Reaction To On The Water Rudeness

[OCdockskipper]

We have all encountered and reacted to different types of on the water rudeness or lack of etiquette.  I had an extreme example at the start of this holiday weekend and figured I'd share it to get feedback on my reaction as well as other ideas on how to deal with it.

 

As I have mentioned before, I fish a small, electric only 100 acre private lake.  It is about a 1/2 mile long with 6 small coves on each side.  The only portions of shoreline without a house & dock on them are a few green belt areas and a long docking area by the clubhouse & ramp.  Most boats are left on the water year long, the boat ramp is used maybe once or twice a month when folks who live in the community but not on the water launch their boat for the day.

 

So on Saturday morning about 2 hours past sunrise, I found myself near the boat ramp, fishing away from it, moving down the bank fishing docks.  A couple of guys between 40-50 years old back into the launch area with a Pond Prowler like mine, run up to the clubhouse to get the gate key and then return to launch their boat.  I didn't recognize them from being on the lake before, but they had their boat set up in an experienced manner (trolling motor in the front, rear rudder) so I knew they weren't newbies to bass fishing.  I was moving down the bank, about 30 yards from exiting the cove as they got underway.  They promptly drove to where the cove ended in front of me, slowed down and began fishing, moving down the bank in the same direction I was headed.  I thought they had seen me and should have known I was moving that way, but then again maybe they were excited about getting started and hadn't paid attention.

 

I get out of the cove, to the point they had begun, and they are still 30 yards or so ahead of me, starting to curl around into the next cove.  I was curious how they were fishing the docks, so I fished the area they had just covered, catching a 3 lb bass in the process.  As they went further into that cove, I skipped past them and motored down to the next cove, giving them the entire cove they were in and the main lake area after it to fish.  As I was finishing up the cove I was in, I motored down to the other end of the lake to my house for a quick bathroom stop.  Coming back to the boat, I saw they were still on the upper end of the lake, so I instead began fishing a pair of coves at the bottom end of the lake.

 

About an hour later as I exited the 2nd cove towards the main lake, still fishing along the bank, I was surprised to see that they had come down down to the bottom of the lake as well.  They had lines in the water, but as I came into view, they reeled in, turned up their motor and again jumped about 30 yards ahead of me.  Now I knew their behavior was intentional, so I fished behind them for the short stretch of the main lake.  I caught a pair of fish, which I made sure to play out and allow to jump on the side of the boat they could see (and they did indeed look back & notice).  They soon came to a very large cove which they entered, so I again bypassed it, letting them fish the entire cove.  This time however, the lake had a 90 degree turn, so I fished the main lake area out of the cove (new water) where they could see me.  I hooked up 4 times, again making sure to play all fish to the side of the boat that they could see.  Kind of a jerk move on my part, but very vindicating to show them what they passed up.

 

My path led me into another cove and as I exited it a short while later, they were about 25 yards behind me.  i continued fishing the main lake shore as I approached the next cove, only to see them turn the trolling motor on high, scoot pass me (I waved & smiled) and pull in front of me at the entrance to the cove I was approaching.  I rolled the options available through my mind.  Doing the same thing to them that they did to me didn't appeal to me, nor did cursing them out at the top of my lungs.  I considered motoring up to them and talking with them, mentioning how those who fish the lake regularly share the water, but I decided that would be like trying to reason with an unreasonable person, that they would just consider me some blowhard and tell me to go F myself.  So since what they were doing was disrespectful, I decided that the appropriate action was to show them a lack of respect and fish behind them the entire cove.  I made this decision partially based on seeing how they were fishing and fully confident that I could catch multiple fish behind them.

 

So as I enter the cove, with them a scant 25 yards in front of me, I hook up on my first cast, another nice 3 lb fish.  My mouth got the better of me as I landed the fish when I said in a conversational tone & level "Looks like you missed something".  I glanced up from the fish and they were both looking my way.  Halfway down the cove, I catch a second fish behind them and then repeat it a 3rd time as they are getting close to exiting the cove, all the while they hadn't gotten a single bite.  Whether or not I made a point I don't know, but it sure felt self satisfying.

 

I really don't know how else to deal with their kind of behavior.  My lake is way too small to try and avoid people and to be blunt, I find avoidance to be a weak and ineffective response to behavior that is akin to bullying.  Talking with them may help, but it will need to be during a conversation initiated by them.  If I approach them, I am the guy yelling at them to get off my lawn.  If they come to me, whether it be to chat about fishing or anything else, they have opened the door to be more receptive to a suggestion from me, at least I think so.  The perfect solution would be that they are lurkers here on Bass Resource and read about themselves in this post, but that may be asking for too much...

[Log Catcher]

People like this are the reason I don't get on the water on holiday weekends. I would rather let those that have no common sense on the water have it to themselves.

[lo n slo]

i fish a small lake near me, in my jon boat, and for the last two Sundays some guy in a kayak has jumped in front of me, came all the way across the lake to do it too. first time, i cranked up and and left, but yesterday i promptly trolled right by him and took up position about 20 yards in front of him. he said nothing and i did not have any problems with him after that. i honestly think he is clueless but i WILL say something if it continues.

