Worst Fishing Etiquette You've Encountered? 2024
BankBassing reply :
I decided to head up to the dam at New Martinsville, WV today. There are a few cement platforms that extend out into the water that you can fish off of. Between two of them is a nice little current break, so I thought I'd give it a shot. I tried a few things and didn't have any luck, so just on a whim I thought I'd rig up a float and fly. I toss it out just where the break is, and let it float while I work a crankbait along the shallow water and rocks. Suddenly I see my spinning rod jump, so I grab it and look out at the bobber.... it's gone. Right as I get ready to set the hook, I realize it's gone because Captain Comb-over on the adjacent pier has cast over my line, reeled in my bobber, and now is holding it trying to get untangled. No biggie, but here's the best part: Rather than untangle it and toss it in the water so I can reel it in, he spools my line, bobber, and fly around his hand as he walks around on the bank to bring it to me. Of course, the slack line gets tangled in the rocks, so he just walks a little ways up and starts spooling it from the spot of the snag around the slack on both ends.. By the time he gets to me, he has a big knotted ball of Trilene with my lure and bobber somewhere in the middle. It's a wreck. I untangle what I can, and the rest is so bad I cut it off and stick it in my pocket to throw away when I get back home. Did I mention I just respooled this reel with new line last night? Not cool, man. Not cool.
What is your worst experience with another angler?
visagelaid reply :
Not with an angler but...I was fishing a tournament on Wilson Lake about 2 weeks ago. We were fishing the bank off a channel, so you expect boats to speed by. However, this one clown passes by us full trim doing about 60mph by about 25ft. I understand boat traffic since we were just off channel, but really guy? You couldn't give us 50ft? Come on man....
Turkey sandwich reply :
I have similar stories with jet skis. I hate jet skis.
Ratherbfishing reply :
On 8/25/2016 at 12:02 AM, BankBassing said:I decided to head up to the dam at New Martinsville, WV today. There are a few cement platforms that extend out into the water that you can fish off of. Between two of them is a nice little current break, so I thought I'd give it a shot. I tried a few things and didn't have any luck, so just on a whim I thought I'd rig up a float and fly. I toss it out just where the break is, and let it float while I work a crankbait along the shallow water and rocks. Suddenly I see my spinning rod jump, so I grab it and look out at the bobber.... it's gone. Right as I get ready to set the hook, I realize it's gone because Captain Comb-over on the adjacent pier has cast over my line, reeled in my bobber, and now is holding it trying to get untangled. No biggie, but here's the best part: Rather than untangle it and toss it in the water so I can reel it in, he spools my line, bobber, and fly around his hand as he walks around on the bank to bring it to me. Of course, the slack line gets tangled in the rocks, so he just walks a little ways up and starts spooling it from the spot of the snag around the slack on both ends.. By the time he gets to me, he has a big knotted ball of Trilene with my lure and bobber somewhere in the middle. It's a wreck. I untangle what I can, and the rest is so bad I cut it off and stick it in my pocket to throw away when I get back home. Did I mention I just respooled this reel with new line last night? Not cool, man. Not cool.
What is your worst experience with another angler?
You exercised great restraint! I haven't ever gotten physical with people but I believe he'd lean what I thought of his behavior on that deal.
I haven't had many major violations from fishermen (mostly from jet skiers and power boaters) but the one thing that stands out in my mind is people that cut me off and begin fishing a section of water I am clearly moving towards. I'm not talking 500 yards. I'm taking talking 25 yards.
Gundog reply :
Jet skis drive me nuts. I've had them doing circles around my boat. These are people who don't own boats and don't think about courtesy for others. I call them weekend warriors with a death wish. I've had them run between me and the shoreline in maybe a few feet of water. Makes me wonder why more idiots aren't seriously hurt on them.
fishballer06 reply :
Last June, fishing a giant bay in Canada. This bay is probably a mile wide and two miles long. We had been fishing it for probably two hours and hadn't seen a boat the entire time. The bass were surfacing and eating dragonflies and we were killing them on topwater. Out of no where, this guy comes buzzing in, shuts it down, and parks his boat about 50 feet away from us and starts flinging giant musky plugs.
We literally couldn't even cast because he was so close and he was throwing his lures out and we weren't going to tangle our lines up with him. We asked him where he was from and he told us, and then we asked if he ever learned about respect? He ignored us and kept fishing. So we proceeded to just throw our topwater lures directly at his boat for the next 30 minutes until it got dark out.
He never said a word the entire time...
lo n slo reply :
clueless boaters in general. skiers and "water sport" daddy's seem to be the most ignorant.
lol
Zeeter reply :
Tournament fishing as a rider when the boat owner front ends you.
I always put the rider in a good position to fish so that he's not always fishing the bank where I just fished. Can't always help it but I'll go out of way to keep them on fresh water. Wish I could say the same of others.
geo g reply :
Its just very hard to fix STUPID!!!!!!!
Darren. reply :
Oh man. So my buddy and I were kayak fishing a
local dock...young buck and a grandpa dude came
in after us in a boat. Must've badly wanted to fish
our area and must've been mad we were there first.
So they decided to fish near us, closer and closer
to the point of coming between us. I caught a lovely
3 lb bass right where they were fishing previously...LOL
That was the only "talking" I did - catching the bass.
Nothing was said between us, but my buddy and I
could not believe these guys and their attitude. We'd
never encountered jerks like this before.
Anyhow, I moved to a new spot, a vacant spot on the
other side of the docks. They followed me and started
casting at me, and around my kayak. I looked at them
several times, glaring, because they were casting right
off my kayak. I asked them if they knew of fishing courtesy
and boating etiquette, said I was there first. Kid mumbled
something and I ended up leaving in disgust.
Made plenty of noise going out. "Grandpa" made no
effort to fix the young dipstick's behavior, either.
buzzed bait reply :
On 8/25/2016 at 12:36 AM, Ratherbfishing said:but the one thing that stands out in my mind is people that cut me off and begin fishing a section of water I am clearly moving towards. I'm not talking 500 yards. I'm taking talking 25 yards.
exactly this. i fish from a kayak so it's not like i can just pick up and make a run to the next spot all that easily.... i'll give the people a "pass" that look like they just don't know better, but most of them know exactly what they're doing....
Turtle135 reply :
Worst I can remember is a bass boat deciding he needed to pass between my kayak and the shoreline on a shallow point. He did not stop to fish around the point so he was clearly heading someplace else (and the mile of wide open water behind me could not entice him to take that route).
OP: What was the attitude of the guy who was spooling your line? Was he intentionally screwing with you or was he not quite all there? You have to give "crazy or odd" a pass sometimes cause they don't mean it.
Bass Turd reply :
I was fishing a power plant lake for freshwater Redfish where boats tie up to the wall over the intake. Long row of boats of all sizes with people all fishing the same direction. A family was a few boats down from us on their pontoon boat. The dad's beer can in a koozie blew into the water. A ten year old girl grabbed a net and fished it out of the water, took the can out of the koozie and promptly threw the can back into the water. I think my mouth hung open while we waited for it to float down our way. We fished it out and took it home to recycle. Children learn from their parents.
davecon reply :
I'm in Florida and SOME of the winter visitors are unbelievable.
Not sure if it's because they are just so excited to be here, if that's the way they behave at home, or what.
Happens at the ramp and on the water. Just hard to fathom that people behave that way.
Oddly enough most of the ones that are rude are from 2 particular states (that I won't mention here).
I could write a book about the things I've seen these folks do and Steven King could turn it into a horror movie or Mel Brooks could turn it into a satirical comedy.
N Florida Mike reply :
I've got a lot of stories for this thread!
Strangely enough,most are in saltwater.
1 involves surf fishing.Once a few years ago,we got on the beach right as the sun came up.It was my son and me,and a friend.Had the whole beach to ourselves.We immediately caught a couple whiting.Suddenly I hear voices and 3 surfers come over the dunes.And immediately plunged in right where we were fishing.One in front of each of us.I swear it was like we didn't exist to them or they were trying to tick us off.The fish immediately quit biting.My surfer went into my line and it got hung somehow on his fin.He starts spooling all the line off the reel .I'm yelling and he either doesn't care or can't hear me.I didn't want to hook him,but didn't want to lose all my line either.I finally see the rig plop over his board and it miraculously doesn't hook him.He never acknowledged any attempts to get his attention or the near hooking.When he came up I told him to move up the beach.He did,but not his friends.We were about ready to throw down on them,but we just left.All we wanted was a peaceful day fishing not strife.But 20 years before things would have been very different!!!
Torn Thumb reply :
On 8/25/2016 at 1:18 AM, davecon said:I'm in Florida and SOME of the winter visitors are unbelievable.
Not sure if it's because they are just so excited to be here, if that's the way they behave at home, or what.
Happens at the ramp and on the water. Just hard to fathom that people behave that way.
Oddly enough most of the ones that are rude are from 2 particular states (that I won't mention here).
NYC, NY and Easternish MA? Leaf peeping snow birds.
Preytorien reply :
I remember once going out with a guy to fish. We were in his boat, and I was his co-angler. He kept building up how he had some great spots to catch fish and had me drooling over the stories he told me of huge days on the water. I got there, loaded up, and we hit the water. We got to the first "hot spot" and I was floored. He ran the trolling motor so fast I couldn't hardly get any kind of cast off before I had to reel in like crazy to hit the next spot. I asked him politely what he was throwing, just so I could get a sense of how fast to fish and what to fish with, and he wouldn't tell me. I looked his way as he retrieved in and he had some kind of spinnerbait, but did all he could to hide it from me. I saw it was a simple white spinnerbait with colorado blades, and when I asked if that's what he was throwing, he said no - he was using a crankbait and that's why he was moving so fast. Seriously?
Ended up he caught about 15 fish, to my none. I never went back out with him. Every other guy I've co-angled with has been more than accommodating as to what they're throwing, and they pay attention to how fast they're driving the motor so that I can also effectively fish. This guy though, it's like he wanted to take me out and do everything in his power to make sure only HE caught fish.
