Those 10% or tournament guys?

[NHBull]

Until this Summer I have never had a bad experience with tournament fishermen.

 

Over the next couple weeks there are some bigger tournaments and a lot have been pre-fishing it hard.

 

Sunday the fishing was hard, so I went to some lesser known coves to hit the banks it is narrow, no wake, and very hard to pass another boat without being an ass...... Halfway down the cove a big Ranger comes off plane 30 yards from me and is irritated at my slow trolling speed 

He decides to pass and jump directly in front of me.  I am sure I could have dented his motor a dozen times with my TRIG.

 

Normally, I would wanted to have a chat, but Sunday I was just ticked at the way he was representing our sport. Hours later at the country store, a few other guys commented on similar occurrences this Summer. 

 

Marine Patrol has also noticed a significant amounts of complaints. 

 

In my younger years, I am sure there would have been a different outcome.....

 

Sorry for the vent, but little things are big things!

 

 

[jbmaine]

Vent away, You're not alone. We also have seen more bad behavior on the water this year. Let's hope this is a trend that does NOT continue.

[TOXIC]

It seems that when there is $$ on the line, courtesy goes out the window.  I will say that if you met most of the rude fishermen off the water, they are probably pretty nice guys.  As I have eluded to before, the bigger the name the bigger the problem as can be as evidenced with friends of mine who got in a tiff with an Elite Series angler and sponsors got involved, attorneys got involved and employers got involved.  

[DINK WHISPERER]

You should see Okee during FLW. . . . Darn shame!

[Spankey]

Let's see if the moderator jumps in and give his opinion or boots my reply. Any reply where you rollover and suck it it up if fine. Now I'm not implying any bodily harm just a note to let some one know that your not a fool or ignorant to be pushed around. Give the guy a wake back. He's not gonna do anything. He'll know it's *** for tat. Let him suck on that awhile. Might make him think about it next time. But probably not. 

[Dens228]

It's not just tournament guys.  I was out in my kayak Sunday where the was a family of three also fishing in kayaks I was having some above average luck working a narrow underwater channel when they decided to get a little closer. As I was reeling in, taking a photo of, and then releasing a nice bass they a came to within 50 feet of may kayak, one to the left of me, one to the right, and one in front, and proceeded to fish.  The son appeared to be about 10 years old so I didn't want to say anything figuring dad was obviously an a##h### and it would probably escalate verbally which I didn't want to happen in front of his yound son.  

 

What I did was switch to a swimjig and cast all around dad's kayak. When he looked at me I just gave a little shrug and kept casting.  He got the message and they all moved away. I was actually video recording with my GoPro and have it all but decided to not make a Youtube video out of this one. 

[frogflogger]

When fishing a tournament I once saw another competitor tell a fisherman and his son that he "was fishing for money and they needed to move off a bank"

I told the competitor and any one fishing tournaments that you must let guys that are fishing for their own enjoyment always have the right a way if they were there first. If tournament fishermen continue to mistreat recreational anglers tournaments will soon be no more.

It's about having fun and respecting others - golf, (I don't play) has done a great job instilling integrity and respect into their sport - I believe bass fishermen should strive for the same levels of respect for the sport, the fish and the recreational anglers that are the bedrock of it all.

[Krux5506]

I'm usually a leisure fisherman and have had numerous jerk moves pulled on me by tournament guys, but I've also fished tournaments and there's just a whole different mindset going on and with me it isn't even about the money, it's just the competitive nature of a tournament. You are way more driven to fish and not take breaks, time seems to go by way quicker, etc. You're basically just in a rush to get the best bag possible. So really it's no wonder these guys could care less about cutting someone off or being a jerk, they probably have tunnel vision. 

 

 

I can't believe I'm here half defending bad tournament dudes...I hate it as much as the next guy, I just see both sides of it. But you're right, it certainly gives them a bad name. In fact, around here we call them bassholes. 

