The Two Most Important Lessons To Learn About Fishing.

[Big-O]

I'm guilty, I tend to bring two or three at most for myself when I plan on fishing 5-8 hours. I know it's not the smartest thing but I only do it on smaller quieter electric only lakes where the rangers don't come out on the water to bother you. I will not bring any on board when operating the outboard.

Me TOO Thanks SunFish, you gave me the guts to admit it... It's confession time I have been known to take a beer or two onboard and recently started taking frozen Powerade with a small bottle of Vodka for special occasion "Toasting". We can just save those kind of TOAST for the DOCK from now on! I feel much better NOW

[NoBassPro]

Me TOO Thanks SunFish, you gave me the guts to admit it... It's confession time I have been known to take a beer or two onboard and recently started taking frozen Powerade with a small bottle of Vodka for special occasion "Toasting". We can just save those kind of TOAST for the DOCK from now on! I feel much better NOW

One or two is nothing, but even the CO that patrols my areas said he's scared to get out on summer weekends due to the number of drunken boaters. Its his job, so he has to, but it is that bad on some of the lakes around here on weekends.

[slonezp]

We had a 10yo boy killed while tubing on my home water a few weeks ago. http://www.wgntv.com/news/wgntv-child-killed-on-petite-lake-20120728,0,5274014.story The driver of the boat which ran over him was charged with reckless homicide. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-bartlett-man-accused-of-reckless-homicide-dui-in-boys-tubing-death-20120814,0,5552351.story Stories like this happen every year. This is the busiest freswater waterway in the US. I started a discussion on a local forum about this incident, before I had heard about the charges. I quote myself

My heart goes out to the family BUT there are areas on the Chain as well as better times of the day to tube/ski. Petite Lake is not one of them. Especially at 5:00pm. Petite is nothing more than a throughway to get from Fox to Bluff(Spring Lake don't count) with a party cove. Take your tubes elsewhere or get smart like the skiers and go early in the morning. Common sense could have prevented this tragedy

Common sense SHOULD be a prerequisite to operating a boat.

Was out fishing with my son and dad today on the above mentioned body of water. I drank 3 beers over the course of 5 hours. If need be, my son and father can operate the boat safely. We pulled out of the water at 1:00pm and a pleasure boat launched. My father, being the dirty old man that he is, asked the attractive young woman who was there with 3 other guys, "Sunbathing today?" She answered "No, it's too cold" and her boyfriend interjected. "We have enough alcohol on the boat it would kill a russian.".......or a 10yo boy.

[RobertBG]

Depends on the boat and state. In PA you have to take a boating safety course to operate a motor greater than 25hp. It can be done online and definately good knowledge.

NJ also has a boater safety requirement it was origanaly started due to the jet ski deaths and was jet ski only for some time till they carried it over for all powered craft.

[Bass Slayer 72]

I live very close to a few lakes and fish them quite often, my pet peeve is the tournament fishermen act as though they have some higher right to the boat launch and the lake than those of us who are recreational fishing. I usually have at least one of my children with me, so I never drink and fish. I've had other boats get within 20 yards of us and the min I start catching bass, I've got three or five bass boats crowding me. It makes me upset and I will move, but I do it as loud as I can starting my motor at full throttle and sitting there letting it warm up. don't like it, fish at a respectable distance.

[Sam]

1. Know the rules of the water.

2. Obey the rules of the water.

3. Wear PFD at all times.

4. Have one seat cushion for every person in the boat in the open.

5. If in doubt about fish in live well, install an Oxygenator System. It works.

6. As FishingRhino says, release bass into water ASAP.

7. You wave and be courteous to me and I will wave and be courteous to you.

Retied Boson, we have a guy in our bass club with a beautiful Ranger and a 200 Merc which he destroyed on the Potomac last month. Seems he was coming out of a creek and one of his rods bounced up from the floor. He looked down to grab the rod and in less than three seconds he was headed to a buoy.

He turned the boat to the left sharply and the boat "skimmed" the buoy, exploding the right side of the boat. He hauled fanny back to the marina and trailered the boat. The insurance company made it a constructive total loss.

This guy has been bass fishing for over 20 years. He should have known better. So an accident can happen to anyone. You have to be alert at all times.

