Let Me Be

[logan9209]

I watch enough bass fishing shows on youtube and other places to learn how to fish. I've only been bass fishing for 6 months and fishing all together for a year. I'm smart enough to understand that the best fishermen don't stay in one spot for hours. They move around. I get that.

However, my lake has a no boats restriction, so I am stuck bank fishing. I have kidney problems. Some days I can move around a bit and others not so much. There's a particular point that's really good to fish almost year round. Problem is it takes almost an hour to get there. Needless to say, once I am there I will be there for at least 5 hours (usually sitting while fishing).

One day I was fishing and this other fisherman was ranting about how you can't stay in one spot and if you're in a tournament you can't sit still. I mean he was real angry and rude about it. First, I wasn't in a tournament (looking forward to that). If I was, then the boat would actually be moving and not me. Second, I am happy to take suggestions and often try to study other people to broaden my understanding about the sport, but I'm not big on listening to bitter angry people when I'm not doing any thing that will affect them. If I decide to use a texas rigged shoe string, then that's my business. If I decide to squat the whole time I am fishing, that's my business too (although that would be painful).

Point is this: There's a difference in trying to help some one and just being rude to them. Not everyone is on the same experience level, the same budget level, or even the same health level. I got into fishing because after 2 1/2 years of not being able to work and being stuck in the house, I felt imprisoned and depression was taking a major toll. Since I've been fishing, I feel better mentally and physically (although I still have a few bad days). Being courteous will get you further in life and will lengthen the list of friends that you can count on and have fun with.

[Sam]

Logan, do you think he wanted your spot and thought by saying what he did you would move?

Fish anyway you want and enjoy the outdoors.

There are no set rules in fishing.

Post some pics of what you catch, too.

[roadwarrior]

Never heard of such a thing. Why would anyone care how you fish?

Rude is a boat running up next to you, encroaching on your spot on

the bank or on the water. Unless you initiated the conversation, I just

can't imagine anyone else caring anything about what you are doing.

[RyneB]

When i bank fished i would run into all kinds of rude people. I also hate when someones in my boat and i tie on a bait and the person asks me why im using it. But theyre not asking me because they want to know, they just want to question me.

[clayton86]

I'v run into some rude and inconsiderate people while bank fishing whether there in a boat or jet ski cruising by trying to get the wake big enough to splash me or other fisherman thinking they own the spot cuz there in a boat to guys also bank fishing coming in setting up right next to me which I don't mind but don't be rude and cross my line or bump me out of the spot. I'v never had people start laying into me though bout moving some trout fisherman can get rowdy but not to bad I usually stay out of there way anyways. There's alot of spots I bank fish where there's not a whole lot of space if some one is in my spot I usually just fish within an ear shot or sight so when they pack up and leave I move in but I never chew em out if there setting up camp and there all day iv been fishing the waters my whole life and will come back another day. In the end just worry bout #1 and tune em out just don't let that attitude turn u into the ******* im a firm believe in karma what goes around comes around. That guy probably lost the tournament or some expensive lures or big fish for running his mouth or his wifes with the neighbor while he fishes, karma.

[1234567]

There can be some real jerks when it comes to fishing. The fact is most of them are NOT making millions of dollars from fishing alone although they act like they are. Don't let the egos get to you, I come across it alot and quite frankly I could care less what anyone thinks.

[BassinNY]

Do what makes you happy and ignore those that try to bring you down. If that style works for you no one should care.

[logan9209]

Well what makes it bad is that particular day was one of my good days, meaning that i could get around. I was actually on my way home from a spot 25 minutes from where he was at. Also, there's no tourney on this lake so it's not like he was aiming for first place. On this lake I am my own competition. I keep track of how many bass I get each day/month and if I got it on a new kinda lure. There's at least 4 covey holes that I can hit from the bank and all of them hold bass (though now that it's reached summer 2 months early getting hard to figure out). So he doesn't bother me. I was just hoping to get others to think about things like that. Thanks for the positive replies.

[logan9209]

Oh, Sam, the few times I really wish I had a camera either the batteries were bad or I'd forget. I caught 2 20-25lb catfish on trick worms (1 black and 1 junebug with chartruese). Caught an 8lb lmb, left everything there and ran over to a friends house (half a block) to get it captured on their phone. but for some reason they never could figure out how to send it to my email. and yes the bass was still alive. I am very careful about that. if nothing else, i would like to catch it again and it maybe bigger. LOL!

[grimlin]

I know exactly how you feel. Find a good spot and somebody will start getting jealous.

Happened yesterday(memorial day) go figures that everybody was out. Some guy saw me catching some nice ones and asked when I was gonna move down. I just shrugged my shoulders and go "when I feel like it". Told him he was more than welcome to fish beside me. While I kept catching he wasn't....he got frustrated and left after I wouldn't tell him the exact lure i was using...LOL....some people really amaze me at the immaturity level they are at.

[logan9209]

Grimlin, I can tell you from first hand experience that it doesn't always matter what the other person is using. There's a guy I fish with once in a while who seems to have the gift of Jimmy Houston (or just pick your favorite pro). He will throw a weightless worm, let it sit and then shoot the breeze with you. Next thing you know he's got a bass on the end. One day he was casting a spoon and caught a rock bass, a smallie, a crappie and a bream. I would try the same exact thing and nothing doing. Just like your signature says, a lot has to do with your confidence in you lure. You can take most lures and fish them at least 4 different ways. It's all part of the fun.

