Reaction To On The Water Rudeness

[Ratherbfishing]

About the ONLY time I will go "ahead" of another boat is if it is pretty clear they are anchored or otherwise stationary (and have been for awhile).  I might even ask them if it's okay if I move in front of them.  Of course they don't own the entire end of the lake they are pointed toward but if they are moving, 30 yards is too short a distance to be cutting someone off.  Their argument of "it's a big lake, go to the other side" was just plain lame.  If it's how they believe, they should have followed their own belief/advice and not acted so badly.

 

I don't think it's rude to call someone out on something if it's done reasonably appropriately.  Name calling and physical hostility is inappropriate (and the latter, illegal) but some people are either clueless or just plain rude and until someone calls them on it, they likely won't stop.  The latter...they probably won't stop anyway but perhaps if they catch heck often enough...

 

I fished with a guy who...well, the jury is still out as to whether he was a clueless or just plain rude but eventually it (and other things) just got to be too much for me.  Unfortunately, I waited until the "pressure cooker" blew (verbally) and THAT part of it I regret.  But, again, calling someone out is perfectly acceptable to me.

[BassNJake]

I'm including my post on another thread related to this same type of behavior.

I have been known to be a hothead and will stick up for myself when I think I am being wronged.

The incident below happened about ten years ago and I'm lucky I didn't eat a bullet for the way I went off on these 2 guys. I am very grateful that I now have the experience and understanding that nothing I could have done would have changed the behavior of the people I had an issue with. You cant change someone else, but you can make changes in yourself that will allow you to avoid these type of situations.

 

Props to everyone that has been able to walk away from idiots on the water.

 

I learned my lesson the hard way because I am that guy.

The guy that wasnt taking any more of this BS.

The guy that picked up a DT 10 and bounced it off the shiny new ranger that cut in front of me and started fishing all the way in the back of a cove.

The guy that threatened to fight these 2 inconsiderate jerks, the guy that motored right in front of them and harassed them until they left.

 

Then I was the guy at the boat ramp that had all 4 tires slashed on the truck and 5 more on the trailer.( they cut up the spare too)

 

Did these 2 idiots get their Karma? I'll never know.

I know I got mine for the way that I behaved.

[geo g]

It's not worth the hassle.  There are too many of these low-life jerks carrying heat these days, and far from responsible individuals.  Just stay a safe distance and keep catching bass, while they are fanning the water without any success.  That is revenge at it's best!

[soflabasser]

3 hours ago, the reel ess said:

You should thank them for showing you how not to fish. Now you can avoid their tactics. 

^This^

 

The best thing to do is avoid confrontation since there are a lot of frustrated envious fishermen out there with short tempers and guns. Do your own thing and step up your bass fishing game since success is the best revenge you can give to these type of losers.

4 hours ago, DINK WHISPERER said:

While on the lake this past weekend fishing a weed line on a drop off offshore, this guy idles up about 30 ft away from us drops some waypoints, turns around and leaves. I would be ashamed to do something like this personally.

That guy probably does not know how to fish well and wants to get your spots to fish later. You did good not talking to him, I would of done the same since its not worth dealing with people like that.

[soflabasser]

1 hour ago, BassNJake said:

You cant change someone else, but you can make changes in yourself that will allow you to avoid these type of situations.

Well said! 

[Big Rick]

As the saying goes, Life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how you react to it. Words spoken can never be unsaid. Actions taken can never be undone. But, the results of those words and actions can affect you for the rest of your life, both positively and negatively. 

[DINK WHISPERER]

2 hours ago, soflabasser said:

That guy probably does not know how to fish well and wants to get your spots to fish later. You did good not talking to him, I would of done the same since its not worth dealing with people like that.

Geez, I would've felt better had he struck up a fake conversation and just slipped the waypoints somewhere in between. Haha

I think these kind of people are just lazy. It sometimes literally takes me hours or even days to find this stuff offshore. Since my 9 year old son has started fishing with me pretty regularly I've learned to bite my tongue on a lot of things as to not set a bad example for him. But heck, even he noticed it. He's like, "did that guy just mark some waypoints and leave" lol.

