Spot stealing

[jimmyjoe]

   This thread makes me VERY happy to be a shorecaster!   ?                 jj

[the reel ess]

4 minutes ago, ajschn06 said:

If someone said that to me I'd be sure to let him know what my plans were when he left...

We just landed every fish we could and left with them. Because my dad thought that if you caught enough fish to cook, you should cook them-every time.

[TnRiver46]

Just now, jimmyjoe said:

   This thread makes me VERY happy to be a shorecaster!   ?                 jj

It’s worse on shore than in the boat. Plenty of trout streams around here are “bring your own rock to stand on” category. And then if you start catching bass below a dam, you will be immediately swarmed and asked for your fish 

[gim]

13 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

Gave him some spots and a few hours later he returned with a nice batch of keeper gills for supper. He then told me of a spot he saw several bass busting on shad. I went over there with a spinnrtbait and caught several nice largemouth. Be nice to see more situations like that.

 

I guess the one problem I might have there is that he's looking to fill a bucket and you aren't.  That's where I personally draw the line.  Generally, bass anglers aren't looking to harvest while panfish and walleye anglers almost certainly are.  I'm far less willing to offer any information if I know the person is in it to keep them.

[ajschn06]

2 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

We just landed every fish we could and left with them. Because my dad thought that if you caught enough fish to cook, you should cook them-every time.

Lol... I would have made eye contact with him and fired a cast right at the bank.  That's ridiculous.....

[the reel ess]

Just now, ajschn06 said:

Lol... I would have made eye contact with him and fired a cast right at the bank.  That's ridiculous.....

He was headed out of the cove when we came into it so we couldn't put a show on.

[jimmyjoe]

1 minute ago, TnRiver46 said:

It’s worse on shore than in the boat. Plenty of trout streams around here are “bring your own rock to stand on” category. And then if you start catching bass below a dam, you will be immediately swarmed and asked for your fish 

 

   Man .... I guess I just didn't realize how lucky I am!   ?        jju

[DitchPanda]

3 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

I guess the one problem I might have there is that he's looking to fill a bucket and you aren't.  That's where I personally draw the line.  Generally, bass anglers aren't looking to harvest while panfish and walleye anglers almost certainly are.  I'm far less willing to offer any information if I know the person is in it to keep them.

I'm also a meat fisherman on occasion..panfish and walleye. So because of that I have no issue with it. Unless I thought the guy was gonna keep bass then no way I'd help him. Or if the guy kept over his limit...then I'd never tell him again and would probably call the game warden on him.

[soflabasser]

Throughout the years I have shared many good fishing locations to people in need. Some of those people where respectful of the resource, others where not. With time I learned who to invite again and who to not invite again. Those that were greedy never did as well as I did in these spots since they lack the patience and skill needed to do consistently well. These greedy people get mad, complain that I gave them a bad spot, then move on to the next spot they can get from someone else since they are too lazy to look for themselves. I find this hilarious since I give good spots but you still have to put in the work just like any other thing in life. These greedy people do not like to work hard and prefer the low hanging fruit, it is probably safe to assume that is how they live their life. You can fish the best spots, with the best lures, at the best time, but it means nothing if you do not know what you are doing. 

[The Maestro]

13 minutes ago, soflabasser said:

Throughout the years I have shared many good fishing locations to people in need. Some of those people where respectful of the resource, others where not. With time I learned who to invite again and who to not invite again. Those that were greedy never did as well as I did in these spots since they lack the patience and skill needed to do consistently well. These greedy people get mad, complain that I gave them a bad spot, then move on to the next spot they can get from someone else since they are too lazy to look for themselves. I find this hilarious since I give good spots but you still have to put in the work just like any other thing in life. These greedy people do not like to work hard and prefer the low hanging fruit, it is probably safe to assume that is how they live their life. You can fish the best spots, with the best lures, at the best time, but it means nothing if you do not know what you are doing. 

They completely disregard the skillset required to catch fish and think they can just fast track literally 1000's of hours on the water by poaching spots. The good news is these people don't typically last long in fishing.  Also imagine getting mad at SOMEONE ELSE because you can't catch fish. Shows the mentally of the type of people who do this stuff.

[TOXIC]

I’ve said it before and I’ve seen it firsthand a thousand times.  You ain’t gonna catch another mans fish.  
 

Being a guide, I had boats following me all the time.  I never worried about it.  My fish were always there when I came back.  ??

