How close is to close? 2024
Ima Bass Ninja reply :
So how bout it, how close to a another angler do you have to be to say something/or leave the area?
Since i mostly just recreational fish and if there's another boat within 75 yards i'll just leave.
roadwarrior reply :
Technically, 50 yards if anchored. I prefer several
hundred yards and always behind, not in front of
a leading boat.
8-)
ww2farmer reply :
If your a good buddy, I don't care how close you get as long as it's not a tournament. If I don't know you, stay at LEAST a reasonable cast away, and don't cut in front of me, go out and around me, or get on my butt, unless you ask, then despite my bubbly personality here, I am usually pleasant and will let you, unless it's a tournament, then just don't ask and go away. I do the same in return.
Nova Kaw 650 reply :
A cast away is fine by me, even in a tournament. I don't pretend to own the water.
If it's a close buddy, I don't care if we tie the two boats together and make a raft, lol. 8-)
Hot Rod reply :
I apply the "two cast" rule. That way if the other boat and I cast toward each other we don't get tangled. Plus it is a reasonable distance.
I never pull in front of another boat while they are fishing. I follow by a minimu of the "two cast lenghts".
Nothing POs me more than when some jerk see's you catching fish then cuts you off and starts fishing right in front of you or tries to horn in on you.
Yes it is public water and no I don't own it, but come on man don't be so rude and inconsiderate. Go find your own fish or wait till I leave. I wouldn't crowd in on someone else either.
Still, I usually don't say anything unless it is a tournament and it is a fellow copetitor pushing in.
Nova Kaw 650 reply :
QuoteA cast away is fine by me, even in a tournament. I don't pretend to own the water.If it's a close buddy, I don't care if we tie the two boats together and make a raft, lol. 8-)
I should have been clearer; the above is how I consider those that move in near me. If I'm the one on the move then I keep a much greater distance.
salmicropterus reply :
Two answers:
Aaron Martens: If I can see you or hear you it is too close.
KVD: Close enough that you can see how much I am catching and it wears on you mentally.
NBR reply :
I usually go in behind the guy fishing my intended shore ask him if he plans on coming back and if he doesn't I go the other way. If he is coming back through I find another spot.
fourbizz reply :
If you move in on me while I am throwing a Hudd and I can hit your boat with it, I probably will.
A-Jay reply :
I am very spoiler regarding angler proximity.
I fish smaller lakes that are less than 500 acres and many are less than 250. I rarely even see another angler let alone get close enough be concerned about it.
A-Jay
WRB reply :
The original B.A.S.S. rules stated 200 feet as I recall. Common sense and good sportsmanship should be your guide. If you think someone is too close, politely say something or cast in that direction.
Today too many anglers think they own the water and could care less if you are on a spot they want to fish.
Most bass anglers will heed the warning, the ones that don't usually are running and gunning and they leave soon anyway.
Life is too short to argue about fishing.
Fishing Rhino reply :
Buddy or not, unless invited, my rule of thumb is to give plenty of room, maybe 200 yards or more.
If they are working an area/shore, I pay attention to the direction they are moving, and make sure I do not jump in front of them, not even by two or three hundred yards.
It's common courtesy, and what I'd expect of others. If they are anchored, I'd still give them a wide berth, but would not hesitate to work any side of them as opposed to someone drifting or motoring a consistent direction.
It makes no sense to follow someone closely. If they have disturbed fish, your quarry is less likely to take your offerings. Give 'em a chance to settle down.
Last year I was working a shoreline and a man and his wife (I assume) jumped ahead of me. I just kept working my way toward him.
As I got closer, he asked how close I was going to get. I told him it was possible I'd bump into him since it was he who was rude enough to jump closely ahead of me when it was clearly evident that I was moving to the south along that shore. I told him that rudeness does not deserve the least bit of courtesy.
He grumbled and huffed, then left.
I don't go looking for trouble, but I'm not going to be driven from the area I'm working by anyone.
Twenty five plus years as a commercial lobsterman have served me well regarding protecting my turf, even though my possession of that turf is only temporary.
Treat others with the same courtesy you expect from them, and you'll be fine.
