Fishing Etiquette

[cookieman]

Myself like many here have seen the bad behavior of many. i was working a point one time catching small bass one after another> the next thing i know there are other boats on both sides of me. i left the spot without saying a word and went across the small lake and watched . they both moved going different directions so i went back and started catching again with a deep down chuckle.they  could see that i was catching an were a little ticked i think. i have found that the key is to move before they  know what you are useing and return. Less conflict is better. Hour later one was at the ramp and came up to me and asked what i was using and catching were they didnt catch anything. I pointed to one of my rods that i changed before going in and said that and they had a funny look on their face. It wasnt what i was using of course so got another chuckle out of it. tight lines guys and gals

[Brad Reid]

9 hours ago, GreenPig said:

I never said cast at them. I said next to them. Don't get me wrong if you come in fish behind me and stay 80 to 100 yards away I'd never have a problem.  If you trolled right up to me and introduced yourself I'd even tell you what I've caught and what I'm using but if you think you're gonna push me down the bank I'll hit spot lock and hang out. I always try to be a nice guy. Some people just won't let me. It's seems to be mostly spring/fair weather boaters. 

Well, 100 yards, if you mean in all directions as if fishing open water is  . . . 6.49 acres. 

 

That is asking for a whole lot of water to yourself.

 

It is rather circumstantial, too, adding this to the fact there are no hard and fast rules.  Yesterday, I was fishing a shoreline where there is a little narrowing between it and a small island. As I came around, I was working the bank in my kayak, the boaters came into view and were working/casting toward the island. We slid right past each other, no issues. I'm sure they'd have liked to have tossed a few toward the shore and I would have liked to toss a few toward the island but no worries.

 

Brad

 

 

 

 

[GreenPig]

15 minutes ago, Brad Reid said:

Well, 100 yards, if you mean in all directions as if fishing open water is  . . . 6.49 acres. 

 

That is asking for a whole lot of water to yourself.

 

It is rather circumstantial, too, adding this to the fact there are no hard and fast rules.  Yesterday, I was fishing a shoreline where there is a little narrowing between it and a small island. As I came around, I was working the bank in my kayak, the boaters came into view and were working/casting toward the island. We slid right past each other, no issues. I'm sure they'd have liked to have tossed a few toward the shore and I would have liked to toss a few toward the island but no worries.

 

Brad

 

 

 

 

As with all things in life common sense should be used in anything you do. Every situation elicits a different reaction.

[NYWayfarer]

15 hours ago, jbsoonerfan said:

There is NO spot worth me getting into a fight or worse shot over. If someone comes into a spot where I am, I will just let them have it and find another one. When I was in my 20's I would have for sure had some unpleasant things to say, glad I have outgrown that stage lol.

I agree and I also find another spot.

 

The problem is some of the folks who invade or encroach upon "your" space are counting on you leaving.

[jakkbauer]

13 hours ago, Flatrock said:

 

 I think I would have swamped him had it not been for about 20 people on shore that would have been witnesses.

 

....  

 

I just want to fish in peace.

dude if you just want to fish in peace why are you so aggressive? this statement and the one in your OP about the split shot is actually kind of frightening. you are admitting to being willing to commit a crime if there were no witnesses???? does nobody else see anything wrong with this psycho?

[Choporoz]

 

14 hours ago, Flatrock said:

 

I had 2 yaks do that to me last week..  The first one did stay to the outside of me but he was only about 30' from me when he passed quietly...  I thought it rude but as quiet as he was I just bit my tongue and nodded at him as he nodded at me as he passed..   But later on that day this jerk in his bright yellow yak parked it like 50' feet away and I could tell he was testing me as he kept creeping closer.   I think I would have swamped him had it not been for about 20 people on shore that would have been witnesses.  So I just kicked the trolling motor down shore and this idiot started following me..!!!     I think he thought better when I stopped in a cove and couldn't go any further and turned around.  It wasn't long when another yak  parked it about the same distance from him and began fishing. 

 

To me it's not about what you're fishing in...  I feel fortunate I was able to find my boat for what I could afford otherwise I'd be in a little jon boat or something.     I mean just because you are catching fish doesn't mean I will if I crowd you..  in fact I feel the opposite will happen and neither boats will catch anything at that point.     But I'm also seeing guys with your bigger more expensive bass boats have that I've got a better boat than you so I'm going to do what I want attitude...  

 

I just want to fish in peace.

I think a yak paddling past OUTSIDE of where you're working at 30' was absolutely fine....how was it rude?  Did it affect where you could cast?  The speed or direction at which you could troll?  Did he scare your fish?   

 

-good luck with the last part...try some deep breathing exercises

4 hours ago, Oregon Native said:

Times are changing...attitudes are changing...the good ol days are just that...the good ol days.  Weather I golf, fish, or hunt or even try to go for a walk in the neighbor hood it can be a challenge.

