Telling people off...

[Pro Logcatcher]

Just wanted to say that I was fishing down at my local pond and there were some kids acting like idiots. Flinging their trash in the water and throwing rocks and shells at the ducks.  Anyone else have to tell people off for ruining their waterways?

 

[BuzzHudson19c]

Nope. I shake my head and mind my business. If I see trash I pick it up. Most people, especially kids, won't respond to being "told off."

[Gundog]

Just last week I was wading in the river, after about 2 hrs I heard voices and turned around to see 2 men (in their 40's or 50's) throwing rocks into the river like a bunch of children. I waded back and walked up the bank shaking my head all the way. I know nothing I would have said would have stopped the man-child and his bff from replaying the opening scene to The Andy Griffith Show. Makes you wonder why some people don't grow up. 

[Ksam1234]

1 hour ago, Pro Logcatcher said:

Just wanted to say that I was fishing down at my local pond and there were some kids acting like idiots. Flinging their trash in the water and throwing rocks and shells at the ducks.  Anyone else have to tell people off for ruining their waterways?

 

I almost had to tell someone off today.. I get kinda short tempered sometimes.   I was fishing on a small 35 acre pond for canoes or Kayaks only and they have signs posted for nothing else  and these two older men decide to bring there 14ft aluminum boat with trolling motor on.. I shake my head as they kept staring st me so I give them some looks.  Then the one man proceeds to cast his stupid frog literally about 3 feet from me and casting over me .. I gave him a quick look and said "politely" to stop ... they got lucky I got a decent fish today lol. 

[JRez]

Oh yea I call people out all the time. Probably undiagnosed PTSD though. To my offense, I do start out polite with a crazy face. Usually that's enough. 

[XpressJeff]

I do call out littering EVERY time I see it. I try to be polite to avoid butthead confrontations.

 

So far I have not had any.

[bassin4life]

If I get cut off and they do it on purpose....yep??

[reb67]

I go by what my father told me a long time ago "don't argue with children no matter if they are 5 years old or 50 years old you can't win"

[Sword of the Lord]

I call out the people I see putting fish in a cooler in catch and release waters. I'm very blunt about the fact that they can return the fish immediately or I will contact the proper authorities. I've pulled out my cell phone camera to record such behavior, and I've documented license plates. A couple of months ago a couple of guys said they would kill me. That was interesting.

[papajoe222]

5 minutes ago, Sword of the Lord said:

I call out the people I see putting fish in a cooler in catch and release waters. I'm very blunt about the fact that they can return the fish immediately or I will contact the proper authorities. I've pulled out my cell phone camera to record such behavior, and I've documented license plates. A couple of months ago a couple of guys said they would kill me. That was interesting.

Did they release the fish?  If not, I would have made two calls and the first wouldn't have been to the DNR.

In response to the OP, Yes, I would have and have said something to those littering both the shores and water. If they don't respond there's nothing lost. For me, keeping silent has the same effect as condoning the behavior.

[ClackerBuzz]

 

 

[fishwizzard]

I never really confront people, other than people who let their dogs thrash around in spawning beds.  99% of the time the owner has no idea and will immediately stop their dog once I point out the beds and explain what they are.  The 1% blows me off and gets DNR called on them for having an offleash dog.  The "Catch a Poacher" hotline seems to do nothing, but the Natural Resources Police seem to come running if you call about an off leash dog.  I have called them in when I see guys poaching too.  

[Bulletman20XD]

Adults doing such are beyond help. But by being passive and not saying anything to children is what's wrong with the younger people these days. Their parents by "Sparing the Rod" teaches them to disrespect others and to have problems with authority figures (their elders). I raised my boys to follow the rules, respect their elders and to expect punishment if they didn't. In doing so they understand there are consequences to their actions. It is sad what has happened to our youth in this country the last 25 years or so.

[Sword of the Lord]

17 hours ago, papajoe222 said:

Did they release the fish?  If not, I would have made two calls and the first wouldn't have been to the DNR.

In response to the OP, Yes, I would have and have said something to those littering both the shores and water. If they don't respond there's nothing lost. For me, keeping silent has the same effect as condoning the behavior.

Long story, but yes, the 2 12" bass were released.

 

I've also had people respond with, "It's just a fish", to which they receive an ear full for.

[Angealy]

This reminds me of one day when i saw some kids throwing huge ass rocks into the water near the bank at a local public lake i go to all the time.

I mean, These rocks could of easily killed a fish or two.

I was quite mad and said to my sister who happen to be fishing with me "Don't they have something better to do with their time?"

My sister finally snapped and told them to knock it the hell off and said there are live fish in there and their lives matter/etc, She's an animal lover what can i say.

After that, The group of kids ended up leaving and going somewhere else.

[OCdockskipper]

I would be very surprised if a rock thrown in the water could injure a fish.  I would expect them to spook as it hit the water, who knows.

 

Went to Lake Mead in the 90's when my son's were 4 and their 3 cousins were 8, 6 & 4.  Those five boys spent the entire week throwing rocks in the water (no one else was around, we were houseboating).  By the time we left, I think the water level was up about a foot...

[Bluebasser86]

Only if someone is endangering others or someone's property. You don't even need a permit to carry a gun in Kansas and I know lots of people carry. I'm not risking getting shot over something minor. 