OCdockskipper reply :
I expect ignorance from others on the water who don't fish. I have a kayaker on my lake who regularly paddles between me and my casting targets, he just doesn't care or does it to see if he can tick me off. All I do is say "Feminine hygene product" in a normal voice after he passes, loud enough for him to hear but not loud enough to make it appear I am speaking to him.
My patience with fishermen who lack etiquette depends on their age and/or skill level. I'll give kids and extreme newbies a pass and try to teach them not by yelling at them, but by setting a good example of giving other people room.
The two worst situations from people who know better were both on Lake Mission Viejo while fishing with a buddy. Folks there have no issue cutting you off multiple times as you moved down a bank. When I say cutting you off, I mean pulling 10 yards in front of you to fish a particular spot as you approached it. Then, after you change direction and go a different way, they do it again at another spot. You have to wonder if it was karma that an algae bloom killed 90% of the bass in their lake. Sorry for the fish but it couldn't have happened to a more deserving crowd.
Rick Howard reply :
Pops and I were fishing down a bank. We came around a corner and another was fishing the bank opposite side of the river. The fella cut across the river and proceeded to cut us off. I laughed, no big deal. I cut across the river and we started to fish that side. The fella then cut across the river and cut us off again. I was aggravated a little but just went back to the side we were originally were fishing. The funny part is, he fired it up and stormed off upset about the ordeal. I'm still scratching my head on that one.
Ratherbfishing reply :
On 8/25/2016 at 2:27 AM, Rick Howard said:Pops and I were fishing down a bank. We came around a corner and another was fishing the bank opposite side of the river. The fella cut across the river and proceeded to cut us off. I laughed, no big deal. I cut across the river and we started to fish that side. The fella then cut across the river and cut us off again. I was aggravated a little but just went back to the side we were originally were fishing. The funny part is, he fired it up and stormed off upset about the ordeal. I'm still scratching my head on that one.
You hurt his feelings.
BankBassing reply :
On 8/25/2016 at 1:11 AM, Turtle135 said:Worst I can remember is a bass boat deciding he needed to pass between my kayak and the shoreline on a shallow point. He did not stop to fish around the point so he was clearly heading someplace else (and the mile of wide open water behind me could not entice him to take that route).
OP: What was the attitude of the guy who was spooling your line? Was he intentionally screwing with you or was he not quite all there? You have to give "crazy or odd" a pass sometimes cause they don't mean it.
Definitely just being thoughtless. He wasn't intentionally messing with me. Just a lot of poor judgment.
GORDO reply :
Oh man my blood is boiling just thinking about what Im about to type!
I was camping with 3 friends on the Snake River here in Washington LAST SUMMER. We have 2 poles each set out for catfish. The spot is well known for big cats and nice smallies so we make trips there often. Anyways, Im sitting there enjoying the sun for the 2nd day when I see a boat coming towards us fishing the bank. Its cool, plenty of room to fish the smallies. Here is where the story turns. They see us, back off the bank where are are literally sitting, and PROCEED TO ANCHOR ON TOP OF OUR LINES!!! As you could imagine, we were not happy.
I yelled and said "hey, cant you see we are fishing here!? Go somewhere else!" I was met with a response of "and..." For some reason, that response rubbed me the wrong way. I yelled again "you have a boat and 500 miles of river, were camping here, get the hell out of here" The 2 men and 1 woman turned their head and proceeded to cast over out lines. This was my tipping point, as it was 2 in the afternoon the catfish bite had slowed down regardless and we figured "if were not catching anything, neither are they" I picked up baseball size rocks and proceeded to throw them where they were casting/where our lines are (not at their boat thats too far). After 20 rocks the guy turns and throws his hand up like IM in the wrong. I yelled again to GTFO this time he listened and pulled up his anchor and took off. I COULDNT MAKE THIS UP, 2 WEEKS AGO THE SAME 3 PEOPLE DID THE SAME EXACT THING IN THE SAME SPOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! The same scenario above unfolded AGAIN but this time I was IRATE and demanded the guys come fight us while I was throwing rocks(not at their boat thats just too far) and cursing at them. This is by far the worst thing I have ever experienced while fishing.
GORDO reply :
and by "too far" I mean I could easily hit their boat but thats just uncalled for!
Turkey sandwich reply :
I'm not going to say it's right to tie on a 1 1/2 oz bell sinker and throw it at people on jet skis burning through the area you're fishing, but I'm not going to say I've never done it. The thing is, I respect pleasure boaters but I've had friends get hit by jet skis and days ruined by idiots not having any decency on the water. It's really not that hard to not be a jerk.
On 8/25/2016 at 2:43 AM, GORDO said:Oh man my blood is boiling just thinking about what Im about to type!
I was camping with 3 friends on the Snake River here in Washington LAST SUMMER. We have 2 poles each set out for catfish. The spot is well known for big cats and nice smallies so we make trips there often. Anyways, Im sitting there enjoying the sun for the 2nd day when I see a boat coming towards us fishing the bank. Its cool, plenty of room to fish the smallies. Here is where the story turns. They see us, back off the bank where are are literally sitting, and PROCEED TO ANCHOR ON TOP OF OUR LINES!!! As you could imagine, we were not happy.
I yelled and said "hey, cant you see we are fishing here!? Go somewhere else!" I was met with a response of "and..." For some reason, that response rubbed me the wrong way. I yelled again "you have a boat and 500 miles of river, were camping here, get the hell out of here" The 2 men and 1 woman turned their head and proceeded to cast over out lines. This was my tipping point, as it was 2 in the afternoon the catfish bite had slowed down regardless and we figured "if were not catching anything, neither are they" I picked up baseball size rocks and proceeded to throw them where they were casting/where our lines are (not at their boat thats too far). After 20 rocks the guy turns and throws his hand up like IM in the wrong. I yelled again to GTFO this time he listened and pulled up his anchor and took off. I COULDNT MAKE THIS UP, 2 WEEKS AGO THE SAME 3 PEOPLE DID THE SAME EXACT THING IN THE SAME SPOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! The same scenario above unfolded AGAIN but this time I was IRATE and demanded the guys come fight us while I was throwing rocks(not at their boat thats just too far) and cursing at them. This is by far the worst thing I have ever experienced while fishing.
Man, I thought I was bad for yelling and casting at jet skis, lol.
The thing that kills me is that most people are cool so long as you're pleasant, don't cast on literally on top of them, and just fish your way around them, especially on a river. I'll typically stop and talk to catfish guys anchored up and they're always cool showing off their catch and sharing info. People parking on top of your lines totally ruins that.
davecon reply :
Torn Thumb,
I was surprised that New Yorkers and the guys from Mass. were not the worst offenders. Don't see that many from Mass. and the New Yorkers are not as bad as I thought.
It's those 2 other states that will remain nameless that are by far and away the worst.
Now when it comes to going to a Tampa Bay Rays baseball game I have never seen such behavior from adults as I do from Red Sox fans !
Yankee fans root and cheer for their team and I get that. They are respectful and courteous of the home town fans. The Red Sox fans are a whole different story. Got to where I won't even go to the games when the Sox are here as I am afraid I will do something I will later regret. I guess I have mellowed with age.
GORDO reply :
On 8/25/2016 at 3:17 AM, Turkey sandwich said:
I'm not going to say it's right to tie on a 1 1/2 oz bell sinker and throw it at people on jet skis burning through the area you're fishing, but I'm not going to say I've never done it. The thing is, I respect pleasure boaters but I've had friends get hit by jet skis and days ruined by idiots not having any decency on the water. It's really not that hard to not be a jerk.
LOL my buddy reeled up and cast at them hoping to snag their line, were all using 3-6 oz weights to keep the bait down in the current. I didnt have a problem with them till they pulled up on my lines! Im not fishing the smallie spot 30 yards down the bank, fish away!
If there are people fishing off of a dock, dont even get close to their territory, its common sense. I can fire up the boat and head anywhere on the lake. They are stuck to select spots on the bank on their own dock. Dont be an idiot and think about the other people on the water. Its like their parents just let them run the house hold as kids so they grow up and think they own everything and they are the only person who matters.
Okay, im off my soap box!
BankBassing reply :
On 8/25/2016 at 3:31 AM, davecon said:Torn Thumb,
I was surprised that New Yorkers and the guys from Mass. were not the worst offenders. Don't see that many from Mass. and the New Yorkers are not as bad as I thought.
It's those 2 other states that will remain nameless that are by far and away the worst.
Now when it comes to going to a Tampa Bay Rays baseball game I have never seen such behavior from adults as I do from Red Sox fans !
Yankee fans root and cheer for their team and I get that. They are respectful and courteous of the home town fans. The Red Sox fans are a whole different story. Got to where I won't even go to the games when the Sox are here as I am afraid I will do something I will later regret. I guess I have mellowed with age.
Ok, this is off topic, but I'm a huge baseball fan. Worst fans in existence are St. Louis Cardinals fans. Ok, back to fishing.
davecon reply :
Off topic for just a moment.
A fellow I know played MLB back in the 70's and 80's.
If half of what he told me about the Philly fans is true they would take the cake. No first hand knowledge here, just what a former MLB player told me.
I'm a little surprised about the Cardinal fans. Have never heard bad things about them. Not doubting you , just a little surprised.
scaleface reply :
I have a lot of tournament stories .I actually had two marker buoys marking a ledge and twoo tournament boats stopped and fished on top of the buoys .
There was this one team that fished in the same circuit as my cousin and I .Almost every tournament we fished , no matter where we we were on the lake , they would show up shortly . It happened so often that it was no coincidence . I was talking to another team who were probably the most successful on the lake in those early years and they had the same story about the same two guys .
CrustyMono reply :
On 8/25/2016 at 3:47 AM, GORDO said:If there are people fishing off of a dock, dont even get close to their territory, its common sense. I can fire up the boat and head anywhere on the lake. They are stuck to select spots on the bank on their own dock.