[DSTN]

I am a combo bank/kayak fisherman and I've had more issues with recreational fisherman in boats cutting me off than tournament guys. Maybe they underestimate me and figure I can only cast 20 feet or so, I don't know. But I do know throwing cast nets for shad over and over for 15 minutes seems to shut the fishing in an area down for a bit...

 

It all comes down to the people or person involved in every scenario. I've had plenty of tournament guys give me a wide berth when I was bank fishing on a tournament day, no matter how much it pains them to pass that juicy looking rip rap.  I've also let guys fish through or let them know I don't plan to fish part of the area, etc. to give them the opportunity if they desire.

[r83srock]

I have had very few issues with other bass fishermen, or anyone for that matter. However, last Saturday dad and fished an open tournament that our club puts on. I had done some pre fishing for this event and had the bite pretty dialed in, however we were taking off about mid pack. When we got to spot #1 I was relieved to see no one was on it. This is a rail road bridge in a river, the two sides are 150 yards apart, so there is room. I’m about my third cast in with a buzzbait and another tournament guy shuts down in the middle of the river. I didn’t  think anything of it, I just figured he was going to work the other corner. Naw, a whopper plopper, comes flying in front of me. I look over at him and my exact words are, “really dude!?” “I wouldn’t do that to you”. I proceeded to brush it off, keep a positive mental attitude, and catch about a 3 pounder in front of him. We had a very good day. I really wanted to have a conversation with him when it was done, just to work it out, but I seen him leave right away. I love tournament fishing, but I am not going to jeopardize the integrity of the sport bydisrespecting others. There is a lot of water to share.

[OCdockskipper]

55 minutes ago, r83srock said:

... I look over at him and my exact words are, “really dude!?” ...

In my opinion, that is the perfect response.  It conveys incredulousness without being insulting.  In fact, you are subtly giving him credit for knowing better.

[Stephen B]

On ‎9‎/‎25‎/‎2018 at 4:17 AM, NHBull said:

In my younger years, I am sure there would have been a different outcome.....

Well I am not someone to look for confrontation, I certainty would not let someone attempt it. It would end badly for them. I believe some people are so clueless in life and they need a good ol talkin to.

[the reel ess]

That's why I fish private waters and usually alone. I have a boat I don't use except in the winter in one of those private places. There can be other people in one of them because there is other access. But it's big enough that often I just see them from a distance.

[Ratherbfishing]

On 9/25/2018 at 7:53 AM, frogflogger said:

When fishing a tournament I once saw another competitor tell a fisherman and his son that he "was fishing for money and they needed to move off a bank"

Fishing for money, eh?  I'm of the temperament that if someone told me that, I'd stay there ALL day-whether I was catching fish or not.  And if I had to leave, I'd recruit other fishermen to camp there before I left.  I'm generally very willing to collaborate and compromise with others but this?....huh uh.  Ain't gonna happen.

[J Francho]

If a tournament angler asks you to move, find out who the tournament director is, and report them.  That is grounds for DQ in any club I've been in.

[soflabasser]

On 9/25/2018 at 8:53 AM, frogflogger said:

When fishing a tournament I once saw another competitor tell a fisherman and his son that he "was fishing for money and they needed to move off a bank"

I told the competitor and any one fishing tournaments that you must let guys that are fishing for their own enjoyment always have the right a way if they were there first. If tournament fishermen continue to mistreat recreational anglers tournaments will soon be no more.

It's about having fun and respecting others - golf, (I don't play) has done a great job instilling integrity and respect into their sport - I believe bass fishermen should strive for the same levels of respect for the sport, the fish and the recreational anglers that are the bedrock of it all.

I am not surprised at all that the tournament angler said that and it is unsportsmanlike behavior to say the least. From my experience I have learned that tournament anglers and fishing guides can be very petty and greedy, they seem to think they own the water when the public water is actually for all those who have fishing licenses.

