though.

Same. I found it surprising coming from him. At first I thought it was an April Fool’s thing, but it’s not it seems. I just unsubscribed from his channel, and will do my best to not watch his stuff anymore. Unless he backs himself out of this.

I get the monetary aspects of YT, and I’m ok with the ads and sponsor stuff. No different than regular TV, and we’ve been watching commercials for nearly a century. But this seems to cross a moral line in my mind, at a minimum. The insurance adjuster in me questions the legal and liability aspects of doing something like this.

 

[dudemanspecial]

Same. I found it surprising coming from him. At first I thought it was an April Fool’s thing, but it’s not it seems. I just unsubscribed from his channel, and will do my best to not watch his stuff anymore. Unless he backs himself out of this.

I get the monetary aspects of YT, and I’m ok with the ads and sponsor stuff. No different than regular TV, and we’ve been watching commercials for nearly a century. But this seems to cross a Mira line in my mind, at a minimum. The insurance adjuster in me questions the legal and liability aspects of doing something like this.

I also unsubscribed. I was hesitant to even post this as to not give any attention to it, but I ended up thinking that any attention garnered would likely be negative and help push him into changing his mind about this.

 

[Swattie87]

I also unsubscribed. I was hesitant to even post this as to not give any attention to it, but I ended up thinking that any attention garnered would likely be negative and help push him into changing his mind about this.

Agree. Comments are disabled, and I wouldn’t look to get into a debate with him on it anyway. Figured unsubscribing was the most practical way to voice my displeasure with this.

Edit: Be interesting to watch his subscriber count over the next month or so.

 

[jifigz]

The Internet and social media are ruining our world. Why would anyone pay $600 for a location? He figured these places out, so can anyone else. It's public land. You're not buying access to private water here!

 

[hockeyref]

The Internet and social media is ruining our world. Why would anyone pay $600 for a location? He figured these places out, so can anyone else. It's public land. You're not buying access to private water here!

Why…. Cuz people these days want the “easy button” solution and instant gratification. The journey and process mean nothing to the latest generations…. They’ve been conditioned that they can bypass the work by throwing money at it.


Kinda off topic, but way back when, I can remember when I first started officiating. Did it to stay involved in the game and to give back to a game I loved. A lot of people that I talked to would ask -fist thing outa their mouth- “so, how much do you get paid to do that?”

 

[wildtrout2]

Agree. Comments are disabled, and I wouldn’t look to get into a debate with him on it anyway. Figured unsubscribing was the most practical way to voice my displeasure with this.

Edit: Be interesting to watch his subscriber count over the next month or so.

As much as I've enjoyed watching his videos, I unsubscribed as well. We'll see how many follow suit. Maybe he'll get the message?

 

[salmo]

I hate to be contrary but he fishes areas containing perhaps millions of square miles. To me it’s not like spot burning a Brookie stream in Berks County. I agree it’s like hiring a guide. I won’t buy anything from him but I guess he has a right to do it. Not very much different from Capitalism IMO.

 

[jifigz]

Well, and the one thing he didn't mention (but I'm sure he's thought about it) is the added pressure it brings through word of mouth. He is selling each place six times, and then how many times will those people share it? How many times will the word be multiplied and shared and trampled?

Why…. Cuz people these days want the “easy button” solution and instant gratification. The journey and process mean nothing to the latest generations…. They’ve been conditioned that they can bypass the work by throwing money at it.


Kinda off topic, but way back when, I can remember when I first started officiating. Did it to stay involved in the game and to give back to a game I loved. A lot of people that I talked to would ask -fist thing outa their mouth- “so, how much do you get paid to do that?”

Yes, and because people feel a need to share everything! EVERYTHING! For goodness sake, people - not everything we do has to be to impress others!

 

[wildtrout2]

I hate to be contrary but he fishes areas containing perhaps millions of square miles. To me it’s not like spot burning a Brookie stream in Berks County.

This is true. But, as Josh mentioned, if he can find these spots, so can others, if they put in the time and effort. I'm thinking he's relying on folks not wanting to do that though.

Maybe he lurks on PAFF and will read what's being said? He's by no means a stupid individual.

