Advice on rude bank anglers?

[plawren53202]

As we've thoroughly covered on this forum already, being a bank-bound angler has been a curse in most parts of the country during Covid. Certainly the case here in St. Louis, where most public spots have been pounded. My subdivision pond, which is allegedly for subdivision residents only (LOL), that has certainly been the case. I don't particularly enjoy fishing it other than the fact that it takes me 30 seconds to drive down there, so it is easy to squeeze in before or after work (I live in an area where there aren't really any good options that don't require a significant drive). But incidents lately have reduced my enjoyment to the point that I'm just about to throw in the towel. Interestingly the numbers of the Covid fishing crowds there seem to have lessened a little, but the problems haven't.

 

Incident #1: Two trips ago, I'm fishing, only one at the pond. A boy in his young teens, I'd estimate 13 or 14, is walking up to the pond and marches straight to a spot within 15 feet of me--for reference keep in mind that this pond is about 4-5 acres in size, so not tiny, and the shoreline is absolutely devoid of any visible cover so there would not appear to be any "good spots" (although I know of a couple of places where there are large rocks on the bottom, because I've scoured the bottom with a Carolina rig). Not surprisingly his first cast with a giant spinnerbait launches straight across my line and I have to quickly reel in to avoid a mess. Trying to be as gentle as possible, I said to him, hey bud, you know people usually pick a spot to set up where you don't cast across someone else's line. He responds with, huh? I said, it's usually a good idea to set up far enough away from other people that you don't cross their line when you cast. He says, so you want me to move? I said, well, if you're going to stay there you're going to have to be really careful because your first cast already went across my line. He storms off a little ways down the bank, throws about 3 casts, gets out his cell phone, and sure enough a couple of minutes later dad shows up on a golf cart and kid runs up to the road to talk to him. Thankfully to dad's credit he didn't say anything to me and they just left.

 

Incident #2: Yesterday, I'm, again, the only one at the pond. The last couple of trips the bass have at random times been busting some kind of bass or bluegill fry in one particular spot--a corner on the windblown side of the pond. Last time this happened I caught 4 or 5. Yesterday they started doing it again, so I quickly headed toward that spot. The pond is small enough in that area, and the water pretty clear, so that marching right up to that spot would spook them off. So I set my stuff down in a spot close by, kneeled down and started tying on a small swimbait to imitate the fry. As I'm tying I see a couple, look late 20s or early 30s, walking down the bank, chairs, buckets, bobbers, the whole nine yards. I can tell they're headed my way--again with the whole pond at their disposal, and I'm quite certain they weren't headed to that spot because they saw bass busting fry--so I'm frantically trying to get knot tied, swimbait on hook etc. to stand up and get fishing, and of course my knot tying skills completely disappear so it takes me 2 or 3 attempts to get it tied. Sure enough they head right next to me, 10 feet away--it was so close that I almost thought it was a practical joke at first, like one of my friends that fishes had set this up to mess with me. And, they march right up to the edge of the water (of course spooking off the fry busting fish--never saw another splash the rest of the night) and start planting chairs, buckets etc. 

 

I was tempted to say something, but incident #1 ended poorly enough as it was with a young kid. In this day and age I'm just not real keen on starting needless confrontation, there's lots of crazy out there. And, my observation is that a lot of these new Covid anglers or the bucket and bobber brigade just don't give a rip or don't know enough about fishing to even understand that what they've done is bad fishing etiquette, so they just get offended or angry if you try to say anything, even politely. Just not worth it to me, so I just packed up my stuff and headed to the other end of the pond. Fishing was slow last night so by heading off from where they were actively busting fry I gave up any shot of catching more than 1 or 2 loan roamers. But just not worth it to me.

 

So, any words of wisdom? Don't say anything, and stand there and cross lines, or like last night, have no chance of catching what had been active fish. Or say something, very little chance of them actually moving, and high likelihood that the situation escalates. Just seems like a no win, and makes me just want to say screw it and only go when it's raining or at 5:30 in the morning. 

[TnRiver46]

I have several Ponds right near my house and I’ve never fished any of them. I’m starting to realize why after reading bank fishing threads.......

[Guitarfish]

No advice. With the expanding population the percentage of yahoos goes up too.  

 

 

[Bird]

I'd just move on without saying a word as confrontation does nothing good. 

 

It happens out on the water also.

[A-Jay]

9 minutes ago, plawren53202 said:

As we've thoroughly covered on this forum already, being a bank-bound angler has been a curse in most parts of the country during Covid.

 

So, any words of wisdom?  

Perhaps think of the challenges presented by other humans while fishing

as just another factor that needs to be overcome. 