Bassnajr reply :
Some local rules say as RW stated a certain distance if anchored or if the trolling motor is down etc. Common sense is a good rule of thumb. Don't do to others what you wouldn't want done to you. If someone is fishing down a shoreline I wouldn't jump in front of them...but would follow behind them at a cast or two distance. If they are not moving or at anchor, I would go around them on a wide angle. Comminication is also key. I think most people get more upset when you pretend that there not even in the area. Common courtesy.
Hellbenderman reply :
When they start to get too close, I develop a pronounced tick in one shoulder, tilt my head to one side, and make loud slurping sucking noises followed by drooling, and then I start start whooping and cursing ala Tourette's Syndrome. Then I winkle in their direction. I generally have all the casting room I warrant.
Hamby reply :
I'm usually pretty friendly on the water. I don't mind if people get close enough to pitch into my boat unless they're purposely cutting me off and disrupting my intended path. If i'm pitching docks and another guy comes up on me fast, i usually let them pass if they do it friendly enough. I just look at what they're doing and hit the spots they didn't. No different than fishing from the back of the boat.
I purposely let people get close and fish my area sometimes. Let's me start a conversation and find out if they're doing any good, and what they've done so far.
Same thing when i'm fishing behind a guy. If i'm not doing too hot, i'll speed up on purpose so that he sees me. Then i can ask him if he's had any success. 8-)
SirSnookalot reply :
If you are in the same state, you are too close.......lol.
I was fishing with a hall of fame fisherman the last few months, keyword WAS.
Every time I got a hookup and before I could even land the fish this guy was casting right into my spot( beach fishing). This happen a good 10 times, at first I payed no attention to it considering he was new in the area, I also took him to a few of my hot spots( big mistake). Now when I see him I just leave. With this guys background he should have better fishing etiquette.
frogtog reply :
Stay out of my casting distance, you could get your boat scratched up. >
jdw174 reply :
When you fish a lake with 2500 miles of shoreline and is 185 miles long, I figure there's no reason whatsoever to jump in front of me, yet it happens regularly. And, I fish during the week, so these people aren't fishing tournaments, either. Occasionally these transgressors are bass fishermen, but mostly they're crappie/bream anglers. I could tell you some horror stories about some of the crap they've pulled on me. For those people, I definitely will "jump" them and continue on my way. Bass anglers, well, I look at what they're throwing and I'll change rods to something else. Catch a lot of fish that way 
Tin reply :
QuoteStay out of my casting distance, you could get your boat scratched up. >
A heavy jig can take out some gel-coat or a windshield.
J Francho reply :
Some of you guys would not get along too well up here, LOL.
Tournament rules usually say something about competitors being somewhere from 50 to 100 yards apart. On some smaller, busier waters, its not unusual for to boats to pass within a few feet of each other. Especially if just rec. fishing. 99.99% of the time, its just that, and friendly chat about what's working. Once in a while someone gripes.
There are isolated instances where my "fishing water" has been encroached by another boat. Its usually out of ignorance. When I am through with the offender, they are thoroughly educated, LOL.
Md reply :
QuoteNothing POs me more than when some jerk see's you catching fish then cuts you off and starts fishing right in front of you or tries to horn in on you.
Yes it is public water and no I don't own it, but come on man don't be so rude and inconsiderate. Go find your own fish or wait till I leave. I wouldn't crowd in on someone else either.
And I may add, if you come ripping by on plane and are within casting distance, you may need pliers to pull the hooks of a magnum spook out of your skull!
bandsr4me20 reply :
If i can hit you with my lure, thats too close.
brophog reply :
QuoteNothing POs me more than when some jerk see's you catching fish then cuts you off and starts fishing right in front of you or tries to horn in on you.
I had a situation a few years ago where I made the mistake of fishing a Saturday morning (which I try to avoid). I was on a good run of fish, from the shore, and a boater came in so close that his bait actually hit me in the foot.
That pretty much ruined that spot. I never did see that boater catch anything that morning, though, so at least I got some joy out of that. That guy took the term 'bank beater' a little too literally.
farmpond1 reply :
Out of respect for their space, I won't cut in front of someone (if they are moving), and I won't crowd them. I expect them to do the same. The question is, however, how close is too close? If I see someone working a long bank and I see that they are moving, I won't get any closer than about a 200 yards in front of them. Probably not even that close. It depends on how fast they are working the bank. If they are moving quickly, I'll move behind them and work all the bass they didn't catch. If they are not moving or it can't be discerned which direction they are traveling, I try not to get any closer than 100 yards. It all depends on the size of the lake and how many other fishermen/boats there are to contend with. Mostly, I try to avoid others altogether-which is why I prefer to fish during weekdays.
