Bass And Tournament Fishing Stigma

[Bass Dude]

I'm getting tired of hearing all this stuff about how bad bass fisherman. Our boats are loud, we're rude, we steal spots from people, we all think we own the water, we all buy expensive equipment and don't know how to use it...it goes on and on. I'm sick of hearing it...what could we do to change the stereotype people have of bass and tournament anglers??

[Nitrofreak]

Unfortunatly, I do not think a lot of it will ever change, at least not anytime soon, but the good news is, as long as you remain the same and we all do our best to teach others the proper way then the future will be better for the sport.

[Stasher1]

I'm getting tired of hearing all this stuff about how bad bass fisherman. Our boats are loud, we're rude, we steal spots from people, we all think we own the water, we all buy expensive equipment and don't know how to use it...it goes on and on. I'm sick of hearing it...what could we do to change the stereotype people have of bass and tournament anglers??

You could stop being so loud, stop being rude, stop stealing spots from people, stop acting like you own the water, stop buying all that expensive crap...especially since you don't know how to use it anyway...

[psuangler91]

haha sounds like jealousy to me. Instead of complaining that I only have a 15' v hull with a 25 horse motor, and can't beat the other guys to my spot I'm going to work hard so I can buy a 21' and an engine that costs more than my car.

[J Francho]

Start listening to different people.

[*Hootie]

This stuff is hillarious!!!

Tee hee hee!!!

Hootie

[james 14]

I just use a small boat and cheap gear and the rest takes care of itself.

[BrianinMD]

Unfortunately there are to many fisherman who fit that description, being rude, disobeying the rules, sneaking in to fish private places, and such. It is normal in life, 1000 people do good, 1 does bad and only the bad is remembered. We can only continue to not fit that stereotype and hope more people follow.

[Mike L]

Sometimes we're our own worst enemy.

All we can do is what we can do to be better than the next guy.

Mike

[Fishes in trees]

It is only a stereotype if you cop to it. My advice would be to bust out with a dilligaf and that's that.

[Fishing Rhino]

Where do you hear all this "stuff"? I've never heard any of it, anywhere. I have read plenty on this site about fishermen complaining about jet skis, water skiers, tubers, etc., being rude and buzzing too close to fishermen. Shall we also consider the gripes about the party barges?

Truth be told, there are rude fishermen, and there are rude recreational boaters. Neither side is a bunch of saints. Pond/lake rage exists just like road rage.

[SouthrnMisnomer]

I usually avoid peak usage times and pay attention to my favorite lakes tourney schedules.

[Ima Bass Ninja]

Where do you hear all this "stuff"? I've never heard any of it, anywhere. I have read plenty on this site about fishermen complaining about jet skis, water skiers, tubers, etc., being rude and buzzing too close to fishermen. Shall we also consider the gripes about the party barges?

Truth be told, there are rude fishermen, and there are rude recreational boaters. Neither side is a bunch of saints. Pond/lake rage exists just like road rage.

.

You beat me to it. There are rude people on both sides of the lake.

[tomustang]

Who are you referring to when you say "people"

Average "people" don't interact with anglers during their hobby.

Seems like an isolated conflict since these people have to share the water.

[200racing]

a little respect for other would be a start.

my top 10 boats that have come the closest on plane are all bass boats.

down here we have a infestation of pro imitators who think if they are in a hurry all the time act like a @$$#$%! and people will think they are good fisherman. they will come blasting right by you then kill it and run up to front deck drop the t.m. and start casting while the boats still going 10mph fish a few minutes and blast out of slew off to their next spot with no regard for anyone else in the area.

slow down and have some common courtesy

[steelslinger86]

The thing to realize is, that jerks exist in all forms. Whether it be bass fisherman, crappie fisherman, recreational boaters, bank fisherman, or any other category you may encounter while enjoying the outdoors. My favorite is when I'm waterfowl hunting, and fisherman get too close. If I see an approaching boat, I make it highly visible that we are there, this is a blind, not a mound of grass, and that these are decoys and not real ducks. Yet I still have the occasional guy come right on in. Some play dumb, some argue, but as soon as I tell them the pictures I just took with my phone were for proof of his presence and documentation of his state boat ID number, they usually get pretty apologetic. Around here, you will be fined for being too close. But anyway, stupidity comes in all forms, and can be dealt with properly.

[Bassn Blvd]

I never knew we were looked upon like that.

[dale.m]

My grandfather loves to troll for striper at his local lake and he hates bass fishermen in their bass boats going way to fast on the water. I didn't know why until I went until I was fishing with him one day and saw a bass boat almost flip over after hitting a wake from another boat at what looked like 70 miles an hour. It threw the driver from the boat.

I have no problem with bass fishermen or bass boats, but I do have a problem with irresponsibility on the water.

[*Hootie]

Unfortunately there are to many fisherman who fit that description, being rude, disobeying the rules, sneaking in to fish private places, and such. It is normal in life, 1000 people do good, 1 does bad and only the bad is remembered. We can only continue to not fit that stereotype and hope more people follow.

If you are walking down the street and pass someone who says good morning, you will have forgotten it by the end of the day. But if, instead of saying good morning, that same person punches you in the face, you will remember that for the rest of your life.