We wear orange when hunting to be seen....well other's see us and figure that must be a good area so....that spot was good once!!!  Golfing used to be a bit more friendly...now curiosity is a lot out the window...hardly anyone will let you move through and they don't want to fix their ball marks on greens either as much.  Walking in the neighbor hood and trying to enjoy nature and say a few friendly hello's is usually interrupted by some body's dog "who has never bit anyone" chasing your %$#@.  Fishing...well...you've all answered this....it's both sides...bank, all boaters....list goes on.  

We could go on and on and on in all areas of life...thing is we just seem to need broader shoulders now.  After all we must be tolerant and politically correct...right!!!

 

That's just it....this isn't really about fishing at all.  Either I'm getting old, or much of the people that I come across don't share the same ideas regarding respect, golden rules, personal space, etc.

 

1 hour ago, GreenPig said:

As with all things in life common sense should be used in anything you do. Every situation elicits a different reaction.

If only common sense were more common.....

[jbsoonerfan]

While we are on the subject of how close is too close. When I was having to fish from the bank last week I was at a spot that is only maybe 50 yards wide. There is a ton of timber on the South of it and you can't access the bank from the North. A guy pulled up in his truck and I could tell he was bummed that I was there. He got his poles out and started walking South. I said, hey man you are more than welcome to fish over here. He told me thanks but I was there first. I said, well this isn't my spot and there are plenty of fish in this lake. He asked if I was sure and I told him yes. He started fishing and I told him which stumps I had caught fish off in the last couple weeks and what I was throwing. 

[frogflogger]

The only behavior we can control is our own.

 

[Tlauz]

I am going to argue for both sides.  I mainly fish lakes less than 800 acres.  When the lake is really busy I often will pass a boat or have a boat pass me within 40 yards.  Mostly I or they are trolling by.  I have never had a problem with this. If they stayed really close to me and fished I might.  On the other side of the argument, when it gets hot and sunny I realize the lake is going to get busy with pontoons, jet skis, and boats pulling tubers and skiers.  I will probably be one of them.  Up north summer is short and people want to be on the water when it is nice.  There are still places you can go fish, but if you sit in the middle of a smaller lake on a nice weekend and then complain about the boat traffic, I have no sympathy for you.  I fish early and late and realize that 12 -5 is family fun time. 

[Log Catcher]

Many years ago my brother and I were fishing the river. Some guys came by in a boat just riding around first passing in in one direction and then coming back past us again. Every time we moved to another spot they would show up doing the same thing again. We moved and fished several different spots and finally got away from them. When it was getting dark we headed back to the boat ramp. We come to a spot several miles upriver from the ramp and there they sat on the bank broke down. That is where we left them sitting to get back the best way they could.

[jbsoonerfan]

3 minutes ago, Log Catcher said:

Many years ago my brother and I were fishing the river. Some guys came by in a boat just riding around first passing in in one direction and then coming back past us again. Every time we moved to another spot they would show up doing the same thing again. We moved and fished several different spots and finally got away from them. When it was getting dark we headed back to the boat ramp. We come to a spot several miles upriver from the ramp and there they sat on the bank broke down. That is where we left them sitting to get back the best way they could.

Wow, I will stop there.

[Munkin]

If some of you would ever fish the Lower Potomac your head would explode. The community holes have people fishing 25' from each other on a regular basis. Most of the time it doesn't bother me but sometimes it does. Once I was fishing a grass bed smaller than my boat doing clockwise circles, Another boat pulls in like 15' ahead of me and when I said something his reply was this is a community hole. Well I decided to drive my boat through the community hole 3 times just to break up the grass. Had two guys pull between me and a point when I had to re-tie a lost lure at less than 25'. We said something to them but they just ignored us. My partner stopped me as I was going to see if I could snag some of their rods off the front deck since they were so close.

 

Allen

[NHBull]

We all have our stories, but suspect given the time we spend on the water, they're minimal.  There is no reason to believe that fishermen/boaters aren't representative of the times we live in. 

[Manly Studson]

I haven’t seen too much disrespect from other fishermen on the water or on the bank. If anything, boaters (not fishermen) can be insensitive, but this mostly has to do with blasting music all over the lake. For the most part, my experience with fishermen has been good.

[sully420]

Bass fishing is getting popular up here in Minnesota, in the summer deep weed edges are pretty good. It's common for anglers to pull up 25' yards ahead of me and start fishing the edge. When this happens I know that too many people are fishing only the edges and it's a good time to fish shallow cover or look for deep structures. This has paid off big time not only for finding less pressured fish but also keeps me in a good mind set for fishing which is the most important aspect of my fishing. Fishing needs to be fun first and foremost, no need to let inconsiderate people get in your head.

