Darn party boaters....

[OCdockskipper]

17 hours ago, A-Jay said:

(btw - it is my experience that an alarming number of boaters (especially on inland lakes, rivers & reservoirs) are mostly unfamiliar with boating safety, and navigational rules; especially in locals where 'the boating season' is 12 weeks long (summer basically). 

Bingo!!

[soflabasser]

Reading this thread makes me appreciate more some of the places I fish since they are places boaters are not allowed to fish.

[gim]

The ones that seem to bother me the most lately are those wake surfing boats.  They create MASSIVE wakes and the waves are not only coming over my transom, but they are seriously damaging the shoreline with erosion.  Its only a matter of time before the DNR has to step in on this one.

 

As for the rest of the recreational riff raff, the best thing you can do is just avoid them.  I used to get worked up over these idiotic pontoons, jet skis, skiers, tubers, etc but its pretty obvious when most of them are going to be out: bright, sunny, and warm.  So that's when I don't go.  If rain is in the forecast, that's when I try to go.  Plus rain means low pressure and that often means better fishing anyways.  What I can't quite understand is when I see these guys barreling through an area that is clearly marked with shallow water.  One of these days they're gonna rip off a prop or lower unit and I'll be there watching (and laughing).

[WRB]

20 minutes ago, gimruis said:

The ones that seem to bother me the most lately are those wake surfing boats.  They create MASSIVE wakes and the waves are not only coming over my transom, but they are seriously damaging the shoreline with erosion.  Its only a matter of time before the DNR has to step in on this one.

 

As for the rest of the recreational riff raff, the best thing you can do is just avoid them.  I used to get worked up over these idiotic pontoons, jet skis, skiers, tubers, etc but its pretty obvious when most of them are going to be out: bright, sunny, and warm.  So that's when I don't go.  If rain is in the forecast, that's when I try to go.  Plus rain means low pressure and that often means better fishing anyways.  What I can't quite understand is when I see these guys barreling through an area that is clearly marked with shallow water.  One of these days they're gonna rip off a prop or lower unit and I'll be there watching (and laughing).

I hoped you also attemp to aid in a rescue if the crazy boaters are in the water or disabled, it's the law!

Tom

[OCdockskipper]

2 hours ago, WRB said:

I hoped you also attemp to aid in a rescue if the crazy boaters are in the water or disabled, it's the law!

Tom

Does casting a Zara Spook to try to snag a person thrashing in the water count as aid?

 

?

[WRB]

Don't think that would fall under Good Samaritan laws or coast gaurd laws rendering aid to a disabled mariner.

Tom

[JustJames]

6 hours ago, gimruis said:

The ones that seem to bother me the most lately are those wake surfing boats.  They create MASSIVE wakes and the waves are not only coming over my transom, but they are seriously damaging the shoreline with erosion.  Its only a matter of time before the DNR has to step in on this one.

 

 

I almost got flip on my 14' Jonboat with one of those wave rider once. I don't usually go on main Lake since there are too many water skier run back and forth. Ever since I moved to Canyon Lake, I only fish this main Lake only a handful of time and stay close to NO WAKE ZONE.

I'd fish on smaller lake(north ski lake) instead, but still can't avoid those water skier especially in this lake (no control and no "no wake zone") there are those with "wave enchantment device". When I saw that guy again at launch lamp, all he said was sorry I almost flip your boat, nothing else no slow down and run super close to shoreline up and down a few time.

This is what I'm trying to say and seem like only us small boat always be the one who ask for courtesies, bigger boat not so much but both have "RIGHT" to use water. 

I'd say avoid them is the best way, Main Lake got a whole lot of big bass and a lot of structure but I still choose smaller lake, tougher to fish and not as many big bass, all this for my safety. 

[Tim Kelly]

If you accept that people are idiots and not considerate, you have to think about whether you're being foolish taking a small boat to a place where it is likely to be inadequate for the conditions. No different to me trying to take my 12ft tin boat across the atlantic. I might make it, but it wouldn't be the right boat for the conditions! My little boat is  perfect for where I do take it though.

[Tlauz]

I spend 80% of the time in my boat fishing. The other 20%  of the time I am pulling tubers and skiers.  The lake I mainly fish is about 800 acres and can get busy on the weekends. I usually try to stay away from people fishing but one thing that does irritate me is on a Saturday at 2 pm when it is 95 degrees you have to expect a lake to be busy.  One weekend there were two different boats sitting on points that were basically in the middle of the lake.  Recreational boats were being respectful, but there was a constant barrage of waves.  Where they were positioned you had to go by them.  I realize everyone has a right to the water, but I usually try to pick good times and lakes that aren't so busy.  I try to fish early and late.  When it is hot and sunny and calm I know it is recreation time.  