[Turkey sandwich]

1 hour ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Only if someone is endangering others or someone's property. You don't even need a permit to carry a gun in Kansas and I know lots of people carry. I'm not risking getting shot over something minor. 

 

Bingo.  It's one thing to have a talk with someone in a respectful manner.  It's another to tear someone apart.  Usually you can get a point across by asking someone politely or giving an appropriate look.  Knowing how to ask someone to not be a jerk without trashing their ego is a very real skill. Still, nothing is more important than the safety of yourself and those around you.  There's a cost-benefit analysis that has to happen and part of that is making sure you're safe before you even start.  Getting stabbed, shot, etc turns things into an episode of "When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong".

[SWVABass]

Where I live usually alcohol is mixed with anything outdoors. I won't say anything to "grown people" usually a quick call to game and fish and they are right there. I will take time to educate youth if I think they would be responsive. I agree with @Bluebasser86 no license needed to carry here. So I take other people's stupidity and use it to teach my kids the right way

[Chance_Taker4]

All the time. I am very confrontational and have always been known to get physical (probably my short temper mixed with playing hockey all my life). I have cooled off some as I get older but I am not afraid to call anyone out at anytime if they are doing something they shouldn't. I will not call out anyone if it is an opinion situation like 90% of the issues this country is facing because everyone as the right to think how they want. But if you are abusive or breaking laws and regulations I have no problem telling you so. 

[RPreeb]

On 9/12/2017 at 2:19 PM, Angealy said:

This reminds me of one day when i saw some kids throwing huge ass rocks into the water near the bank at a local public lake i go to all the time.

I mean, These rocks could of easily killed a fish or two.

I was quite mad and said to my sister who happen to be fishing with me "Don't they have something better to do with their time?"

My sister finally snapped and told them to knock it the hell off and said there are live fish in there and their lives matter/etc, She's an animal lover what can i say.

After that, The group of kids ended up leaving and going somewhere else.

 

One universal law... boys throw rocks.  If that bothers you then you will probably spend a lot of time being bothered.  

 

I was fishing the local pond one evening a month ago, and 3 10-12 year old boys came down and started throwing rocks and generally acting like boys, about 50 yards away.  They then decided that sunset was a great time to do cannonballs off the dock.  I packed up and left, even though I had timed my outing for the sunset bite.  The rocks didn't seem to bother the fish where I was, as I caught one after they showed up.  Once they jumped in the water, that was all she wrote for fishing.  Since there is no place on that small pond that is more than about 80 yards from the dock, any fish that might have been biting were cowering in the weeds by then.

[Angealy]

On 9/14/2017 at 11:54 AM, RPreeb said:

 

One universal law... boys throw rocks.  If that bothers you then you will probably spend a lot of time being bothered.  

 

I was fishing the local pond one evening a month ago, and 3 10-12 year old boys came down and started throwing rocks and generally acting like boys, about 50 yards away.  They then decided that sunset was a great time to do cannonballs off the dock.  I packed up and left, even though I had timed my outing for the sunset bite.  The rocks didn't seem to bother the fish where I was, as I caught one after they showed up.  Once they jumped in the water, that was all she wrote for fishing.  Since there is no place on that small pond that is more than about 80 yards from the dock, any fish that might have been biting were cowering in the weeds by then.

I should of explain this better and that's my fault.
I'm aware boys/others throw rocks and believe me i sure did before once in my life and that's fine and all.
But i believe there is a time and place for that sort of thing and this was not one of those.
The size of these rocks being thrown and doing this type of behavior on a private school campus alone is enough.
This is a two acre lake on a private school campus and at one point in it's time was closed to the public.
But it is now open to the public and others are allowed to do what they want within reason.
But when a few of bad apples are taking big rocks from a rock wall and rock garden you know someone put time and effort in to make it look nice for a private school campus and you throw those into the lake and near others is not cool and disrespectful but others may disagree.
I guess what i'm trying to say is, It would be a real shame if a few bad apples ruined it for everyone.

People like myself are blessed to have this opportunity given to them and enjoy every moment we get to spend on it.

 

[flyfisher]

Littering, sure, throwing rocks, who cares.  They are enjoying their use of the water just like everyone else.  they aren't going to kill anything and besides that, anyone who hasn't went out and tried to see how many skips they can get missed out on a lot of fun growing up.

[Angealy]

To be honest, I don't mind people throwing rocks as long as they're not big ones.

If you'd like to skip small rocks all day go for it!

As for litter, I try to clean it up when given the opportunity.

I try to help out as much as i can.

[3crows]

A neighbor boy was throwing rocks every day on my road, a neighbor three houses up the gravel road. He then threw a rock into the windshield of my Wrangler. Of course it ruined the windshield and bounced across the hood. While I am certain the kid did not mean to throw it at my Jeep the result is the same. I throw it in reverse and back up. The kid runs inside. I knock on the door and dad comes out all puffed up. I explain and point to the broken windshield and he shrugged, boys throw rocks. I, who run a dash cam, explained, daddies pay for windshields. We are not friends anymore, I got a new windshield out of him, works for me because I think the bunch have low IQ.

 

I doubt throwing a few rocks in the water, as annoying as it is, would hurt the fish or the lake. But defacing an area or throwing trash, is not cool.