Close Encounters Of The Human Kind

[CeeJay]

I generally fish alone, and always on the banks of river or lake or pond.

The solitude is great, of course.  BUT, at some places at various times fishing alone can be kind of scary.

 

One morning way back, I hit up a local pond that is located near a major highway.  Right before sunrise, when the sky was just beginning to lighten.

I was slowly working my Hula Popper, oblivious to the world around me, when all of a sudden two young men approached me.  I did the usual small talk, they were asking about fishing, etc.

But they kept looking at the parking lot and at the road nervously, frequently looking over their shoulders...it was then that my heart sunk and I thought I was going to be robbed or worse.

 

Maybe they thought I was a good enough guy, maybe they saw someone nearby, but thankfully I was not harmed or robbed... but for a couple minutes there I was quite convinced they would threaten me and demand my wallet.  In fact there is little doubt in my mind that that was what they were planning.

In the end they asked a silly question about what direction to go to get to the highway, which was right there and very obvious.  Then they left.

 

Anyone else have some nervous moments while fishing?  Approached by someone who appeared to be "up to no good"?

[MIbassyaker]

Morning before sunrise? Just a couple of young guys out for a morning stroll, I suppose? No hurry to get anywhere? Sounds pretty suspicious, but maybe even they weren't sure about their own intentions. Or they'd already done something and wanted to gauge whether you were likely to have seen them do it.

[Bluebasser86]

And that is why I carry, especially if I'm by myself.

[CeeJay]

Morning before sunrise? Just a couple of young guys out for a morning stroll, I suppose? No hurry to get anywhere? Sounds pretty suspicious, but maybe even they weren't sure about their own intentions. Or they'd already done something and wanted to gauge whether you were likely to have seen them do it.

 

Oh it's entirely possible they were just out for an early morning stroll.  But they didn't seem like the types that would do that unless they were trying to sweat out a "night of fun" haha

I've encountered many folks in some pretty remote areas...but these two, well they were the only ones who gave me that inner feeling of trouble, if that makes sense.

 

When I would night fish at that very same place I would notice plenty of people pull in, sit in their cars after midnight and "smoke"   I left them alone and they let me fish. 

But that one experience...I was truly scared.  What's funny is that after they left I had a great morning of bass fishing

[F14A-B]

Yup, I was packin a Glock 30 too.. That was a whitetail hunt on a small detached piece of state land.. Locals ( bona fide deliverance types ) tryed to block my exit ( I was at my truck & trying to leave ) and that's where I stop my story...

I'm not fighting anyone over a hunting area.. I have never been back, not from fear, but to avoid a potential " bad scenario"

[CeeJay]

And that is why I carry, especially if I'm by myself.

 

I had thought about that before...  Although where I live now in WV, it's kind of wild here at times, but not really known as dangerous for lone anglers.

 

Anyone had troubles before?  Stories?  Not really a fun topic haha, but it's been on my mind ever since that one morning.

[A-Jay]

 

A-Jay

[F14A-B]

A-Jay

hehe, I'm packing a .357 short barrel right now!

I love the magnum.. Except for the hearing damage, the huge fireballs, the extra weight.. Yea, I love it..

[A-Jay]

hehe, I'm packing a .357 short barrel right now!

I love the magnum.. Except for the hearing damage, the huge fireballs, the extra weight.. Yea, I love it..

 

Sweet -

 

I've always considered the Fire Ball sort of a warning shot - although I'll admit it's fairly brief and does technically become visible after the projectile has exited the barrel - but it's better than nothing . . . .

 

 

A-Jay

[CeeJay]

 

 

 

A-Jay

 

 

My home is well defended...but when out and about fishing on the bank sometimes I feel a bit less secure.

I don't know, I'm probably over-thinking this and worrying too much...but I love fishing alone at night and lets face it there are some evil people in this world.

I fear humans much more than any snake or rock that I might slip on. 

[K_Mac]

I have had a couple of times at night at the ramp, and a couple of other times while fishing with my wife in isolated spots that I have felt/been threatened. I now carry in these situations. This may not work for everyone, but I am not going to be in a situation where I cannot protect myself or my family.

[A-Jay]

Two against one - is not a good situation ever.  It may not ever happen again - until it does.

 

Sounds like you were very fortunate on this occasion.  That unsafe, uneasy, insecure feeling you had was truly justified.

 

I do not like that feeling and have taken steps to made the odds at the very least even or best case scenario - in my favor.

 

  I'm worth it.

 

A-Jay

[F14A-B]

My home is well defended...but when out and about fishing on the bank sometimes I feel a bit less secure.

I don't know, I'm probably over-thinking this and worrying too much...but I love fishing alone at night and lets face it there are some evil people in this world.

I fear humans much more than any snake or rock that I might slip on.

Get yourself a CCL.. Arm yourself, it's pretty good piece of mind in the wild & the the city. Wait, the city is wild, yes!