[TOXIC]

I am heading out Friday to Wisconsin and a chain of lakes that have "ski" lakes and "no-wake" lakes.  Best of both worlds.  Of course, the ski lakes are some of the better fishing lakes but they can't start until 10:30am.  That gives me time to fish my spots before they get started and then either brave the wakes or move to a no-wake lake.  I do like that set-up.  

[J Francho]

On 8/4/2018 at 9:58 PM, A-Jay said:

While it's obviously wrong for people to blast past you 10ft from your yak, it's hard to see how you'd be in a situation where that could happen.

I've run into a few where it was intentional.  Get their boat reg, and call the sheriff. 

[Krux5506]

To the OP, we must be pretty close to each other location wise, and I gotta say fishing the mouth of any of the channels on Lake O during busy boating hours is pretty ballsy in a kayak. 

 

There's no doubt I share your frustration with pleasure boaters while I'm out fishing, but I've gotten so used to it that I just come to expect it. Sometimes fellow fishermen can be even worse. This is why I really try to start early and end early, and rarely am I fishing during mid afternoon when all the traffic is out unless I'm out in the lake. Where our cottage is, I notice the traffic dies down significantly around 6-7pm. Then another wave of traffic comes out to try and catch the lake O sunset. 

 

I think if I were you, I'd stick to the start early end early rule during peak boating season. 

[J Francho]

9 minutes ago, Krux5506 said:

I gotta say fishing the mouth of any of the channels on Lake O during busy boating hours is pretty ballsy in a kayak. 

Agree.  I don't even like being in the outlets during peak hours, let alone fishing.

[A-Jay]

2 hours ago, J Francho said:

I've run into a few where it was intentional.  Get their boat reg, and call the sheriff. 

If it makes you feel any better J - the situations that fell into this category where I was in a position to prosecute the case, almost always ended in Termination and nice Fat Fine.

I would like to mention that I always did it with a smile. 

No Boating for you  . . . .

A-Jay

[Jaderose]

Meh......Do what I do......fish lakes that look like this.  A pleasure boat would be sunk in 5 minutes on this lake.  All those trees in the fog are IN the water.  And where there is still a tree standing, there are 5 stumps around it that you may or may not be able to see.  No gas motors allowed...not that you'd want to use one anyway.

 

 

[LadiMopar]

@Jaderose that is one mighty beautiful place. The next time I roll West to SoDak would you mind if stopped by there just to admire it? Geez I miss being on the other side of the Old Mississippi, and the Missouri and....?

[soflabasser]

15 hours ago, Tim Kelly said:

If you accept that people are idiots and not considerate, you have to think about whether you're being foolish taking a small boat to a place where it is likely to be inadequate for the conditions.

Good advice. A long time ago I came to the conclusion that many people that drive fast in no wake zones are idiots with no compassion for others so I try my best to avoid times when these pleasure boaters,jet skiers,etc are most likely on the water. I am also very picky who I decide to fish with and I will not fish with someone who likes to drive their boat recklessly fast.

[slonezp]

13 hours ago, TOXIC said:

I am heading out Friday to Wisconsin and a chain of lakes that have "ski" lakes and "no-wake" lakes.  Best of both worlds.  Of course, the ski lakes are some of the better fishing lakes but they can't start until 10:30am.  That gives me time to fish my spots before they get started and then either brave the wakes or move to a no-wake lake.  I do like that set-up.  

Wherabouts?

[TOXIC]

8 hours ago, slonezp said:

Wherabouts?

Waupaca, King Chain of lakes.  Been going for 22 years.  Rent a cottage on Sunset Lake.  Have rented on McCrossen and Dake through the years.  Mostly pontoon lakes and used to have AWSOME fishing but they decided to spray the grass and the fishing tanked.  There are some Lake Trout in there but I have never caught one.  I have caught Largies, Smallies and all of the different panfish as well as a Tiger Musky, regular Musky and Pike.  It has come back in the last few years but nothing like it used to be.  I always find them but it's been much more of a challenge.  That's ok though, I've got a week to figure them out. I used to fish Winniconnie and the Fox River every year up there as well but the gentleman I used to take out sadly passed away last year so I'll just stay on the chain.  

 

 

[Jaderose]

11 hours ago, LadiMopar said:

@Jaderose that is one mighty beautiful place. The next time I roll West to SoDak would you mind if stopped by there just to admire it? Geez I miss being on the other side of the Old Mississippi, and the Missouri and....?

