rules to live by 2024
thinkingredneck reply :
There are ethics, or rules to live by, in outdoor sports and we need to be sure we pass them on. I have tried to teach my kids that how they behave is just as important as their accomplishments. The types of things I try to observe and teach are
1. Respect other people's property and don't tresspass. Respect and obey game laws and creel limits.
2. Clean up after yourself. Everywhere. And take care of your stuff.
3. Pay your fair share. If you are going in someone's boat, buy the gas, food and expendables.
4. If you kill something, do so humanely, quickly and then eat it. If you practice catch and release, fight the fish as quickly as possible and handle it as little as possible.
5. Never make fun of another person's stuff or circumstances. Nobody care's how much expensive crap you have.
6. Slow down and don't leave a big wake when you pass someone on the water. Especially kayaks.
7. Respect other people's preferred fishing style. It takes skill to be good at any type of fishing, including bait fishing. Listen and learn. All knowledge gained crosses over and helps you be a better angler.
8. Don't spook the fish. Be quiet.
9. Don't crowd or cut someone off. Respect their space.
10. Keep things in perspective. Fishing is supposed to be fun. Unless you make a living fishing, it ain't that big of a deal.
What are some other rules to live by while fishing?
thinkingredneck reply :
Please don't take this as a "holier than thou" post. I have embassinglybroken most of these rules at one time or other. I felt like the horse's rectum that I was, too, when I did. Filed in memory just as vividly as every fish I lost through poor angling technique.
Kyhokie reply :
Never take a picture holding someone else's fish.
Scarborough817 reply :
i have broken a few of them as well sadly because i was too impatient after a long winter to wait for the season
thinkingredneck reply :
Thankfully, we can fish year round down here.
Gundog reply :
Leave the gas for the tank. I know we are outdoors but still somethings do linger. 
papajoe222 reply :
Don't hesitate to call another angler out for their bad behavior. We all share the same waters and sport. If I see someone doing something that's detrimental to either, I speak up. I feel my silence is the same as condoning their behavior and just possibly, It may make them think before doing it again. The worst that can happen is they blow me off.
A-Jay reply :
Don't Whizz into the wind.
Don't tug on Superman's cape.
Don't pull the mask off the Ol' Lone Ranger
and Don't mess around with Glenn . . . .
A-Jay
DINK WHISPERER reply :
Man, I wish more people were taught this stuff as children. Soooo many A-holes on and off the water.
dropped shot reply :
This applies more to people not fishing. The vast majority of other fisherman I've ran into have been very respectful.
BassWhole! reply :
I only got one out of ten...
I've never felt compelled to follow rules, but I'm a firm believer in being accountable for your actions, and I try not to screw anyone over who doesn't have it coming. I'll give someone the shirt of my back or slit their throat, Its all situational.
Jaderose reply :
On 11/24/2017 at 3:13 AM, reason said:I only got one out of ten...
I've never felt compelled to follow rules, but I'm a firm believer in being accountable for your actions, and I try not to screw anyone over who doesn't have it coming. I'll give someone the shirt of my back or slit their throat, Its all situational.
Either you've only broken one of these rules or you are the biggest jerk walking. 
Columbia Craw reply :
These are all great standards to follow. I would add: Be prepared to launch when It's your turn. Get ready in a staging area and don't block the launch. Be a giver and not a taker.
WRB reply :
The Golden Rule!
Tom
TnRiver46 reply :
On 11/24/2017 at 1:43 AM, A-Jay said:Don't Whizz into the wind.
Don't tug on Superman's cape.
Don't pull the mask off the Ol' Lone Ranger
and Don't mess around with Glenn . . . .
A-Jay
Hahahah. Haven't listened to Croce in a while
Scott F reply :
On 11/24/2017 at 1:39 AM, papajoe222 said:Don't hesitate to call another angler out for their bad behavior. We all share the same waters and sport. If I see someone doing something that's detrimental to either, I speak up. I feel my silence is the same as condoning their behavior and just possibly, It may make them think before doing it again. The worst that can happen is they blow me off.
I wish that blowing you off is the worst that can happen. If you've been following these forums, you'll see that there are many fishermen who carry firearms. Most people HATE being called out for their bad behavior. If flipping you off is the most that they'll do to you, you are very lucky. Things can quickly go beyond words and get dangerous. One of my rules is not to scold anybody for their behavior. You aren't going to change them, you are just going to make them mad.
