Why Are People So Inconsiderate

[ABW]

I was bank fishing at our local park's pond earlier today. Today, there was a boat out on the water with 2 guys. They were pitching towards the bank, moving their way down to where I was fishing. When they finally reached the water where I was, I had already caught a fish and was releasing it. About 10 feet out, they decide to cut me off and continue to fish right in front of me. I couldn't even believe my eyes! Is there some unwritten rule that says boats have priority over bank fisherman, or is it just me? This has happened multiple times with different people in my days of fishing there.

[jhoffman]

Its everywhere not just fish. I had to drive down the middle of both lanes earlier to keep jerks from flying up and forcing their way over in a line of traffic a mile long.

[ABW]

Its everywhere not just fish. I had to drive down the middle of both lanes earlier to keep jerks from flying up and forcing their way over in a line of traffic a mile long.

I didn't even see those guys catch any fish today. I caught 6. Karma is real, I guess

[Darren.]

Yeah, it isn't just bank fishing where this happens, it's out on the water whether in a kayak, a float tube, a bass boat or whatever. There are inconsiderate jerks everywhere, sad to say.

 

My wife has me muzzled (for the most part). Wants me to keep my cool and move on, just in case good 'ol Jerk-o-Saurus is packing. No reason to rile the doofus. Move one, live another day, LOL.

 

Now the fact my wife doesn't fish with me is another matter. She appears in my head when these things happens and reminds me whatever is at stake isn't worth it. Sure does irritate the fire outta me, though (the jerky attitudes, that is, not my wife!! )

[FD.]

It's everywhere.  Jet skiers, air boaters, bass boaters, crotch rocket riders, water skiers, bicyclists on the road and everywhere you are at all times.  Out of 10 people, 1 is a jerk, 8 are morons, and the other one is you.  All that matters is how you respond to the other 9.

[gulfcaptain]

Agreed, it's everywhere.  I don't see it as an issue with the older generations.  I'm 41 but grew up respecting the others around me.  When I was young I was lucky to have some great mentors and give others a wide birth while bank fishing or even if when I was running charter boats.  Now, it seems the younger "me" generation doesn't seem to have the same respect although there are exceptions.  Happened to have this conversation yesterday with a fellow fisherman who witnessed a group of kids(older teens) who watched him catch 3 fish and kept easing up.  When he happened to pick a male off a bed he was fishing one of the kids quickly made a cast to the bed he was fishing to try and attempt to catch the female that was still there.  His words weren't edited as he told them exactly how it was(he didn't have a wife to remind him not to).  I ask nicely when someone crowds me unless I already know you.  If you want to come up and ask a question, cool, but don't just start throwing and casting to where I'm fishing.  Of course, most of the ones that do that have a hard time catching fish anyways so Karma has a way of taking care of that.  I'm glad I'm raising my son with better manners then that and when he fishes with me I make sure he gives other fisherman space to enjoy themselves.

[RF813]

A glimmer of hope for you may be in this story. Fishing a new place today standing on the shore we saw a kayaker doing his thing down the bank. As we moved from our spot I hadn't seen him in a while, so I figured he had moved on while I wasn't looking.  As we come around a bend in the path, and FINALLY find an opening suitable for fishing, who was sitting there but the guy in the kayak. He was barely 15 feet offshore. Greaaat.....Come all this way and this guy is parked in the only accessible spot.   I asked him if he had any luck, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then he said, "hey why don't you guys take this spot, I can fish from anywhere", and he moved on.  I was really impressed, and there are some good people out there....Or maybe I was just lucky. 

[Just Fish Michael]

Not a rule... it's called common courtesy and respect.   The majority of people I encounter (fishing and elsewhere) don't have it.  My belief... treat others the same way you want them to treat you.   Unfortunately many think they are entitled to everything.  I won't go any further than that.