All are welcome, Brother.  It ain't a big lake but it's my happy place.  In my info down at the bottom it says Happy Holler....out in the boonies.  This is the place.  About 100 acres.....has stumps, flats, shallows, creeks, points, cover, structure, etc.  It's got it all, including some nice bass.  I've been going here almost exclusively for about 10 years now and am still not tired of it.  It's not a big numbers lake but it has some NICE bass in it.  Best part is it's out in the middle of nowhere so not a lot a of pressure.  I'd say at least 65% of the time I am there, I am alone.  The rest of the time there might be another boat or 2 on the lake and it's almost always just another one of the regulars that all respect and like each other.  It's my little paradise on earth.

[LadiMopar]

2 hours ago, Jaderose said:

All are welcome, Brother.  It ain't a big lake but it's my happy place.  In my info down at the bottom it says Happy Holler....out in the boonies.  This is the place.  About 100 acres.....has stumps, flats, shallows, creeks, points, cover, structure, etc.  It's got it all, including some nice bass.  I've been going here almost exclusively for about 10 years now and am still not tired of it.  It's not a big numbers lake but it has some NICE bass in it.  Best part is it's out in the middle of nowhere so not a lot a of pressure.  I'd say at least 65% of the time I am there, I am alone.  The rest of the time there might be another boat or 2 on the lake and it's almost always just another one of the regulars that all respect and like each other.  It's my little paradise on earth.

 

Thanks for the offer of a visit should I get that way again, it sounds like paradise for sure...you're a lucky guy to have a place like that almost completely to yourself...I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a tad jealous. ?

 

So as not to get anyone's feathers in a fluff, does it matter that I'm a Sister and not a Brother? ??? Just checking! LOL! 

[Jaderose]

2 hours ago, LadiMopar said:

 

 

 

So as not to get anyone's feathers in a fluff, does it matter that I'm a Sister and not a Brother? ??? Just checking! LOL! 

Lol...My apologies.  I simply did not notice, either your picture or your name.  And it doesn't matter a single bit to me.  Still welcome.  Always room in my boat for ANY fisherperson.

[LadiMopar]

36 minutes ago, Jaderose said:

Lol...My apologies.  I simply did not notice, either your picture or your name.  And it doesn't matter a single bit to me.  Still welcome.  Always room in my boat for ANY fisherperson.

 

No apologies needed...I thought it was pretty darn funny, but was thinking maybe I need to grow my hair longer (already waist length) 

[everythingthatswims]

My "home lake" at school is worse than anywhere I've been before in terms of pleasure boats. Even weekdays are bad. It's not a big lake, and our proximity to Pittsburg means that a lot more people than there is room for have boats there. I think the fish are used to it, I watch boats drive over top of the stuff I am fishing constantly. If it happens every day, the fish may adjust accordingly, but it probably doesn't shut them off.

 

You can't get upset with them though, they don't know they're doing anything wrong and probably think that fishing consists of a bobber and worm.

 

What baffles me is how pleasure boaters stay away from large, open areas on all lakes, and prefer to drive circles around each other in the tiniest necked-down areas of the lakes, or back in creeks.

[ApacheGuns515]

On 8/6/2018 at 11:22 AM, Krux5506 said:

To the OP, we must be pretty close to each other location wise, and I gotta say fishing the mouth of any of the channels on Lake O during busy boating hours is pretty ballsy in a kayak. 

 

There's no doubt I share your frustration with pleasure boaters while I'm out fishing, but I've gotten so used to it that I just come to expect it. Sometimes fellow fishermen can be even worse. This is why I really try to start early and end early, and rarely am I fishing during mid afternoon when all the traffic is out unless I'm out in the lake. Where our cottage is, I notice the traffic dies down significantly around 6-7pm. Then another wave of traffic comes out to try and catch the lake O sunset. 

 

I think if I were you, I'd stick to the start early end early rule during peak boating season. 

Oh trust me I know. I almost never go to high traffic areas in my kayak. The only reason I fished the mouth of Lake O last weekend was because a buddy of mine insisted and he's a family guy who rarely gets time to go out and I agreed to go where he wanted to go. It wasn't a pleasant experience and after about an hour we both decided to paddle back inland and and on the opposite side of the boat launch to much calmer water with no traffic. He had his mind set on pulling a channel cat out with his kayak. 

 

That sort of thing is not the norm for me. I stick to calm waters and rivers away from boat traffic. It's no fun having to maneuver my kayak into the waves every minute or so as yacht after yacht cruises by.