OK, So I'm a Jerk...

[OCdockskipper]

When it comes to fishing, I consider myself a nice guy.  I practice fishing etiquette, will never horn in on someones area and make sure to give plenty of space to shore fishermen so as to not spook fish in their area.   I am friendly with other fishermen and will happily share what I know if it seems they have a genuine interest in learning and are respectful themselves.  But I have a little devil on my shoulder who always whispers the same thing: "Catch a fish when they are watching you..."

Yesterday, I come into  small cove and there is a man still-fishing on a public access area on one side of the cove with his two young sons (under the age of 6 or so).  Like most young kids, they are already bored and doing everything on the shore except fish.  I waved, carefully went around him, well beyond how far he could cast and began working the opposite shore.  That little devil is whispering "You have an audience", forcing me to focus a bit more as I make my first cast.  I make 3 casts around & under the first dock of the cove with no results and I hear one of the kids say "Daddy, why does he keep reeling in?" (it is amazing how how well sound carries over water).  The next dock is paydirt, I pull a 2 pounder out and let it jump a few times before I land it.  Next cast, I hook & land her twin sister.  2 casts later, I hook up but she throws the bait.  Next cast I hook up and land another.  I glance over at the shore angler and now in addition to the 3 lines he has out, he is casting what looks to be a crankbait.  From the 9 docks along the opposite shore, I have 6 hookups, landing 5 of them.  Not only did it catch the anglers attention, his kids stopped what they were doing and were watching as well.   

Before I leave the cove, I move out slightly deeper and start flippin' a jig along an area where the concrete on the bottom of the lake has shifted and there is a ledge that fish often back up under.  In 4 flips, I land three fish, all over 3 lbs.  Typical of flippin' fish, I hammer the hooksets and all hell breaks loose as the fish come up out of the cover.  I see the father furiously casting whatever lure he has while one of his sons says "Why is he catching fish & you aren't".  Like a jerk, I can't help but smile...

[flyfisher]

I think all you did was get those kids hooked on fishing   nice job

[DocMadz]

That's a hilarious story, I've seen people try to do that on some of my fishing trips as well but without the kind of success you had.

Those kids actually probably did gain great inspiration and will probably keep coming back to try to see another "show" catch their own fish and like Flyfisher said get hooked.

Tight lines and ripped lips everyone

[OCdockskipper]

I'm glad you two mentioned that, I didn't think of the kids reaction that way.  All I could imagine was a ride home in silence and then the kids running up to their mom saying "Dad really sucks at fishing!!"

[slonezp]

A fisherman is a jerk on one end of the line waiting for a jerk on the other

[B1gD4ddy]

As a father of 4 I can agree with the above... I want my kids seeing fishing success and if my day isn't I can use the success of others as teaching moments...  fishing isn't a for sure thing and we need to hone our skills and learn, always learn..  fishing is a great patience builder..  in the day of tablets and social media it's just good to see kids out in nature...

[scaleface]

I bet you wouldnt have did that if they were bass fisherman in a boat . LOL 

I had a bass on one day and a boat was coming by I acted like nothing was happening and then the bass jumped ...That was the last good day I ever had at that spot .

[OCdockskipper]

20 minutes ago, scaleface said:

I bet you wouldn't have did that if they were bass fisherman in a boat . LOL 

Depends on how nice their boat & equipment is ...

Being a smaller lake with only homeowner access, I know nearly all of the other bass fishermen and we share information.  I think we all want to show off in front of each other.  Same with younger kids or folks who it is obvious are novice, holding a spinning reel upside down while trolling at 10 mph down the middle of the lake in a party boat.  I'll tell them all they want to hear, I think much of it goes over their head.

Amazingly enough, a huge majority of the residents here have no idea what a largemouth bass is or what methods are used to catch them.  I am constantly being asked if there are trout in the lake or being told that the best catfish bait is hot dogs.  That's Southern California for ya'...

[MassYak85]

I sometimes feel the same way, not necessarily to show off but I just like how interested people get when I catch something. 

[Sam]

Yes, it is always great to hook up and land a bass when others are in the area and they notice your success.

If I was in the same position, I would have trolled over to the guy and offered some suggestions and even shared a plastic worm or two.

I even stopped on the road to my house one day when I saw two teenagers walking from the local pond and I gave them some Zoom trick worms and some jig heads. They were really surprised that I had stopped and offered them the necessary tackle to go back to the pond and catch something.

As for guys who are fishing in a tournament or are dressed in their special bass fishing tournament shirt, I don't give them the time of day. I just smile and move along.

[Jon P.]

I think the reason that many kids don't get into fishing later in life is because their first fishing experience is sitting on the bank for hours on end with no fish and nothing to do. but the lucky few who see someone like yourself catching fish efficiently and having fun doing it are the ones who grow up to be the next generation of fishermen.
 while you may of emasculated that poor guy in front of his kids those kids will be much more interested in fishing in the future.