Looking back, I kinda feel bad about this. My friend and I had just broken off on an 8 pound bass while fishing docks the day before. The next morning, we go back to the same two docks. There was a little lady probably in her 50s or 60s fishing with a small spiniest reel, on the dock next to the ones we planned to fish. She was using worms and a bobber. we figured she was fishing for perch, bluegill, and crappie. We decided to fish the side of the dock closest to her. We trolled around her in a respectful manner. We said good morning and asked her how she was doing, just being polite. We immediately got bit and landed big fish. I landed a 6 pound bass. My friend landed a 4 and a 3. Once we fished it thoroughly, we moved on. I feel bad, because we were the only three on the water of a 127 acre lake. We did try our best to be respectful however. also, at one point, she got snagged in a nearby tree. Before we could offer to help her, she had already gone into the water. I regret being more courteous, but I feel we weren't overly rude.
Jar11591 reply :
I've had to have words more than once with clueless, self-absorbed fools on the water. While I can't stand pleasure boaters and jet skiers, the poor etiquette displayed on the water is sadly usually by other fishermen. More times I can count I have had other boats pull within 10' of mine and just start flinging their bloody spinner bait right next to me, scaring away every fish under the sun like its no thing. Half the time they are taken-aback by me calling them out, and the other half of the time they act like they knew they were in the wrong.
One thing I HATE is a crowded lake. And if that crowd is one of poor etiquette, that is when I start to get mouthy.
thirtysixit reply :
I hate it when there is anyone else at all on the lake the same time I am. I wish I was the only one.....
geo g reply :
On 8/25/2016 at 1:57 AM, Preytorien said:I remember once going out with a guy to fish. We were in his boat, and I was his co-angler. He kept building up how he had some great spots to catch fish and had me drooling over the stories he told me of huge days on the water. I got there, loaded up, and we hit the water. We got to the first "hot spot" and I was floored. He ran the trolling motor so fast I couldn't hardly get any kind of cast off before I had to reel in like crazy to hit the next spot. I asked him politely what he was throwing, just so I could get a sense of how fast to fish and what to fish with, and he wouldn't tell me. I looked his way as he retrieved in and he had some kind of spinnerbait, but did all he could to hide it from me. I saw it was a simple white spinnerbait with colorado blades, and when I asked if that's what he was throwing, he said no - he was using a crankbait and that's why he was moving so fast. Seriously?
Ended up he caught about 15 fish, to my none. I never went back out with him. Every other guy I've co-angled with has been more than accommodating as to what they're throwing, and they pay attention to how fast they're driving the motor so that I can also effectively fish. This guy though, it's like he wanted to take me out and do everything in his power to make sure only HE caught fish.
Been there!!!!! Once as a back seater the guy up front hugged the bank throwing a swim bait down the ledge all day long. He left me either fishing behind the boat with him running the T/M full speed ahead or Long casts to the other side of the canal 40 yards away. I didn't say much since he has been at it for a long time, and knows exactly what he was leaving me. How sweet it was I still beat his butt that day from the opposite side, and at the end of a bunch of long, long, cast. I have wished for years, I could get him in the back of my boat and give him the same treatment. 
Caliyak reply :
As a banker, some two old dudes pull right on front of us and started to fish right in front of me. Literally his lizard hit my feet. I was furious. I said a few words in Spanish and he knew what I said. So I cast my senko over his boat. I scratched the boat when I yanked with everything I had.
As a yaker: boat guy, wanna-be pro, rolls up on me and cuts me off. Proceeds to say that I was in the way. I wanted to put 10 holes in his plastic boat.
Thank you for the high blood pressure. I need a drink. LOL
Josh Smith reply :
******* kids and 20-somethings like to go to the top of Hanging Rock and throw rocks down onto people fishing below. Last time this happened I snapped pics and posted them on FB.
Talked to the sheriff's department and next time will be making some idiots into felons. How stupid do you have to be to throw rocks? Especially in a state where most outdoorsmen carry guns?
Josh
N Florida Mike reply :
When I was 15 or so We had a great bank fishing spot on our local lake.One day these 2 kids( 12-13 years old?) kept going back and forth in a boat making waves.We knew they were doing it on purpose because they were looking at us ,laughing, and they kept going back and forth only where we were.We were looking for something to throw at them but couldn't find any thing. When we were at the boiling point they came by and were so busy laughing at us they ran right into a dock! The kid in front was thrown out but wasn't hurt.All I can say is you reap what you sow!!!
papajoe222 reply :
My worst was a non-boater I drew in a tournament. All day long he kept casting forward of the bow, the majority of the time over my line. When I lost a fish because he'd done it again, I mentioned to him that I was leaving plenty of targets for him and to kindly stop doing it. He said he was tired of guys 'front ending' him as he put it and I assured him I wouldn't. Thirty minutes later he was at it again, so I just started waiting for him to cast and then proceeded to cast over his line. I already had my limit.
What goes around, comes around and just after I'd cast over his line for the fifth or sixth time, he hooked a nice fish. He didn't loose it, but he was not happy. I let him run the TM for the last two hours and started culling fishing behind him. He never got his limit.
There's a lot to be said for Karma 
Gundog reply :
On 8/25/2016 at 6:19 AM, scaleface said:I have a lot of tournament stories .I actually had two marker buoys marking a ledge and twoo tournament boats stopped and fished on top of the buoys .
There was this one team that fished in the same circuit as my cousin and I .Almost every tournament we fished , no matter where we we were on the lake , they would show up shortly . It happened so often that it was no coincidence . I was talking to another team who were probably the most successful on the lake in those early years and they had the same story about the same two guys .
I know a guy who fishes a local tournament and he has the same problem with 2 guys who fish a lot of tournaments at a lot of lakes. They don't practice, they just follow the best guys on that lake and fish what they are fishing. It got so bad that my friend asked the league to change the name of the other guys team to "The Poachers".
CNYBassin reply :
Man, as far as etiquette, I've seen some of the worst out there. Being from rural upstate New York, we have to deal with a lot of "city" folks coming up here during their vacations. This is especially apparent during HUNTING season. Everyone takes off during the opening of deer firearm season, and so many city slickers come up here and cause mayhem.
But fishing etiquette, I deal with a ton of obliviousness from pleasure vessels, water skiers and jet skis. That's a norm. Always fun having a big pleasure vessel rip past you doing 40 or 50, while you're less than 50 feet away in a little 12ft Jon Boat with a trolling motor for power. But as far as actual fisherman being complete tools, nothing beats the Salmon River in Pulaski NY. It is a god d**n zoo up there, and anyone who has ever fished it knows this to be true. Not only do you have to deal with jerks on a regular basis, but you have to deal with snaggers and people poaching your areas. During the salmon runs(less so for steelhead because it's colder), it is shoulder to shoulder on the river. Line crossers. Poachers. Snaggers. People in a hurry. People who think they own the place. Out of towners. You name it. I can't think of one other place I've fished in my lifetime, where there's more altercations being guys. I've done my best to avoid it as much as possible.
However, all of that said, fishing the Salmon River is one of the coolest fishing opportunities in the state. I actually much prefer it for Steelhead. In case you're having trouble picturing what the crowd is like when I say it's a zoo, here's one of the first pictures found on google when searching for the Salmon River in New York. This isn't even that bad. Now imagine how likely it is that just ONE of those guys will be a bad apple.
I don't want to make it seem like upstate New York is bad for fishing. It's not. It's a paradise up here. I have met some of the nicest people on the water up here, especially on my home lake which is Oneida.
Turkey sandwich reply :
On 8/25/2016 at 12:23 PM, CNYBassin said:Man, as far as etiquette, I've seen some of the worst out there. Being from rural upstate New York, we have to deal with a lot of "city" folks coming up here during their vacations. This is especially apparent during HUNTING season. Everyone takes off during the opening of deer firearm season, and so many city slickers come up here and cause mayhem.
But fishing etiquette, I deal with a ton of obliviousness from pleasure vessels, water skiers and jet skis. That's a norm. Always fun having a big pleasure vessel rip past you doing 40 or 50, while you're less than 50 feet away in a little 12ft Jon Boat with a trolling motor for power. But as far as actual fisherman being complete tools, nothing beats the Salmon River in Pulaski NY. It is a god d**n zoo up there, and anyone who has ever fished it knows this to be true. Not only do you have to deal with jerks on a regular basis, but you have to deal with snaggers and people poaching your areas. During the salmon runs(less so for steelhead because it's colder), it is shoulder to shoulder on the river. Line crossers. Poachers. Snaggers. People in a hurry. People who think they own the place. Out of towners. You name it. I can't think of one other place I've fished in my lifetime, where there's more altercations being guys. I've done my best to avoid it as much as possible.
However, all of that said, fishing the Salmon River is one of the coolest fishing opportunities in the state. I actually much prefer it for Steelhead. In case you're having trouble picturing what the crowd is like when I say it's a zoo, here's one of the first pictures found on google when searching for the Salmon River in New York. This isn't even that bad. Now imagine how likely it is that just ONE of those guys will be a bad apple.
I don't want to make it seem like upstate New York is bad for fishing. It's not. It's a paradise up here. I have met some of the nicest people on the water up here, especially on my home lake which is Oneida.
I've heard horror stories about the crowds. Still, I'd love to make the trip for a shot at steelhead on the fly.
Bankbeater reply :
Few year back we were fishing a lake that is around 170 acres. We were anchored right over a creek bed, and catching bass on Rat-L-Traps. We see this boat maybe 100 yards off and it is coming straight towards us. Two people in the boat fishing. When he gets close to us he starts to slow down, and my first thought was that they needed help or something. This other boat is now passing us at no wake speed maybe 15 or 20 FEET away. My partner asked if we took their spot, and the reply was no. They just passed up, I guess they saw us catching and wanted to see what we were using.
Bankbeater reply :
On 8/25/2016 at 10:37 AM, Josh Smith said:How stupid do you have to be to throw rocks? Especially in a state where most outdoorsmen carry guns?
This made me think of something that happened down at Bull Shoals maybe 35 or 40 years ago. We see this local old timer fishing out of a small boat near the mouth of a cove. Out in the center of the lake are some speed boats and jet skis. One of the boats decide to harass this guy who was fishing, so they start running in and out of the cove causing all kinds of waves to bounce his boat around. On the speedboat's third time into the cove, this old timer lifts up a shotgun and fires it up over the speedboat. Speedboat left and didn't come back.