LCG reply :
We have all made mistakes and most of us learn from them, but how do you know your making a mistake unless someone helps you learn. I say be helpful to others, not confrontational or judgmental and certainly not violent.
geo g reply :
Thinkingredneck, those are some excellent words to live bye. Whether on the water or on land, if everyone followed your example, this would be a far better place to live. Thanks for the thoughtful post!
soflabasser reply :
On 11/23/2017 at 11:53 PM, thinkingredneck said:There are ethics, or rules to live by, in outdoor sports and we need to be sure we pass them on. I have tried to teach my kids that how they behave is just as important as their accomplishments. The types of things I try to observe and teach are
1. Respect other people's property and don't tresspass. Respect and obey game laws and creel limits.
2. Clean up after yourself. Everywhere. And take care of your stuff.
3. Pay your fair share. If you are going in someone's boat, buy the gas, food and expendables.
4. If you kill something, do so humanely, quickly and then eat it. If you practice catch and release, fight the fish as quickly as possible and handle it as little as possible.
5. Never make fun of another person's stuff or circumstances. Nobody care's how much expensive crap you have.
6. Slow down and don't leave a big wake when you pass someone on the water. Especially kayaks.
7. Respect other people's preferred fishing style. It takes skill to be good at any type of fishing, including bait fishing. Listen and learn. All knowledge gained crosses over and helps you be a better angler.
8. Don't spook the fish. Be quiet.
9. Don't crowd or cut someone off. Respect their space.
10. Keep things in perspective. Fishing is supposed to be fun. Unless you make a living fishing, it ain't that big of a deal.
What are some other rules to live by while fishing?
Thank you for posting this. #6 is one many in South Florida do not follow since many boaters down here feel like they own the water and don't respect land based fishermen. I tend to outfish these boaters that drive fast where I fish, so in the end I am winning.
On 11/24/2017 at 12:55 AM, Kyhokie said:Never take a picture holding someone else's fish.
I agree with you 100%. A person who holds another mans fish and claims it as his own to others is not a honorable fisherman.
N Florida Mike reply :
Probably the hardest 2 for me are not tresspassing and not getting too upset with others.
We have a lot of pond fishing where I live. I do not ( but did when I was young )
fish in peoples yards connecting to a pond. I cant enjoy it because of the stress of the possibility of someone confronting me.I live on a small private lake and it would tick me off if I saw someone I didnt know fishing in my back yard wihout permission.
What I do is fish common areas ,parks , schools, behind shopping centers. There are never any no tresspassing signs or I wont fish there.I struggle with this because I know its technically tresspassing but..... I almost never get asked to leave these areas , and if I do then I dont argue and just leave.
The other is not getting upset with others that dont follow much etiquette. I take fishing seriously , there is time and money on the line and food on the table too.
I hate confrontation ,but when other boaters cut your line ( has happened to me a few times ) or someone steals your fish ( has happened once ) etc. sometimes you feel compelled to confront it.But my goal is to " live peacably with all men " as much as possible.
Good rules to fish by.
RB 77 reply :
On 11/24/2017 at 1:43 AM, A-Jay said:Don't Whizz into the wind.
Don't tug on Superman's cape.
Don't pull the mask off the Ol' Lone Ranger
and Don't mess around with Glenn . . . .
A-Jay
You forgot "don't eat yellow snow". Haha
thinkingredneck reply :
Assume everyone is carrying in the south. I don't carry while fishing because I afraid of ruining the gun.. The worst thing I usually see is boats leaving a big wake or getting too close to my yak, and also littering.
jbmaine reply :
Great Post-- Thank you
My rules I try to follow.
Fish as often as possible and catch as many fish as possible. While doing so don't be rude, crude, mean, spiteful, hateful, selfish, greedy, annoying, antagonizing, demeaning, and generally a pain in the butt.
Try to help others when ever the opportunity presents itself, be patient with others ( especially at the boat launch ).
Do everything you can not to hurt yourself, others, or the environment.
AND ABOVE ALL- I really, really hope some of the @#$% jet skiers we run into all the time read these posts and follow them.
Jim
lo n slo reply :
* do not snag your shoe on the rod tie down strap and then proceed to step off the front of your boat *
Mr.Gump reply :
And don't tick off the gators..
BuzzHudson19c reply :
On 11/23/2017 at 11:53 PM, thinkingredneck said:5. Never make fun of another person's stuff or circumstances. Nobody care's how much expensive crap you have.
