Why Are People So Inconsiderate

[Crappiebasser]

A few years ago a local fisherman got locked up for blocking a public ramp. He dumped a 30 yd dump truck full of rock and dirt on the ramp so the boaters that were out could not pull them out. It turns out he had several runs ins with tourney anglers that day and he blocked the ramp an hour before weigh in with the tourney director watching.

[ABW]

I actually just decided to wait until they passed before casting again. I'm pretty sure my parents knew one of the guys that was fishing anyway, because I recognized him but didn't know his name. Thanks for all the stories lol

[paangler13]

I too, am a big boy, and I think that saves a lot of drama! 

 

Respect is the bottom line.  If I am in the boat I go around, try to stay outside of casting range. I have had people "sneak up" on me though, and I  adjust accordingly. 

 

Jim

[*Hootie]

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

Lol....that's mean, but I like it.

Hootie

[ABW]

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.

The thing is, these guys were trolling down the bank for about 20 yards until they got to me. Surely, they had to have seen me. There was nothing around me to block their view of me. I was out in the open, no trees or nothing. The bank goes in a straight line also. So I don't see why they never noticed me fishing. After they passed me, they asked me if I was catching anything. LOL.

[FAIRBURN]

alee17

                You caught fish they didnt.Keep fishing your game and dont let boaters push you out.Keep fishin your bank let them

               pass.Dont say a thing just smile and keep catching them.

[aceman387]

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.

I like Sam's rock idea. I am going to have to try this the next time to avoid a verbal confrontation,be silent and lob a big rock and then move on.

[5fishlimit]

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

I was going to say a 3/4oz rattle trap.

I like the way you think!

[Brian6428]

This happens to me a lot, too. When my brother and I fish from our dock, boats would come up and pitch on the dock we were fishing, and cast all around us. Then when they got stuck on the dock they would ask us to get them off! Now whenever a boat gets close, whichever of us has on a heavier lure makes a long cast in their direction. Never too close to their boat, but close enough to mark our territory. It normally works.

 

That said, there are a ton of nice boaters. Most go around the dock or go around our boat when we're anchored. One asked if I needed any help when I had to go swimming to free a swim bait. I try to do my part when I boat, too. I once unsnagged a cat fisherman by taking his line and pulling from behind (I saw he was stuck and asked if he wanted help). I've never seen an old man so happy before!

[WRB]

Unsportsmanlike like behavior has always need a problem and isn't going to change. Be a good sportsman and lead by example in lieu of reacting with anger.

When I was younger there were fewer anglers on the water, still enough to have bad morons to deal with.

Giving others anglers space to fish is common sense, what that space is has shrunk over the years and common sense is disappearing. When I see someone approaching into my space I make a long cast in that direction, letting the other angler know I am fishing the area. If the angler continues getting closer my reaction is talking to them asking that they give space to fish pleasantly instead of bouncing a lure off their boat, been there done that and it only escalates into an argument or worse.

Be a good sportsman and enjoy your time on the water and ignore the morons.

Happy Easter.

Tom

[long island basser]

I blame their parents, if they are idiots most likely the parents are also.

We need to exterminate these people from society imo

I would stop fishing 100 ft before you, pass on the other side 100 ft and then start fishing again.

[Teal]

Not going to get into WHY our society is the way they are. That would be me touching on two forbidden subjects for this forum.

I will say that I agree with everyone, it is everywhere in almost every aspect of our lives. A lot of people are more respectful than we give them credit for, but they do get caught up and lose sight sometimes. A lot of times in the orginal posters case, he could have just said something to the guys and they probably would have apologized and moved on.

Ive had the urge to launch a Zara Spook at people before but it is better simply to turn the other cheek if you are not prepared to respectfully and gently tell them that they are out of line and in the OPs case " hey guys, you cut me off....I'm fishing here... But yall can come back to this spot when I move".

Rant over.

[ApacheGuns515]

I dont understand why boaters fish the "bank" spots when there are people around. You have a boat...go fish where they can't reach from the shore...

 

I've been bank fishing my whole life and just recently got a bass hunter boat so I know where the bank spots are at all of the lakes around here. 

 

The fish love the spots that are accessible from the shore and I fish them when nobody else is around. When people arrive to fish from the shore I take my boat and go elsewhere. 

 

I have noticed that many boaters seem to think that common courtesy goes out the window once they are on the water. Nobody would walk down the shore casting their line right next to other people so why do it from a boat? 

 

Many boaters do try to hog the entire lake just because they have the mobility to fish anywhere they want. I've been the victim of arrogant boaters before and I will never act that way. I'll never forget the day I was fishing in a remote spot that takes a real 4x4 truck to get through and a decent pair of hiking boots. I get set up there and a boat just decides he was going to literally pull right up to my spot and cast. Pulls out 2 bass then tries to spark up a conversation with me as if what he did was totally acceptable. 

 

Some people are just ignorant. 

[bassguytom]

It does happen everywhere, my wife cuts me off and starts yapping, my wife's mother cuts me off, my wife's friends cut me off. I usually get sick of it a go fishing. I always will motor around bank fisherman but see it happen all the time. Some people like recreational kayakers don't know any better because they don't fish but some do. If someone is fishing the bank that is their spot and I have 2 motors on my boat so I never have a hard time finding another spot.

[OntarioFishingGuy]

There have been so many times when i am fishing in a canoe, and some hothead with a 21 foot bass boat comes blazing past me and almost swamps my canoe. Oh well...

[fish365]

Fished a submerged island in a tourney last weekend 30 feet off the buoy marker that marked the upstream end of it and as i'm casting on it cranking off the side into deeper water, a pontoon infested with local shallow gene pool offspring motors between my boat and buoy marker right over top of where i was casting. Ahh, spring.