[Rahlow]

I would have HAD to strike up a conversation the 3rd time they cut me off. 

You would think the first time you caught fish behind em they would leave you alone.

I’ve had asshats on public waters cut me off at coves I’m fishing the point into many times, most of the time they are tournament anglers,,,,, or as we say in the motorcycle world, Posers by the way they dress.... because of the size of the lakes, 

I just move on.

[NittyGrittyBoy]

Yep, I don't fish holidays or weekends for that very same reason.

 

Sounds like to me you handled it extremely well. Well written fishing story too! 

 

Catching bass behind them was greater than any word you could have said...

[Logan S]

Sorry, but I'm not really seeing 'extreme' rudeness in what you described.  More of a inconvenience than anything else and it didn't seem to effect your catching either.  If anything, it just enhanced the story you got to tell.  Also, the lake's only 100 acres...Sooner or later you're going to be leap frogging in water that small.  Not saying the guy was a saint or anything, but if that's all you've got to get worked up over - you're living and fishing good .  

 

You'd go nuts on the Potomac...30 yards is someone being 'considerate' most of the time .  

[Darren.]

I get your aggravation. Been there but in much closer

quarters with two idiots -- who were only putting their

boat in when my kayak buddy and I were already fishing

a dock. These knuckleheads decided to fish the dock, too,

and fished in between my buddy and me - and we were

only 40 yards apart!!

 

I caught a 3 pound bass on a jig right where they were

fishing. Made sure to holler at my bud, lift it up high for 

the maroons to see. It got way worse, I'll just leave it

here.

[jbmaine]

As said above, we also don't fish on holiday weekends, or most weekends. However, as in most things in life, you cannot help but sometimes run into less than courteous and respectful people. The best we can do is not let it ruin our day. Life is to short.

 

[Rahlow]

21 minutes ago, Logan S said:

Sorry, but I'm not really seeing 'extreme' rudeness in what you described.  More of a inconvenience than anything else and it didn't seem to effect your catching either.  If anything, it just enhanced the story you got to tell.  Also, the lake's only 100 acres...Sooner or later you're going to be leap frogging in water that small.  Not saying the guy was a saint or anything, but if that's all you've got to get worked up over - you're living and fishing good .  

 

You'd go nuts on the Potomac...30 yards is someone being 'considerate' most of the time .  

I can understand why you don’t really see an issue, it’s because up there where you are, I get offended every time I visit due to what I see as general rudeness, my friends laugh and tell me all the time “Rahlow they are not being rude, the pace here is faster and they don’t have time to be yer new friend” lmao

[Logan S]

4 minutes ago, Rahlow said:

I can understand why you don’t really see an issue, it’s because up there where you are, I get offended every time I visit due to what I see as general rudeness, my friends laugh and tell me all the time “Rahlow they are not being rude, the pace here is faster and they don’t have time to be yer new friend” lmao

No, it has nothing to do with where I live (currently).  It's because I don't think a few leap frogs with another boat on a tiny 100 acre lake - With no other confrontations/altertcations/exchanges/etc - qualifies as 'extreme' rudeness.  There was no fighting, cussing, yelling, throwing of weights, boat-circling, or anything else...Just 'he got a little too close to me'.  

 

The level of rudeness of the situation, at least IMO, would appear to be of a normal inconsiderate fisherman - nothing more, nothing less.  This is based on bass fishing extensively all over the country, including 'down there' where you are.  

 

In terms of what do about it?  Why do anything?  OP caught fish and they didn't, instant justice....Move on.  

[OCdockskipper]

56 minutes ago, Logan S said:

Sorry, but I'm not really seeing 'extreme' rudeness in what you described.  More of a inconvenience than anything else...

 

You'd go nuts on the Potomac...30 yards is someone being 'considerate' most of the time .  

Thanks for your comment.

 

Having lived in Orange County for 55 years, I have seen the modis operandi for this area in public change (generally) from consideration to rudeness.  The irony is as populations grow and areas become more crowded, consideration for your fellow man is actually more important for society.  I see rudeness everyday but am not willing to just accept it as normal whether it be on the freeway or the lake.

 

With all due respect, if you don't see rudeness in what was described, you may want to take a moment of self evaluation.  Hopefully you aren't treating other human beings in a manner where your actions declare that you are more important than them.  The content and thoughts that go into your posts show you to be intelligent & articulate, the type of person who does the right thing for no other reason than it is right.

 

With the way the coves lay out on this lake, you can alternate them with another angler without ever infringing on "their" water.  Purposely cutting ahead of someone, whether it be in a parking lot, a line in a store or on the lake, is the beginning of dismissing the humanity of the person you are doing it to.  It may seem like a small thing, especially if you are in the habit of doing it to others, but it is part of a slippery slope that creates problems in society.

