dealing with rude ignorant people while fishing

[Big bass hunter]

Its a nice area just alot of people go on the green belt for a number of reason swimming jogging and biking. But its not just gangs i have had an issue with just normal people trying to start stuff  compare fishing to very graphic homosexual stuff and as well. Just having long hair. I mind my space and wont fish over others even in these small ponds but still get some type of flap from some angry person. Im just there to enjoy fishing and catch the biggest fish i can

[Bass Turd]

Go early in the morning when the sun is just coming up. Jerks like to sleep in cause they are sleeping off the hang over from the night before....

["hamma"]

in my state there is actually a fishermans anti-harassment law, i keep a couple copies on the boat and in my bank fishing tackle boxes (both fresh and saltwater) just for these "lovely individuals" once they realize they have no grounds to harass me and are actually breaking the law, they leave me alone. 

 unfortunately i've had to use this a few times flipping docks

[Master Bait'r]

There's always a dance off OP!  

[J Francho]

3 minutes ago, Master Bait'r said:

There's always a dance off OP!  

LMBO!!!!

[Ratherbfishing]

This seems somehow counter to "fairness" but if you are packing (legal concealed carry), it is probably wise to never say or do anything that would provoke or exacerbate a confrontation.  Not just for their sake but for your own.

The LAST time I had any confrontation was a few years back with some boaters/water skiiers who were using a deep cove very near me to do their powerboating (when they had the whole main lake to do so).  I gave them the hand gesture to let them know they were number 1 (if you get my meaning).  But apart from that, I rarely have confrontations with people.  Where do you live that this is such a common issue?  Remind me not to move there.

[BronzeChaser]

I've never had any instance like this. But I am able to stay level headed better than most in similar situations. I also concealed carry, and when you decide to carry you accept a great responsibility and need to be able to keep your emotions in check. In any case my response would be to s**t talk back at them and laugh it off later. If they instigate a physical altercation then self defense is totally legal. Although using a weapon is the very last resort.

[J Francho]

15 minutes ago, BronzeChaser said:

If they instigate a physical altercation then self defense is totally legal. Although using a weapon is the very last resort.

There's a BIG difference being in imminent danger of being killed and getting butthurt because some idiot doesn't like fishing.  I don't know why C&C is even brought up here.  It's irrelevant, and if it isn't, then why haven't the police been called?  The whole story sounds fishy to me.

[lo n slo]

2 hours ago, Ratherbfishing said:

This seems somehow counter to "fairness" but if you are packing (legal concealed carry), it is probably wise to never say or do anything that would provoke or exacerbate a confrontation.  Not just for their sake but for your own.

The LAST time I had any confrontation was a few years back with some boaters/water skiiers who were using a deep cove very near me to do their powerboating (when they had the whole main lake to do so).  I gave them the hand gesture to let them know they were number 1 (if you get my meaning).  But apart from that, I rarely have confrontations with people.  Where do you live that this is such a common issue?  Remind me not to move there.

skiers are the worst

[hoosierbass07]

 You can't argue with psycho people.  Not worth it.  Walk away to fish and enjoy life another day.  

[IndianaFinesse]

Don't know how to help you.  I have the same problems, lately it's been a guy who continuously screams his lungs while cussing me for having a wake in no wake zone when I am obviously not pushing any wake at all.  Then the guy goes running to security and tells them I have been running a wake in no wake zone, and at are lake if someone complained three times, you are not allowed to fish there for three days and he has already falsely reported me twice.  Four or more times is three months.  So I'm kind of stuck.  But if he does it again, I think I am going to have to call in a few anonymous tips on him harassing, and maybe drop a couple limits worth of fish in his fish box and call security on him.  You mess with my fishing, I mess with you.

[Missourifishin]

When people in this topic first started suggesting that the OP find somewhere else to fish, I didn't immediately agree. I thought to myself, "Why should he have to go elsewhere? He's not in the wrong." But after thinking about it, I agree. I usually drive just a few miles out of town specifically so I can enjoy nature and not even have to see other people, besides fellow fishermen, nature lovers, etc.