[retiredbosn]

I agree Sam, accidents do happen. Sometimes they can't be avoided. Bottom line what happened to the guy in your club was due to negligence, put a similar scenario into the auto world and he would have been ticketed for failure to maintain control minimally. He forgot his first priority of safe boat handling, looking back I'm sure he would have done differently.

My point was that most ppl do not know navigation rules, areas that are navigable with commercial trade have well defined nav rules, that most recreational boaters have no idea about. Not to mention the person who has never been exposed to navigational aids, travel lanes, etc.? You take the average fisherman who has only been on a lake somewhere may or may not have any clue who has right away in given scenarios. Example you are on a lake no buoys, no defined traffic lanes and you have a boater crossing from your starboard to your port (from your right to left) unless someone changes speed or direction you will collide, who has the right away? Or you have ski boat crossing from port towing a skiier? The proper way to overtake and pass? Sailboats on lakes are not uncommon either who has the right away? These sort of things.

I do not mean to sound elitist or snobby, its just that we as fishermen are the face of our sport. The anti-hunters also fund anti-fishing campaigns, but the anti's can't find traction regarding fishing. Since we are the face of fishing and other sports we should be the epitomy of courtesy and respect.

[HeavyDluxe]

1. Always say "There's one!" after you set the hook.

2. If you're with someone who just hooked up, the proper response is "Oh, nice fish!" or something similar.

3. If the fish is not self-evidently large when you get it to boat/shore, refer to it as soon as possible as a "nice, healthy fish" and that "he really hammered that [insert lure used]"

4. Immediately narrate the bait you were using and location where you hooked up.

Based on what I've seen in hours of watching GoPro videos on the internet, these are crucial steps in improving as an angler.

[Fishing Rhino]

1. Always say "There's one!" after you set the hook.

2. If you're with someone who just hooked up, the proper response is "Oh, nice fish!" or something similar.

3. If the fish is not self-evidently large when you get it to boat/shore, refer to it as soon as possible as a "nice, healthy fish" and that "he really hammered that [insert lure used]"

4. Immediately narrate the bait you were using and location where you hooked up.

Based on what I've seen in hours of watching GoPro videos on the internet, these are crucial steps in improving as an angler.

Very good! I like those. But don't forget the ritual of kissing the fish before you release it.

[SirSnookalot]

This thread is more about boat safety and etiquette than about fishing itself. Not all fishermen are boaters and not all boaters are fishermen.

Living in Florida for the past 10 years I have spent a great deal of time both fishing from shore at the ocean as well as boat fishing on the ocean. In my area the jet skiers give room and pose no real problem, some even fish off their jet skies. Pleasure boaters pretty much go on about their business and so do the sailors. The problem are the fisherman, they block the inlets fishing for bait, creating a problem for other boaters to get by them, that's against the law. They fish along side piers, not yielding to the pier fisherman, not only is this un courteous but not obeying the 500' rule is against the law. Some of these yahoos come very close while we are drifting or trolling, paying no attention to the wake they are creating, they don't slow down or avoid the area. A 40' boat with three 300 hp motors creates a lot of waves and those boats are all over the place here, not that the smaller boats are any more polite. Confronting these people is the last thing I want to do, situations can easily escalate.

[WRB]

So far what I have read can be summed up as "respect" the fish and everyone on or near the water.

Boating safety applies to all types of water craft, not specific to fishing, again respect others on the water, they have the same right to it' s use as the fisherman.

Most local tournament bass anglers are respectful and good boat operators, a few could care less about respecting others or boating safety, somehow I tend to crosses paths with a few of disrespectful types way to often.

To me the most important lessons to learn about fishing are:

1. Learn all you can about the fish you plan to catch, it's basic behavior and food source.

2. Learn about seasonal periods and how each period affects where the fish locate. If you take the time to understand bass and why they do what the do, you will become a more consistant bass angler

Respecting Your environment, it's creatures and other people makes everyone time on the water a good experience.

Tom

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[hooah212002]

I just wanted to correct my previous erroneous statements about boater education not being mandatory. Upon further investigation, it appears that Wisconsin (which is where I poorly made my broad stroke judgement from) enacted the Boating Safety Education Act, wherein it states that anyone born after Jan 1, 1989 must complete a boating safety education course in order to operate ANY motorized watercraft and the certificate indicating your completion must be present in the craft. I am unsure when this was enacted, though.

