How do boat fishermen really feel about kayak anglers?

[Ksam1234]

2 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Another candidate for a photo of the reg numbers and a call to the sheriff.

Yeah I should of thought of that. I left about 10 minutes later and was hoping he didn’t follow me to the ramp as he had a few guys with him and I was alone. But it all worked out... some people just have nothing better to do I guess

[TimberTodd]

Ive never had an issue with someone fishing from their boat. I give eveyone boat or bank their space. Now wakeboats and jetskis are a different story. I had a wakeboat come within about 80' of me and turn so that his tsunami of a wave came right at me. He wasn't even towing a wakeboarder.

[TnRiver46]

4 hours ago, TimberTodd said:

Ive never had an issue with someone fishing from their boat. I give eveyone boat or bank their space. Now wakeboats and jetskis are a different story. I had a wakeboat come within about 80' of me and turn so that his tsunami of a wave came right at me. He wasn't even towing a wakeboarder.

Just turning fuel into noise 

[Ratherbefishing75]

I to fish in a canoe and I launch it with the help of a boat trailer I’m quick to unload and quick to load as I get her ready to go out or to go home in the parking lot  I have seen way to many fart nockers  hog the ramp and thay are usually to  Pleasureboaters as far as respect in the water I have had no problems with other fishermen on water mainly because I like to get in to the spots that thay can’t ?

[AC870]

I got no problems with yaks but I’m concerned about their safety. I’ve seen a couple under Guntersville Lake bridges more than once and that is not s good place to be. 

[jbsoonerfan]

I treat every vessel on the water the same. I am no longer a boater, but I was. If I'm on plane and a yak is in the main lake fishing a point, I will just keep going and stay as far away as possible (same as I would do with a bass boat). Most of the time people fishing out of a yak at least have a clue, it is the recreational people who don't even know what is going on. Those people don't get much respect from me for some of the things they have done.

[Glaucus]

31 minutes ago, AC870 said:

I got no problems with yaks but I’m concerned about their safety. I’ve seen a couple under Guntersville Lake bridges more than once and that is not s good place to be. 

It's just as much a boaters responsibility to watch out for smaller crafts as it is a small crafts responsibility to be safe and be seen. The water is for everyone. What I'm learning throughout the thread is "you don't belong here." Everyone be safe and be smart. Everyone is entitled to the same water in whatever boat they're in. 

[jbsoonerfan]

3 minutes ago, Glaucus said:

It's just as much a boaters responsibility to watch out for smaller crafts as it is a small crafts responsibility to be safe and be seen. The water is for everyone. What I'm learning throughout the thread is "you don't belong here." Everyone be safe and be smart. Everyone is entitled to the same water in whatever boat they're in. 

Just like it is just as much a semi truck driver to look out for motorcycles, but unfortunately those motorcycle drivers think they can do what they want because they are on a motorcycle. I see groups of "bikers" all the time who ride the centerline with their foot hanging out as far as they can. I guarantee if I was on a bike, I would be as far from the centerline as possible. A gust of wind (especially here in Oklahoma) can sway a semi 1-2 feet. If the cocky biker rider isn't careful, he may lose a foot.

[stepup]

On 2/12/2019 at 8:36 PM, YaknBassn said:

I figure the majority guys on this site fish from bass boats.  I'm curious to know how they REALLY feel about kayak anglers on the water, especially on the main lake.

 

I went from fishing from a boat to strictly kayak fishing.  Kayak fishing has exploded in popularity since I made the jump.  I feel like coming from a boat first and understanding the laws on the water was very useful.  With kayaks being as cheap as $200, you get people on the lakes that have no clue.  

I would bet most are like me and fish from both.

 

[Osprey39]

I have no problem with kayakers as long as they aren't paddling around in the middle of a channel where they know powerboats are going to want to run.  For that matter, I don't like it when powerboats mill around in the middle of said channels either.  It's kind of like playing hockey on a highway, just not a very good idea.

 

That said, I don't really get the whole kayak fishing thing.  It seems like a de-evolution in fishing methods to me but hey, whatever blows your dress up I guess

[kenmitch]

I had one snub me at the lake yesterday....He said I had more rods than a tournament fisherman! 

 

[Hawkeye21]

20 hours ago, Osprey39 said:

I have no problem with kayakers as long as they aren't paddling around in the middle of a channel where they know powerboats are going to want to run.  For that matter, I don't like it when powerboats mill around in the middle of said channels either.  It's kind of like playing hockey on a highway, just not a very good idea.

 

That said, I don't really get the whole kayak fishing thing.  It seems like a de-evolution in fishing methods to me but hey, whatever blows your dress up I guess

 

This is the issue I think boaters have with kayaks, you don't get it.  People have a tendency to not care or disrespect things they don't get.  I'm not saying this is how you are but it is for a good amount.

 

As for the hockey on the highway analogy, that's a poor example.  The highway is not meant for everyone, it's meant for high speed traffic.  Public waters are meant for everyone and that includes kayaks, canoes, skiers, tubers, swimmers and people who just want to float around.

[scaleface]

On 2/26/2019 at 10:59 PM, Glaucus said:

What I'm learning throughout the thread is "you don't belong here."

I dont see it like  that  at all . 

[Russ E]

this thread just keeps going.

Both sides need to be aware of the other.

On public water everyone has an equal right to be there.

When I am fishing from a kayak I do not fish in the middle of a busy boat channel. That is just plain ignorant.

When I am in my boat I always give a Kayak a wide berth. If one is in the boat channel I try to slowly idle by. 

[geo g]

No problem, I like to see them out in the glades.  We have gators bigger then the kayaks.   I’d rather be in my bass boat, but each to their own.  I have had a gator slap my boat with it’s tail, and many follow the boat for quite some time while fishing.  Would not want to be in a kayak when seeing 100 adult gators a trip.