Nothing more, nothing less.

Either way, we can't control it.

Inner peace begins the moment we choose not to allow another person or event to control our emotions.

Exist on your own terms. 

A-Jay

[EWREX]

a nice whopper plopper 130 to the dome should do the trick! KIDDING! i wouldn't let it bother you too much, like everything else in life, there will always be that disrespectful bunch.

[Bankc]

A similar thing happens to me at one of my local lakes.  Only it's jet skis.  Those things are everywhere, and every time I pull my kayak up to a spot, they come out and start doing doughnuts right around me.  Scares the fish away every time, and knocks me around a good bit.  It's not only annoying, but it's dangerous for me.  I can't even yell at them, because they couldn't hear me over their motors.  It is what it is though.  It's their lake too.  I just do my best to remember that I'm there to enjoy myself, and not get angry at others. 

 

Other anglers in boats will crowd me from time to time as well.  Then, when I don't get out of their way, they'll crank up their engines and speed off at full speed, scaring the fish, and leave me fighting their wake.  It's rude, and I know they do it on purpose because they think that they're serious anglers and I'm just a know-nothing amateur that's in their way.  But again, I focus on the good and try my best to not let it bother me. 

 

I think it's just the times we live in.  Everyone has got this attitude that everything belongs to them.  But we all need to learn that we have to share.  We have to share with people we like, and we have to share with people we don't like.  And sometimes, that sharing is going to threaten our enjoyment of that experience.  But, like all things in life, we don't choose what happens to us, but we do choose how we feel about it.  The experience isn't under our control, but our perception of the experience is.  So it's best to just make the best out of each situation we're given.  They can only ruin your day if you let them.  Because if you really think about it, having a bad day of fishing is a lot better than having a good day in the ICU.  

 

 

[BrianMDTX]

Start coughing. Loudly. 

[TnRiver46]

Things don’t get a whole lot better off the bank. Couldn’t help but think of @A-Jay on this one hahaha

[NYWayfarer]

What these folks were doing seems normal to them. Only serious fishermen see this as a breach of etiquette. Confronting them would do no good because in their mind they are doing nothing wrong. You will come off as looking like the crazy person.

 

I have a tendency to "run and gun" when fishing the banks. I rarely stay in one spot for more than 20 minutes. This keeps me safe from encroachment by others as a byproduct. If someone sets up shop close I leave a bit earlier. One gentleman even asked if he was bothering me when I started leaving. I told him no but the spot is not big enough for two to fish comfortably so he could have it. That's my way of giving someone a clue without confrontation.

[DitchPanda]

50 minutes ago, plawren53202 said:

As we've thoroughly covered on this forum already, being a bank-bound angler has been a curse in most parts of the country during Covid. Certainly the case here in St. Louis, where most public spots have been pounded. My subdivision pond, which is allegedly for subdivision residents only (LOL), that has certainly been the case. I don't particularly enjoy fishing it other than the fact that it takes me 30 seconds to drive down there, so it is easy to squeeze in before or after work (I live in an area where there aren't really any good options that don't require a significant drive). But incidents lately have reduced my enjoyment to the point that I'm just about to throw in the towel. Interestingly the numbers of the Covid fishing crowds there seem to have lessened a little, but the problems haven't.

 

Incident #1: Two trips ago, I'm fishing, only one at the pond. A boy in his young teens, I'd estimate 13 or 14, is walking up to the pond and marches straight to a spot within 15 feet of me--for reference keep in mind that this pond is about 4-5 acres in size, so not tiny, and the shoreline is absolutely devoid of any visible cover so there would not appear to be any "good spots" (although I know of a couple of places where there are large rocks on the bottom, because I've scoured the bottom with a Carolina rig). Not surprisingly his first cast with a giant spinnerbait launches straight across my line and I have to quickly reel in to avoid a mess. Trying to be as gentle as possible, I said to him, hey bud, you know people usually pick a spot to set up where you don't cast across someone else's line. He responds with, huh? I said, it's usually a good idea to set up far enough away from other people that you don't cross their line when you cast. He says, so you want me to move? I said, well, if you're going to stay there you're going to have to be really careful because your first cast already went across my line. He storms off a little ways down the bank, throws about 3 casts, gets out his cell phone, and sure enough a couple of minutes later dad shows up on a golf cart and kid runs up to the road to talk to him. Thankfully to dad's credit he didn't say anything to me and they just left.

