When people copy you on the water flattered or annoyed

[Captain Phil]

When you fish a lot of tournaments, you get used to having other anglers fish near you.  When I was younger, this used to bother me.  Eventually you learn that 90% of anglers can't catch your fish even if you put them directly on them.  What bothers me more is jet skiers and boaters who run the shorelines.

[galyonj]

13 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Adults know better than to follow my example 

…well, about that.

[Michigander]

The copying part is fine. I just hate when other boats get too close. Some people will nearly rub rails with you and not think that's impolite. If I can pitch my jig into one of your open hatches, you're too close to me.

[J Francho]

I used to teach kayak fishing.  If the students weren't catching fish based on copying me, then I suppose I wasn't very good in their eyes.  I'm cool with others playing monkey see-monkey do, or following the bent rod pattern.  I'm not even sure I'm really all that upset if they get too close.  It just causes me to gather more intel somewhere else.  In a tournament, anyone that follows my success is doing just that: following.  They'll follow me on the leader board, regardless of whether I'm on top or not.

[Mike L]

25 minutes ago, Captain Phil said:

What bothers me more is jet skiers and boaters who run the shorelines.

We don’t get a lot of jet skiers on the Lake or the Glades, not even that many on the Kissimmee Chain, but those air boats are a different subject. 
 

 

 

Mike

[roadwarrior]

Just now, Mike L said:

We don’t get a lot of jet skiers on the Lake or the Glades...

There is something to be said for alligators.

 

 

[Cgolf]

35 minutes ago, Captain Phil said:

When you fish a lot of tournaments, you get used to having other anglers fish near you.  When I was younger, this used to bother me.  Eventually you learn that 90% of anglers can't catch your fish even if you put them directly on them.  What bothers me more is jet skiers and boaters who run the shorelines.

We deal with this a lot. One family in particular, Dad, son, and daughter, like to buzz around everyone with their Sea Doo jet boat. The daughter at least waves lol. Thankfully it doesn’t seem to bother the fish, they must be used to it. 

[plawren53202]

I think I fall in line with the majority here--copying, at a reasonable distance, doesn't bother me; crowding in, bothers me immensely.

 

I've had two new scenarios this year that helped me learn a lot on these issues, the Covid crowds especially early in the (first) lockdowns, and crappie fishing on Kentucky Lake.

 

With the Covid crowds, bank fishing local ponds around me became a mess. There were periods when my subdivision HOA pond, about 1 1/2 acres (which is posted for property owners only/no trespassing--and completely ignored by everyone) would have four or five people fishing it nearly all day long. The ones who would ask me what I was catching them on, didn't really bother me. I quickly learned that if I just told them "purple Senko" or "squarebill," it didn't really matter. There are so many other variables, like where in the water column, speed and style of retrieve, what spots to target, casting angles, and not to mention a whole other issue, bite detection, that nearly all of the time, I would tell someone what I was using and it wouldn't make any difference.

 

Crowding is a different issue. I lost count of the number of times I had people get so close that they cast across my line or even hung it up. And I think every time, it was purely the "bent rod" pattern whereas there was plenty of water available elsewhere around the pond for them. Couple of times I tried to politely say something, let's just say it was not well received. I've given up on that one and usually just move, hoping they get the hint.

 

Crappie fishing on Kentucky Lake (boat) was new to me this year as well. My dad has no shame and likes to ask everyone he sees "what spot" they're fishing. Not surprisingly I think he has had only one or two actually give any information to that. I quickly learned I don't need to know a specific spot, anyways they move from spot to spot. What is more useful to me is knowing a pattern: single poling a jig on stakebeds 8-12 feet deep, live minnows on beds near a channel dropoff, that kind of thing. I can easily get on Navionics and find those kinds of spots on my own and then duplicate the pattern, so I don't need to steal someone else's honeyhole. I don't mind at all telling someone when they ask me, pattern details like that. I'm not going to tell them a specific spot where I was fishing that pattern.

 

I even found a couple of guides (different area of the lake, but same lake) who, when I'm going there for the weekend, are happy to share pattern details. That is immensely helpful to me when I only have a couple of days to fish and can't take a week to figure out the pattern. I'd never ask them for a specific spot. So in turn, I'm happy to share the same info with others if they ask.

 

Now tournaments....all this is out the door LOL. Every man for himself.

[N Florida Mike]

I really dont pay much attention to what other people do. I dont watch them enough to see if they’re watching me. Im too intent on my own fishing to care honestly.

If they get too close that bothers me. It’s usually novice fishermen or boaters that do that.

If someone asks what Im catching em on, I may or may not tell them depending on the situation. Usually I just give vague info like “ soft plastics “

If I get to know someone and they dont seem like theyll keep every fish they catch, I’ll be more specific.

[Sphynx]

Flattered, no two ways about it, despite your claim to the contrary they are not "your fish" or "your pattern" as it is a public body of water, and you can't control other people's behavior, besides, if the only way they are getting on fish is to copy your lead, it's unlikely they are able to hunt up other places that hold fish unless you show them where to go, these type of people are either too new, or not obsessed with bass like bc we are, so I would personally consider it a sign that I am on the right track with my pursuit of knowledge and skill with fishing 

Flattered, no two ways about it, despite your claim to the contrary they are not "your fish" or "your pattern" as it is a public body of water, and you can't control other people's behavior, besides, if the only way they are getting on fish is to copy your lead, it's unlikely they are able to hunt up other places that hold fish unless you show them where to go, these type of people are either too new, or not obsessed with bass like bc we are, so I would personally consider it a sign that I am on the right track with my pursuit of knowledge and skill with fishing 

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, galyonj said:

…well, about that.