Torn Thumb reply :
On 8/25/2016 at 3:31 AM, davecon said:Now when it comes to going to a Tampa Bay Rays baseball game I have never seen such behavior from adults as I do from Red Sox fans !
We are not all like that. Sad to hear and sad to see a near empty stadium this week for a team that has been amazing the last few years. Not their best year but it seems even when they are winning people don't show up.
Yankees fans are the worst up here. I've had old men from the Bronx get in my face and threaten me in front of my kids over cheeky anti-yankee shirts that are meant to be in good fun. Leaf peeping snow birds.
GORDO reply :
On 8/25/2016 at 6:44 AM, CrustyMono said:
Looking back, I kinda feel bad about this. My friend and I had just broken off on an 8 pound bass while fishing docks the day before. The next morning, we go back to the same two docks. There was a little lady probably in her 50s or 60s fishing with a small spiniest reel, on the dock next to the ones we planned to fish. She was using worms and a bobber. we figured she was fishing for perch, bluegill, and crappie. We decided to fish the side of the dock closest to her. We trolled around her in a respectful manner. We said good morning and asked her how she was doing, just being polite. We immediately got bit and landed big fish. I landed a 6 pound bass. My friend landed a 4 and a 3. Once we fished it thoroughly, we moved on. I feel bad, because we were the only three on the water of a 127 acre lake. We did try our best to be respectful however. also, at one point, she got snagged in a nearby tree. Before we could offer to help her, she had already gone into the water. I regret being more courteous, but I feel we weren't overly rude.
btw your username is perfect lol but I wouldnt feel bad about that! I mean maybe you convinced her learn a new technique! She obviously knew what she was doing, cant help it that the bass preferred whatever you were throwing. Good thing she didnt catch the 6lber, probably would have ended up on a skillet!
On 8/25/2016 at 6:56 PM, Bankbeater said:How stupid do you have to be to throw rocks? Especially in a state where most outdoorsmen carry guns?
Because taking the glock out of my holster and letting a round loose into the air is frowned upon. Although im sure it would have been a little more effective 
On 8/25/2016 at 6:56 PM, Bankbeater said:This made me think of something that happened down at Bull Shoals maybe 35 or 40 years ago. We see this local old timer fishing out of a small boat near the mouth of a cove. Out in the center of the lake are some speed boats and jet skis. One of the boats decide to harass this guy who was fishing, so they start running in and out of the cove causing all kinds of waves to bounce his boat around. On the speedboat's third time into the cove, this old timer lifts up a shotgun and fires it up over the speedboat. Speedboat left and didn't come back.
LOL im sure this was fun to watch unfold
CrustyMono reply :
On 8/25/2016 at 12:23 PM, CNYBassin said:Man, as far as etiquette, I've seen some of the worst out there. Being from rural upstate New York, we have to deal with a lot of "city" folks coming up here during their vacations. This is especially apparent during HUNTING season. Everyone takes off during the opening of deer firearm season, and so many city slickers come up here and cause mayhem.
But fishing etiquette, I deal with a ton of obliviousness from pleasure vessels, water skiers and jet skis. That's a norm. Always fun having a big pleasure vessel rip past you doing 40 or 50, while you're less than 50 feet away in a little 12ft Jon Boat with a trolling motor for power. But as far as actual fisherman being complete tools, nothing beats the Salmon River in Pulaski NY. It is a god d**n zoo up there, and anyone who has ever fished it knows this to be true. Not only do you have to deal with jerks on a regular basis, but you have to deal with snaggers and people poaching your areas. During the salmon runs(less so for steelhead because it's colder), it is shoulder to shoulder on the river. Line crossers. Poachers. Snaggers. People in a hurry. People who think they own the place. Out of towners. You name it. I can't think of one other place I've fished in my lifetime, where there's more altercations being guys. I've done my best to avoid it as much as possible.
However, all of that said, fishing the Salmon River is one of the coolest fishing opportunities in the state. I actually much prefer it for Steelhead. In case you're having trouble picturing what the crowd is like when I say it's a zoo, here's one of the first pictures found on google when searching for the Salmon River in New York. This isn't even that bad. Now imagine how likely it is that just ONE of those guys will be a bad apple.
I don't want to make it seem like upstate New York is bad for fishing. It's not. It's a paradise up here. I have met some of the nicest people on the water up here, especially on my home lake which is Oneida.
My uncle goes there many times a year, we are planning a steelhead trip to Pulaski this October, except we will be in a privately own part of the river.
davecon reply :
On 8/25/2016 at 7:19 PM, Torn Thumb said:We are not all like that. Sad to hear and sad to see a near empty stadium this week for a team that has been amazing the last few years. Not their best year but it seems even when they are winning people don't show up.
Yankees fans are the worst up here. I've had old men from the Bronx get in my face and threaten me in front of my kids over cheeky anti-yankee shirts that are meant to be in good fun. Leaf peeping snow birds.
Tampa Bay Area has always been that way with every sport . If you win, we will come. If you lose we won't. We just have too many other options around here, especially with our year round weather. Kinda like a play or movie, if it's good people go see it. If not good, not so much.
As I see it, the main problem with the Rays is the location of the stadium. The news media won't report that as an issue but it's rather a pain in the butt to go to a game during the week and get home and in bed to be able to go to work the next day. Look at a map of where the Rays pull their fans from. St Pete is as far away from the bulk of the fans as you can possibly get. MLB told the city not to build the stadium there but they built it there anyway and it has been an issue from day 1. St Pete city officials won't come to grips with that, or at least publicly admit it but therein lies the problem. Keep in mind this is not NY or Boston or LA. The potential fan base here is not that large/close to the stadium. The Rays must rely on fans that come over and over and over again. I'm probably an exception as we go to 8 to 10 games per year.
When the lease is up in a few years the Rays will hopefully build/occupy a stadium in Tampa. While traffic is not the best, it works for the Buccaneers, the Lightning, the Rowdies, etc. Tampa is much more centrally located with multiple choices of roads/highways/interstates to move the traffic so fans can get home in time to go to work the next day.
JPascavage52 reply :
Too many of these stories, OP, I appreciate the opportunity to rant.
- Raystown Lake here in Central PA, there is a section in an area known as "7 points," which is known for the drunk pleasure boaters congregating, and causing 4 foot rollers everywhere. Not to mention houseboats going full throttle right next to you, or those towing tubers or skiers, with the driver not even looking where they are going. There are some excellent points, ledges, and smallie habitats in this area, but I won't even fish this until at least October. Unfortunately, one of my favorite spots is near the dam of this lake, and most of my tournaments launch up lake from this, with about a half hour run to the dam, so I have to go through this area.
- Presque Isle Bay, there is a shipping channel that goes out into the main lake, and there are some seawalls that hold good numbers of bass on either side. The whole area is no wake. So, gotta love the idiot in a cabin cruiser that is goes by full throttle, not even ten feet away. Throws a wake so big it crashes over the rail of my bass boat, and about throws me out of my seat. Guy looks back at me even after he passes, and despite the fact that I glare and throw my hands up in a "what h*ll are you doing" body language, he just looks at me with no expression, as if this has happened a thousand times before.
- As a boater, I try to make the experience as good as possible when I get paired up with a rider. I'll give them tips, avoid front ending them, even show them where my plastics, jigs, crankbaits, etc, are stored on my boat, and tell them they are welcome to try anything I have. So, I don't mind some good conversation, and like some company, and, as an aspiring guide, I like to help people out. But, when I draw the guy that is constantly shooting his mouth off, seemingly has a story about "catching a four pounder here, a fiver pounder there, missing a giant over there last week, etc." on every spot, exclaiming "that was a nice one" after every single missed fish, tries to tell me what spots were gonna go to, etc, it's a bit much.
- Was down near Fenwick Island, DE last weekend on family vacation, doing some surf fishing. Had two rods out, one with synthetic bloodworms for kings and croaker, and the other out with bunker for blues, stripers, and sharks. When, a family of about ten people come and set up their beach umbrellas and chairs about 20 feet away. Of course, they start swimming right next to my lines, to the extent that I'm concerned about hooking them. Meanwhile, their kids are running around and slamming their shovels right next to my rods, and the parents are doing absolutely nothing, except for the shmuck who was doing his "1, 2, 3, swingy swingy" thing with his toddler so close, that if a fish hit, the rod would smack him in the head. The more infuriating thing, however, was that, to the left of us, there was a section of about, I'm guessing 200-300 yards of beach, with only a few umbrellas set up, and only a few people in the water. Oh, and the next day, were two cuties in bikinis who swimming a bit too close to my lines for comfort, when suddenly one of my rods about doubles over, and I set the hook into something fighting real hard. Line starts peeling, and the fish is swimming towards them, and I"m yelling to get their attention, to no avail. Fortunately was able to steer the fish away, and land it, it was a large stingray. While, I was unhooking it, I noticed the two chicks were looking at what I just caught. They quickly scurried out of the water and back to their beach blanket.
- I go up to the Lake Erie tributaries here in PA in the fall to fly fish for steelhead and browns, and it is very similar to what the Salmon River poster said. Lots of big aggressive fish around, but lots of idiots as well. Drunks, litterers, crowding, snaggers, are the common offenders. Always a good "punk crossed the big guy's line one too many times and ended up getting thrown in the drink" story.
But I remember fishing a trib last year, with hundreds of steelhead visible, and having good luck. There was a group of three extremely whiny teenagers, who were complaining about having no luck, were arguing with each other over what to use, would move and stand right on top of someone when they caught a fish, even one who was on his phone with his mother, and yelled "g*d d***it mom, I don't want no f***ing pepperoni." I even gave them a fish I caught just to try to shut them up. Finally, a nearby fly fisherman has had enough, and loudly says "ya know, if you guys quit whining and just fished, you'd actually catch some," drawing giggles from everyone else there. The three teenagers faces were white, and we didnt hear another peep from them the rest of the time there.