 

Incident #2: Yesterday, I'm, again, the only one at the pond. The last couple of trips the bass have at random times been busting some kind of bass or bluegill fry in one particular spot--a corner on the windblown side of the pond. Last time this happened I caught 4 or 5. Yesterday they started doing it again, so I quickly headed toward that spot. The pond is small enough in that area, and the water pretty clear, so that marching right up to that spot would spook them off. So I set my stuff down in a spot close by, kneeled down and started tying on a small swimbait to imitate the fry. As I'm tying I see a couple, look late 20s or early 30s, walking down the bank, chairs, buckets, bobbers, the whole nine yards. I can tell they're headed my way--again with the whole pond at their disposal, and I'm quite certain they weren't headed to that spot because they saw bass busting fry--so I'm frantically trying to get knot tied, swimbait on hook etc. to stand up and get fishing, and of course my knot tying skills completely disappear so it takes me 2 or 3 attempts to get it tied. Sure enough they head right next to me, 10 feet away--it was so close that I almost thought it was a practical joke at first, like one of my friends that fishes had set this up to mess with me. And, they march right up to the edge of the water (of course spooking off the fry busting fish--never saw another splash the rest of the night) and start planting chairs, buckets etc. 

 

I was tempted to say something, but incident #1 ended poorly enough as it was with a young kid. In this day and age I'm just not real keen on starting needless confrontation, there's lots of crazy out there. And, my observation is that a lot of these new Covid anglers or the bucket and bobber brigade just don't give a rip or don't know enough about fishing to even understand that what they've done is bad fishing etiquette, so they just get offended or angry if you try to say anything, even politely. Just not worth it to me, so I just packed up my stuff and headed to the other end of the pond. Fishing was slow last night so by heading off from where they were actively busting fry I gave up any shot of catching more than 1 or 2 loan roamers. But just not worth it to me.

 

So, any words of wisdom? Don't say anything, and stand there and cross lines, or like last night, have no chance of catching what had been active fish. Or say something, very little chance of them actually moving, and high likelihood that the situation escalates. Just seems like a no win, and makes me just want to say screw it and only go when it's raining or at 5:30 in the morning. 

I talked about a situation that happened to me a while back when a couple my age (mid 30s) walked up on the jetty I was fishing almost back to back with me. Didn't even ask me which would be customary especially...but on top of it this covid deal is raging so it m ticked me off. I grabbed my gear threw it in my truck and when the guy looked up I called them something I shouldnt. I was honestly hoping at the time the guy was gonna come up and start simething...that's how mad I was. Of course afterwards I realized it was stupid for me to react that way and I'm glad it didn't get any worse. So words of wisdom...don't do that.

Now about the kid calling his dad...I realize he is a young man but that is pathetic unless you are being aggressive or disrespectful...as long as you handled it the way you claim than there is no reason to react that way. Probably a young kid used to get what he wants and when real life hits he runs to dad to fix it.

Heard a story from a work buddy the other day. So he is on the volunteer fire department in his town and every year they have a big town celebration...music, food,beer garden etc. So he is at this celebration one night and he is watching the band having a few beers. New guy on the department comes up and is giving him a hard time about not working the beer tent..my buddy laughs it off as just a guy messing with him. Well this guy continues several more times throughout the night..each time getting a little more outspoken let's say. My buddy confronts him about it so the guy gets in his face threatening him...buddy has been drinking so he grabs the guy by the neck and pushes him down. The guy gets up and smartly storms off instead of pushing the issue. So the next day my buddy wakes up and gets a call from another guy in the department saying this guys dad is gonna kick his a#@. So he calls the guys dad and explains it to him and they bury the hatchet. Pathetic part in all this is the guy that called his daddy is a 27 year old "man". I use man very loosly here because that's no man I've ever seen..that's a coward...a scared little boy. Apparently some people never grow out of it.

 

 

[plawren53202]

On 8/3/2020 at 8:41 AM, NYWayfarer said:

I have a tendency to "run and gun" when fishing the banks. I rarely stay in one spot for more than 20 minutes. This keeps me safe from encroachment by others as a byproduct. If someone sets up shop close I leave a bit earlier. One gentleman even asked if he was bothering me when I started leaving. I told him no but the spot is not big enough for two to fish comfortably so he could have it. That's my way of giving someone a clue without confrontation.

I "run and gun" as well, my experience is in most ponds if you don't get at least a nibble pretty quickly, then either the spot, the presentation or the bait isn't right and you need to change something. 

 

I've accepted that in public spots during Covid, I have to modify that a little, which is fine. These last two incidents bothered me so much though because it was far far worse than just not being able to run and gun around the pond, the people were so close that they literally almost violated the 6 foot social distancing rules. 

 

I appreciate everyone's thoughts on best to just move and not say anything. Affirms that my decision last night, although difficult, was right. It's just a bummer because with a lot of other very stressful stuff going on in my life right now, until March of this year fishing was my one escape from all that. 