[ABW]

Agreed, it's everywhere.  I don't see it as an issue with the older generations.  I'm 41 but grew up respecting the others around me.  When I was young I was lucky to have some great mentors and give others a wide birth while bank fishing or even if when I was running charter boats.  Now, it seems the younger "me" generation doesn't seem to have the same respect although there are exceptions.  Happened to have this conversation yesterday with a fellow fisherman who witnessed a group of kids(older teens) who watched him catch 3 fish and kept easing up.  When he happened to pick a male off a bed he was fishing one of the kids quickly made a cast to the bed he was fishing to try and attempt to catch the female that was still there.  His words weren't edited as he told them exactly how it was(he didn't have a wife to remind him not to).  I ask nicely when someone crowds me unless I already know you.  If you want to come up and ask a question, cool, but don't just start throwing and casting to where I'm fishing.  Of course, most of the ones that do that have a hard time catching fish anyways so Karma has a way of taking care of that.  I'm glad I'm raising my son with better manners then that and when he fishes with me I make sure he gives other fisherman space to enjoy themselves.

I am only 15 years old, and our generation is getting a bad reputation because of the things that some of the people do, such as what those teens did in your story.

[gulfcaptain]

I am only 15 years old, and our generation is getting a bad reputation because of the things that some of the people do, such as what those teens did in your story.

As stated, there are exceptions, and just because you're a young angler it doesn't give anyone older the right to blow you off and not show you the same courtesy.  I have no problem with younger respectful anglers coming up and asking questions or watching to see what I'm doing and learning as I did growing up.  There are a lot of good kids fishing around where I live, but there are a few bad apples as well.  And some adults have egos where they can't stand to see a younger angler(kid) out fish them. Keep doing what you're doing and keep getting better fishing and respecting others as you grow.  Respect will follow as you get older.

[Catt]

1/2 oz Rat-L-Trap...to the back of the head!

[ZB85]

i was bank fishing last year and a family of 6 was walking down the bank and they seen me catch a fish and they seriously parked right where i was fishing. 3 on one side of me and 3 on the other.

[livetofish28]

1/2 oz Rat-L-Trap...to the back of the head!

Amen lol an ounce and a half tungsten weight on a carolina rig is a good option too

Tight lines

Andrew

[Montanaro]

Just an fyi...zipper merging reduces lengths of backed up traffic and wait times. Unfortunately most people aren't aware. If you are blocking the other lane, it's you who is being inconsiderate to everyone (I use to do it btw).

As for fishing...Some people just aren't aware. Although last year I had 3 people in a small boat motor past me and my dad as we worked a bank so they could beat us to a good pocket. They only spent a few minutes there and left and we proceeded to catch a couple. Getting mad at someone fishing your hole is never as bad as you make it out to be unless they are using dynamite.

[AK-Jax86]

Boaters have priority they paid more for their equipment lol

[HeavyFisher]

I've had that happen to dude, what I do is I take my swim bait setup and cast it as hard as I can towards their boat. They get the hint and move away, retarded that I have to go to those lengths though. Oh and if they don't move on the first cast I intentionally with make sure I hit their boat the second cast. I warn you though be prepared for some confrontation if you go that far.

[Knightiac]

Honestly, if it were me and I was on a bite, I would get very mad. I would probably cast uncomfortably close to their boat until they get the point.

 

Regardless, I am always on the bank and I only fish private neighborhood ponds at this point. I fish for relaxation and usually that involves quiet and being by myself or a buddy. 

[gulfcaptain]

Yep, I can see it on Judge Judy, the lawsuit from the swimbait being stuck in someone and the e/r visit that incurred(or the rattle trap).  Then the counter suit for the $50 swimbait that he cut off and you want returned or replaced.  Remember, yes we are all responsible for our actions, but this post was made by a 15yr old up and coming angler and do we really want to lead him to those kind of drastic actions?  I know we all vent our frustrations, I used to send surface irons fishing off the coast when I ran boats. If I could hit you then you were too close.  Never solved anything except upset the people fishing there as well as them threatening to call the Coast Guard for trying to intentionally hit or injure them.  So I am as guilty as the rest.  But I have become wiser the older I become and a calm response or comment to make them aware of their rudeness works well except for the 1 jerk out of 10. The other 8 seem to get it.  But yes, my temper has shown itself before but I try hard now not to let it.  Idling past someone that raced you down the back to cut you off and just looking at them or throttling up just as you pass them(just so you don't wake them I have some respect) seems to work well.  But a simple "hey do you mind giving me a little space" seems to work 90% of the time.

[BigKev77]

I used to get bent out of shape over that stuff and I have had a few yelling matches on the water. Now days I just let it go. There are some real morons out there but I am not going to let them make me one too.