[TOXIC]

Had the same thing happen on St Clair.  We were fishing a drift right in front of Metro Park.  We were doing pretty well and a guy idles up to us and asks where Metro Park is.......We point to the beach (no more than 200yds away) and hear the unmistakable beeps of a waypoint being set.  We just laughed and kept on fishing.  For those that fish the Potomac here in Virginia, your head would explode if you got upset at all of the rudeness that fishermen display out on the water.  Some of it is just ignorance but most of it is intentional.  Many have seen the clip of Mike Ike and the Potomac fisherman who gave him the business when Ike idled down a grassline marking spots prefishing.  

[Derek1]

My father and I were bank fishing a pond we often go to, and a older gentlemen and his to grand kids came up and waded out into the water about 5 feet to left of my father. They waded out about ten feet then casted across my father towards the pads with a bobber no less. My father couldn’t even make another cast. My father walked over to me and said should I say something. I said the spots ruined and there’s not much you can say to that level of ignorance let’s just get out of here. Had he not been so old and had a couple kids with him I would have had a few choice words for that level of rude. 

[OCdockskipper]

I think the question is at what point does being quiet, walking away and turning the other cheek become a silent condoning of other peoples actions?  I'm not saying to start a battle every time an angler does something like this, there have been many examples given of smart and effective ways to get your point across to another angler without it rising to the level of a major conflict.

 

There are some folks who will continue to be rude no matter what.  However, I believe there are a large percentage who still have the concept of what is right & wrong buried somewhere inside them, sometimes it needs to nudged awake to help steer them back on to the proper path.

[TOXIC]

Totally depends on whether or not it was a conscious act.  If someone truly doesn't know then they could possibly benefit from being gently schooled on the proper etiquette.  I feel that for most they already know and just don't care.  No amount of conversation is going to change the way they act.  It serves no purpose escalating a situation when the offender knows exactly what they are doing.  Frustrating as that may be.  

[WRB]

Small private lake the boater must have a permit to be on the water and the guest must also be permitted to fish. Disputes are rare because everyone knows each other and I am sure this dispute can be settled peacefully. Next time you see him go right over and ask why he always pulling in front of you and that behavior is considered poor sportsmanship. Be polite and offer to show him what is working. If he continues to behave poorly report him and let the association handle the dispute.

Public water is a different matter and not easy to settle differences and it's best to move on without confrontation, talking from years of experience. I have had some very serious arguments with other bass anglers over poor sportsmanship, especially weekend tournament anglers and a few guides that think they own the water and you are in their way.

Tom 

[TnRiver46]

On 9/11/2018 at 9:58 AM, DINK WHISPERER said:

In my younger years I would most likely catch a charge for stupid stuff like this. Now I've kind of grown immune to it, it happens so often. While on the lake this past weekend fishing a weed line on a drop off offshore, this guy idles up about 30 ft away from us drops some waypoints, turns around and leaves. I would be ashamed to do something like this personally.

Sounds like you were on chickamauga! I get a kick out of it when people do that to me because I’m usually not getting any bites ! Ha

[new2BC4bass]

On 5/28/2018 at 6:48 PM, Glaucus said:

"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. 

What I read was that it was a private lake....not a public one.

 

I have to agree with 6 coves on the other side of the lake to fish (and 5 more on the same side) the other guys should have moved at least another cove away to start fishing.  I try never to get too close to another fisherman....unless to say "Hi" or ask how they are doing.

[everythingthatswims]

Two or three years ago, there was a boat in a Wednesday night electric only tournament back home that I had an interesting encounter with. They had a "reservoir rig" outfitted with several trolling motors, and I was fishing with a friend in a bass boat, considerably slower.