[Bluebasser86]

I unintentionally did something like that this spring. I was pulling into a spot off the end of a fishing pier where there was a sharp drop that came up onto a spawning/feeding flat. We'd had a good warming trend so I was sure the fish would be filing in and out of that area. As I pulled up, there was a dad and 3 young boys that seemed to just be exploring along the bank and woods. I heard one ask his dad if they could go fishing, to which he responded it was too cold, the fish wouldn't be biting. I proceeded to catch 11 fish in my next 11 cast and a few more after they slowed down. His kids were spellbound and were more excited each time I set the hook, dad didn't look thrilled at all however. 

I didn't mean for it to happen, but I have to admit I did take the "It's too cold, the fish won't be biting", as a sort of personal challenge.  

[Tim Kelly]

I'll bet the kids will be nagging dad to buy a boat. When you're fishing on the shore and see people catching from a boat, the obvious difference is the boat. Be nice to think dad buys a boat and the kids enjoy many years fishing from it with him.

[Bankbeater]

I don't mind if people see me catching dinks.  Some of the water I fish is has very heavy pressure.  If I catch a bass that is pic worthy I usually look around to see if anyone is looking at me.  Then I get it off the hook and back in the water quickly. 

[soflabasser]

I had a similar event happen to me a couple months ago,but I was fishing from land.I had a boat with 3 men fish less than 50 feet from me,even though I was at that spot first.They saw me catch several decent bass,yet not 1 of those 3 men could catch a bass that day.They must of been so angry seeing me outfishing them,but that's what they get for being rude. 

[N Florida Mike]

I always enjoy having an audience when fishing but sometimes it backfires and keeps you humble

Just the other day I was casting and made a poor cast and got hung in a bush .Tried to pull it loose and the line broke.Said " dad gummit " and then noticed a guy watching.I guess he thought A fish did it.Felt like a novice.

[davecon]

A warning about starting kids out.

When my son was about 5 or 6 and could barely cast I decided it was time to take him out. I usually fish for bass but kept checking a few areas where I knew the panfish bedded. Sure enough, 2 weeks later they were really bedding. I took my son the next weekend and in about 4 hours or less using beetle spins he caught about 75 panfish. The next weekend was about the same. Tried 2 weeks later and they had finished spawning for the most part. Managed to catch about 20 but he was bored catching that few.

He's 36 years old now and still doesn't care much for fishing. He goes with me from time to time but it's not his thing.

Have often wondered if I had started him out differently would things have turned out ditterent. I'll never know, but be careful how you start them out.

[B1gD4ddy]

I caught my PB 3 weeks ago no scale but it was easy 4lbs broke my rod bringing it in like it was nothing so I think it was bigger but with no scale I call it at 4..

I say that (mainly because it's my bigun story lol) to say I tell my kids about what happens when I go fishing, since my PB I have caught 1 fish...  a pike about 2lbs..  skunked like crazy..  I tell them about all the misses and zero fish days but explain to them that's part of what keeps me goin back, I know I can catch fish and know they are there but they don't always want what I present, it's a puzzle we who fish have to solve..  they have gone out with me a few times this year and always asking to go again...  

[Ratherbfishing]

I don't know anyone who doesn't like an audience when they are catching.  If you had horned in on their piece of water, THEN you would have been a jerk.

[Torn Thumb]

This is the reason that I personally as a bank fisherman despise boaters. That's not gonna get or keep kids interested in fishing by being arrogant or showboating. Maybe the guy can't afford a boat. You were obviously doing it to stroke your ego otherwise you wouldn't be bragging about it here. I'm not gonna pat you on the back.

[everythingthatswims]

I am extremely guilty of this

[blckshirt98]

I'm same/not the same on stuff like this.

If someone is fishing with their kids I don't like hooking up if it might show up the parents in front of their kids.  Maybe one fish so the kids can get excited about seeing a fish, but after that I really just want to see the other people catch something.  If they ask what I'm using I'm more that happy to tell them what was working, but I won't approach them and and give unsolicited advice.

If someone is fishing and has a bucket/cooler where they're keeping fish, nothing is more satisfying than catching a nice fish, then letting it go back into the water within earshot of them.

[Red Bear]

2 hours ago, blckshirt98 said:

If someone is fishing and has a bucket/cooler where they're keeping fish, nothing is more satisfying than catching a nice fish, then letting it go back into the water within earshot of them.

do you really want to start this discussion again? as long as someone is fishing legally its their right to keep fish...

[gim]

I'm with blackshirt on this one.  When I see the foreigners piled up on shore keeping every 4 inch sunfish they catch go in a bucket and I land a decent bass within sight of them, its very satisfying to release it so they can see me do it.

[N Florida Mike]

If I was catching and keeping fish( which I often do) , i could care less if I saw someone catch a fish and let it go, because thats their business, not mine.But if I want to keep what I catch, then thats my business not yours.

Neither is wrong.