I fish with guys who have better gear and guys who have cheaper gear. I always ask how they enjoy what they use and intently listen to them talk about what they like or dislike about their reel/rod/lures. Some of the best tips come from the people who run budget gear. The same can be said in a lot of other sports and activities.
bagofdonuts reply :
never say something bad about someone else's bird dog.
Choporoz reply :
Good list. Most describe how I try to conduct myself. My list would modify #2 only slightly. I am fanatic about not just picking up after myself....I make it a point to always take out more trash than just my own.
Pro Logcatcher reply :
Thank you for this post! I hope all those speedboaters read #6!
TOXIC reply :
Good list. I assume you are talking about ski, pontoon and wakeboard style boats for #6? Because in my 21ft bassboat, I throw a much smaller wake on plane than I do at a slower speed. A lot of guys in Yaks get nasty when I buzz by them but I am actually doing them a favor by keeping as much of my hull out of the water as possible.
Don't forget to teach the proper "on the water fishing" do's and dont's as well because common sense isn't so common anymore.
BCline reply :
I would add:
Don't sweat the petty stuff and don't pet the sweaty stuff.
thinkingredneck reply :
Aw now, a good sweaty...never mind
scaleface reply :
I cant pop open a beer until a fish is caught . That rule has made me a better angler .
A-Jay reply :
On 11/29/2017 at 7:01 AM, scaleface said:I cant poop until a fish is caught . That rule has made me a better dangler .
When one omits the beer and adds an 'o' & a 'd' ~
The whole thing changes quite a bit.
And not in a good way.
A-Jay
Catt reply :
Got a whole book I live by ????
CroakHunter reply :
On 11/29/2017 at 11:15 AM, Catt said:Got a whole book I live by ????
Quote of the week! Good one Catt!
everythingthatswims reply :
On 11/28/2017 at 8:21 PM, TOXIC said:Good list. I assume you are talking about ski, pontoon and wakeboard style boats for #6? Because in my 21ft bassboat, I throw a much smaller wake on plane than I do at a slower speed. A lot of guys in Yaks get nasty when I buzz by them but I am actually doing them a favor by keeping as much of my hull out of the water as possible.
Don't forget to teach the proper "on the water fishing" do's and dont's as well because common sense isn't so common anymore.
Yeah I think most people don't get that. Even when they are in big boats, when I kayak fish, typically people slow down to the point where they are making things a lot worse on me, I'd rather them just keep running! If you're gonna slow down, you gotta slow WAYYY down!
thinkingredneck reply :
I have the most trouble with jet skis barreling down on me. And those guys playing loud music on their ski boats.although I do enjoy the girls in bikinis. Trade offs
soflabasser reply :
There was a thread earlier this year where most members agreed that jet skiers are the worst of the worst of all boaters.
WRB reply :
Public waterways, lakes and rivers, that allow water contact sports like skiing, wake boarding and jet skiers have areas set aside for that activity that often shared by recreational boaters. The noise may annoy you and that fact some folks have no respect for rules or others using the water. Today most of us have cell phones with good camera's and can easily record offensive behavior and show it to the authorities who enforce the rules. I refuse to fish some of our lakes on weekends or lakes with water contact sports because the noise and bad behavior does bother me and want to avoid confrontations that I haven't handled well in the past.
Remember the Golden Rule, it serves us all.
Tom
thinkingredneck reply :
I am fortunate that my days off are during the week. I work most weekends and holidays. So I get to fish when less people are out. It is great for going out to eat, movies, etc. Less crowds to contend with I do miss most of the gun shows and I miss a lot of football. Trade offs. Thanks for your responses.
bigbill reply :
I mind my own business.
but I do stop to help kids out. I share knowledge and my scents. They are the future of this sport.
i keep my tacklebox closed. Less eyes, less words spoken. I never make fun of someone’s tackle.
its me against the fish. Not the a hole near me saying I got another one(bluegill) if I wanted bluegills I’d fish for them. I find when they look in your tackle box it’s game on to out fish you to be little you. There using worms and catching pan fish not bass. I fish from shore. I will not go to their level and show them my bass. There’s another reason I switched from evening fishing to early morning fishing. The wildlife I can put up with even the bears are more civil. I usually don’t rant. Bill
DINK WHISPERER reply :
On 12/1/2017 at 9:28 AM, soflabasser said:There was a thread earlier this year where most members agreed that jet skiers are the worst of the worst of all boaters.
Really? Wow, on the lakes I fish air boaters are the worse ever! They will come almost run you over while you're flipping a spot.