 

The anglers would repeatedly travel all the way across the lake and intentionally cut us off and fish in a stationary manner, then do the same if we headed back to the side of the lake they had been on originally. We began just fishing up until we reached where they would "park" in front of us, before making a very distant pass and resuming fishing the same bank. Since they would camp on one spot, I didn't see it as cutting them off when we would give them 50+ yards when passing.

 

One of the times when I was fishing directly behind them (they had cut us off in a cove) I caught a 4lber on a frog, in a grass patch they had just fished minutes before. It was very loud and visible, which definitely upset them. They ended up complaining to the tournament director (for a dang Wednesday nighter!) saying we got too close to them, and I even heard one of them muttering about having to "play defense" on the better fishermen during those tournaments.

 

People are so silly sometimes! Fortunately, you will probably never see a talented fishermen behave in such a way, so when you see these behaviors, fishing pressure or what is brought to weigh-in is a minor concern

[TOXIC]

You sparked a memory of mine.  We were fishing the Hot Side of Lake Anna and there was a small tournament on the same day.  I'll keep my mouth shut on who ran the TX and will say that for the most part all of the competitors were courteous since that is the "private" side of the lake and at that time you couldn't hold tournaments over there.  We were in a smaller creek and as we fished up a bank, noticed a sticker boat in a small cut.  We switched to the other side of the creek to avoid any confrontation even though we were behind them and fishing water they already covered.  When we got directly across from them they put their troller on high and shot across to the side we were fishing missing out boat by less than 10 feet.  Funny thing about those who sticker their boats up, their "sponsors" are on there.  After a few calls when we got off the water to some firms that I knew personally, an apology was forthcoming and I hope sincere. 

 

You can be assured it's just not the weekend warrior who has to deal with rudeness on the water.  I had some friends who had a run in with an Elite Series Pro and it got downright nasty....very nasty with threats of lawsuits, video sent to employers and much much more.  It was a very sobering experience.  

[custer]

I was on a tourney on Gaston fishing 6lb creek.  There's a very narrow chute about 250 yds long.  We're minding our business trying to catch a sack and a bunch of gold spoon NC yuppies in a wake boat,  fully ballasted just going up and down the chute laughing,  drinking and 'boarding .

 

After the 3rd or 4th pass my backseater lifted his shirt and made huge production of adjusting his glock when they went by. 

 

We never saw them again. 

 

While this is never the answer, neither is rudeness and disrespect.

 

Truthfully,  I was more scared after realizing the "extra" equipment he brought on the boat....

[schplurg]

Okay, I keep reading here ^^ that some fisherman carry guns and we'd better watch out for them.

 

Have there been a lot of shootings between these people? Are there any reports of fishermen being murdered while fishing from their boat?

 

It seems pathetic to me. I suppose a few people are stupid enough to do it, but seriously, someone showing their gun to me as in the story above seems pretty silly. Yeah, you're gonna shoot me?

 

Are there areas of the country where there are more of these types of idiots than others? If someone did that on my boat they would never be on my boat, or anywhere near me, ever again.

 

Tough guys and their boom-sticks. Pathetic.

[OCdockskipper]

6 hours ago, schplurg said:

...Tough guys and their boom-sticks. Pathetic.

As a fellow Golden Stater, I have to say your Californianess is showing.

 

The lakes & areas fished by other folks in other parts of the country are oh-so different than that in both Northern & Southern California, as is the culture in those areas about guns.  To apply Northern California sensibilities to Alabama, Georgia or Tennessee is very narrow minded, even if we set aside the insults you threw in.

 

If some dude from Oklahoma came on the site & started railing about what wimps people are on the West Coast because of their restrictive gun laws, he would be out of line.  You did basically the same thing from the other side of the fence and it is just as crappy.