Sherlock 60 reply :
Normally I have no problem with other fishermen getting too close. I fish a chain of 7 lakes that range from 18 acres to about 350 acres and I spend most of my time on lakes that range from 100-175 acres, so there is not a lot of elbow room. I try to keep at least 200' or so from other boats.
But something changed last summer. On one occasion another fisherman anchored about 50 feet from me and pretended I was not there. And two or three times, while I was obviously fishing, pleasure boaters in pontoons passed within 25' or so without slowing down and seemed to be totally oblivious to my presence.
I chalked it up to how rude we have become as a society in recent years.
ctf58 reply :
QuoteBuddy or not, unless invited, my rule of thumb is to give plenty of room, maybe 200 yards or more.If they are working an area/shore, I pay attention to the direction they are moving, and make sure I do not jump in front of them, not even by two or three hundred yards.
It's common courtesy, and what I'd expect of others. If they are anchored, I'd still give them a wide berth, but would not hesitate to work any side of them as opposed to someone drifting or motoring a consistent direction.
It makes no sense to follow someone closely. If they have disturbed fish, your quarry is less likely to take your offerings. Give 'em a chance to settle down.
Last year I was working a shoreline and a man and his wife (I assume) jumped ahead of me. I just kept working my way toward him.
As I got closer, he asked how close I was going to get. I told him it was possible I'd bump into him since it was he who was rude enough to jump closely ahead of me when it was clearly evident that I was moving to the south along that shore. I told him that rudeness does not deserve the least bit of courtesy.
He grumbled and huffed, then left.
I don't go looking for trouble, but I'm not going to be driven from the area I'm working by anyone.
Twenty five plus years as a commercial lobsterman have served me well regarding protecting my turf, even though my possession of that turf is only temporary.
Treat others with the same courtesy you expect from them, and you'll be fine.
X2
ctf58 reply :
x2
I was casting to the bank from about 25 yards out so I would not spook the fish in flooded grass about 2 feet of water all the way from the shore to me. Some SOB came flying in and came off plane about 100 feet away and following my direction of travel. He then proceeded to pass between me and the bank, pitching to the shore. > He would never look at me, until I hit his big shiny 4-stroke with a rattle trap. He spun around like he was ticked off to high heaven. I politely apologized saying that I did not realized I could cast more than 30 feet with this 7 ft rod and it was my new personal best for distance. He did not seem to get the hint so I grabbed a tex rigged worm and cast it right up to the shore about 10 feet in front of his boat and just let it sit there. He saw it and realized that his trolling motor would eat my line and yelled that it could tangle in his trolling motor prop. I agreed and just left it there and twitched the rod tip like a shakey head. He then left.
Fish Chris reply :
Hmmmm. 50 to 75 yards is probably considered a reasonable space.
But how far would I prefer ? Oh.... about 2 or 3 miles, and I'm good
Fish
shootermcbob reply :
I fish from the bank and have seen all manners of politeness and rudeness. Most folks will at least go around me, giving me a cast length distance to each side. I have had a few troll right between my line and the bank.
And i have had a few ask me how I was doing, which way I was travelling down the bank, and they went the other way.
I try to get to the lake by around 4 am in the spring/summer/fall. That way, bout the time the lakes are getting busy, I am heading home.
brushhoggin reply :
this guy has a pretty good idea
Pa Angler reply :
I don't mind if another boat follows behind me and fishes my used water I don't like another boat cutting in front of me 2 cast lengths away is good for me I don't mind respectful company. If I come across an anchored boat while I'm fishing the shoreline I'll give greetings and inform I'll be passing behind their cast and continue on. I have never had any issues with this. Remember no one owns the water but use common sense as you would want to be treated.
Tight Lines
Pa Angler
Pa Angler reply :
QuoteSome of you guys would not get along too well up here, LOL.Tournament rules usually say something about competitors being somewhere from 50 to 100 yards apart. On some smaller, busier waters, its not unusual for to boats to pass within a few feet of each other. Especially if just rec. fishing. 99.99% of the time, its just that, and friendly chat about what's working. Once in a while someone gripes.