Oh, and, two years ago, was fishing next to a couple of Russians throwing big weighted streamers, and "hooking up" (ahem snagging) almost every cast. I took one step forward to get a better look at the huge pod of fresh steelhead, when one of them suddenly explodes into rage at me, saying "you know, people like you who get that close are the ones spooking all the fish!" I just smiled and walked away, and said real loudly "don't snag too many, now," when, unbeknownst to me, the fish warden was doing his round down the bank. Not sure what happened to them after that, but the look on their face was payback enough.
Unfortunately, there are idiots out there, but it's a small price to pay to enjoy our wonderful sport.
Also, while I'm all for standing up for yourself, and putting your foot down when something is unjust, not big on picking a fight, or pulling a gun on someone, unless they are harassing, threatening, or causing you physical harm. Be smart about it, and remember that, at the end of the day, they are just fish. If someone is really going to be that big of a jerk over some fish, they aren't worth your time, and you are better off just moving on. A moment of rage over some fish isn't worth a criminal record, job loss, lawsuits, etc.
WDinarte reply :
on the pier... here I go...
To me, some one coming late for his fishing trip decide that he "need" or own the spot that I put my one rod and pick my rod and move it to his right side so he can set his on that spot, he was not nice to say thank you for holding Me the spot that I like....
Some other guy comment in one of my fishing report from one public place that we fish that at one point someone snag his line and pulled and decide that the best way to fix it was cut it and let the rig go down on the water but he save his... after he questioned he pull a knife and was not a friendly conversation he end up with and argument that " he help to build that pier " and so on... let me said that this was a one state park, not a private place...
Is been a long time that I don't fish piers or some of this public places, I always go around with my family and I'm not going to put my girls to see one of this losers trying to be " macho man " but yes they are some knuckleheads up there...
IgotWood reply :
I can write a book on this topic....
To keep it short....I hate when anglers get close. First of all, I am in a kayak, and don't really have quick/convenient access to other parts of the lake. So when a boat or another kayak comes and starts fishing next to me, I have a major problem with that. Close for me is within 50yds. I was here first....go find another place to fish the other 500 acers of lake. When I finish my drift, and try to paddle back where I started, and you're sitting right there, I get really angry. I feel like a 50yd radius is reasonable. Basically, I don't want others to be able to see if I'm catching fish or not. I put in the time/effort to get on a bite....go find your own bite!
The other thing that drives me crazy, is when I reply to the, "any luck?" question. I'll be honest and tell you if I got skunked, or if I caught a hundred...but PLEASE do not ask me where!
S. Sass reply :
In my limited boat ownership time I haven't had near the stories as many of you. But a few weekends ago me and my partner head out bright and early. I had scouted out a new hole for us and we were going to give it our all.
So as the daylight starts glistening (cool big word) through the early clouds we are there and already had caught several nice ones when another boat comes up with 3 fellas. They never once got too close as to interfere with our fishing and never said anything to us. But I told my partner they were late to the hole. I could just feel the guys pain that he couldn't get in the area.
It was really cool of them to stay back and let us fish. I looked at their boat as best I could and plan to repay the courtesy if I get the chance.
I didn't have a bad bad story so I threw in a good one.
fishblitzer reply :
Was fishing a big tournament once and had 4 fish in the livewell. Weigh in was about an hour away and I had to grind it out all day for the 4 fish I had. Pulled up to some nice structure in 8-10 feet of water. A fellow club member saw us fishing this area during practice and he saw us stop there for our first stop after launch. He comes flying into this area and only throttles down once he is within 30 yards of us. He jumps up to the trolling motor, puts it down, and starts cranking the same structure. I didn't say anything, I was focused on making a limit. On the second cast he catches a 2 pounder and immediately leaves to go weigh in. It was his only fish that day.
I stay and don't catch anything, weigh in 4 fish, and miss the cut by 8 ounces. I will never forget that. He weighed in that 1 fish, which didn't do anything for him. And I missed out on making the cut.
cgolf reply :
Worst I have ever seen was somebody was impatient and checked out their brain when they fired up their bass/musky boat. I fish a lake with a shallow narrow sandbar between the two bodies of water that you can run on plane in good conditions, gets to about a foot or so. Well this day we had solid 3 foot stacked waves as I was pulling in the lake to fish and their was another small boat ahead of me. I heard a boat coming to the sandbar and a 21 footer on plane ran between us, I just couldn't believe it, especially in those conditions. When I saw these guys bass fishing later I never did see them catch anything so maybe karma caught up to them.
A funny thing did happen this year on the same lake. Since I was windy I did some dock fishing. I have a rule that I don't fish docks that people are out on, or near. But one dock I pulled up to fish someone had their birdcage out on it, and I ended up not fishing it because the crazy birds raised holy heck when we got close to the dock. Not sure I will ever see that happen again lol.
the reel ess reply :
I'm sitting anchored at a spot casting toward the bank. And I'm easily close enough to hit the bank. I'm anchored because the window of opportunity at the spot is very small. A couple feet either way and you don't get a bite. A guy trolls into the cove and trolls right between me and the bank over the spot he knows I'm fishing. I just keep casting at him with a T-rigged worm. He has to pick his trolling motor up to avoid my line and he says to me "It's a big @#$! lake." I let him have it (verbally-I did not back off and leave the spot) and hit his motor with one more cast. I said "Yeah, and you're the one squeezing your boat into 15 feet of it!"
Another time, same place, and old man in a jonboat drives right up to the bank with his motor running! He lets a kid out to pee, waits on him and drives away, never cutting the motor. It's maybe 4' deep at the deepest part of this spot.
I've had tourney fishermen and other bassboats run from the back of a narrow cove out at full throttle. I can't understand why they don't start fishing at the back if they're going to ruin the cove for everybody else. I've had tourney guys tell me to leave a spot or just not fish one so they can win their tourney. I don't care about anybody's tournament. It's the only Saturday of the week for me too.
If you get on a school of something like white bass or stripers, all bets are off. people will just about board your boat to get to them.
All this is why I bought a kayak and started looking for smaller and private waters.
Tracker22 reply :
Tell me this...sometimes I paddle up to other fishermen and strike up fishing conversations (I'm really trying to find out what's biting). Most are glad to talk, others are standoffish. I never stay but a minute. Am I wrong for interrupting them?
soflabasser reply :
I have seen a lot of poor fishing etiquette throughout the years.Some of the worst offenders are the poorly skilled fishermen who will cast over where I am fishing since they saw me catch a fish.They usually don't catch anything decent while casting over me,yet I often cast again and catch another decent fish with ease.Another example of poor fishing etiquette I see too often is the desperate boaters who drive their boats less than 50 feet away where I am bank fishing since they saw me catch something(they always leave angry when they see me catch another fish while they can't catch anything to compare to my land based catches).None of these people come up to talk to me,they just rudely start fishing where I am fishing, but it doesn't surprise me anymore since some people are very desperate to catch a fish.
JPascavage52 reply :
On 8/26/2016 at 5:08 AM, Tracker22 said:Tell me this...sometimes I paddle up to other fishermen and strike up fishing conversations (I'm really trying to find out what's biting). Most are glad to talk, others are standoffish. I never stay but a minute. Am I wrong for interrupting them?
Not wrong at all, some people are just standoffish idiots, who think that giving one iota of information is too much "spoon feeding." As long as you aren't asking for their secret spots, or a thousand questions, there's nothing wrong with conversation. People who are jerks about it worth getting aggravated over.
Reminds me of the Fish USA forums a few years ago. Seemed like every time I put up a report, there would be some idiot PMing me telling me how I just "spot burned" and put 20 guys on that spot, and I wasn't even giving that much info.
the reel ess reply :
On 8/26/2016 at 5:49 AM, JPascavage52 said:Not wrong at all, some people are just standoffish idiots, who think that giving one iota of information is too much "spoon feeding." As long as you aren't asking for their secret spots, or a thousand questions, there's nothing wrong with conversation. People who are jerks about it worth getting aggravated over.
Reminds me of the Fish USA forums a few years ago. Seemed like every time I put up a report, there would be some idiot PMing me telling me how I just "spot burned" and put 20 guys on that spot, and I wasn't even giving that much info.
Then again, a lot of people get a kayak to get away from the masses and don't want you to paddle right up to them while they're fishing. Speak to them from a distance first. If they're inviting, go up and converse. I speak to a lot of people while kayak fishing but rarely do I get close to them. Only my buddy who is on the trip with me, if there is one.
gimruis reply :
I can feel all of you venting about your misfortunes on this thread!
Most of my poor etiquette experiences on the water come from jet skis, pontoons, wake boarders, tubers, etc. I call them Recreational Riff Raff. They take way too long to load and unload their boat, don't care where people are fishing, and they're unsafe about it. I actually target days when rain is in the forecast during the summer months to avoid them.
ww2farmer reply :
The list is endless.....................However, i don't get too mad at the jet skiers, and pleasure boaters, it's there water too, and most of them are not idiots on purpose, they just don't know any better.
It's other fisherman that drive me over the edge. A few things over the years that stick in my mind.
#1...........I was fishing a row of docks that were close together, and had another bass angler set his boat down off plane and start fishing 1............ONE!!!! dock in front of me, the direction I was heading. I came unglued............he left. The jist of my hollering and scene causing was this: First.............there's 30 docks on this shore line, you want to fish them too........fine, but don't start one dock ahead of me, at a distance where I could have flipped my bait into your back pocket.
#2.......I was fishing an off shore weed bed in front of a stretch of bank that had no homes/dock on it, another guy was fishing the docks leading into this area. Instead of going out and around me and the weed bed I was fishing to reach the next stretch of docks, he puts the TM on high and makes a beeline right into the middle of the area I was fishing. I picked up my punching rod and launched a 1oz punch rig so close to his head it hit the brim of his hat, and gave him the look. I have never seen a bass boat go in reverse under TM power faster in my life. Funny thing is, this guy and I have become friends after this incident, but it has never been spoken of.