[soflabasser]

7 minutes ago, The Maestro said:

They completely disregard the skillset required to catch fish and think they can just fast track literally 1000's of hours on the water by poaching spots. The good news is these people don't typically last long in fishing.  Also imagine getting mad at SOMEONE ELSE because you can't catch fish. Shows the mentally if the type of people who do this stuff.

That is why I find it so hilarious when people get mad they do not do as well as I do in the spots I share. These people are lazy, greedy, low hanging fruit people so I expect these behaviors from them. In life you have to work hard if you expect to be successful and many people are too lazy to put in the time on the water needed to be a successful in bass fishing.

[Bluegillslayer]

I hate pot lickers!! Find your own spot! And your own fish!

[Tennessee Boy]

Maybe I'm different than most people but I enjoy figuring the fish out as much or more than catching them.  I've never had much interest in hiring a guide for that reason. 

 

Now part of figuring them out is watching what's happening around you.  What are the birds doing?  Are there bait fish around? I'm not going to ignore the other fishermen.  Now I will never pull up on a spot while someone is fishing it or immediately after they leave.  Seeing someone else catch a fish gives me some important information but it's just part of the puzzle.  It's been my experience that to catch fish you need the right place, the right time, and  the right technique.  Many times the place is not just some structure but the spot on the structure.   The best I can get from watching someone else is the general place.   Maybe if I brought some binoculars I could see what lure they are using and some ideas about how they are fishing but  I have better things to do than to put that much effort into trying to fish like someone else.   We all have different skills and you'll never be great trying to be someone else.  That doesn't mean you can't learn from them.

 

All that said,  my fishing journal is full of things I've observed other fishermen doing.  Things like "Saw lots of boats fishing shallow early.  They were all gone by 9:00AM".   I'll also note that I saw a boat sit on one spot for 3 hours.  That doesn't mean I'm gonna rush to that spot the next time I'm in the area but I may try it at some point just because of what I observed.

 

I hope that doesn't make me a bad person.  ?

[The Maestro]

8 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

Maybe I'm different than most people but I enjoy figuring the fish out as much or more than catching them.  I've never had much interest in hiring a guide for that reason. 

 

Now part of figuring them out is watching what's happening around you.  What are the birds doing?  Are there bait fish around? I'm not going to ignore the other fishermen.  Now I will never pull up on a spot while someone is fishing it or immediately after they leave.  Seeing someone else catch a fish gives me some important information but it's just part of the puzzle.  It's been my experience that to catch fish you need the right place, the right time, and  the right technique.  Many times the place is not just some structure but the spot on the structure.   The best I can get from watching someone else is the general place.   Maybe if I bring some binoculars I can see what lure they are using and some ideas about how they are fishing.  I have better things to do than to put that much effort into trying fish like someone else.   We all have different skills and you'll never be great trying to be someone else.  That doesn't mean you can't learn from them.

 

That said,  my fishing journal is full of things I've observed other fishermen doing.  Things like "Saw lots of boats fishing shallow early.  They were all gone by 9:00AM".   I'll also note that I saw a boat sit on one spot for 3 hours.  That doesn't mean I'm gonna rush to that spot the next time I'm in the area but I may try it at some point just because of what I observed.

 

Hope that doesn't make me a bad person.  ?

I think the general consensus so far is that anglers who look for shortcuts in fishing by pigging backing off the hard work and dedication of others are most likely scummy characters who approach all facets of life the same way. I don't see any of that in what you posted.

[SC53]

Happens all the time fishing the Stick Marsh here in Florida. There will be boats all around the area you are fishing and once you catch 1-2 they beeline it right on top of you. I mean a cast away!

I’ll just throw at their boat and catch one out from under it ?

Not at the Marsh but another lake, I had one guy the other week or so that idles down the grass line goes around our boat and proceeds to start fishing. I figured it was a God test so I just picked up and ran across the lake. About 3 hours later, I see a boat coming towards us and low and behold, it’s the same guy. This time he wants to know if I had a scale to weigh a fish he caught as his scales battery went dead. Unbelievable. Another test moment. 
Yes I weighed it for him. 
 

But I’ve been 25-30 miles offshore of Cape Canaveral fishing a bottom spot and had boats pull up within 100’ and steal the spot. And more than a few times. 

[Krux5506]

My rule of thumb is if you're within casting distance of my boat then it's too close. I especially get annoyed when approached in that regard, as well as when someone acts all standoff-ish. Like, dude, you came up to me, not the other way around. 

