Tournament entitlement?

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

That's absurd.  That wouldn't fly where I fish.

Eh, I think it’s mostly an honest mistake and I’m never really in  a hurry . Like I said they typically apologize when they go to park their truck

[dickenscpa]

23 hours ago, gimruis said:

People cut in line in front of you waiting at the access?

I've been sitting in my truck, next in line to drop in and someone will whip right in front of me. I'm usually on the look out when someone pulls in in case they try that, but sometimes you miss it and you get cut.

 

I've also been sitting on the water waiting to get out and had someone cut in front.

 

It doesn't really fly around here either and I don't take it laying down, but you can only go so far before you cross that line and Po-Po gets called. I did get mad at a guy once and made him pull completely out, get at the back of the line and I launched.

 

You have to use your head though. They see my vehicle and trailer and I can only piddle fish around the ramp so long before I can no longer see the parking lot or my truck and my vehicle is available to be "touched inappropriately."

[gim]

9 minutes ago, dickenscpa said:

I've been sitting in my truck, next in line to drop in and someone will whip right in front of me. I'm usually on the look out when someone pulls in in case they try that, but sometimes you miss it and you get cut.

 

I've also been sitting on the water waiting to get out and had someone cut in front.

 

It doesn't really fly around here either and I don't take it laying down, but you can only go so far before you cross that line and Po-Po gets called. I did get mad at a guy once and made him pull completely out, get at the back of the line and I launched.

 

You have to use your head though. They see my vehicle and trailer and I can only piddle fish around the ramp so long before I can no longer see the parking lot or my truck and my vehicle is available to be "touched inappropriately."

We've gotten a little off track on this thread but I fully understand and agree with that you've stated here.  The line forms on land in the trucks, not in the water.  People that pull in front of other vehicles waiting in line are jerks or don't know any better.  There was a time when I was younger when I would go looking to pick a fight over problems at the access, but nowadays I'm way more patient and wary of what might happen as a result.  People freak out and lose their cool.  I don't need to get my head blown off over something like this either.

[schplurg]

My first and only experience with a tourney angler was a Wednesday night 4 hour shootout on my Dad's lake. I was fishing off my Dad's dock, I casted my popper and was working it. Some jerks in a bass boat, who definitely saw me, cast within one foot of my bait and dragged their little bait back without catching a fish. 

 

I said nothing (that won't happen again), but I caught a nice topwater bass 30 seconds later and made sure they heard me as they puttered away.

 

The more I learn about boat bass tourneys the less I like them. Sounds fun, but livewelling and killing fish, driving like idiots and treating other anglers like crap turned me off. Kayak tourneys I will do if I get a chance.

[J Francho]

There's way more nonsense in kayak tournaments.

[TnRiver46]

14 hours ago, schplurg said:

My first and only experience with a tourney angler was a Wednesday night 4 hour shootout on my Dad's lake. I was fishing off my Dad's dock, I casted my popper and was working it. Some jerks in a bass boat, who definitely saw me, cast within one foot of my bait and dragged their little bait back without catching a fish. 

 

I said nothing (that won't happen again), but I caught a nice topwater bass 30 seconds later and made sure they heard me as they puttered away.

 

The more I learn about boat bass tourneys the less I like them. Sounds fun, but livewelling and killing fish, driving like idiots and treating other anglers like crap turned me off. Kayak tourneys I will do if I get a chance.

I was going to say what @J Franchojust did. Just because it’s kayak instead of motor boats, that doesn’t mean all the other BS goes away. 

[Troy85]

7 hours ago, J Francho said:

There's way more nonsense in kayak tournaments.

You should start a thread about this.  The way you stated it makes me think you have some real juicy stories. LOL

 

That and I've been considering trying some kayak tournaments just to see what its all about.

[GaryH]

How many activities in life doesn’t have someone or something that irritates you. Fishing is no exception wether your in a boat, a kayak, bank fishing or wading you are bound to run into someone sooner or later that going to tick you off. I can say that I’ve meet many more good fisherman than I have morons. I have seen or heard of just as many pleasure fisherman/women being ignorant as I have had tournament guys/gals. Think about any sport you’ve ever been involved with that the competitive nature doesn’t come out. If it doesn’t then I’ll bet you’ve never won. Best advice is don’t let a jerk ruin your day on the water. 

[newbiedmv]

This is just me. I avoid tournaments completely. Mainly due to the traffic and the corresponding rush.