[NHBull]

Let it go!  I know it is easier said than done, but it isn’t worth it.  

[A-Jay]

3 minutes ago, plawren53202 said:

 It's just a bummer because with a lot of other very stressful stuff going on in my life right now, until March of this year fishing was my one escape from all that. 

Everyone's in the same boat.

We still have fishing, it's just different.  No sense looking back, that's  not where we're going.  Looking ahead at the possibilities and opportunities can be motivating.  

Honestly, I fully expect and plan for crazy to be around every corner, and am pleasantly surprised and thankful when it's not.

YMMV

A-Jay

 

[J Francho]

40 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Things don’t get a whole lot better off the bank. Couldn’t help but think of @A-Jay on this one hahaha

This is pretty mild for busy waters up here.  It wouldn't even register on my radar, even if any of them were bass boats.

[TnRiver46]

2 minutes ago, J Francho said:

This is pretty mild for busy waters up here.  It wouldn't even register on my radar, even if any of them were bass boats.

Same for TN river. I’ve had two story boats that you would imagine jay z was driving get that close to me. And barges you have to run and hide from 

 

“you scratched my anchor” -Rodney dangerfield in caddy shack

[J Francho]

 

 

 

As far as the two shoreline scenarios posed above, I'm pretty meh.  At least in both cases they were fishing.

[Fishnski48]

Sorry if I seem to be taking the polyanna position with incident #2, since you were leaving anyway, and they could see that because you had your gear in hand, it might help the folks who walked right up to you to ask did they see the fry busting going on and explain to them what that means and that their sudden approach shut them down.  Also and that fishing etiquette would put them at least 20 feet from another fisherman. Then wish them good luck and leave.

Yes it can be irritating, but we need to help educate some of these newbies, I know when I first started bank fishing I found that most fishermen wanted to help and I would see some of them pretty regularly when I bicycled to the lake or pond.

Those lessons carried over to my adult life when I bought a boat and would slow down even in a when I wasn't required to if I was passing close to someone fishing.  I traded my 20 footer for a 10 footer recently and I know I appreciate that when it happens to me.  

[plawren53202]

4 minutes ago, Fishnski48 said:

Sorry if I seem to be taking the polyanna position with incident #2, since you were leaving anyway, and they sould see that because you had your gear in hand, it might help the folks who walked right up to you to ask did they see the fry busting going on and explain to them what that means and that their sudden approach shut them down.  Also and that fishing etiquette would put them at least 20 feet from another fisherman. Then wish them good luck and leave.

 

Sorry, to clarify, I had just gotten to the spot and was trying to rig up. If I was leaving, no problem at all.

 

7 minutes ago, J Francho said:

As far as the two shoreline scenarios posed above, I'm pretty meh.  At least in both cases they were fishing.

If we in the fishing world have gotten to the point where it's not offensive when someone is literally casting across your line, when there are 4 acres of pond to fish with no one there, then the fishing world (or the world in general) has truly gotten to a sad state. I guess just to illustrate the point next time this happens I'll tie on a crankbait and snag their lines repeatedly and see how well that goes. 

[MIbassyaker]

28 minutes ago, NYWayfarer said:

What these folks were doing seems normal to them. Only serious fishermen see this as a breach of etiquette. Confronting them would do no good because in their mind they are doing nothing wrong. You will come off as looking like the crazy person.

 

I have a tendency to "run and gun" when fishing the banks. I rarely stay in one spot for more than 20 minutes. This keeps me safe from encroachment by others as a byproduct. If someone sets up shop close I leave a bit earlier. One gentleman even asked if he was bothering me when I started leaving. I told him no but the spot is not big enough for two to fish comfortably so he could have it. That's my way of giving someone a clue without confrontation.

 

I'm afraid I have to agree with this -- getting upset about other people's lack of etiquette is our true National Sport here in the States.

 

In reality, the vast majority of people who use public spaces simply don't share the social rules and norms that have developed among enthusiasts, for the enjoyment of enthusiasts; they were never consulted in the first place, and the rules are not posted anywhere.

 

For many casual bank anglers, fishing in close proximity to others is simply a common experience born of necessity, due to limited access. Pier anglers on the great lakes and river waders during a steelhead run will stack up shoulder to shoulder at times.

 

I reckon few people on this board are more averse to being around other people while fishing than me. I don't like fishing with other people, I don't like fishing near other people. I don't  like talking to people while fishing. An ideal outing is one where I never see a single other person. But I recognize that as my problem, not theirs; I go out of my way to fish at times and places where I'm likely to be the only, or perhaps one of very few, people at the water. and if too many people show up and get too close, I just move -- again: my problem, not theirs.