 

[wildtrout2]

Well, and the one thing he didn't mention (but I'm sure he's thought about it) is the added pressure it brings through word of mouth. He is selling each place six times, and then how many times will those people share it? How many times will the word be multiplied and shared and trampled?

Yes! This will no doubt bring added attention/pressure to whatever stream locations he "sells".

 

[Swattie87]

I hate to be contrary but he fishes areas containing perhaps millions of square miles. To me it’s not like spot burning a Brookie stream in Berks County. I agree it’s like hiring a guide. I won’t buy anything from him but I guess he has a right to do it. Not very much different from Capitalism IMO.

Yeah. He can do whatever he likes. And we can do whatever we like and not watch his videos or support his channel any more.

It’s certainly different. Maybe he’ll grow his viewership with it? I dunno. Maybe it will attract viewers knowing they can pay a simple fee and then go fish the same water depicted in the video. No guarantee you’ll catch fish like he does still. He’s not really doing anything all that difficult or novel fishing wise, but he is very good at what he does.

Even though it’s not PA, and it’s public land and all that, it’s the selling of the resource for monetary gain principle that bothers me. And this is far different than what a legitimate guide outfit does, or someone who writes a stream guidebook about a certain area.

I think it’s likely he’s opening himself up to a world of problems he wasn’t anticipating. Be interesting to see how this pans out. I’m fairly certain the fishing gods will be throwing him a few skunks this year though.

 

[jifigz]

No guarantee you’ll catch fish like he does still.

You're right; there are no guarantees you'll catch fish like him. He is clearly adept at using a fly rod and catching fish. I've watched a few of his videos, and I don't think I've ever watched an entire video by him, but from what I've seen he's usually bobber fishing with nymphs. It's not like he's employing super hard tactics or anything here. He's nymphing water with simple tactics to fish that aren't very pressured. I'm not slighting him, but I am pointing out it's not super technical fishing over selective fish.

 

[Bamboozle]

I'm SO glad I don't watch any. or subscribe to any fishing video web channels...

There are already so many things to aggravate me in this world, I really don't need fishing to be one of them. 😉

 

[Swattie87]

You're right; there are no guarantees you'll catch fish like him. He is clearly adept at using a fly rod and catching fish. I've watched a few of his videos, and I don't think I've ever watched an entire video by him, but from what I've seen he's usually bobber fishing with nymphs. It's not like he's employing super hard tactics or anything here. He's nymphing water with simple tactics to fish that aren't very pressured. I'm not slighting him, but I am pointing out it's not super technical fishing over selective fish.

Yeah, he does a lot of fairly basic hopper/dropper stuff too. Those are mainly the videos of his I was most attracted to. He’s really good at making casts that curl up tight to the bank and allow for a longer drag free draft than you think would be possible. Think about that far bank rising fish on Penns that it’s too deep to get any closer to. You bomb casts out there only for the fly to nearly immediately drag as soon as it hits the water. He’s good at bending that cast a little so the leader lands more parallel with the current than perpendicular to it, giving you a longer period of time until the fly line starts dragging everything back towards you. It’s not a huge difference, but it’s enough to get a couple feet of a decent drift and maybe catch that fish.

I’ll miss his videos. I liked his format and the camp scenes at his truck too. Oh well.

 

[lycoflyfisher]

I also plan to unsunscribe. His videos a
Were a source of intrigue and guiding motivation for my western roadtrip with my brothers 2 summers ago.

In a similar fashion, its not advertised but there are guys with large social media followings selling Onx "pins" for white tail hunting. Its not as advertised, but its out there.

 

[Swattie87]

Unless you get out there and actually try it…Go fish (or hunt) an area you know little about, you’ll never understand that much of the fun is exploring and figuring things out for yourself. If you’re paying $500 for a GPS pin, you’re missing out on most of the fun, and likely don’t even understand why.

 

[dudemanspecial]

I posted this same thread on the big fly fishing forum as well. Guys from that area will certainly chime in there.

 

[tomgamber]

Yes, and because people feel a need to share everything! EVERYTHING! For goodness sake, people - not everything we do has to be to impress others!

I don't share things to impress people. I share things so others can experience same enjoyment.

restaurants, music, cool places, knowledge. The more people find enjoyment in those things, the more protectors those thing have as well.