 

If you're friendly and cordial, I'm the same exact way, and could care less if you're fishing too close. If you're a jerk, get lost...

[Darth-Baiter]

No problem. I try to take it further by telling them what the fish are hitting on.  Which by the way is always a 3/8 oz Lunkr-Buster in the ghost phantom color pattern fished using the St. Louis retrieve method. 
 

[Team9nine]

46 minutes ago, Bluegillslayer said:

I hate pot lickers!! Find your own spot! And your own fish!

 

[BassNJake]

Saturday I was fishing brush piles in about 17 ft of water in the middle of a cove

2 younger guys were fishing a tourney and running the shore close by but blanking

I caught a couple decent fish and they both watched as I landed them

So I waved them over, pointed out the brush piles, explained that when they start dropping the water in July the fish go deeper. They seemed genuinely appreciative.

 

This is 100% the opposite approach that I would normally take

But I never second guessed my choice and honestly feel pretty good about it 

 

Would they have ran over as soon as I left? Not sure

But I've got a lifetime of karma I'm trying to turn around

[DitchPanda]

1 hour ago, Tennessee Boy said:

Maybe I'm different than most people but I enjoy figuring the fish out as much or more than catching them.  I've never had much interest in hiring a guide for that reason. 

 

Now part of figuring them out is watching what's happening around you.  What are the birds doing?  Are there bait fish around? I'm not going to ignore the other fishermen.  Now I will never pull up on a spot while someone is fishing it or immediately after they leave.  Seeing someone else catch a fish gives me some important information but it's just part of the puzzle.  It's been my experience that to catch fish you need the right place, the right time, and  the right technique.  Many times the place is not just some structure but the spot on the structure.   The best I can get from watching someone else is the general place.   Maybe if I brought some binoculars I could see what lure they are using and some ideas about how they are fishing but  I have better things to do than to put that much effort into trying fish like someone else.   We all have different skills and you'll never be great trying to be someone else.  That doesn't mean you can't learn from them.

 

All that said,  my fishing journal is full of things I've observed other fishermen doing.  Things like "Saw lots of boats fishing shallow early.  They were all gone by 9:00AM".   I'll also note that I saw a boat sit on one spot for 3 hours.  That doesn't mean I'm gonna rush to that spot the next time I'm in the area but I may try it at some point just because of what I observed.

 

I hope that doesn't make me a bad person.  ?

Taking note of a presumed productive area and checking it out when your not jumping on someone's spot is a far cry from rolling up and rubbing rails with a guy you don't know because you can since they don't own the lake. What your doing is on the up and up as far as I'm concerned.

[ironbjorn]

I'm speaking in generalities and stereotypes here, so nobody get offended by thinking I'm talking about you or all people.

 

The tournament anglers think they're superior to the normal sport anglers and that they own spots. Similarly, bass boaters of all types think they own the water and that pleasure boaters shouldn't be around them at all. Pleasure boaters don't pay attention to anglers or give them reasonable space, like they're utterly oblivious.

 

We all have a lot we can work on.

[Munkin]

Once I tried to ram another boat in an open tournament on the Upper Potomac. I found this one section of the bank prefishing where they were stacked. While going down the bank we were catching them every other cast. This jetboat drives by us and uturns twice then proceeds to nose in against the bank like 25 yards in front of me. Before I could say anything the boat that ask if they could follow me that was about 150 yards yelled " I would jump in that boat and punch him right in the mouth!". Decided I was going to keep going straight and brace for impact. He got the message and moved on. When I got to weigh in the TD said he snitched on me but 3 other boats saw what happened and reported him.

 

Allen 

[Kev-mo]

5 hours ago, A-Jay said:

OK 

Part of this for me starts with Lake Selection ~

I am fortunate enough that within 60-90 minutes there's quite a variety of Lake Menderchucks that all have a decent population of brown bass. 

Seems lakes close to the major highway and that have super easy and multiple access locations are often the busiest, regardless of the fishing.

I recognized this right away and have concentrated my efforts on 'other lakes'. 

Being slightly off the beaten path has paid off.

I still get poached a few times a season, but not when the big bite is on.

Because that's when it's freaking windy, boating conditions are often sketchy at best

 & it's wicked Cold.

The great equalized. 

I'm good with that. 

Fish Hard

A-Jay

Wait, there's more than one Lake Menderchuck?!

[A-Jay]

10 minutes ago, Kev-mo said:

Wait, there's more than one Lake Menderchuck?!

Apparently 

?

A-Jay