I get it, you pay to get in, the competition mode sets in. But for me it's worse than a Sunday afternoon in July. Just ruins the whole vibe.

I specifically go out during the week when I'm the only boat out there. Preferably overcast and spitting rain. 

I've turned around and went home a few times. Also just canceled a trip to Guntersville as there were tournaments every day.

Where I live they have them on "small" reservoirs, maybe 3 miles by 1mile. Doesn't leave many options. Oh add to that the rec kayaks and paddle boards. It ain't worth it.

[newbiedmv]

In regards to the ramp idiot's. I ask then if I get blown off I just go.....THEY MOVE REAL FAST.

I carry dog spray with me. Never had to pull it. A guy got mad, he saw the spray with my hand next to it and took off. Must have been hit by one before.

So far it's been kayaks and first time boat people. Yes I've seen them pull in straight into the water, 3 times now.

[newbiedmv]

On 9/3/2021 at 1:55 PM, TOXIC said:

The vid with Ike was on the Potomac.  That river has the most rude fishermen I have ever seen.  

Man you got that right..I'm in MD and I won't fish the lower Potomac due to there "uncooperative " nature...I think it's due to politician sickness ?

[schplurg]

On 10/1/2021 at 8:08 AM, TnRiver46 said:

I was going to say what @J Franchojust did. Just because it’s kayak instead of motor boats, that doesn’t mean all the other BS goes away. 

 

Some of it does. I was mainly referring to livewells and boats blowing by too close, but I also have never had any issues with kayakers at all.

 

Maybe something about the size of the boat gives some people the feeling they can push others around, kinda like big trucks on the road. Boat vs kayak happens all the time, tournament or not. Boaters seem entitled.

 

I've never had an issue or an unfriendly word from a kayaker on the water. Maybe simply because we can't outrun whoever we happen to tick off. Never been cut-off, never had someone deliberately cast on top of my bait.

[CrashVector]

If I'm there fishing first, I'm not moving whether in the kayak or boat.

 

Crowd me, and I'll start casting over your line.

[Cdn Angler]

As soon as you put money or competition into something it makes people do things that they otherwise wouldn't. 

 

We had a guy here in a kayak tournament take a photo of the same fish 3 times in one tournament with 3 separate measuring boards that he'd created to show the wrong length of fish. 

 

This is why I rarely fish tournaments. Between needing a $10,000 rig and inconsiderate or cheating competitors, it isn't worth my time. 

 

The tournaments I've been in I actually just paddled as far away from everyone as I could to my own detriment. I hate fishing around other people, be they fishermen or recreational boaters. I have no more right to the water than anyone, but that's my preference and I try to seek out situations where it's more likely. 

[Kirtley Howe]

Just a couple of observations.

1) I have been on Cayuga Lake when MLF was having a tournament there, and also when other organizations have had them. Almost all of the pros were very courteous and pleasant. None of them crowed me in any way, and the only time one got close to me he asked if he could fish around me. I had no problem with that. The only problem I had at all was that at the end of the fishing day many of the pros blasted back to the launch site at the same time. Since Cayuga is a narrow (less the 3 miles at the widest point, and a lot less in many areas) the combined wake was pretty bad for those of us who were in small boats.

2)In general, the larger the recreational boat the more entitled the owners seem to feel. I have never had much problem with people who own 25 foot or smaller boats, but the ones larger than that have practically run me over when I was anchored and fishing and have cut me off at the launch ramp.

3) The worst problem I have had when bank fishing was while fishing Fall Creek (a tributary to Cayuga Lake). This is a fairly small creek. The local rowing club uses it for their practice. I have no problem with that. I DO have a problem when the rowers and their chase boat (motorboat) Insist on stopping at the exact spot I am fishing, and the motorboat would idle around in circles right on top of that spot. At first, I thought it was because I had just been unlucky enough to park myself at their normal turn around spot. No problem I thought....I will just move a hundred feet downstream. Guess what happened? The next time they came toward me, their turn around spot "just happened" to be exactly where I was NOW fishing. I politely asked the person in the chase boat if it was really necessary for them to do the turn around right where I was fishing, especially since I had already moved once to give them plenty of room. The response I got is unprintable here. I kept my temper, and tried to be the bigger person, and left. I see no point in getting dragged down to that level, and I don't need that kind of stress in my life. There will always be another day and another spot.

[J Francho]

Not sure why, but that seems to be pretty standard for rowing teams. I had many run ins with SU chase boat on the Onandaga Creek. 