There are isolated instances where my "fishing water" has been encroached by another boat. Its usually out of ignorance. When I am through with the offender, they are thoroughly educated, LOL.
Aaron Martens was closer that 50yds to KVD at the Classic.
Tight Lines
Pa Angler
Hamby reply :
I gotta make a correction. I'll let somebody pass if i'm not doing well, and if they acknowledge my presence at least. If i'm clearly doing well and they try to pass me like i'm not even there, then fish directly in front of me, i get PO'd. It's really bad if it's a bank bite. They rarely catch the fish and only scare them.
I remember last season i was approaching a large laydown that always produces. I stopped a ways away and trolled in. As i was getting close, some bobber fisherman came flying in on the main motor, staring at me the whole time like i was gonna stop and let them fish there. HA! I put the tolling motor on full speed and steered directly for them. Some profane language followed.
Fat Boy reply :
OK, sorry to revive an old thread, but it's an ongoing issue. I had something happen to me in reverse situation this time yesterday.
We motored (at no wake speed) into a creek off the main stem of a river with the intent of hitting one piece of structure, a boat dock, and maybe sit and eat some lunch. The only reason that we went in there was to show my friend some details of how to fish this particular boat dock since he hadn't fished there before.
There was another bass boater fishing a piece of shoreline to our right as we entered the creek. It was there for some time, at least 20 minutes while fishing a large blow down, not moving in any direction as he was fishing that cover thoroughly. As we passed him I asked my friend to steer wide to make sure we gave him room, so we passed by behind him (not between him and the shore) a good 75 yards away and then motored ahead to the boat dock and stopped, which was at least 400+ yards away. We weren't really in a hurry to fish and were going to eat some lunch while I pointed out the features of this spot when all of a sudden, the other bass boat comes flying at us and turns at the last second to send his wake all over us. We weren't even fishing, the trolling motor was down, and, he was parked on that other spot, when we went by. Plus, we were on another piece of shoreline as there was a cove separating the section he was fishing.
Anyway, that was uncalled for. Had he come up and simply said something we would have yielded the spot, ate lunch, and watch him fish. I wouldn't even care if he was speaking rudely to us or politely.
I usually go overboard when trying to be courteous so it was kind of surprising that this happened. If this spot was so special, he had plenty of opportunity to get there ahead of me. Basically, it was as if the entire creek was his. Plus, if he had even made a slight move in that direction then we would have opted to not fish there, or if he would have been a bit closer and obviously headed that way.
I have no problem fishing behind someone's used water. It's gratifying to me to catch fish behind people and I do it all the time (but never following people too close, always waiting for them to leave a good distance away). And I'm sure this is true for most people, because different anglers use different patterns and approach cover differently.
Prior to that, we were fishing one side of a bank to the entrance to the creek working toward the mouth with the intent of fishing around the mouth and into the creek. He arrived after us and motored into the creek and fished the other side of the point inside the mouth, less than 50 yards from us. We were obviously moving that way. Did he offer any courtesy to us? No. Did we do anything to him? No, we just fished a different section.
I agree that when fishing a shoreline not to cut people off when they are working that direction, but this wasn't even the same section of shoreline, there not only was the distance but a cove separating us.
Furthermore, I would never do anything adverse to another angler, it's just fishing. If I do something wrong, even in this case where I don't think that I was wrong, at least talk it over with me and I will yield. I'm not out to ruin someones day, and if it's that important to them then fine, go for it. It's not worth the hassle to me for a couple bass.
If someone needs virgin water to catch the stupid bass, they can have it. Anglers with talent can catch fish regardless of any kind of pressure.
Was I wrong???? I appreciate your opinions.
Grey Wolf reply :
On 5/13/2011 at 12:13 AM, Fat Boy said:OK, sorry to revive an old thread, but it's an ongoing issue. I had something happen to me in reverse situation this time yesterday.
We motored (at no wake speed) into a creek off the main stem of a river with the intent of hitting one piece of structure, a boat dock, and maybe sit and eat some lunch. The only reason that we went in there was to show my friend some details of how to fish this particular boat dock since he hadn't fished there before.