[Osprey39]

6 hours ago, Hawkeye21 said:

As for the hockey on the highway analogy, that's a poor example.  The highway is not meant for everyone, it's meant for high speed traffic.  Public waters are meant for everyone and that includes kayaks, canoes, skiers, tubers, swimmers and people who just want to float around.

I was specifically talking about channels which are by and large meant for high speed traffic.  I've been on lakes in New Mexico where going outside the channel was asking for some serious lower unit damage.  Even here in Florida, you might end up running up on a sand bar or something.  I also said I didn't like it when powerboats loiter in the middle of the channel so I wasn't discriminating against paddlers when I said that.  It's just not a great place to fish or otherwise mill around in.

[Glaucus]

4 hours ago, geo g said:

No problem, I like to see them out in the glades.  We have gators bigger then the kayaks.   I’d rather be in my bass boat, but each to their own.  I have had a gator slap my boat with it’s tail, and many follow the boat for quite some time while fishing.  Would not want to be in a kayak when seeing 100 adult gators a trip.

Roland Martin recently put out a video where he was WADING in a lake in Florida. He said he's not concerned about the gators. That's absolutely insane. I would have a hard time bank fishing in Florida let alone kayaking or wading. I'd be terrified the whole time. 

[Osprey39]

52 minutes ago, Glaucus said:

Roland Martin recently put out a video where he was WADING in a lake in Florida. He said he's not concerned about the gators. That's absolutely insane. I would have a hard time bank fishing in Florida let alone kayaking or wading. I'd be terrified the whole time. 

Most of the time there's no reason to be worried about them.  When I was a teenager, I was duck hunting with a friend of my dad's and we had a bird go down behind our blind.  He went wading out to get it and all of a sudden I heard a huge splash from his direction.  I yelled over at him, "Did you fall down?"  He yelled back, "Nah, I just stepped on about an 8 foot gator over here."  The gator just took off as they don't like being around humans.  

 

Now if it's their mating season, all bets are off.  They are very aggressive during that time of the year.

[TimberTodd]

On 2/27/2019 at 11:16 AM, kenmitch said:

I had one snub me at the lake yesterday....He said I had more rods than a tournament fisherman! 

 

He was just jealous?

[TnRiver46]

On 2/26/2019 at 11:26 PM, AC870 said:

I got no problems with yaks but I’m concerned about their safety. I’ve seen a couple under Guntersville Lake bridges more than once and that is not s good place to be. 

Grand Central station

8 hours ago, Russ E said:

this thread just keeps going.

Both sides need to be aware of the other.

On public water everyone has an equal right to be there.

When I am fishing from a kayak I do not fish in the middle of a busy boat channel. That is just plain ignorant.

When I am in my boat I always give a Kayak a wide berth. If one is in the boat channel I try to slowly idle by. 

What on Earth are you thinking using common sense????!

[geo g]

3 hours ago, Glaucus said:

Roland Martin recently put out a video where he was WADING in a lake in Florida. He said he's not concerned about the gators. That's absolutely insane. I would have a hard time bank fishing in Florida let alone kayaking or wading. I'd be terrified the whole time. 

I fish Florida 6 days a week for the last 40 years.  I bank fish 4 days a week and have never waded one time.  I have seen thousands of snakes over that time, and even had one go between my feet from behind.  Scared the crap out of me, and i'm not afraid of snakes.  Now we have 15 foot pythons on the loose.  NO WADING for me! 

I have had gators charge the boat, slap the side of the boat with there tail, and nose the trolling motor. Breeding season is the time when they get a little hissy.  Big males like their territory.  You can get away with wading many times, but if your in the wrong place at the right time, your in a world of hurt.

Pythons, Gators, Cotton Mouths, 100 pound snapping turtles, do you need more.

[soflabasser]

Reading some of the responses here makes me appreciate how grateful I am that my family raised me to not be afraid of wildlife while I am in the outdoors. I have dived both in freshwater with alligators and saltwater with sharks so I know a thing or two about being close to wildlife compared to someone who just fishes from a boat or on the shore. Yes you have to respect dangerous wildlife but not fear it like so many people do. You need to understand the biology of these animals and avoid them when they are most aggressive (alligator mating season for example). Being knowledgeable about the wildlife around me makes fishing much more enjoyable for me since I do not fear every animal that is near me and I can focus my efforts where it really matters which is catching more big bass from the bank.

On 2/28/2019 at 5:49 PM, Glaucus said:

 WADING in a lake in Florida. I would have a hard time bank fishing in Florida let alone kayaking or wading. I'd be terrified the whole time. 

I often wade to release my bass, have wade fished for bass, and wade fish both in freshwater and saltwater. You need to know what you are doing and if you do you will be ok. Don't wade fish during alligator mating season and don't wade fish in water with less than 10 feet visibility. Pay attention to your surroundings at all times. If an alligator is showing his back and shows other aggressive body language then it would probably be best to leave the area and fish somewhere else.

[soflabasser]

On 2/28/2019 at 12:25 PM, Russ E said:

Both sides need to be aware of the other.

On public water everyone has an equal right to be there.

Try telling that to those with boats that drive +30mph in no wake zones, jet skiers, pleasure boaters, and other people who seem to not care for others fishing. Best thing to do is to adapt to the situation and be consistent at catching big bass, that is what I do and it keeps me happy while on the water.

[Rip_lipz]

I started on a kayak before I bought my glass boat. I have never had an issue, if they cut in front of me they probably don't know better. NOW, wake boats.. someone needs to teach these guys its not cool to do circles around my boat when I am trying to fish offshore.