On 9/25/2018 at 7:17 AM, NHBull said:

Until this Summer I have never had a bad experience with tournament fishermen.

 

Over the next couple weeks there are some bigger tournaments and a lot have been pre-fishing it hard.

 

Sunday the fishing was hard, so I went to some lesser known coves to hit the banks it is narrow, no wake, and very hard to pass another boat without being an ass...... Halfway down the cove a big Ranger comes off plane 30 yards from me and is irritated at my slow trolling speed 

He decides to pass and jump directly in front of me.  I am sure I could have dented his motor a dozen times with my TRIG.

 

Normally, I would wanted to have a chat, but Sunday I was just ticked at the way he was representing our sport. Hours later at the country store, a few other guys commented on similar occurrences this Summer. 

 

Marine Patrol has also noticed a significant amounts of complaints. 

 

In my younger years, I am sure there would have been a different outcome.....

 

Sorry for the vent, but little things are big things!

 

 

 

It would be best to ignore people like these since many of them have short tempers with guns. Best thing you can do is avoid fools like those,up your fishing game and catch lots of big bass.

[Spankey]

16 minutes ago, J Francho said:

If a tournament angler asks you to move, find out who the tournament director is, and report them.  That is grounds for DQ in any club I've been in.

You actually heard that in the past? You've actually witnessed someone leave a spot because a tournament guy asked another guy to leave?

 

That would be the ------- day. 

 

There are a lot of ignorant people in S.E. Penna. but never seen or heard that one. 

[J Francho]

I've never heard it personally.  On many waters up here, we're so used to fishing close quarters, these aren't big issues.  I also have no problem fishing so called "stale" or "fished" waters.  The worst thing I see is out on the big lakes (Ontario or Erie) and you find a spot way out in nowhere, and all of a sudden you have three or four boats around, following the bent rod pattern.

[davecon]

Try being a native Floridian fishing in the winter when the snowbirds arrive !

 

I could go on for a looooonnnnng time about the issues but unless you are from here, or someplace similar, you wouldn’t believe me anyway.

[volzfan59]

It's been a while back, but I had a tournament angler come up using his t/m and ask if I was fishing what ever tournament that he was in. I replied "No, just out having fun." He very politely asked if he could "move around me to (pointed at a secondary point that was maybe 50 yards away) and fish. This guy was super nice, I told him to have at it and wished him luck. 

 

Happened again trout fishing on the Candy Fork River. I was working a fairly deep hole. Guy came up on the bank, I was wading. He very nicely asked to jump ahead. I told him to go ahead. We met up a little further down river, had lunch together.

 

All of that to say, if someone asks politely they'll get a lot more than demanding I do something. 

[J Francho]

I should change my wording to "demands" not "ask".  I have had pros nicely ask if they can hop around or fish ahead.  It happened several times on Smith Mountain Lake during an Elite event, while fishing in the Indian Point area.

[Stephen B]

2 hours ago, J Francho said:

I should change my wording to "demands" not "ask".  I have had pros nicely ask if they can hop around or fish ahead.  It happened several times on Smith Mountain Lake during an Elite event, while fishing in the Indian Point area.

Right on! When money is on the line and they are polite since I fish for enjoyment, I will definitely move along. But if they aren't polite, they will second guess their decision lol. 

[J Francho]

I didn't move along, no one asked for that.  They just asked if they could fish that cove ahead of us.

[lo n slo]

we met a couple guys out pre-fishing a BASS Open on our home lake this spring. they were both from NY. they kinda picked our brains (hold your laughter please) and we had a few laughs. super nice guys, glad to help them out. 

[NHBull]

16 minutes ago, lo n slo said:

we met a couple guys out pre-fishing a BASS Open on our home lake this spring. they were both from NY. they kinda picked our brains (hold your laughter please) and we had a few laughs. super nice guys, glad to help them out. 

That's been my experience  for years, but this Summer, the lack of manners is disturbing!