There was another bass boater fishing a piece of shoreline to our right as we entered the creek. It was there for some time, at least 20 minutes while fishing a large blow down, not moving in any direction as he was fishing that cover thoroughly. As we passed him I asked my friend to steer wide to make sure we gave him room, so we passed by behind him (not between him and the shore) a good 75 yards away and then motored ahead to the boat dock and stopped, which was at least 400+ yards away. We weren't really in a hurry to fish and were going to eat some lunch while I pointed out the features of this spot when all of a sudden, the other bass boat comes flying at us and turns at the last second to send his wake all over us. We weren't even fishing, the trolling motor was down, and, he was parked on that other spot, when we went by. Plus, we were on another piece of shoreline as there was a cove separating the section he was fishing.
Anyway, that was uncalled for. Had he come up and simply said something we would have yielded the spot, ate lunch, and watch him fish. I wouldn't even care if he was speaking rudely to us or politely.
I usually go overboard when trying to be courteous so it was kind of surprising that this happened. If this spot was so special, he had plenty of opportunity to get there ahead of me. Basically, it was as if the entire creek was his. Plus, if he had even made a slight move in that direction then we would have opted to not fish there, or if he would have been a bit closer and obviously headed that way.
I have no problem fishing behind someone's used water. It's gratifying to me to catch fish behind people and I do it all the time (but never following people too close, always waiting for them to leave a good distance away). And I'm sure this is true for most people, because different anglers use different patterns and approach cover differently.
Prior to that, we were fishing one side of a bank to the entrance to the creek working toward the mouth with the intent of fishing around the mouth and into the creek. He arrived after us and motored into the creek and fished the other side of the point inside the mouth, less than 50 yards from us. We were obviously moving that way. Did he offer any courtesy to us? No. Did we do anything to him? No, we just fished a different section.
I agree that when fishing a shoreline not to cut people off when they are working that direction, but this wasn't even the same section of shoreline, there not only was the distance but a cove separting us.
Furthermore, I would never do anything adverse to another angler, it's just fishing. If I do something wrong, even in this case where I don't think that I was wrong, at least talk it over with me and I will yield. I'm not out to ruin someones day, and if it's that important to them then fine, go for it. It's not worth the hassle to me for a couple bass.
If someone needs virgin water to catch the stupid bass, they can have it. Anglers with talent can catch fish regardless of any kind of pressure.
Was I wrong???? I appreciate your opinions.
Reading your side of the story , It sounds like you were the wronged person here.
Shad_Master reply :
I was fishing in a club tournament a couple of weeks ago and we were fighting a 30 - 35 mph wind. Late in the day, I had moved to a wing dyke that was open and started letting the boat drift me up the shorline. There was another guy (not in our club) fishing about 200 feet off shore and I was about 50 feet off shore. I really didn't even consider him as when I saw him, he was dinking around in the boat and looked like he might be leaving. All of a sudden he started yelling that I was going over his brush pile and he couldn't believe I was so rude. I knew the brush pile was there, but he was at least 100 feet away from it and I was working down on the other side. I tried to turn the boat, but was having trouble because of the wind. I apologized and started working back down the shore line. He pulled up his trolling motor and moved down the direction I was now heading and and set up again 200 feet out from the shore.
Was I in the wrong?
slonezp reply :
On 5/13/2011 at 5:00 AM, Shad_Master said:I was fishing in a club tournament a couple of weeks ago and we were fighting a 30 - 35 mph wind. Late in the day, I had moved to a wing dyke that was open and started letting the boat drift me up the shorline. There was another guy (not in our club) fishing about 200 feet off shore and I was about 50 feet off shore. I really didn't even consider him as when I saw him, he was dinking around in the boat and looked like he might be leaving. All of a sudden he started yelling that I was going over his brush pile and he couldn't believe I was so rude. I knew the brush pile was there, but he was at least 100 feet away from it and I was working down on the other side. I tried to turn the boat, but was having trouble because of the wind. I apologized and started working back down the shore line. He pulled up his trolling motor and moved down the direction I was now heading and and set up again 200 feet out from the shore.
Was I in the wrong?
I don't think so.