To quote Charles Barkley, “I’m not a role model” ?

[Koz]

I'm too busy with my own fishing or inner thoughts to give a crud or even notice if someone is copying me.

 

As for crowding me, for most of the year it isn't an issue because I bank fish like a boater using a trolling motor. For the most part I focus on high percentage locations and move on.

 

In the winter it's a little different because I have to thoroughly fan cast in smaller radial increments because although the hungry bass will chase, I'm looking for a reaction strike with the bass that are sitting idle. So if someone horns in I might give them a look, but with hundreds of lagoons at my disposal I'm more likely to just move on.

[Finessegenics]

30 minutes ago, N Florida Mike said:

If I get to know someone and they dont seem like theyll keep every fish they catch, I’ll be more specific.

x2. I don't mind giving away info and have even given away baits before as long as the person approaches me politely and I'm able to judge that they're a responsible angler. I mean it's impossible to judge just by looking at someone but usually the people who get insanely close to me and don't even acknowledge that I'm there are the irresponsible anglers. Not even a "hi" or anything. That really irks me. When someone asks if they can get close, I almost always say yes, 

 

As for the OP's post which was more about copying rather than people not giving you your space: It does not bother me at all that someone decides to copy whatever bait I'm throwing. I really don't see the big deal. So what if they're throwing the same bait? It doesn't flatter me either. 

[A-Jay]

I suppose first off, they would need to be on the water the same time I am.

It's just that, they rarely are . . . . . . 

#notcomplaining

A-Jay

[Bankc]

About a month ago I was in a situation where I would have preferred someone copy me.  I was fishing along a bank in a long cove when a bass boat noticed I was landing a bass about once every ten minutes.  They came in and started crowding me out, hitting the areas all around me, and then moving in front of me to cover the areas I was heading towards.  They were constantly getting hung up and disturbing the water trying to free their lures.  It was scaring away the fish, so I'd move over to a different area, and they'd follow.  They didn't get a bite the two hours we were both there.  I was fishing a KVD 1.5 squarebill and they were flipping jigs.  I was targeting the bait fish schools that were running around the area and they were targeting all of the trees and water willows in the area.  If they had copied me, they would have caught more fish, because there was plenty to go around, and they would been able to chase their own schools of bait fish without having to crowd me out because there were plenty of schools.  

[Cgolf]

To answer the crowding thing here is the setup. There are 4-5 reed beds of varying sizes and yes some folks cut in and squat when they can see you were working in that direction. Most times I just go to another bed or turn around and work the area I just was more thoroughly. That is something I try my best to not do myself.  If someone is anchored I will fish the same bed but never get close to them. 
 

I also have to remember how people read things on here. The lol after people catching my fish obviously was meant as a joke. 
 

I am just from the school I would rather blank learning rather than joining the bent rod followers. Being on this site has helped me become a better angler along with being more versatile on the water. 
 

This generated a lot more interest than I expected. 

[Boomstick]

I don't know... to be honest I don't really think too much about it.

[Cgolf]

10 minutes ago, Boomstick said:

I don't know... to be honest I don't really think too much about it.

I would notice it but realistically didn’t care too much. Reading another thread triggered the thought to start a thread to see if I should care one way or the other. Pretty sure the answer is no I don’t, but do know for sure I don’t want to be a follower.
 

There is huge satisfaction when you put the pattern together during a tough bite. On the same level for me as catching a large amount of bass, weight or numbers. 

[22RangerZ520R]

18 hours ago, Born 2 fish said:

 I grab a decoy rod with a different type of bait on it no joke. I try to keep my secrets to my self.

 

^^^This^^^

[WRB]

A few local “pros” have a habit of coming close to chat while trying to a good look at your what you tied on and using. When you leave you see their boat surveying the spot, it’s part of bass fishing small local lakes, few secrets.

I learned a long time ago there is more to catching bass then copying others. 

I share my knowledge freely in the hopes others my improve their bass fishing.

Tom

[J Francho]

If you were hammering screws all day, and noticed that someone next to you was using a screwdriver, would you continue to figure it out yourself?  

[Captain Phil]

Things can get pretty funny in bass club competitions. I used to cut the baits off my rods before heading to the ramp.  At each club meeting, the tournament winners were required to stand in front of the club and tell how they caught their fish.  This got hilarious at times.  I once won a winter tournament at Rodman on a Mepps spinner.   When I told the club, the laugh turned into an uproar. 

 

I've trained hundreds of people how to fish for bass.  Today, I do it for free.  If you want to learn something of real value, pay for a day of the person's time.  I guarantee that person will go out of his/her way to give you your money's worth.  

[Cgolf]

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

If you were hammering screws all day, and noticed that someone next to you was using a screwdriver, would you continue to figure it out yourself?  

I would hope they would tell me I was doing it the wrong way lol. That is after getting a good laugh at my expense! This fall sure felt like that till I figured it out on the last trip. Man that was a tough and weird bite. Hoping to do a fall trip next year as well as early summer. Should make it easier to convince the wife to buy land or a cabin up there.

[scaleface]

 I went today . Fished for four hours without a hit . There was only one other person on the lake and I saw him catch two . I know this fellow and we were heading toward each other , We talked for a minute and he told me how he was catching them . I thanked him  then boated ten bass in the final three hours .

[Mobasser]

I've seen guys try to look closely at what I'm using. Maybe they're trying to copy me, after I've hooked a fish? I don't really care. They may tie on the same bait, but I doubt they can copy my exact retrieve, depth , or speed. If they do, it's all good. They can catch some too.