A question of etiquette.

[Happy Rooster]

Recently I was out fishing and ran across a situation I could use some advice on. I was traveling up a large creek channel toward the main body of water from the boat launch when I counted 15 boat spaced out across the entry way. There was no way for me get thru without coming, in my opinion,  too close to someone fishing.

What is the preferred way to handle this, do I idle by, go by wide open, or not go by at all. I always try to give the other person fishing the most room I can.

As spring is here and the lakes get more and more congested,  any help would be greatly appreciated. 

Thanks.

[J Francho]

I usually drop the trolling motor, and ask if it's okay if I squeeze past.  When in doubt, quietly ask.  Most people will tell you it's fine, or what side they're fishing on.

[riverbasser]

I would idle through if they were across the mouth completely blocking. Most guys will never let up so idling is normally appreciated so I'm not throwing wakes their way.  

[NHBull]

In NH fisherman MUST yield to oncoming traffic when in channels.  In some cases, fishing is actually prohibited for that reason

[WRB]

The boating navigation rules apply. If the creek arm doesn't have channel markers then the center right side is your boating lane, boats shouldn't be anchored there. For safety sake you slow down at a no wake speed, about 5 mph, and carefully pass through your boating lane.

No reason to chat unless it's to inform the boat anchored where it should be they should move.

You could do what G Man (Gerald Swindle) did and pass through on the pad, then everyone would be angry with you!

Tom

[Angry John]

Depending on the boat I like them to fly by.  A nice bass boat on plane leaves very little wake.  If its close then slowing down is appreciated.  The worst are the wake boats and kayaks are invisible to them.  Can't win sometimes.

[Catt]

I would drop off plane about 30-40 yrs out & idle through 

 

There's a reason it's called "public" waterways!

[jbmaine]

In Maine you are supposed to go no more than head way speed when within 200 ft. of other boats or the shore. ( not that everyone does)

[Marshfly]

16 hours ago, J Francho said:

I usually drop the trolling motor, and ask if it's okay if I squeeze past.  When in doubt, quietly ask.  Most people will tell you it's fine, or what side they're fishing on.

I would definitely not drop the trolling motor. Way to easy to be confused as a jerk that is coming right on up someone fishing rather than being courteous, unfortunately. Frankly, if you're set up in a channel, you have to expect that, at some point, someone will come past with the big motor on. Around here, we always drop to idle to go past fisherman though.

[Logan S]

I guess it depends on how much room you have to get through.  If it's a normal safe distance there's no reason come off plane.  If it would require you to 'thread the needle' to get through, drop to an idle.  

[Darren.]

Welcome aboard!

 

Great advice through all the replies. Even though I don't

fish out of a bass boat (kayak for me), I have always 

found that politeness gets the best response....

[DINK WHISPERER]

18 hours ago, J Francho said:

I usually drop the trolling motor, and ask if it's okay if I squeeze past.  When in doubt, quietly ask.  Most people will tell you it's fine, or what side they're fishing on.

This is what I've always done in the rare situation where this comes up. Most of the time they'll even make small talk with me about how they're doing. 

[ww2farmer]

I am faced with a similar situation every spring in a backwater area I like to fish. At times there are a lot of bullhead, crappie, and pan fishermen in there blocking access to the area I am heading to. If it's packed, I turn around and go to another section, no sense in trying to disrupt a whole bunch of guys. If there's only a couple of them, I put the trolling motor down, approach quietly and politely ask to go through when they fish out their current casts. I go by slow and quiet on trolling motor power only, usually well away from the area they are casting to, and once past them, get a cast length or so away from where they are anchored before I start fishing. 99.9% of the time everyone is friendly....we're not fishing for the same fish, and over the years they have gotten to know me, and me them, and it's no big deal. Once in a blue moon, some jerk act's like he owns the entire area, and raises a fuss about having to let me through to fish 200 yards away from him..............I always start off polite and friendly, but when this happens, especially after me being calm, and cordial, no quarter is given. Trolling motor goes on high, and I plow on through. If they don't like it....too bad, they shouldn't have been jerks when I asked nicely to go by slow and quiet the first 5 times.

[OkobojiEagle]

Must be a good place to fish... drop anchor between a couple of them and see what's biting.

(not)

oe

[Russ E]

most reservoirs around here are dissected with bridges, that attract large numbers of crappie fishermen.

all bridges have no wake signs. the only way to pass is going right through them. I just idle through slowly.

most of them understand they are in the boat lane and there is no other way to pass. 

most fishermen are friendly and ask if you are having any luck.

unfortunately there is always the guy that stakes claim to a spot and thinks no one else should come close.

while he is growling at me, I just bid him good luck and go on my way.

 

 

[Yakalong]

I would idle up and let them know I need by, I would appreciate it and would be more than to let someone by 

[38 Super Fan]

What? You mean there actually is one person out there who is concerned with their etiquette on the lake?

[chasegal88]

I run into this a lot fishing a local river that is pretty narrow and draws a lot of anglers from bass boats to jons to kayaks. Have been on the receiving end also. I'd say on average the width is 70 yards, i always slow way down to a creep to create no wake when people are in small jons or paddle boats, if they're in bass boats its almost better to stay on plane. The worst thing to do and i can speak from experience is to run up on plane and to quickly slow to an idle right at the traffic. This makes the boat plow water and can cause a lot of wake. a 20ft bass boat flying by on plane is a lot easier to handle than one coming off plane plowing a ton of water in your direction. 

 

It can get frustrating though on a long run on a busy day and constantly going from plane to idle, plane to idle, etc.

[OCdockskipper]

On 3/23/2018 at 4:28 PM, Catt said:

I would drop off plane about 30-40 yrs out & idle through...

The only problem with that strategy is you could only do it once or twice in a lifetime.  Plus there is a chance the entire group of fishermen you are approaching would be dead by the time you passed them.

 

[Catt]

1 hour ago, OCdockskipper said:

The only problem with that strategy is you could only do it once or twice in a lifetime.  Plus there is a chance the entire group of fishermen you are approaching would be dead by the time you passed them.

 

 

I got enough problems spelling without autocorrect helping!

[J Francho]

On 3/24/2018 at 6:43 AM, Marshfly said:

I would definitely not drop the trolling motor. Way to easy to be confused as a jerk that is coming right on up someone fishing rather than being courteous, unfortunately. Frankly, if you're set up in a channel, you have to expect that, at some point, someone will come past with the big motor on. Around here, we always drop to idle to go past fisherman though.

Don't pick up a rod.  Happens quite frequently up here on smaller, popular waters.  Someone goes by me close with the big motor on, and they're getting a earful.

[Troy85]

If they are anchored in/near the middle of the channel. I'd just slow down and idle past.  If they are off the main channel, say near the mouth of a small bayou and I'm coming out of it, I'll drop the trolling the motor and troll by, I wouldn't go the other way though, if they were fishing a small bayou that I wanted to get into, I would wait for them to leave then motor in.