#3...... Two wrong don't make a right, and I am the idiot in this tale. Often on my home lake other clubs have tournaments that I have no idea are going on until I get to the ramp that day to fish. Sometimes, I turn around and go to Conesus to give them room, but often I go out and try and stay out of the way of any of the guys in the tournament. On 2 different times, the same guy, from the same club, would follow me around fishing the "bent rod" pattern, and then cut me off in areas I was fishing. So...............time #3 I get to the ramp, see this club is there, and see this guy's trailer in the parking lot. I decided to give him a taste of his own medicine if I come across him................BUT..............it never got to that point. I started crushing fish left and right well away from crowd that day, and had a 20+ lb limit for my best 5. With all the fish in the box, I drove around looking for this guy. I found him, and started making small talk and being "nice". He tells me he is having a rough day, hasn't got a limit yet, has lost a few good ones, and the ones he has are small. I then said..............."well a-hole, you should have followed me around again today, and cut me off like the last two times you were here". Then I pulled each fish out of the livewell one at a time, calling out the weights, and tossing them in right into the area he was casting. I was mighty amused with myself for a few minutes after this, but then I started felling kinda bad, and know I acted like a jerk. To make matters worse, my buddy Tim who is in this club, told me later that guy got all spun out over this and went home early. I approached the guy a year or two later on the water while they were fishing another tournament, and we both buried the hatchet over each others dumb moves, and we have never had a problem since.
lo n slo reply :
cool thread
Skeeter Dan reply :
My pet pevs are jet skies. I can see how they could be a lot of fun. It sadden me that most people with jet skies have no clue what safety is. I think most jet skies comes with a dumb ass attached to it. My ex partner that fished tournaments with me did something that really made me angry. We pulled into a cove fishing dock and boat houses. He was running the front of the boat and pulled up on a dock that had fishing poles and lines in the water. One had a fish on it so he decided to see what was on the line. It was a catfish but if it would have a bass on it he would have took it I would have thrown him off the boat but we pulled the boat with his truck. End of story My ex partner.
OCdockskipper reply :
On 8/26/2016 at 2:53 AM, IgotWood said:The other thing that drives me crazy, is when I reply to the, "any luck?" question. I'll be honest and tell you if I got skunked, or if I caught a hundred...but PLEASE do not ask me where!
Or when they ask you what you are using. Not "If I may be so forward & you'd be willing to tell me, what did you use to catch those fish?". No, it is the demanding "What are you using?" as if you are in the middle of a deposition. If they had any wits, they could look on the end of the rod & figure it out.
Tracker22 reply :
More often than not I'm the one telling them what their biting.
RAMBLER reply :
On 8/26/2016 at 9:34 AM, OCdockskipper said:Or when they ask you what you are using. Not "If I may be so forward & you'd be willing to tell me, what did you use to catch those fish?". No, it is the demanding "What are you using?" as if you are in the middle of a deposition. If they had any wits, they could look on the end of the rod & figure it out.
If I've had a decent day, don't look at the end of my rod to figure "it" out. I've changed lures before I get to the dock.
BankBassing reply :
On 8/26/2016 at 9:34 AM, OCdockskipper said:Or when they ask you what you are using. Not "If I may be so forward & you'd be willing to tell me, what did you use to catch those fish?". No, it is the demanding "What are you using?" as if you are in the middle of a deposition. If they had any wits, they could look on the end of the rod & figure it out.
What bothers me are the guys who offer unsolicited advice and don't understand what I'm trying to do. My goal (so far unfulfilled as a newbie) is to catch bass on artificial lures. Everyone around here (literally everyone I've seen on the river) fishes with live bait, be it nightcrawlers, minnows, shiners, whatever. I try to find a spot away from others but that fits the profile as a good fishing spot (eddies, points, current breaks, etc.) and fish with my gear. Sure enough, almost once a day, some guy comes over and says, "You gotta get some minnows! That's what they're biting!" Usually they're nice guys, and many times even offer to share whatever they're using, and I try not to seem like an ingrate, but if I wanted to use live bait, I'd do so. Let me do what I'm trying to do. Maybe you'll catch a bunch, and I won't, but honestly it takes little to no skill to lower a minnow in the water and let it swim. I'm trying to do something specific... just let me try.
the reel ess reply :
On 8/26/2016 at 10:32 AM, BankBassing said:What bothers me are the guys who offer unsolicited advice and don't understand what I'm trying to do. My goal (so far unfulfilled as a newbie) is to catch bass on artificial lures. Everyone around here (literally everyone I've seen on the river) fishes with live bait, be it nightcrawlers, minnows, shiners, whatever. I try to find a spot away from others but that fits the profile as a good fishing spot (eddies, points, current breaks, etc.) and fish with my gear. Sure enough, almost once a day, some guy comes over and says, "You gotta get some minnows! That's what they're biting!" Usually they're nice guys, and many times even offer to share whatever they're using, and I try not to seem like an ingrate, but if I wanted to use live bait, I'd do so. Let me do what I'm trying to do. Maybe you'll catch a bunch, and I won't, but honestly it takes little to no skill to lower a minnow in the water and let it swim. I'm trying to do something specific... just let me try.
I go to the beach once a year and fish in an inlet. I fish artificials exclusively because I'm in a kayak. Same thing. Everybody says to get mud minnows. Flounder will bite Gulp Mullet same as mud minnows. I seem to ahve as good or beeter luck as others fishing with live bait. I really like casting and retrieving artificials and I've been doing it since I was able to fish.
That said, I do want to try some live shiners on one reservoir I fish because they're in there and there are BIG bass there. it's a good opp to catch a PB.
the reel ess reply :
On 8/26/2016 at 8:06 AM, ww2farmer said:The list is endless.....................However, i don't get too mad at the jet skiers, and pleasure boaters, it's there water too, and most of them are not idiots on purpose, they just don't know any better.
It's other fisherman that drive me over the edge. A few things over the years that stick in my mind.
#1...........I was fishing a row of docks that were close together, and had another bass angler set his boat down off plane and start fishing 1............ONE!!!! dock in front of me, the direction I was heading. I came unglued............he left. The jist of my hollering and scene causing was this: First.............there's 30 docks on this shore line, you want to fish them too........fine, but don't start one dock ahead of me, at a distance where I could have flipped my bait into your back pocket.
#2.......I was fishing an off shore weed bed in front of a stretch of bank that had no homes/dock on it, another guy was fishing the docks leading into this area. Instead of going out and around me and the weed bed I was fishing to reach the next stretch of docks, he puts the TM on high and makes a beeline right into the middle of the area I was fishing. I picked up my punching rod and launched a 1oz punch rig so close to his head it hit the brim of his hat, and gave him the look. I have never seen a bass boat go in reverse under TM power faster in my life. Funny thing is, this guy and I have become friends after this incident, but it has never been spoken of.
#3...... Two wrong don't make a right, and I am the idiot in this tale. Often on my home lake other clubs have tournaments that I have no idea are going on until I get to the ramp that day to fish. Sometimes, I turn around and go to Conesus to give them room, but often I go out and try and stay out of the way of any of the guys in the tournament. On 2 different times, the same guy, from the same club, would follow me around fishing the "bent rod" pattern, and then cut me off in areas I was fishing. So...............time #3 I get to the ramp, see this club is there, and see this guy's trailer in the parking lot. I decided to give him a taste of his own medicine if I come across him................BUT..............it never got to that point. I started crushing fish left and right well away from crowd that day, and had a 20+ lb limit for my best 5. With all the fish in the box, I drove around looking for this guy. I found him, and started making small talk and being "nice". He tells me he is having a rough day, hasn't got a limit yet, has lost a few good ones, and the ones he has are small. I then said..............."well a-hole, you should have followed me around again today, and cut me off like the last two times you were here". Then I pulled each fish out of the livewell one at a time, calling out the weights, and tossing them in right into the area he was casting. I was mighty amused with myself for a few minutes after this, but then I started felling kinda bad, and know I acted like a jerk. To make matters worse, my buddy Tim who is in this club, told me later that guy got all spun out over this and went home early. I approached the guy a year or two later on the water while they were fishing another tournament, and we both buried the hatchet over each others dumb moves, and we have never had a problem since.
It's good that you set it right with him. If you have a conscience, which a lot of people don't, that kind of thing will eat at you. What seems justified at the time often looks harsh in the rearview.
PourMyOwn reply :
Most of my issues are boat ramp related. In NH we don't have many nice ramps, and when people park so close to the ramp that I can't get my boat in or out I fume. Most of the time it's (non fishing) kayakers who are too lazy to park their Subaru 30 feet away after they put their kayak on the ramp.
cgolf reply :
On 8/26/2016 at 5:08 AM, Tracker22 said:Tell me this...sometimes I paddle up to other fishermen and strike up fishing conversations (I'm really trying to find out what's biting). Most are glad to talk, others are standoffish. I never stay but a minute. Am I wrong for interrupting them?
As long as you paddle up on the side they aren't casting too or give them a wave and shout before you are in plunking distance you are fine.
Josh Smith reply :
If you approach me to talk to me and I seem rude, it's not intentional. I don't mind talking. I'm just concentrating, too, so don't take it personally.
Not many here try telling me what to use when they see I'm bass fishing. When I tell them I don't know a lot about catfishing, I get an education. Most fishermen here have a high mutual respect cross-species and are willing to both teach and learn. There are the dicks, but they generally come out at night and avoid the rest of us. We see their leavings in the morning and spread the word.
Josh
BassB8Caster reply :
On 8/25/2016 at 3:31 AM, davecon said:Torn Thumb,
I was surprised that New Yorkers and the guys from Mass. were not the worst offenders. Don't see that many from Mass. and the New Yorkers are not as bad as I thought.
It's those 2 other states that will remain nameless that are by far and away the worst.
Now when it comes to going to a Tampa Bay Rays baseball game I have never seen such behavior from adults as I do from Red Sox fans !
Yankee fans root and cheer for their team and I get that. They are respectful and courteous of the home town fans. The Red Sox fans are a whole different story. Got to where I won't even go to the games when the Sox are here as I am afraid I will do something I will later regret. I guess I have mellowed with age.