[clh121787]

1 oz rattle trap Fired straight at the dome piece

[Oklahoma Mike]

Where are you fishing that multiple people, including gang bangers, are trying to start fights with you? No matter how hard I try, I just can't seem to picture that scenario in my head. Perhaps some deeper issue here?

In any event, you have a few options as I see it:

• Ignore them
• Find another place to fish
• Issue them a beating

As has already pointed out, the latter is probably not your best recourse. 

[geo g]

I don't care if the fishing is great.  I;m not going to subject myself to this kind of crap.  Find a better place to fish with other fisherman that are not low life's.  The whole thing seems very strange to me!  After fishing for over 40 years, I have never run into a situation even close to this.

[Hurricane]

8 hours ago, Big bass hunter said:

Its a nice area just alot of people go on the green belt for a number of reason swimming jogging and biking. But its not just gangs i have had an issue with just normal people trying to start stuff  compare fishing to very graphic homosexual stuff and as well. Just having long hair. I mind my space and wont fish over others even in these small ponds but still get some type of flap from some angry person. Im just there to enjoy fishing and catch the biggest fish i can

I would of researched a new place to fish after your first incident.. Never let anything take the enjoyment out of fishing..

[Evan K]

Best to keep it simple and black and white: either ignore them, and if you absolutely can't ignore them, call the police.

[Sam]

Big Bass, please add a your location to your avatar so we can help you better.

Also, introduce yourself so we will have some background information.

I have never had any altercations fishing on the bank or in a boat.

If I did, I would walk away.

[Avalonjohn44]

Not only fish somewhere else, go live somewhere else.  The way it sounds, and the way you talk about it, it sounds like a dangerous confrontation is imminent. Walk away and don't go back.

I have only had one incident where I feared harm, and avoid that place like the plague now.

[BassThumb]

Best to get away from bankfishing all together.

Boating, kayaking, and even wading will open up a ton more opportunities to find fish peacefully.

It's not reasonable to expect people to change, but it's plenty easy to get away from them.

[Nice_Bass]

This whole thread is one of the most baffling things I have ever read...

[Master Bait'r]

18 hours ago, hoosierbass07 said:

 You can't argue with psycho people.  Not worth it.  Walk away to fish and enjoy life another day.  

 

Cant stress this enough.  Never play a low life's game.  The second you step on that field you always lose.  

[the reel ess]

18 hours ago, hoosierbass07 said:

 You can't argue with psycho people.  Not worth it.  Walk away to fish and enjoy life another day.  

“Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.”

Mark Twain

[toni63]

You can't control how other people act, only how you react.

I can honestly say, having fished for many years, I have never once had any confrontations, issues, arguments, close calls of any of that stuff while fishing. Boat, bank, off the boat docks at the ramp, nothing. No one has ever shot me the evil eye, tossed a comment my way, let me know they didn't like me for just being there, insulted me or anything like that fishing.

Sure, I have seen stupid people do stupid things, but its kind of sad to see that our country has now come to a point where people refer to their guns and concealed carry permits as possible solutions to their issues with other people. Seriously? You're going to shoot someone because you can't figure out how to be an adult and walk away long before it turns into something tragic for you, your family, your friends, their family and friends? People seriously think the way to handle "being disrespected" is a way that could cost you your lifestyle and possibly life because you don't have enough sense to respect yourself, your family, your friends to not get into it over something trivial and stupid with someone you don't even know?

It just seems very sad that we are all turning into gangbangers packing guns and our thoughts to settle being "dissed" seem to involve violently assaulting each other.

I am very happy I don't fish near fisherman who think like that and I seriously hope I never do. I fish to have fun and relax, if it ever turns into "walking in the valley of the shadow", I'm done fishing.

[River Dave]

I just have to wonder who are the bigger fools here. Is it the people who are harassing a fisherman and insinuating that he's gay for having long hair or the people that even remotely suggest shooting someone for harassing him and insinuating that he's gay for having long hair (or whatever the insult was)? The fact that firearms are even mentioned in a thread about "what to do about rude people" is a large part of the reason certain people go after the right to bear arms. Obviously you walk away from rude people, do you really need to be told that? Boys fight, men walk away. Unless they are robbing you or physically harming your family or something you ignore them and walk away from confrontation. If you ask me anybody that doesn't already know that should really think about leaving the gun at home.