It's funny sometimes. 2 weeks ago I'm in a buddy tournament. I'm fishing a small lake in a 12000 acre river system. Winds blowing similar to yours. There was 8 of 44 boats fishing the same small area because everyones trying to ditch the wind. So we are approaching another boat. I'm still 50 yards away. He watches me catch 2 dinks one after another. I watch him pull up the TM and drop anchor in the middle of the channel. We get a little closer and he says "Are you in the tournament? because we're anchored" He knows darn well we're in the tournament. I have 1 of the 2 tin boats in the club. So my son acknowledges him and we turn the boat around. Well we get to the weigh in and dock next to him. My son says "How'd you do?" He says "Probably the same as you." My son says "We got 4." He doesn't say a word. They weighed in a goose egg and we took 3rd with big bass.
Red reply :
I fish from an 8' Pelican and I get the feeling alot that the bass boat guys just figure I am not worthy or something. They have no problems geting right up near where I am fishing or whatever. I don't mind though. I just go around them or turn around.
Sam reply :
50 yards is acceptable.
slonezp reply :
On 5/13/2011 at 6:48 PM, Sam said:50 yards is acceptable.
50 yards is when I saw him anchor. 50 feet is club rules from an anchored boat.
kms399 reply :
I just do my own thing. if a guy is sitting and working one weed edge and not moving I will fish to within 3 casts then max out the trolling motor and go around them maintaining about 3 cast distance then slow back down again. I wont drive over with the outboard and I try not to crowd people. when people start getting close to me I just ignore them they are usually gone within 5 minutes. if I am in their way too bad if I was there first. if they start casting to the edge of my boat I will usually just look at them and shake my head.
Fish Chris reply :
Well 75 yards, or 200 ft sounds reasonable to me.
But here's the thing > When I'm fishing "the best case scenario" is that I can't see another boat as far as my eyesight allows, on glass calm water allows. Next best is.... Well, their are a few boats 600+ yards away over their.... but at least they are just trolling for 8" Kokanee trout (in an $80k boat, I might add ! How funny is that ?)
When I see a glitter rocket zooming past me (while sitting on one of my hot spots) I always think to myself, "I sure am glad I'm in a camo'd 14ft aluminum.... because I wouldn't want that guy to to think I know what I'm doing..... or for that matter, to even know I'm a bass fishermen"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So now that you know how I feel about all that, check this out....
A few weeks ago, I was sitting up on top of an offshore hump. The shallowest parts of it are about 3ft deep, by 20 feet wide, by 50 feet long. So as I'm sitting there, looking North, with my typical tunnel vision, I hear the faintest of bumps behind me. I turn to see this guy sneaking up to park maybe 30ft behind me, on the same hump ! So the guy starts casting some kind of little micro-jig or something (I think he was trout fishing).
I'm sitting there thinking, "You have to be freaking kidding me" !!! Fortunately, I had already stuck 3 or 4 nice fish on that spot (had basically worn the spot out) and was ready to leave anyway.
Now typically, when I leave a spot, I t-motor out a good distance, then fire up the gas motor, and idle out a little farther still.
But not this time ! Instead, I pulled up my t-motor. Pulled up my anchor. Made sure my motor was aimed straight at the guy, fired her up, and went from an idol, to full tilt ! I looked back to see my motor wash, which was filled with mud, and bottom debris, heading straight for the guy !
Here ! You want this spot ? You can have it ! I hope he got the message !
Fish
bilgerat reply :
On 5/13/2011 at 10:22 AM, Red said:I fish from an 8' Pelican and I get the feeling alot that the bass boat guys just figure I am not worthy or something. They have no problems geting right up near where I am fishing or whatever. I don't mind though. I just go around them or turn around.
I get the same feeling in my kayak at times, although there are several bass boat guys I cross paths with at several different lakes. We've come to know each other but keep our distance on the water. The one exception may be if one of us passes another on our way to a different spot, we'll stop to see how they're doing and then be on our way.
No offense, but some of the worst offenders are the local club guys fishing tourneys. I actually think some of them are convinced since they're in a tourney they have supreme rights at the ramp and on the lake. It's not all of them, usually the KVD wannabees. You cant miss them. They're the pathetic looking ones.
Thank God there are no water or jet skiers on my waters. The stories I hear from some of you guys....
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