I should not have made the comments I did without doing the proper research beforehand.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

As a former Coast Guardsman I can tell you for a fact the vast majority of boaters do no have a clue on basic rules of the road, yes even lakes have navigation rules.

That even goes for non powered lakes like mine. A trolling motor is still powered when approached by a sailboat,....right of way stillexists, etc.

One of the main things I like to keep in the forefront, and my hiatus has proved this, is that we always need to remember why we are out there, ....to have fun, relieve stress, enjoy life.

[slonezp]

I just wanted to correct my previous erroneous statements about boater education not being mandatory. Upon further investigation, it appears that Wisconsin (which is where I poorly made my broad stroke judgement from) enacted the Boating Safety Education Act, wherein it states that anyone born after Jan 1, 1989 must complete a boating safety education course in order to operate ANY motorized watercraft and the certificate indicating your completion must be present in the craft. I am unsure when this was enacted, though.

I should not have made the comments I did without doing the proper research beforehand.

Is that only enforceable for Wisconsin residents? If someone from out of state born aftre 1989 is operating a watercraft, can they be cited? If so, I hope it's clearly posted at all the ramps on public waterways.In IL there are age restrictions. I believe if you are younger than 16, you can only operate a motorized boat with an adult present. 13 and under must wear pfd's at all times. If I recall WI is 11 and under.

[slonezp]

That even goes for non powered lakes like mine. A trolling motor is still powered when approached by a sailboat,....right of way stillexists, etc.

One of the main things I like to keep in the forefront, and my hiatus has proved this, is that we always need to remember why we are out there, ....to have fun, relieve stress, enjoy life.

That's why WE are out there. I don't know about the rest of them though LOL

[hooah212002]

Is that only enforceable for Wisconsin residents?

i am unsure, but laws typically apply to everyone. And this is apparently a law. It is wise to read up on state laws before putting a boat in the water, especially if you are doing so out of state. I can't see that it would be acceptable to say "but it wasn't posted on the boat ramp". That said, the way it is worded seems to me like it is directed at who can operate a motorized watercraft solo since it (the pamphlet I am reading with the regs) distinguishes between being born after 1989, and 12-15 year olds that can operate craft with an adult present, no course required.

If I recall WI is 11 and under.

WI is 13 as well.

[WRB]

California is the most regulated state in the country, however we do not have a power boat regulation to operate water craft on inland waters. US Coast guard requires PFD 's, fire extinguisher, operating running lights, however no training is required. A 16 year old without a drivers license can operate any power boat on inland waters. The parents of the under age operator is liable for any damages after the fact. Any adult can purchase a high performance power boat and operate it without any training. Drunk boat operates can get a ticket for driving a power boat and some lakes can ticket operators breaking posted boating rules, speed limits etc. No boater safety training is required on CA inland waters!. The result; weekend fishing on public lakes near populated areas can be risky to say the least. Mix tournament bass boats with the general boating public with unskilled boating and gets interesting on the water and at the marina's.

Tom

[Long Mike]

I'm preaching to the choir, but any boat operator can take a free on-line Boater's Safety Course for their individual state. All you have to do is Google it. I take it every year to keep my mind refreshed, but the course does nothing if the numb-nuts approaching you hasn't got a clue. So, I watch, and evade as necessary.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Coast Guard Auxiliary also offers free safety inspections. They will do any size boat. Check with your local office for inspection dates, usually done at a specific state ramp. Retirees. Super nice,knowledgeable guys

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Coast Guard Auxiliary also offers free safety inspections. They will do any size boat. Check with your local office for inspection dates, usually done at a specific state ramp. Retirees. Super nice,knowledgeable guys

[Nitrofreak]

Coast Guard Auxiliary also offers free safety inspections. They will do any size boat. Check with your local office for inspection dates, usually done at a specific state ramp. Retirees. Super nice,knowledgeable guys

In most cases they will offer you a sticker to place on your boat as well to reflect the volentary inspection, the law dogs in Va. have a lot of respect for that sticker too, once they see it they usually don't even bother, not to say they still won't check you but it reflects well on your behalf.

I agree, I don't think I have ever met a nicer group of people, the coast guard guys and gals have an outstanding program and should be commended for their efforts !!!!