 

I was fishing a cut in a rock dike where water would surge through. It was a little wider than a boat so it is pretty much a spot for one boat to fish. I am parked on it catching pretty good numbers and a flat bottom pulls up. I figure I have had some fun no big deal if they come up and catch a few. Next thing I know they pull up and start throwing a casting net right in the middle of the break. They had a kid with them so I just said you are lucky you have the kid or I would be in that boat with you. They looked at me like they had no idea why I would be upset about the situation. Ya see, they are morons. Had the kid not been there I would have been one too. Glad I can keep my hat on these days.

[Bruce424]

boaters sometimes...a lot of the time annoy me to. they fish where ever they want to even if your obviously fishing the area. trolling down the bank. hey if you see someone fishing an area first, lift your line out of the water and skip the 30 yards they are fishing then continue! how hard is that...its actually easier.

[SirSnookalot]

I've experienced about every scenario, whether I'm fishing from boat or shore.  Most inconsiderate boaters are going to be in your area just so long, best course of action is just to wait them out.  Casting something at them is act of a fool, all you have done is taken yourself down to their level.  In the event of an accident or injury you are liable, why take the chance.

[Sam]

You have two choices:

 

1.  Have a big rock with you and when this happens take the rock and throw it high into the air where you were fishing and walk away.

 

2.  Just laugh and walk away and find another spot.

 

These two options do not exclude mooning the suckers right before you go.

[Fishes in trees]

I've been that guy you're talking about - here's my perspective.  I'm going down the shore line, pitching at shoreline cover.   Trolling motor is down, depth finder is on, I'm looking at that and also looking for stumps and stuff immediately in front of me so I don't smack into them. For the most part, I'm just looking at shore line cover, where am I going to pitch at next, other than that I'm chilling, not really looking at anything.  Then, all of a sudden, darn, there's somebody fishing from the bank.  Didn't see them - sorry, pitch was already in motion before I noticed you.  Sorry - unfortunate side effect of being focused on your fishing.  I'm not going out of my way to be a jerk, but I'm not looking all around to check everything out prior to every case either.

 

   I don't know what I'd say to the shore bound angler other than - oops, sorry.  If the shore angler really wanted to be noticed, he'd have on hip boots and be out from the bank a couple of feet or so, make an effort to be easier to see and get better casting angles as well.   No need to throw a rock or anything over a simple lapse in  concentration.  Don't be a hater just because I got a boat and you don't.  If you are fishing public waters, sooner or later lines are going to get crossed - just chill.

 

Maybe go the extra mile and find more private waters where you can bank fish and not run into jerks like me, I don't know.

 

I do know that when I launch my boat on public waters, I don't own the water, I'm just using it.  I know that the same thing applies for a bank fisherman. Just because there are mobility issues doesn't mean that he "owns" the particular spaces he's fishing.  I really hope that somewhere there is a happy medium here,  Bank fishermen don't need to be bouncing lures off of boats or boaters when they get too close.    Basically that is assault and that ain't good.

 

Why don't you just chill and we will all try to get along.  My point here is that what you might think is inconsiderate, might just be a case of a guy spacing out a little bit while he's fishing.

[K_Mac]

I agree with SirSnook. Arguing with a fool will only make you act like one, and casting a rattle trap or anything else at someone because they somehow offended you may get you locked up or worse. Internet bravado is fine-we all like to think we are the baddest guys out there-we aren't and life is too short...

 

I also agree with Fishes in trees that sometimes the act you think is directed at you is simply not. I am careful not to interfere with bank fishermen, but like he said sometimes it is simply being focused elsewhere. 

[ww2farmer]

It goes both ways....................I fish a creek in my boat (not a giant bass boat, but a small aluminum boat) that has a lot of bank access and can be crowded sometimes. As I approach a spot where people are bank fishing,I stop fishing, I wait for them to reel in, ask how/where they want me to go by so as not to disturb them, and always go by on the TM or just drift by as quiet as I can be.............most people are fine, small talk, a nod or a wave and I am my way, out of there way. But at least once a year there is a couple of d-bags who think they own the place and there are "issues".............but I am a big boy, and have handled them accordingly.