[J Francho]

24 minutes ago, plawren53202 said:

If we in the fishing world have gotten to the point where it's not offensive when someone is literally casting across your line, when there are 4 acres of pond to fish with no one there, then the fishing world (or the world in general) has truly gotten to a sad state. I guess just to illustrate the point next time this happens I'll tie on a crankbait and snag their lines repeatedly and see how well that goes. 

Sure, that is going to make it ALL better for everyone.  I suggest you look into the mirror.  Start thinking about how others perceive your actions instead of how you selfishly focus on others.  This probably sounds harsh, but if you focus on helping others to be better instead of taking the self righteous stand that it's others out to get you or a some problem other that yours, you'll get a lot more traction.

[plawren53202]

22 minutes ago, MIbassyaker said:

For many casual bank anglers, fishing in close proximity to others is simply a common experience born of necessity, due to limited access. Pier anglers on the great lakes and river waders during a steelhead run will stack up shoulder to shoulder at times.

I totally get this point. My other fishing background besides bass fishing is trout fishing. Here in Missouri the trout spots are very limited. Being so close as to have to watch casting across lines was very often a situation born out of necessity, especially in the stocked waters. Opening day for instance is a shoulder to shoulder circus.

 

But that's my issue with what has been happening at the pond, it is absolutely NOT a situation of necessity. We had four acres of open water with not another soul there other than me and the people who came up next to me. 

 

I'm like you, I'd rather be on the water alone, but I understand on public bank fishing waters that's most often never going to be the case. However, I have never been in a situation, even on our heavily pressured public waters, where it was necessary to be so close that people were casting across each other's lines. 

9 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Sure, that is going to make it ALL better for everyone.  I suggest you look into the mirror.  Start thinking about how others perceive your actions instead of how you selfishly focus on others.  This probably sounds harsh, but if you focus on helping others to be better instead of taking the self righteous stand that it's others out to get you or a some problem other that yours, you'll get a lot more traction.

I'm not really sure where exactly you're coming from on this. Etiquette aside, this all boils down to a situation where lines were going to be getting tangled--one time avoiding it only because I had to burn my bait in to avoid it, and second time avoiding it only because I left before they threw a cast--when there were multiple acres of empty water someone could have chosen to set up on instead. It's not egos, emotions or any of that, it's pure physics. I'm struggling to see how it's essential to maintain a situation where lines are going to be getting snagged. And in both situations, it's not like either was the first time somebody had ever fished; I could tell both had done at least a little fishing. If you've thrown a cast before, you understand the physics of lines tangling. 

 

And in the first situation, that is exactly what I did, I tried to help the kid. I spoke to him exactly the way I would want someone to talk to my teenage son if he were out on the water by himself. I didn't ask him to leave, I tried to explain to him what happens when two people casting 50-60 feet out in the water are standing 10 feet apart. And it resulted in the kid calling daddy to come down to the pond, and if dad hadn't been as level headed, I'm sure it could have gotten ugly. That's what I took out of all of this, just leave, there's no trying to address the situation even in a respectful helpful way.

[OCdockskipper]

18 minutes ago, MIbassyaker said:

...In reality, the vast majority of people who use public spaces simply don't share the social rules and norms that have developed among enthusiasts, for the enjoyment of enthusiasts; they were never consulted in the first place, and the rules are not posted anywhere.

The flip side of that is how many people take up a sport or activity without even wondering what the ettiquette is for that activity.  Further, when informed about the ettiquette, a good percentage act as if you have just insulted them.

 

It is enthusiasts job to inform newbies as to how they should interact with others in a manner that is friendly & pleasant.  It is newbies job to realize they are ignorant & need to shut up & listen to someone who knows more than them.

[evilcatfish]

I too live in St Louis, in Richmond heights, so I’ll often hit up forest park or tilles park before/after work. I don’t mind all the fishermen too much as it seems very few people know what they are doing, and most just want to do something outside since Covid has affected what everyone can do in their free time. The issue I have encountered a lot this year is people not keeping their dogs on a leash. Don’t get me wrong, I love the pups, but letting your dog run freely and jump in the water right where people are fishing is not cool at all. Plus if your dog approaches another less friendly dog it might not end well. I did see a ranger give someone a ticket the other day which was good. 

[Herbert Lorenzo]

I had a relative who would purposely cross the line of those that settled right on top of him when fishing a pier . He would apologize , tell them he would untangle the mess get a knife and cut ... their line . Not something that works for everyone, as he weighed 245 lbs. Lol