MORAL, bad really stands out!

Hootie

[SirSnookalot]

In any type of angling there will always be a segment of that particular faction that feel they are above it all and look down at other anglers, shore fishermen, or non fishing boaters. There are rude, crude and lewd people everywhere. I don't come in contact with any bass boaters but I come in contact frequently with saltwater boat fisherman,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,they are no better. We got guys out here with 200k boats and 1000 horsepower moving at nearly top speed almost with in yards of other boaters, with no regard or courtesy. They fish for bait with a few feet of a jettie, it's legal (illegal at a pier) but not very courteous to the shorebound guys. The list of I'm better than you" actions are uncountable.

An arsehole is an arsehole whether he/she is fishing for bass, trout or kingfish.

[Sam]

Bass Dude, who you listening to?

Bass fishermen are great people.

We do not pollute the waters; we release all bass alive into the water; we help the economy by buying too much tackle; we believe in the economic philosophy that too much tackle is not enough; we don't drink alcohol on the water; we know how to operate a watercraft safely; we don't aggravate others; and we believe in honesty and sportsmanship in tournaments.

Of course there are some out there that viloate one or more of the above but they are few and far between.

If the people saying these things live in Tennessee please let us know as I am sure the guys on this site can come up with lots of funny things to say about Tennessee residents. Like did you hear the one about the Volunteer fan who went to a Tennessee football game and expected them to win????

[out_doors_guy]

Sadly, bad experiences stick out in peoples minds more than good ones do. There are bad apples in every barrel, and all we can do is to try to not be one of them.

75% of the time I am on the water, I fish out of a jon boat. No need, in my mind, to take the big boat out when I am fishing the small waters close to home. I can say that when I meet people on the water in that boat, it is usually a good experience, people are generally friendly and respectful. However, when I have the big boat out, I get a ton of attitude, many times from those same people. Perception and jealousy are major factors. Some people have had bad experiences with guys who think they own the water because they own a $50,000 boat. Some people are jealous because they don't have a boat like that. It really bugs me when it happens, because I was taught proper manners, respect and outdoors etiquette. I fish the same way no matter which boat I am in or if I am fishing from shore.

I do what I do and ignore any negativity from folks when I am on the water and try to be the best example I can be.

[buzzfrog]

being a shore angler, in my area, i can vouche that most ot the people around here are straigh up @ssholes. the almost run over you if you are walking, the just look at you carrying your 3 to 4 rods, when thy have like 20 piled up on there boat, hell i got 15, to bud, but i cant carry them all , lol, then if you talk to them, the just look, i asked one what was the hot bait, hell i wanna catch at least 4 out of the lake this year, and he blew me off, i mean i would understand if i was the boat beside him, in the same tournament. in my area i can honestly see why the word bass thugs exist. before i got into the forums and serious bass fishing i thought this was univerasal. guess there is good guys, when i get a boat, i swear i am gonna pick up randon shore bond anglers for the day.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

In any type of angling there will always be a segment of that particular faction that feel they are above it all and look down at other anglers, shore fishermen, or non fishing boaters. There are rude, crude and lewd people everywhere. I don't come in contact with any bass boaters but I come in contact frequently with saltwater boat fisherman,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,they are no better. We got guys out here with 200k boats and 1000 horsepower moving at nearly top speed almost with in yards of other boaters, with no regard or courtesy. They fish for bait with a few feet of a jettie, it's legal (illegal at a pier) but not very courteous to the shorebound guys. The list of I'm better than you" actions are uncountable.

An arsehole is an arsehole whether he/she is fishing for bass, trout or kingfish.

Hard to argue with that.

I've never had an issue with a bass angler. Mind you, it's not as big of a sport down here as it is in,other areas. I've had plenty of problems with saltwater anglers though. It's amazing how big the ocean is, and how quickly guys will jump all over your if you find a school of Dolphin out in the Gulfstream. Quarter of a million bucks worth of boat definitely does not buy you manners. On the other hand, I've hung out with some guys with equally as expensive boats in the Bahamas and found them to be some of the nicest people in the world. Doesn't matter what kind of boat you're in, we're all there for the same reasons.

Some people are just jackasses.

[Bass Dude]

Where do you hear all this "stuff"? I've never heard any of it, anywhere. I have read plenty on this site about fishermen complaining about jet skis, water skiers, tubers, etc., being rude and buzzing too close to fishermen. Shall we also consider the gripes about the party barges?

Truth be told, there are rude fishermen, and there are rude recreational boaters. Neither side is a bunch of saints. Pond/lake rage exists just like road rage.

Growing up in the north there always seemed to be battle with the salmon and trout guys versus us "junk" bass fisherman. Also up there, on the Finger Lakes, some the land owners hated that we had tournaments on 'their' lake and fished their docks and all that crap. Now I'm in the south where it's not quite so bad, but you still do hear rumblings of the same complaints.

When I say I'm hearing it....I'm not the initial ear that hears it all the time. But from my fellow bass fisherman that hear this, then of course, we all start talking about it while were at the dock, at weigh in, or at our club meeting.