[F14A-B]

Two against one - is not a good situation ever. It may not ever happen again - until it does.

Sounds like you were very fortunate on this occasion. That unsafe, uneasy, insecure feeling you had was truly justified.

I do not like that feeling and have taken steps to made the odds at the very least even or best case scenario - in my favor.

I'm worth it.

A-Jay

Yes Sir, exactly right.. A man has full right to defend his life.. People need not be ashamed to carry & use force if needed.

[CeeJay]

Guns are fun no doubt....I really enjoy target shooting, with everything from .177 pellet rifles up to .45acp    My brother suggested that rather than get a carry license, I should just strap on our WWI era machete haha (vicious looking thing! we inherited our grandfathers war collectables when he passed away).

 

BUT.... before this thread gets moved to another forum ( ) I'd like to hear some other fishing-related stories similar to mine so I know I'm not being paranoid haha.

[F14A-B]

Um, honestly, I don't see it as paranoid.. Dangerous situations can present itself at most anytime, anyplace, being aware & prepared to protect yourself is not paranoid. I venture to say your fairly young in age, yes? I think your being a little hard on yourself & maybe a bit naive, no disrespect meant..

[CeeJay]

Thanks A-Jay and Alonerankin. 

I'll be sure to be prepared if it ever happens again.  It's actually interesting that it doesn't happen more often.  Usually I'm perfectly at ease when angling alone...but yeah that inner instinct was intense...I was very sure I was going to be robbed, and there was nothing I could have done about it.

 

Anyone ever recall anglers being harmed or robbed in the news?  I do recall hearing about a guy not far from DC who went night fishing and never came home.  Turned out he was killed in his tent that night.

Scary stuff.

[I.rar]

Haven't been approached like that before but I always look over my shoulder to see if anyone is around and try to be certain of my surroundings at all times - Fishing or not. Especially when I'm with my daughter.

i did have someone's mean pit bull/mastiff monster dog start running up to us because it's owner didn't have a leash in it. I wasn't sure of his intentions but he didn't look like he wanted to play and probably weighed as much as I do. Luckily for the dog and his owner he obeyed and came back to him when he was called.

[CeeJay]

Um, honestly, I don't see it as paranoid.. Dangerous situations can present itself at most anytime, anyplace, being aware & prepared to protect yourself is not paranoid. I venture to say your fairly young in age, yes? I think your being a little hard on yourself & maybe a bit naive, no disrespect meant..

 

No disrespect taken at all, I appreciate your input

Is 39 young?

That encounter happened when I was 21.  I was naive at the time I suppose...the last thing on my mind was personal safety, I was simply bass fishing that morning and that was all I was thinking about.

 

I'm a wee bit older and wiser now, have adjusted to the country life well, and really I don't think about these types of things obsessively or anything...but still I'm weary to night fish on the river alone. 

The simple solution is of course to bring someone along with me.

[scaleface]

Three guys  beat me up and robbed me . I wasnt fishing but camping alone . Back in the 70's when I was a teenager .

[A-Jay]

What you're doing before you're assaulted make little difference - the result is the same.

 

BTW - West Virginia is a traditional open carry state but there are some grandfathered local open carry bans not preempted by state law, such as the City of Charleston. There is complete state preemption of all firearms laws, but any local laws passed before preemption remain in effect.

 

A-Jay
 

[I.rar]

Apparently you can open carry while fishing or hunting in Florida. I've never seen anyone do it and I doubt many police would like getting called in for someone doing so. I honestly don't think I ever would and feel more comfortable concealed. The element of surprise can work in your favor and you wouldn't become an immediate target should some would be thugs see you carrying.

[CeeJay]

What you're doing before you're assaulted make little difference - the result is the same.

 

BTW - West Virginia is a traditional open carry state but there are some grandfathered local open carry bans not preempted by state law, such as the City of Charleston. There is complete state preemption of all firearms laws, but any local laws passed before preemption remain in effect.

 

A-Jay

 

 

Hey A-Jay can you PM me about what open carry entails, or maybe point me to a link?  Gun laws in WV are so long-winded and give me a headache so I'm not clear about some of them. 

[A-Jay]

Apparently you can open carry while fishing or hunting in Florida. I've never seen anyone do it and I doubt many police would like getting called in for someone doing so. I honestly don't think I ever would and feel more comfortable concealed. The element of surprise can work in your favor and you wouldn't become an immediate target should some would be thugs see you carrying.

 

This isn't the right place but - I look at it as more of a deterrent - who  is more apt to be approached;

a person  - or a person who obviously is ready to protect himself ?

 

A-Jay

[A-Jay]

Hey A-Jay can you PM me about what open carry entails, or maybe point me to a link?  Gun laws in WV are so long-winded and give me a headache so I'm not clear about some of them. 

 Yup - stand by ~

 

A-Jay