As a Redsox fan, i disagree. Are there bad apples? Sure. There are bad apples in every bunch. Being on the other side (redsox Vs yankees) i have seen the opposite. Ive seen many New Yorkers who are extremely disrespectful. For you to say any one organization is respectful and curteous is incorrect. EVERY team in every sport has poor disrespectful fans. Singling out one fan base is not fair and is wrong. I have gone to many redsox games and have never seen any problems.
"hamma" reply :
Poor etiquette on the water? the heck you say.,...lol.
Over the past 50 some odd years of my fishing, you could say I've come across a few. Most on the water, some at the ramp, and even some at the local coffee shop nearest the ramp. There are people everywhere, and whenever you get strangers together there's bound to be disagreements. It just seems that you come across more while angling your favorite areas. They will buzz you close by while your bottom bouncing deep cover. They will run right over your line while topwater angling. They will invade the cove your fishing with jetski's providing incessive, self induced, wave jumping. They will come up and ask questions in a demanding manner. They will spotsuck your every move for the entire day. They will provide unnecessary info at the ramp, and expect you to offer your best areas to fish in return. They will cut you off, on and off the water.,They will climb on your boat and just trash it, or be back fishing your best spots on their buddies boat every weekend after. The lovely lakefront homeowner that "owns" the area abutting "his" dock.
But what burns me the most?,... is the unsafe morons that just dont care. Whether its ignorance, or arrogance, doesn't really matter. Safety should be number 1 for EVERY boater. Boating can be dangerous enough, even without considering mental aptitude. But, when lack of mental aptitude is added to already dangerous activities, only bad things can happen.
Consider the idiot thats towing a water skier, and watching the skier instead of his boats path. OR,. the moron that is beyond drunk, and is, as ZZ Top puts it: "Driving While Blind",... OR,. the putz thats cruising on "his" lake, on a 35 ft cabin cruiser, showing off to the hot blonde sunning herself on the rear deck, and he's looking at her curves instead of where he's going. ..Sadly, the list goes on and on.
Spotsuckers, cut-off artists, and rude co-anglers drawn in a draw tourney, suck,.. while tourney angling, I have dealt with them all, believe me. Ive been frontended,... pulled off the spot I just livewelled the tournies lunker of the day from.,. denied my time on my spots,..etc. and this list goes on too.
Nonetheless,...safety issues take the cake.
Please, by all means, I beg all of you, boat safely
Torn Thumb reply :
Off topic, but are most co-anglers usually random draw types or is that a less frequent format? I couldn't imagine fishing with a stranger on any boat let alone an expensive one.
BrianSnat reply :
Not anglers, but in NJ on some lakes people seem to think the boat ramp is a beach, You pull up and they are sitting in beach chairs, laying on towels and wading in the water in front of the ramp. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot is with that?
MikeWright reply :
The one thing that made me upset were the guys that blowfish in my area. I probably will get some type of grief from some bowfisherman on here. But what I encountered was 50 lbs of carp and gar just thrown in the parking lot with huge gaping holes in them. For starters, why kill something just for your self satisfaction? Might sound like a hippie...but last and not least...why throw them in the parking lot? Why not chum them up and feed them to the perch and cats? Ignorance in my eyes...
deaknh03 reply :
On 8/25/2016 at 3:31 AM, davecon said:Torn Thumb,
I was surprised that New Yorkers and the guys from Mass. were not the worst offenders. Don't see that many from Mass. and the New Yorkers are not as bad as I thought.
It's those 2 other states that will remain nameless that are by far and away the worst.
Now when it comes to going to a Tampa Bay Rays baseball game I have never seen such behavior from adults as I do from Red Sox fans !
Yankee fans root and cheer for their team and I get that. They are respectful and courteous of the home town fans. The Red Sox fans are a whole different story. Got to where I won't even go to the games when the Sox are here as I am afraid I will do something I will later regret. I guess I have mellowed with age.
Alaska and hawaii?
Gundog reply :
On 8/28/2016 at 1:46 AM, deaknh03 said:Alaska and hawaii?
Got it on the first guess.
everythingthatswims reply :
I fished a few weekday evening tournaments, and there was one boat that would always come waaaaaay across the lake to cut my partner and I off when we were fishing. This didn't start until we finished 2nd place in one of the tournaments. Guys think they are playing defense or something. One time he cut us off and we just kept fishing behind them and I was SMOKING them on a frog, he got all upset and told us we were too close.
I don't fish those tournaments anymore, it's silly.
Jeff H reply :
These threads are, well for me they are just difficult to read. I have seen many instances of plain old idiocy and blatant ignorance from other anglers/competitors and recreational boaters as well as property owners over the years. Common sense and courtesy are at all time lows in todays "Me and Mine" society. It's pretty sickening the mucked up attitudes some people carry with them to public waters these days. It's sad or even sickening to read this kind of stuff but it is reality.
A-Jay reply :
On 8/26/2016 at 5:08 AM, Tracker22 said:Tell me this...sometimes I paddle up to other fishermen and strike up fishing conversations (I'm really trying to find out what's biting). Most are glad to talk, others are standoffish. I never stay but a minute. Am I wrong for interrupting them?
Yes.
Unless there's a sign hanging off the stern . . .
A-Jay
MassYak85 reply :
On 8/26/2016 at 5:08 AM, Tracker22 said:Tell me this...sometimes I paddle up to other fishermen and strike up fishing conversations (I'm really trying to find out what's biting). Most are glad to talk, others are standoffish. I never stay but a minute. Am I wrong for interrupting them?
Personally I love it when people paddle/drive by and want to chat for a minute. Especially if both sides are honest and aren't misleading the other just for the hell of it (obviously tournaments are different and I do not fish them).
Ktho reply :
On 8/26/2016 at 5:08 AM, Tracker22 said:Tell me this...sometimes I paddle up to other fishermen and strike up fishing conversations (I'm really trying to find out what's biting). Most are glad to talk, others are standoffish. I never stay but a minute. Am I wrong for interrupting them?
When I'm fishing I'm typically pretty focused and don't like people talking to me. I see it like I'm on the basketball court or football field, if you wouldn't walk out and talk to people while they're playing a game then don't do to it me when I'm fishing. If I'm at the ramp or eating lunch I don't mind talking to be people but it's annoying when I'm focused on fishing. If i already know someone it's different but I definitely don't like meeting people for the first time on the water while I'm casting.
S. Sass reply :
Guess it depends on different circumstances. I've always wanted to think fishing was a pleasure not so serious. But I guess some take it to the next level.
All my uncle's, my grand dad, and my dad from my memory didn't ever act selfish or sneaky about where they fished to others or what they used either. They shared the sport with others. But I see a lot of that "my spot" going on as if it's a tournament and I know in several cases it was not.
Yeah some days I might not really want to be bothered but honestly if someone spoke to me it's not the end of my fishing. As long as it wasn't some jerk flying in making a mess and being rude I can't say I'd be mad about it.
Columbia Craw reply :
I would like to think I've met more nice, friendly, courteous engaging anglers than those demonstrating poor etiquette, although they do exist. When I do, I address it like Woodrow F. Call in the movie Lonesome Dove. " I can't stand rude behavior in a man.....won't tolerate it." Google it.
Yeajray231 reply :
Hate to be a nag but Am I the only one disappointed to find all the baseball talk ? There's another thread called "everything else"
I've enjoyed reading the experiences about fishing though.
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 8/28/2016 at 1:18 AM, MikeWright said:The one thing that made me upset were the guys that blowfish in my area. I probably will get some type of grief from some bowfisherman on here. But what I encountered was 50 lbs of carp and gar just thrown in the parking lot with huge gaping holes in them. For starters, why kill something just for your self satisfaction? Might sound like a hippie...but last and not least...why throw them in the parking lot? Why not chum them up and feed them to the perch and cats? Ignorance in my eyes...
I bowfish, and I understand the concern. I don't eat them, but I am usually able to find people who will and give them away. In the cases where I can't (usually when I have a bunch of silver or bighead carp), I'll find a remote shoreline to deposit them. Nature takes care of them, and people don't have to smell or see them. Dumping them next to a ramp or in a parking lot is akin to tournament guys "releasing", dead fish, it just looks bad.
Most rough fish have few predators and very small numbers are removed by hook and line fishermen and can reproduce in large numbers. Bowfishermen help to curb the populations, but just like many examples in this thread about other anglers, some bad apples do the rest of us no good in the PR department.
"hamma" reply :
On 8/27/2016 at 10:18 PM, Torn Thumb said:Off topic, but are most co-anglers usually random draw types or is that a less frequent format? I couldn't imagine fishing with a stranger on any boat let alone an expensive one.
The different format tournies are ones you "choose" to enter into. albeit at the club level or a state level. Are the draw formats less frequent? In some states,.. yes. In our state of Massachusetts,.. B.A.S.S. recognizes two different affiliations, I believe one is a draw club format, and the other a team format. The team club format, is you and your partner fish together every tourney throughout the entire year. The draw club format is when you fish with a different person at every tourney. Good for a beginner, because you usually learn techniques and strategies,.(Which is what I fished).. But,..within the same year, I did fish "team" tournies at the state level, with one of the anglers in my club. Which offers more of a payout, and the competativeness/strategy of a bigger tournaments atmosphere,... more boats also meant bigger waters fished so learning the bigger waters in your area opens the door for,.. the state fishoffs, tourney of champs, etc. as they are usually held on the bigger lakes.
But that should be a different thread altogether. Maybe I will start one in the tournies page,...(which should prove to be good)
MikeWright reply :
On 8/28/2016 at 1:52 PM, Bluebasser86 said:Nature takes care of them, and people don't have to smell or see them. Dumping them next to a ramp or in a parking lot is akin to tournament guys "releasing", dead fish, it just looks bad.
See that's awesome to put them back in the water, dead or not, at least something will benefit from it. So you're saying those guys were probably in a tournament? I'm guessing that was where they "weighed in" at? As for as bowfishing goes, I'm sure it's fun as hell and it doesn't look all that easy, so thanks for not making the parking lot a carcass lot!!!