[TorqueConverter]

It's possible the boater didn't know that you were fishing down the shoreline.  Where I fish I never see bass anglers roaming the shoreline casting baits.  If someone is bank fishing they they are stationary and fishing a bobber and worm going after whatever bites.  Even if people are fishing artificial lures in a mobile and aggressive bass angler type manner, how are we on boats supposed to know which direction you are heading?  If we're both going the same direction along the bank am I expected to stay behind you?  If I pass and get ahead to give you some distance, am I cutting you off?  Am I supposed to treat bank anglers like some kind of two legged land boat?

[blongfishing]

Glad I saw this post. The other day I was fishing out for fun and I finish fishing some docks and I pull out about 8-10 docks away from these guys and I'm minding my own buisness and they circle back around and say "let us right here. We are fishing a tournament and desperate to catch some fish." So I move to the next dock over and they start to leave and say " Well I guess you caught that one" then drive off like maniacs!!

[collards]

I mostly fish banks that have few people. I have fished larger lakes where I see what people are talking about. I come for peace so why fight them. When I fish smaller lakes/large ponds, people often let their dog (they are to be leased) jump in where you are fishing and swim. They do this several times. Once a lady got in the water not 5 feet from me to train her dog how to swim.

 

This happens all over as I see able bodied people leave shopping carts all the time in handicapped spaces. It is a sense of entitlement or they are just too lazy. They know what they are doing, but they just don't care or have any respect for others. I am handicapped and walk with a very pronounced limp. In the grocery, many quickly run with their cart to cut in front of me for the checkout. It is often less than five feet from the check-out and they see me heading for the line.

 

I go fishing for relaxation so I guess one day I will have to build my own pond and stock it. I am getting ready to retire and have been searching for a house with a pond that is easy to access. I am centering in on a couple  and I have just 802 days left.

[wicknilly]

I blame their parents, if they are idiots most likely the parents are also.

We need to exterminate these people from society imo

I would stop fishing 100 ft before you, pass on the other side 100 ft and then start fishing again.

Retroactive abortion??  Sounds good to me

[Chance_Taker4]

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.

I have to disagree to some extent and take offense. I am a Sport Bike (crotch rocket) rider. And I can say that when I'm on it they four wheel drivers are the inconsiderate ones. I have been in more close calls from drivers "not seeing me" or totally disregarded that fact I have a right to the road as well. Motorcyclists get a bad wrap for following the laws made for us. Yes motorcyclists have there own laws (allowed to ride through red lights, split lanes when traffic is backed up, ride past cars to the front of the line on a red light), and these laws are what drivers complain about riders.  

 

Now back to the topic. I am a bank fisherman as well. And almost every time a boater sees me having success they swoop in and take the spot from me.

[jhoffman]

Nah, I too had a sportbike until two years ago. Thats not what people complain about.

 

They complain about things like...

 

Lane Splitting at WARP speed

Riding wheelies on the freeway in traffic

Coming past your house at mach 3

Blocking all the lanes so you and your buddies can ride in a pack

Modding your exhaust so you can have the loudest bike in town

 

I never once had a problem in the 18000 miles I put on my last bike because there is a time and place for everything.

[Zach Dunham]

I have had some experience with this as I am sure most fishermen have. Always better to just say something nicely to start and not get unnecessarily fired up. But if it ever gets to that point, don't do anything that you'll get in trouble for (like throwing baits at a boat or a person).

 

One time while fishing a tournament we had a boat come right up next to us (a non-tournament boat) and then pull in front of us and proceed to fish the shoreline we were currently moving down. We asked nicely and the person just used an expletive our way. Fired up the outboard and went as close as possible and washed the boat nicely. Probably wouldn't do that now, but at least it is something no one can prove that you did. You don't want to beat up a boat with sinkers or hit a person.

[Chance_Taker4]

I have had some experience with this as I am sure most fishermen have. Always better to just say something nicely to start and not get unnecessarily fired up. But if it ever gets to that point, don't do anything that you'll get in trouble for (like throwing baits at a boat or a person).

 

One time while fishing a tournament we had a boat come right up next to us (a non-tournament boat) and then pull in front of us and proceed to fish the shoreline we were currently moving down. We asked nicely and the person just used an expletive our way. Fired up the outboard and went as close as possible and washed the boat nicely. Probably wouldn't do that now, but at least it is something no one can prove that you did. You don't want to beat up a boat with sinkers or hit a person.

I unfortunately am guilty of this more often than not. When a boater comes in an fishes the bank I am standing on and trying to take my fish I will ask them to move. If they don't I start fling crankbaits at them. Not smart but I get fired up to quick. I blame my hockey roots for that

[FD.]

I have to disagree to some extent and take offense. I am a Sport Bike (crotch rocket) rider. And I can say that when I'm on it they four wheel drivers are the inconsiderate ones. I have been in more close calls from drivers "not seeing me" or totally disregarded that fact I have a right to the road as well. Motorcyclists get a bad wrap for following the laws made for us. Yes motorcyclists have there own laws (allowed to ride through red lights, split lanes when traffic is backed up, ride past cars to the front of the line on a red light), and these laws are what drivers complain about riders.  

 

Now back to the topic. I am a bank fisherman as well. And almost every time a boater sees me having success they swoop in and take the spot from me.

 

I have had a motorcycle endorsement for 25 years and in two states and never heard of this.  I would like to see where this is legal.

 

The AMA doesn't know anything about it.  http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/Rights/State-Laws.aspx?stateid=35