[TOXIC]

While I never allowed firearms in my boat guiding, there are situations where protecting yourself is warranted.  There is a lot of crime at some boat ramps, and an angler was shot dead at a hotel when he caught a thief breaking into his boat in the parking lot.  There was also the instance of an Elite Series angler getting shot at in Louisiana if I remember correctly.  My guide partner had someone take a shot at him (hit the water right next to the boat) on a local lake here in Virginia.  And then there always the chance that a poisonous snake or aggressive gator would need to be dispatched with extreme prejudice.  Do I carry.....no.  Would I be wrong in thinking that there are people out on the water with small brains and large pistolas?   No again.  Personal choice is just that.  I would like to think that most carry for "protection" not "aggression".   

[PAbasser927]

2 hours ago, TOXIC said:

I would like to think that most carry for "protection" not "aggression".   

That should be the case for anyone who carries.  People who carry responsibly have adopted the mentality that nobody should ever see your gun (or even know you have a gun) unless you truly feel your life is at risk.

 

I carry on the water from time to time depending on the situation.  Sometimes I know I am going to be out late where I am the last one packing up my boat in a dark parking lot, or I may be walking through the woods in the dark after wading the river.  

 

In over a decade of carrying, I have not had to draw it once and truly hope I NEVER have to.  People who wave a gun around to show off, or prove a point, have no business carrying in the first place.

[J Francho]

1 hour ago, PAbasser927 said:

People who wave a gun around to show off, or prove a point, have no business carrying in the first place.

Exactly.

[Stephen B]

1 hour ago, PAbasser927 said:

That should be the case for anyone who carries.  People who carry responsibly have adopted the mentality that nobody should ever see your gun (or even know you have a gun) unless you truly feel your life is at risk.

 

I carry on the water from time to time depending on the situation.  Sometimes I know I am going to be out late where I am the last one packing up my boat in a dark parking lot, or I may be walking through the woods in the dark after wading the river.  

 

In over a decade of carrying, I have not had to draw it once and truly hope I NEVER have to.  People who wave a gun around to show off, or prove a point, have no business carrying in the first place.

I would highly recommend bringing a weapon everyday not only for protection against others but also gators, snakes, etc. A weapon is a tool no one hopes or intends to use on a daily basis but yet again it's a tool that you may need. My father has opened carried for his entire life as he often goes to bad parts of town and trust me they notice and all try to be his friend lol. Its for your protection as well as others. Just be responsible. 

[toni63]

What I dont get is who made it your job to tell other people how to behave generally? If someone is being a jerk and acting a fool, my plan is not be around said fool for any longer than is required by work or duties. I encounter morons every single day, at the store parking lot, on the lake, in my job, etc. It isn't my job to be the world's "behavior cop" any more than it is yours. I have found that fools are going to be fools no matter what you say or do, and if you start trying to correct them, especially in a public setting where there are other people around, chances are the fool is capable of raising the stakes to a level you might not have thought possible and then it's "more fool you."

 

Just keep your eyes and ears open and at the first sign of any "fool" acting foolish near you, get away from the fool as fast as you reasonably can. In fact, when I go fishing, I avoid all people at all costs unless I just can't avoid it at all. Staying away from people you don't know and trust is the best prevention of getting into conflict with fools that was ever invented, in my opinion. And running as far and as fast as you can away from fools acting like fools prevents unintended consequences for you.

 

I don't need a gun. I have eyes, ears, a brain and two feet to carry me away or keep me away from fools acting like fools. My brain inside my skull is the only "concealed carry weapon" I need.

[OCdockskipper]

1 minute ago, toni63 said:

What I dont get is who made it your job to tell other people how to behave generally?...

While I am all for everyone minding their own business, there is a point where silence equals condoning an act.  Much of this thread is about at what point do you speak up to remind a person they are going against normal everyday etiquette of society.

 

Acts like those which have been described in this thread are nothing more than aggressive behavior towards another person.  Typically they are perpetrated by someone who has no issues trying to bully others so that they can get their way.  As with all bullies, once you stand up to them, they melt away faster than an ice cream cone in July.