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 8/28/2016 at 9:33 PM, MikeWright said:See that's awesome to put them back in the water, dead or not, at least something will benefit from it. So you're saying those guys were probably in a tournament? I'm guessing that was where they "weighed in" at? As for as bowfishing goes, I'm sure it's fun as hell and it doesn't look all that easy, so thanks for not making the parking lot a carcass lot!!!
They have bow fishing tournaments, but I'm referring to bass tournament guys that release dead at the ramp at the end of the night.
It is a lot of fun and it's very challenging.
JT Bagwell reply :
I have witnessed this several times and it just drives me nuts:
There will be a family on a dock fishing with their kids and a tournament angler
will pull up and start fishing that same dock. We have the whole lake/river and these
people have their dock and that is it.
Looks bad for Bass anglers.
strikefc34 reply :
My all time favorite....fishing a championship on Shawano Lake, we had an early boat number and pulled up on a weedline. Next boat stops 30 yards in front of us and goes the same direction on the weedline. A third boat running about 70mph goes between our boats to get to the bank.
scaleface reply :
On 8/28/2016 at 10:18 AM, Yeajray231 said:Hate to be a nag but Am I the only one disappointed to find all the baseball talk ? There's another thread called "everything else"
I've enjoyed reading the experiences about fishing though.
This went over my head .
Heres one . I'm working my way down the bank , coming up on a lay down tree . This guy pulls in front of me and fishes it . Whatever , Later I catch up with him and ask if hes doing any good and he replies " Yesterday I caught a six lb bass right there where I cut you off. " .
Yeajray231 reply :
@scaleface did you tell him you seen a trailer with a flat tire right where he parked ?
A-Jay reply :
On 8/29/2016 at 12:08 AM, scaleface said:This went over my head .
Earlier in this thread there are a couple of posts where MLB fans are discussed briefly.
Apparently, Yeajray231 is quite a stickler when it comes to staying on topic . . . .
A-Jay
Yeajray231 reply :
Ha-ha @A-Jay not exactly ! As long as it's about fishing
A-Jay reply :
On 8/29/2016 at 12:15 AM, Yeajray231 said:Ha-ha @A-Jay not exactly ! As long as it's about fishing
I hear ya ~ Wait until the winter doldrums set in around here.
We're liable to see just about Anything . .
Here ya go - this may help prepare you
A-Jay
BankBassing reply :
I'll share one other story from earlier this year. I usually fish with my family from the local marina's dock. The only time you really get a bite there is early morning or just about dark. We usually go down in the evening for this 2 hour period that is decent. We were down there, got all set up, and a boat is coming down the shoreline. They are fishing the bank with these unbelievably bright lights on their boat. They get to the dock, and, rather than getting past us and fishing the bank in the next available spot, they come so close to us we all reel in our lines for fear of getting tangled up with their boat, they continue at a ridiculously slow speed with the lights shining so brightly, I literally could hardly keep my eyes open at all even looking to the side. It was probably only 30 seconds they were in our way, but they spooked the fish in our area, blinded us for probably another 2 minutes, and had us just sitting there like idiots looking into the sun. I did say to my wife loud enough they could hear, "It's amazing they didn't put an off switch on those lights." I honestly debated just casting my Carolina rig straight ahead and saying I couldn't see where they were because of the light. I had just had to get on 2 kids with jetskis who were buzzing our lines at that same spot the day before, so I was not happy. I like to think of myself as pretty laid back, but sometimes goofs turn you into the "Get off my lawn" old man.
Acerty reply :
Being a bank fisherman, I have most issues when it comes to boaters who decide they "HAVE TO" fish where I am fishing or run the boat right in front of where I am clearly casting. The worst offenders being bow fisherman, who don't seem to care that I am knee deep or hip deep in the water and decide they need to buzz full bore as close as they can get to me and spotlight the entire area. Yes, there are more to these stories naturally. I apologize if there's any bow fisherman here, but all the bow fisherman I've met in the last year do not put a good reputation out for you.
The two most infuriating stories I have:
Buddy and I came to the local lake and decided to fish a common spot. Just a pier that juts partly into the lake with a lot of deep water access and rocks. I'm casting a plopper and on the third retrieve a Muskie surfaces and you can see its coming after my lure. Naturally, right as it surfaces, a red kayak rounds the fishing pier as close to the bank line as possible right in front of me. Not only do I have real quick get my lure back in, but the muskie surfaces again and you can see it clear as day about face and swim back out deep. Kayak dude looks at me, laughs, and keeps following the bank line of the pier.
Story two:
Buddy and I seek out pretty remote areas, or so we think. We are out fishing and in a spot where we've had good success in the past where we've not seen any other people fishing in the past. So we just get there and decide to wade the water knee deep and start hearing pops of fish around us. You can see bright lights a small distance away but we think nothing of it. 3 casts in, 4 spot lights round the far corner maybe 300 yards down coming straight to us. Being late at night, we both hit our headlamps to let them know "hey there's fisherman out here." The boat keeps coming toward us, firing into the water as they inch ever closer. Finally at about 100 yards away, I get my flashlight out and just spotlight the boat. They curse me out for spotting them, never mind the fact they've blinded us for the last 10 minutes, and proceed to get as close as they can to us (I swear we could have touched the boat) and max throttle back to the other end of the lake.
bigbill reply :
Me and my son were shore fishing close to each other. No one else is around the place. This guy shows up and gets inbetween us and says excuse me I want to make one cast. I'm thinking when does my rod becomes a whopping stick. I held back but how rude.
My buddy is just home from nam. He was the guy they sent into caves with a 45. A little uneasy still. This guy would give you his shirt off his back. Do anything to help you. Ok he borrowed his dad's new boat. He's anchored and fishing. This boat pulls up and bumps his dad's boat. My buddy moves. The guy follows him and bumps the boat again. My buddy moves again. The guy follows him again and my buddy lost it. He pulls his 45 and tells the jerk he's going to put one round below the water line. The guy left.
This same buddy is with us all lined up in a cove shore fishing. A guy in a boat makes a pass so close to shore he cuts all our lines. My buddy picks up a rock and hits the guy in the boat. What a shot. Not all boaters are bad.
A-Jay reply :
A-Jay
2tall79 reply :
Had a guy throw bricks and gravel into the water to dissuade me from fishing around his dock.
Jack Fate reply :
On 8/25/2016 at 12:12 AM, visagelaid said:Not with an angler but...I was fishing a tournament on Wilson Lake about 2 weeks ago. We were fishing the bank off a channel, so you expect boats to speed by. However, this one clown passes by us full trim doing about 60mph by about 25ft. I understand boat traffic since we were just off channel, but really guy? You couldn't give us 50ft? Come on man....
Wilson Lake boaters are notorious for doing this. I have yet to figure out why
Rhino68W reply :
Being a kayak fisherman I run into many jerk faced power boaters with big egos. This cat thought it would be cool to A. wake me from about 15 feet away. B. Pull up right behind me and start fishing around me C. Cast about 3 feet from my kayak. I keep a 3/4 oz jig tied on at all times anyways. Sometimes it comes in handy more than others. We exchanged words, and I invited him to the boat ramp. Keep in mind that I had been fishing one cove all morning and he pulls in about 2 hours after first light and starts this jazz. No tournaments going on, just leisure fishing.
I'm not so small when I am on dry land. Ole buy didn't want any part of me then. I took his numbers off the boat and called the GW afterwards. He said to video his antics if there were a next time.
bigbill reply :
Me and my son were fishing from shore locally when a family walked by and the son started throwing rocks in the water near us. We left rather than argue. I live in a rural area.
GORDO reply :
On 8/26/2016 at 8:06 AM, ww2farmer said:Then I pulled each fish out of the livewell one at a time, calling out the weights, and tossing them in right into the area he was casting.
LMAO!! I would have felt bad about it afterwards too, crushed his self esteem. But I bet that is the last time he snakes people like that!
Tracker22 reply :
Ok, my kayak stories. I was heading back to the ramp in my kayak. I'm following the shoreline about 75 yards out because the waves were white capping. Suddenly this ol fart on the bank starts hollering and cussing "YOU GOT MY LINE!". I knew he was crappie fishing and I was surprised since I was so far out. So I killed my motor and raised it. No line. He's still cussing and raising Cain. Turns out he had caught a fish about the time I passed him. I left him a few nice words as I went about my way.
At another lake, two guys were bream fishing at the ramp. I pull up to load my boat and they start fussing and giving me the evil eye. There's only one ramp on the lake! What the hell did they expect me to do?! I gave them a friendly gesture to the gun on my hip and they shut up.
dwh4784 reply :
The first time I took my 4 year old out on my kayak I ran into a nice group of guys, the first ones on a large boat that were making a giant wake for their waverunner friend to jump. Not a big deal on a lake this big, except they were hitting me with white cap rollers, it was a week day, and this lake is huge. I could hear the boat driver talking about going 9mph to make the biggest wake he could from where I was at. They could have been a half mile away and done the same thing, but had to do it right next to me. Never went back to that lake and probably never will.
Josh Smith reply :
I've often wondered if fishing from the boat ramp is really that good. When I'm bank fishing I've tried it with some success, but I have much greater success when I hike back into the woods some where the cover of thicker in the water.
Just from that point of view, I don't get it. A couple casts of the ramp on the way to your better spot I understand, but not setting up on the ramp. Anyone know if there's an advantage I'm overlooking?
Josh
Scott F reply :
On 9/2/2016 at 1:09 AM, Josh Smith said:I've often wondered if fishing from the boat ramp is really that good. When I'm bank fishing I've tried it with some success, but I have much greater success when I hike back into the woods some where the cover of thicker in the water.
Just from that point of view, I don't get it. A couple casts of the ramp on the way to your better spot I understand, but not setting up on the ramp. Anyone know if there's an advantage I'm overlooking?
Josh
I believe the reason many fish at the ramp is because of the easy access. It requires almost no effort. There is a road that goes right to the spot. Plus there is a dock to fish from.
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