[Dxdger30]

I was fishing the Big Bass Bash at The Lake of the Ozarks over the weekend, and there were many instances where space was invaded just for the fact that there were 2500 boats out there fishing. We didn’t have one bad experience, usually what happened was you or the other boat would just troll around each other and 9/10 times you would make small talk with them. Didn’t come across anyone with any negative attitude which was great. I think people knew the amount of people that where fishing this tournament so they sort of had to expect it. 

[papajoe222]

On 4/28/2019 at 3:21 PM, MartinTheFisherman said:

If someone is in your spot, just take out this bad boy...

 

I introduce to you the EZ-Cutter, this will cut all their line so they will need to rig back up as you are still fishing! 

 

 

 

(Please don't really use this)

Tight Lines,

Martin Sierra

 

Where can I get one?  Seriously 

[stepup]

I fish Chickamauga a good bit and people will drive you crazy on that lake. They will give you 25 yards to fish. They will cut you off. God forbid you start catching fihs you will have boats on top of you. That being said though I try no to let it bother me. I am out doing something I enjoy so I just roll with the flow and try not to sweat it.

[WRB]

All you need to do is read the urinate post on this page to understand bass anglers, the majority think it's normal to stand and pee off the back of the boat.

The culture of respecting each other is long gone.

Tom

[Russ E]

In 40 years of fishing I don't see any difference now from when I bought my first boat.

I have had very few incidents with other Bass fishermen. Maybe things are different in other parts of the country.

From my own experience crappie, white bass, and walleye fishermen, tend to congregate in one area when someone starts catching fish. That is nothing new. It has always been like that. If I happen to be where they are congregating, I just move on.

I remember fishing on Lake Winnibigoshish in Northern Minnesota 30 years ago. We would be miles from the nearest boat. within 10 minutes of catching our first Walleye, there would be 10 boats around us.

 

the rudest people I encounter on the water are pleasure boaters. they are either oblivious to fishermen or they simply don't care.

[MartinTheFisherman]

14 hours ago, papajoe222 said:

Where can I get one?  Seriously 

I remember getting the picture from a post on Instagram but it said the source was unknown, but why would you want one, and is it even allowed? 

[Mw Michaelis]

Ive had issues with rude boaters rude jetskiers and rude fishermen. January wife and I were fishing a point huge lake and I mean huge guy trolling for trout cuts in between me and the bank I was sitting about 20 feet off the bank.

He needless to say hit his tin boat on a rock and dinged it up good cussed me for it I just looked at him and said ok what ever. also the lake has a counter rotation direction he was going clock wise but I was in the wrong etc. I just ignore the rude ones. Also on same day guy in a wake boat wife and I were in a small cove beached in a shallow area eating our lunch idiot almost ran over us. Him and his buddys all laughing. You cant fix stupid. but I have taken videos and wrote down cf numbers and reported to the ranger station on way out. Arguing these days with the me me me generation can be deadly and not worth it. Ones that get me more then on the water is prepping their boats on the ramp when there are staging areas to do that or the ones that litter. One day idiot threw his beer bottle on the ramp and broke it another guy made him pick up the pieces lol. Think that guy got a lessen that day. The guy that made him clean it was off duty Merced country sheriff lol

[ww2farmer]

I don't get too upset when non-bass guys are not as courteous as I would like them to be, often it's just harmless ignorance on their part, and usually, a kind word , or friendly conversation clears up the matter.

 

I do get really really mad when other bass guys, especially ones I know don't practice the same. 

 

But turnabout is fair play. I once showed a guy.....a member here whom I fished tournaments with, and was generally good friends with...many many springs ago now, the how/when/where/and why I caught early spring largemouth on our mutual home lake, with an unspoken understanding that it was to be kept under wraps. Fast forward a few years, and he's shown multiple people, posted pictures on social media with obvious landmarks in the background, and generally trolls for pats on the back via social media while doing so. I have returned the favor the best I could by showing people what he showed me in regards to catching smallmouth. Dirty pool on both parts.....but like I said, turnabout is fair play.

[the reel ess]

On 4/28/2019 at 1:36 PM, Sam said:

Other than for a tournament, I fish on weekdays and avoid the idiots on the water.

 

I used to do that too until that wouldn't even "net" me some solitude. I realized I was competing with people with better electronics and equipment than me for a bunch of 1-2 lb bass. I always found myself on second- or third-choice spots because i didn't want to crowd somebody. I eventually just left the big lake/bass boat scene to others. If I wanted to compete, I'd join a club and I like being alone, or at least in the only boat around if I'm fishing with another person. I live with a wife, daughter and female dog. I enjoy a few hours of alone time to be a guy.

[NittyGrittyBoy]

That's the positive about working swing shift, all the waters I want to fish during the week.

 

Weekend wannabe's can fight for water. I like fishing with the few retired guys I see scattered about!