[gim]

13 hours ago, Kirt Howe said:

I DO have a problem when the rowers and their chase boat

There is a lake I fish about 7-8 times a season that regularly has their rowing team out too.  The problem is that when they row, they face backwards.  So they just keep on rowing and aren't looking ahead where they are going.  I've had to yell more than once so they wouldn't plow right into me.  I think this is where the chase boat you speak of needs to step in and tell the rowers about obstacles ahead.  They come a lot closer than any boat would too.

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, gimruis said:

There is a lake I fish about 7-8 times a season that regularly has their rowing team out too.  The problem is that when they row, they face backwards.  So they just keep on rowing and aren't looking ahead where they are going.  I've had to yell more than once so they wouldn't plow right into me.  I think this is where the chase boat you speak of needs to step in and tell the rowers about obstacles ahead.  They come a lot closer than any boat would too.

Have they done away with the caller? Sits in the back facing forward, makes sure they stay on track and avoid obstacles, and also calls the strokes to keep them synced to each other.

 

I know about this as I was caller for the JV crew team when I was at Worcester Academy 1971-72 school year.

[Junk Fisherman]

For me it really depends on the circumstances.  I've never been on a body of water when pros were there.  I would leave an area or just sit back and watch if someone came to an area I was fishing.  I figure, it is there livelihood and watching them fish would probably benefit my fishing more.  

 

In terms of amateur tournaments, I couldn't care less if someone is fishing a tournament.  I encounter this on a regular basis fishing weekends locally.  Just because someone chooses to pay an entry fee and fish a competition, that doesn't mean I am going to get out of their way or give up a spot.  I'll be courteous and treat them how I want to be treated but they are just another boat on the water in my view.   

[gim]

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

Have they done away with the caller? Sits in the back facing forward, makes sure they stay on track and avoid obstacles, and also calls the strokes to keep them synced to each other.

 

Most of the rowers I encounter are single.  There's only one person in it facing backwards.  They just oar like hell without any concern of running into obstacles.

 

There is on rare occasion a bigger rowing team out there too but there is a person in the back that is "coaching" them.  They are not the issue.

[MN Fisher]

10 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

Most of the rowers I encounter are single.  There's only one person in it facing backwards.  They just oar like hell without any concern of running into obstacles.

 

There is on rare occasion a bigger rowing team out there too but there is a person in the back that is "coaching" them.  They are not the issue.

Ahh - got it...ya, singlets have always been an issue.

[flyfisher]

Kayak fisherman on the water and ramps are some of the worst.  I am not sure if it is because people think it is some sort of brotherhood because I am in a kayak and they are too but they feel they can come up and fish close and want to chat the day away.  Sorry bro, I want to fish not talk about kayaks.  Now at the ramp I think a lot of it is ignorance and a huge influx of people to the sport.  When I first started kayak fishing close to 20 years ago I would see another kayak fishing maybe one out of every 5 trips.  Now I see almost as many kayaks as I do traditional boats.  Not a bad thing but any time there is an influx into the sport you have people who are learning the ropes and I am fine with that too.  The influx has really made some great advancement in the products available for kayaks and kept the prices somewhat reasonable.  

[Choporoz]

There was an interesting article in Jan/Feb 2018 Bassmaster.  Hackney and Christie were discussing two issues for tournament anglers (though, I'm sure they'd say that they are different than tourny anglers discussed above, because they're elites.)

First they talked about gawkers and seemed fine as long as looky-loos stay a couple hundred yards off.  Then, when they talked about sharing the water, is when it got interesting.  The more they talked, the more upset that I got....you could easily infer an entitled mentality that they were there for just a short time and it was their 'job', so locals should just get out of their way. Hackney: "I'll be honest with you, if I'm fishing a tournament and you're out there watching, don't fish at all within eye distance.  If I can see you fishing, you're too close......If you fish here all the time, I'm like 'c'mon man, give me some slack four four days'.  I'm not here because I want to be here....I'm forced to fish here" 

 

I found it a bit disturbing.

[J Francho]

6 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

I'm not here because I want to be here....I'm forced to fish here" 

That statement doesn't look good on him.

[TnRiver46]

3 hours ago, J Francho said:

Not sure why, but that seems to be pretty standard for rowing teams. I had many run ins with SU chase boat on the Onandaga Creek. 

Happens here too, they always say something derogatory about the fisherman up ahead, but they forget that sound carriers over water and I can hear them