I’ve had pretty similar things happen at my favorite lake here in PA. My wife and I have a spot we like to go to, because the ground is level and it’s close to the restroom and she had double knee replacements done a few years ago. She doesn’t fish she reads a book.
So about 2 weeks ago we were there, we had been there a few hours. About 20 feet down the bank there’s a family. No big deal till the kids decide they are going to swim in the lake.
About a week before this happened, some yay-hoo decided he was going to try and swim across the lake. Well needless to say it didn’t end well for him he ended up swimming with the fish. They found his body the next day in about 40-50 feet of water.
well I put up with for a good while, the kids swimming in the lake. I walked up the bank because I wanted to change my lure. I said loudly enough that I knew they could hear me. I hope your kids drowned.
So I went back to fishing about 10 minutes later my wife walks down to where I am and says to me they’re leaving. I turned around to look the lady gives me a really dirty look. I just smile and wave at her and go back to fishing.
The other rude thing I have had happen is I’m standing on the shore fishing same spot. Where I stand there’s a corner you have to come around if you’re out on water.
Now don’t get me wrong here I don’t think I own the lake even though I’ve been fishing it for almost 50 years.
Seems the people in kayaks love to come around that corner and get within about 20 feet of the bank. I look at them and say could you stay out a little further from the bank please. Sometimes they apologize and move on out further. Other times they give me a dirty look, I just smile at them. Other times they give me the finger so I smile and shake my head.
I don’t look for confrontations but I do carry a nice sharp hunting knife on my belt.
The way the world is these days you never know what can happen. So I’m all about keeping myself and my wife safe.
Since I know this lake so well I decided to go to a spot that is a little out of the way. I have to walk a little further to get to it and it’s not near a restroom.
But it’s quite there till around noon or so when people decide they are going to put their kayaks in from the shore. But at least they are far enough away that it doesn’t bother me.
I will take a little inconvenience for some peace and quiet while I’m fishing. I try to ignore people who just want to be stupid and haven’t grown up. Can’t wait till real bites them in the a$$ and it’s sink or swim.
I have no issues with people in kayaks I just wish they would be a little more considerate and keep their distance when someone is fishing from the shore.
I have told my wife my next big fishing investment is buying 2 kayaks. She just looks at me and shakes her head and says are you going to be rude to shore fisherman like they are to you. I say no because Mom and Dad raised me right. Dad taught me to always respect someone’s space where they are fishing.
Best advice I can give someone is avoid confrontation if at all possible. Just smile and laugh and enjoy your time on the water. Getting angry isn’t going to change the situation or the person but it will most likely cost you a fish or the dreaded backlash from hell.