NHBull reply :
Words I live by
not nessessarily for out doors, but covers everything for me
soflabasser reply :
On 12/5/2017 at 11:06 AM, DINK WHISPERER said:Really? Wow, on the lakes I fish air boaters are the worse ever! They will come almost run you over while you're flipping a spot.
Fortunately I have not encountered too many airboats but the few I have encountered where annoying. There was a law passed a couple years ago that will limit the amount of air boaters in the Everglades in the long run, hopefully it will eliminate most of them. They still are not as bad as jet skiers since jet skiers drive much faster and will pass within 20 feet of you on purpose. A lot of these jet skiers do not know how to swim, and many do not wear life vest, at least in the areas I have seem them acting like fools.
OCdockskipper reply :
On 11/23/2017 at 11:53 PM, thinkingredneck said:9. Don't crowd or cut someone off. Respect their space.
This one has always been important to me and I had a funny situation pertaining to it last weekend.
It was about 45 minutes past sunrise & I was the only person on the upper end of the lake. I approached a designated shore fishing area in my boat, it is about 70 yards long, with a wrought iron fence extending into the water on one side & the boat ramp on the other. Since no one was there, I made a couple of casts to the wrought iron. As I began moving towards the boat ramp, a guy pulled up in a truck. I thought he might be a fisherman and since I could fish elsewhere & he was stuck to the shore, I waited a moment to make sure before I continued towards the launch ramp. The man, about 50 years old or so, literally grabbed a rod out of the back of his truck and sprinted to the shore to make a cast to the launch ramp before I could get there. It was such a D-Bag move that I just laughed out loud and turned the boat away from the area to fish some adjoining docks that were beyond casting range of the shore fishing area.
Of course, when I hooked up twice while in sight of Mr. Track & Field, I made sure to play the fish as long as I could, encouraging them to jump & tailwalk...
RPreeb reply :
On 12/7/2017 at 9:49 AM, OCdockskipper said:
This one has always been important to me and I had a funny situation pertaining to it last weekend.
It was about 45 minutes past sunrise & I was the only person on the upper end of the lake. I approached a designated shore fishing area in my boat, it is about 70 yards long, with a wrought iron fence extending into the water on one side & the boat ramp on the other. Since no one was there, I made a couple of casts to the wrought iron. As I began moving towards the boat ramp, a guy pulled up in a truck. I thought he might be a fisherman and since I could fish elsewhere & he was stuck to the shore, I waited a moment to make sure before I continued towards the launch ramp. The man, about 50 years old or so, literally grabbed a rod out of the back of his truck and sprinted to the shore to make a cast to the launch ramp before I could get there. It was such a D-Bag move that I just laughed out loud and turned the boat away from the area to fish some adjoining docks that were beyond casting range of the shore fishing area.
Of course, when I hooked up twice while in sight of Mr. Track & Field, I made sure to play the fish as long as I could, encouraging them to jump & tailwalk...
I really don't get this post. It seemed to me that this thread was about not doing things that bother others, yet you made the effort to fish in an area set aside for those who can't get off shore, then when one of them made a move that was a bit selfish, you reacted in kind, taunting him with your ability to fish where he couldn't. That seems to be in direct opposition to the "Golden Rule" theme of the thread.
My Golden Rule states "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, and do that in spite of any jerk behavior from them." I can usually find a way to shrug it off as long as there is no physical threat in their actions.
the reel ess reply :
Don't get too drunk to fish.
Don't pick up another man's baitcaster without asking. First cast is guaranteed to be a bird nest and probably put it out of commission for the day.
Don't fish with one Southern Baptist, he'll drink all your beer. Take two of them. They won't drink around other Baptists. 
My dad's old joke.
If you're in the expensive bassboat, please idle past other fishermen into the back of the cove and fish out. Don't fish in and come out full blast. This could apply to any boat, but I've seen it most with out-of-state bass fishermen. NC, I'm looking at you. 
Don't squeeze between a bank fisherman and the bank. I don't care if you're in a tourney and he's in a pontoon boat. Leave him alone.
On 11/27/2017 at 10:30 AM, BuzzHudson19c said:I fish with guys who have better gear and guys who have cheaper gear. I always ask how they enjoy what they use and intently listen to them talk about what they like or dislike about their reel/rod/lures. Some of the best tips come from the people who run budget gear. The same can be said in a lot of other sports and activities.
I fish with a guy whose gear is a rung below mine. But he has the nicer boat. He just started using a baitcaster after watching me a couple years. But, man, he has always caught a lot of fish and big ones. We've learned a lot from each other.