[grimlin]

Grimlin, I can tell you from first hand experience that it doesn't always matter what the other person is using. There's a guy I fish with once in a while who seems to have the gift of Jimmy Houston (or just pick your favorite pro). He will throw a weightless worm, let it sit and then shoot the breeze with you. Next thing you know he's got a bass on the end. One day he was casting a spoon and caught a rock bass, a smallie, a crappie and a bream. I would try the same exact thing and nothing doing. Just like your signature says, a lot has to do with your confidence in you lure. You can take most lures and fish them at least 4 different ways. It's all part of the fun.

I agree,many people don't understand that concept though. Specially the occasional weekend angler. If he would have been nicer to me i probably would have handed him the grub I was using(even though he still may have not caught anything). Thing was I was also using black plastic stickbaits as well....I think he was just frustrated he wasn't catching anything and i was. I know that river system really well....people don't seem to understand that. I have a good understanding of where the fish were at.

[NCbassmaster4Life]

Sounds like to me that guy wanted the spot to his self, to bad it's a first come first serve bases.

[K_Mac]

Logan I have health issues that sometimes get in the way of fishing, so I understand having a good day and then some hammerhead wants to spoil it. I have found most fishermen are decent folks and usually enjoy the conversation. Life is too short to pay any attention to the idiots.

FWIW KVD has made a huge amount of money finding a spot or two and camping on them. Keep doing what you're doing man. There are few things that make a man feel better than enjoying God's creation with a rod and reel in your hand.

[logan9209]

Yep. Yep. I can't tell you how many days that it wasn't about how many I get, but rather just being there. It's beautiful, quiet, and I'm away from the wife and kids........Ahem, just kidding I love my family but everybody needs their own little bubble for a little bit.

[K_Mac]

Logan I am a better husband, father, grandfather, and any of the other parts I play for some time on the water. It's part of the way we are wired. And I agree that numbers of fish caught have only a casual relationship to the joy of fishing.

[tomustang]

There's really not much you can do about others additudes unless you build a rapport with them since you seen them so often.

As for the point you go to, you didn't specify how you get there either walking trail or car, can it be accessed by bike?

[NoBassPro]

At least here, someone trying to interfere with your lawful fishing or hunting is a crime. Thats not to say they can't still be rude, but there are limitations and they can be reported.

[logan9209]

Tom D., I don't have a bike and while it is possible to cut some of the trip or walking time, I could drive. But that would leave my wife without the car. I'm not to big on that. That particular point I only go to once in a while while there's 2 holes (one where I got that 8lber out of) and there's one spot that the bank has a small curve, but what's great about it is that about 10 feet out it drops drastically. It's a great place for bass in midday heat.

Keep in mind guys (or maybe I should have clarified earlier LOL), I brought the subject up to hopefully give new guys and some more experienced guys something to be aware of. While I am sure that no one here would act like that, sometimes we pull a reaction strike (like the pun?) rather than thinking about it. In other words fishing, or anything else we do, is so much better and enjoyable are considerate of others. I haven't seen that guy again (that was almost 5 months ago), but if he acts that way again then I will do like I did last time.....nod my head and went back to what I was doing.

[unionman]

Rude people suck! Just because your bitter about your sh@#%* life doesnt mean you can take it out on me.

[SouthrnMisnomer]

as long as you don't cross my line, i'm as cool as the other side of the pillow. Needless to say I don't chat much on the water, I mind my own.

[logan9209]

SouthrnMisnomer, normally I don't chat with anyone too much. But, my one and only fishing buddy is an older gentleman who has no one to vent to because the people in his house apparently believe that slavery is still legal and he's their slave. I can't for the life of me understand why he continues to put up with it, but I generally just give him a means to vent. Fishing helps him take his mind off of things. Speaking of which I haven't seen him in almost a week............

[Ratherbfishing]

He wanted that spot.

Playing the devil's advocate, maybe he only gets out once a week (or less) and he sees you camped in his favorite spot everytime he goes there. I can see how that would chaff me a little. Nevertheless, it doesn't justify his behavior nor will it get him what he wants. It would be much better of him to be friendly and make a friend rather than behave like a jerk and make an instant enemy.

[logan9209]

You would think the way he acted, Dink, is the way it happened. However, I was on my way back home and wasn't even fishing. It was a 45 minute walk. Where I was fishing at I could see a majority of the lake and I was the only one out there. So, I don't know.

Me, I just find another spot. My average bass per day is so low that one spot doesn't make a difference. Like today for instance. I walked a third of the lake (was hurting when I got done) and only pulled 1 bass in. I was using a white spinnerbait for the first round and a red bug Salt Lick made by NetBait. The Salt Lick got me my one and only bass. 3 hours and one bass..................anyways, you could be right. But I may never know. It was the first time I'd ever seen him and it was the last time I saw him. Of course, he did start talking about prepping for the end of the world and teaching his 5 year old how to shoot............

[Kyle Mahaffey]

I have plenty of run ins with rude people. I either just keep to myself and tune them out, or they get mad enough that they leave. Well around 3 months ago, I took my 3 year old with me. This guy came up and was like she is too young to fish. So I was like, she just reels, I just cast and set the hook. I called her over to me but I guess she was still in his "spot". So he tells her to move to the other side and have him split us. I was like Sir, she was there first plus I hardly think she is hitting your spot. She has a sponge bob poll that really doesn't hit the lilly pad that was there. He started mumbling under his breath about something. Then he said, isn't she suppose to take dance or some other girly sport? I was like, I grew up with girls that could out fish you any day of the week. And now I was just ticked. Luckly somebody was walking to a spot down the road so he step to this guy was like, if you don't move, I will punch you for saying stupid ****. So this guy just packed up and left.