 

Please don't mistake my staunch position on this as me getting "worked up" over it.  As you said, their actions just created and enhanced a story, at no time did I lose my cool.  Getting older tends to entrench you in positions that you know are correct and hopefully gives you the wisdom in dealing with others in a way that corrects behavior without creating major conflict.

[NHBull]

Something similar happened to me last summer.  A boat jumped in about 20 meters in front of me going down a cove. I speed up and they were shocked that I would approach...the  and the conversation was something like this....

Me..Howdy, nice looking boat there and it looks like it is going to be a great day.

Them..Thanks and yeah, going to be a good one.

Me.  Sorry to get in the way of your fishing, but just wondering what you plan on fishing today.

Them.  Why?

Me. I was on this line heading to the point, and life’s to short to get upset about a fish..We just don’t do that here ( they were clearly from MA). 

Them..yeah, I knew better and sorry, we’ll pull out.

Me. No need, I’m moving, but be careful, most of the regulars would have their panties in a twist.

 

I have found that folks can be tough from a distance, but are more reasonable when the higher ground is taken

 

[Rahlow]

17 minutes ago, Logan S said:

No, it has nothing to do with where I live (currently).  It's because I don't think a few leap frogs with another boat on a tiny 100 acre lake - With no other confrontations/altertcations/exchanges/etc - qualifies as 'extreme' rudeness.  There was no fighting, cussing, yelling, throwing of weights, boat-circling, or anything else...Just 'he got a little too close to me'.  

 

The level of rudeness of the situation, at least IMO, would appear to be of a normal inconsiderate fisherman - nothing more, nothing less.  This is based on bass fishing extensively all over the country, including 'down there' where you are.  

 

In terms of what do about it?  Why do anything?  OP caught fish and they didn't, instant justice....Move on.  

My point wasn’t to offend or start an argument, simply point out that what one perceives as rude is mostly based on environment, here where I fish, and apparently to the OP, the cutting closely in front of someone is frowned upon. It’s inconsiderate. Even more so on a small impoundment, drop in and fish behind,,,,,,, or start on the other side,,,,, this has even been an issue in the Professional ranks, 

[OCdockskipper]

21 minutes ago, NHBull said:

Something similar happened to me last summer...

...I have found that folks can be tough from a distance, but are more reasonable when the higher ground is taken

Well done, that is a great way to approach them.  I was concerned that my coming to them would make me "preachy" and do more damage than good, but your approach was perfect.  You came & showed them respect and only the biggest jerk in the world would not understand that & want to reciprocate.

 

Thanks for teaching me.

[Logan S]

Eh, it was rude and would have irritated me too...As much as I wish it could be eradicated, we all know it can't so I don't let these little things bother me beyond muttering "really, dude?" under my breathe.  

 

Extreme example of rudeness as alluded to in the title and 1st paragraph had me thinking about a melee that ended in a flipping-weight barrage.  

[Rahlow]

1 minute ago, Logan S said:

Eh, it was rude and would have irritated me too...As much as I wish it could be eradicated, we all know it can't so I don't let these little things bother me beyond muttering "really, dude?" under my breathe.  

 

Extreme example of rudeness as alluded to in the title and 1st paragraph had me thinking about a melee that ended in a flipping-weight barrage.  

Lol,, understood

[scaleface]

I had to leap frog  a  couple of boats on a 200 acre elec motor only acre lake a while back . They were moving too dang slow  .?

[Glaucus]

Sounds like you're mad that they weren't fishing behind you. Someone's gotta do it. Akin to being upset over not getting the first a biggest piece of cake. Why do you automatically get it?

[Rahlow]

10 minutes ago, Glaucus said:

Sounds like you're mad that they weren't fishing behind you. Someone's gotta do it. Akin to being upset over not getting the first a biggest piece of cake. Why do you automatically get it?

Uh, because he was there first? Maybe? Why would he, you or me have to justify not wanting you, he, them cutting us off?

[Glaucus]

I do a lot of pond fishing from the banks. Many of them don't have very many good places to stand. If I see someone trying to find a place to fish in such small water, I offer up some room. In small water it's gonna be cramped sometimes and you don't get to take ownership of entire spots.

[Rahlow]

We not talking about bank fishing,,,

[Glaucus]

Just now, Rahlow said:

We not talking about bank fishing,,,

No kidding. The point is, his lake is small. Sometimes you gotta make way.

If you're at the start of a cove in a small lake where there are only 6 coves, where the hell do you expect other people to go, especially if there are already boats in the other coves? Make room.

[Rahlow]

Whatever dude, 

[Glaucus]

2 minutes ago, Rahlow said:

Whatever dude, 

"If you're at the start of a cove in a small lake where there are only 6 coves, where the hell do you expect other people to go, especially if there are already boats in the other coves?"

 

It's not whatever. Other people want to fish the public lake too. 

[Rahlow]

I would expect someone to show some common courtesy and start behind me or skip the cove and start at the point on the other side. That’s what I would do and what most of my friends would do. Show the person there first a little courtesy, if you can’t understand the “why”, I can’t explain it.