OCdockskipper reply :
On 12/8/2017 at 5:10 AM, RPreeb said:I really don't get this post. It seemed to me that this thread was about not doing things that bother others, yet you made the effort to fish in an area set aside for those who can't get off shore...
There are about 20 of these common areas around the lake, the remaining shoreline is all private property. The only people who are legally allowed to fish from these areas are the property owners. There was no one in that area when I made my first few casts, but when the man drove up, I stopped moving down the bank as a courtesy until I knew whether or not he was fishing or just going up to the clubhouse. Once I saw he had a rod & reel, I was going to pull away, what I found funny was his reaction not knowing I was going to do this.
Are you suggesting that common areas such as these should be off limit to those fishing from boats? Obviously, I make a wide berth around them if a person is fishing there, but it is part of the lake & is open to all fisherman. I get the impression you believe that I shouldn't have made casts there. If that is true, then does the same apply to boat docks, launch ramps or retaining walls? For the record, I only fish those areas when no one is there as well.
soflabasser reply :
On 12/8/2017 at 5:26 AM, the reel ess said:Don't squeeze between a bank fisherman and the bank. I don't care if you're in a tourney and he's in a pontoon boat. Leave him alone.
I fish with a guy whose gear is a rung below mine. But he has the nicer boat. He just started using a baitcaster after watching me a couple years. But, man, he has always caught a lot of fish and big ones. We've learned a lot from each other.
Well said @the reel ess. It is very rude to interfere with a bank fisherman, especially if you are on a boat and you are purposely throwing where the bank fisherman is fishing and the boater also causes a big boat wake( It is actually illegal here to interfere with a fisherman, a little known law to many in my state). You have more opportunities as a boater than a bank fishermen, so be a honorable man and give the bank fisherman some space. Also do not underestimate and look down on a bank fisherman with less expensive gear than yourself, he might be catching trophy bass from land often with his trusty beat up Ugly Stik while many with top of the line boats, rods,etc might be lucky to catch a 5 pounder once in a while. We can all learn from each other, regardless what experience we have.
the reel ess reply :
On 12/8/2017 at 12:56 PM, soflabasser said:Well said @the reel ess. It is very rude to interfere with a bank fisherman, especially if you are on a boat and you are purposely throwing where the bank fisherman is fishing and the boater also causes a big boat wake( It is actually illegal here to interfere with a fisherman, a little known law to many in my state). You have more opportunities as a boater than a bank fishermen, so be a honorable man and give the bank fisherman some space. Also do not underestimate and look down on a bank fisherman with less expensive gear than yourself, he might be catching trophy bass from land often with his trusty beat up Ugly Stik while many with top of the line boats, rods,etc might be lucky to catch a 5 pounder once in a while. We can all learn from each other, regardless what experience we have.
Well, I actually meant to give a wide berth to someone who's beating the bank from a boat. I've experienced that treatment by the bassboat crowd several times. I did not have a bassboat with the latest bells and whistles to locate fish in 20+ ft of water. I'd really hit the bass hard in the spring, when they were within reach. I would already be well off the beaten path to avoid the competition. They see you key in on a spot and they can't bring themselves to give you some space, especially when you catch one. You're trying to not be right on top of the fish so you stay back a little and cast to it. They see you casting and just can't help but go right through it, checking their electronics. The etiquette there is to make a mental note of the spot, mark your map and come back later when no one's on it. I've done that many times. But when you see the guy with a different state's numbers on the boat, he's not coming back soon and might be in a tournament that same day. That's the very reason I started kayak fishing and why I usually don't look for others to fish with like, say, a kayak club.
But you're absolutely right about the bank fisherman. And I've caught more bass over 5 lbs in the last few years pond fishing than I ever did in the big lakes. Dinks up to 2 lbs were the norm on the local hydro lake. A 3 pounder was big there.
tholmes reply :
Life is easier when you're nice to people, even the ones who aren't nice to you.
Tom
Bass_Fishing_Socal reply :
You know what just happened?
i was bank fishing along the crossways, the nice beautiful bass boat pulled in 5 feet from shore about 40-50 ft away from me in the direction in front of me (I was at small dock casting toward rip rap).
All I can say is "RALLY? Thank you and hope you catch a big one" and left since he already ruin that spot from big engine anyway (he drives all the way in with big engine).
Doesnt matter how many rules there are, for me is just not to do anything to others that you don't want them to do the same to you.
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