Boaters casting over shore fishermen

[thediscochef]

Not really sure where this topic goes but...

Am I wrong to be a little upset when I'm bank fishing and two guys in a bass boat troll and fish right through where I and three others are casting, have been casting, and are continuing to cast? Is there some unwritten rule that boaters automatically get the right of way for casting and bank fishermen should just suck it up? For reference, this is in a small cove in a big lake. They have their pick of any other spot in the lake, there are many more coves less pressured than this one, and everyone fishing from the bank is clearly visible from outside the cove. Just go somewhere else? It's easier to do that in a boat than it is on the bank. 

Thoughts?

[Tennessee Boy]

I always give bank fisherman all the space they could possibly need.   It’s seem like the right thing to do.   There will always be people that don’t do the right thing either because they don’t know better or they don’t care.

[Fishin Dad]

I also give a wide berth to shore fisherman.   I just angle way out, never make a cast and get far clear of the area before I even consider fishing again.   It is really crappy if someone is that arrogant that they think they own the lake because they have a boat.  

[thediscochef]

These guys passed maybe 20 feet from where I was standing, passed between myself and where my lures had been hitting the water, and then sat there for 15 minutes or so. I didn't come fishing looking for an altercation of any kind so I didn't say anything. But I was not helpful when they had the audacity to ask me if I was having any luck (I *was*)

[OldManLure]

In my opinion, you have every right to be upset.  And my opinion is a very strong one.  Growing up, when we fished from banks and saw a boat floating in the direction of our lines, we’d yell “lines out”.  Most would wave, give our lines a wide berth, and move on.  For those who ignored us, or worse, laughed, we had a wrist rocket and some heavy sinkers we would use to emphasize their transgression. When a few sinkers pinged off the side of their boat, we’d tell them we were aiming at the bobbers they just floated across.  They would sometimes apologize.  But they always would stop laughing.  

[GreenPig]

I feel any boater should give bank fishermen the space and powered boaters give unpowered boaters their space. Seems like common courtesy to me. 

[DitchPanda]

There is an unwritten rule that you give anybody fishing a spot space boater or bank. Now there seems to be a misconception that some boaters have that if they spend more money than you that they own the lake. I haven't run into it much but every now and then things get heated. Good thing around here is I know everybody very well so that keeps people pretty honest. Have had a guy talk s$%& and mumble under his breath while trolling by..said hey man I've got no.issue you but if you got something to say then beach the boat and we can get it figured out real quick.

[thediscochef]

I appreciate yalls insight. Seems like a firm consensus. I always give people space and time, and if that's not possible I choose different water. It's not worth getting heated just to pressure fish into not biting.

I was actually pretty irritated about it and attempted to make it known without having words, had I been with a friend I would have said something and dealt with whatever ensued. Sadly this is not the first time this has happened to me at Ray Roberts and I don't think it will be the last. 

At the very least it seemed like I was having better luck catching than they were AND I caught what I think is either a meanmouth or a smallie, which would be the first of either species for me. 

[A-Jay]

"Getting Poached" is the term I use.

Whether it happens Boater to Bank, Bank to Boater or Boater to Boater,

it's still feels the same; every time.

Big Time infringement with a healthy does of being disrespected floating right on the top there.

Very few are a fan of being on the receiving end of a good poach.

Besides being a familiar topic of conversation here in the forum,

there's all kinds of stories where it's inspired folks to go to war.

From the casual angler right on through to the Professional level.

No one is exempt.

While it doesn't happen a ton in my fishing, when it does,

I 'try' not to let it get to me. 

Shaking my head in obvious disbelief and disgust is about as far as I'll take it.

However, I do draw the line at Unsafe.

Do Not come close aboard my rig on plane.

That will always rile me up ! 

Stay Safe

A-Jay

 

[WRB]

Good sportsmanship is somewhat forgotten today. 

The boater may not have given the bank anglers a second thought. You try yelling at the boater “hey we are fishing here”! 

My biggest nemesis isn’t the weekend anglers, it’s the guides who believe they have more rights to fish where they want then everyone else. 

Personally I avoid other boats and bank anglers, look for areas with no boats if possible. Life too short to get angry over something that is enjoyable.

Tom

[MacJig]

That has happened with kayakers too. I was fishing a little cove in a pond here and some kayakers came and fished directly in front of me. Really! Are you ignorant? Some may be but others just don't care. They unfortunately populate much of our culture today!

[thediscochef]

I think the thing that really got me is that this is maybe a 2 acre (max) cove on a 29,000 acre reservoir. They also couldn't get into the cove without seeing us and looking at us directly the whole time; we made eye contact while they were still probably 50+ yards away. They knew we were fishing there, and specifically decided they were entitled to our space. On a pond or a smaller lake I understand competing for space to some degree. If it's that crowded I usually just leave. I fish to get *away* from the entitlement and carelessness of humanity.

 

29,000 acres and they *still* actively chose to rip through the hydrilla beds and cast over the top of us. I'm not surprised they weren't catching anything, they were fishing like bulls in a China shop. I hope they continued to catch nothing.

 

42 minutes ago, WRB said:

Good sportsmanship is somewhat forgotten today. 

The boater may not have given the bank anglers a second thought. You try yelling at the boater “hey we are fishing here”! 

My biggest nemesis isn’t the weekend anglers, it’s the guides who believe they have more rights to fish where they want then everyone else. 

Personally I avoid other boats and bank anglers, look for areas with no boats if possible. Life too short to get angry over something that is enjoyable.

Tom

I always try to go where there are no others, but that is challenging in DFW...we have more population in four counties than each of roughly 40 other states. I usually avoid fishing weekends to avoid pressure, but this coming week is going to be busy and I wanted to get some catching done.

[LonnieP]

It comes down to lack of respect and common sense. I was fishing a couple weeks ago and two women rode their kayaks right where I was casting. You’d think with 80 acres of water that they could find another spot to paddle besides between my boat and the bank.

[DitchPanda]

Another one that seems to be prevalent that I haven't experienced but have seen and heard about is people that think fishing is cruel ruining it for someone. Look maybe you don't agree with it but it is perfectly legal to fish so spend your energy trying to get the laws changed instead of harassing anglers..which is illegal. People often escalate things then get crybaby boo boo when somebody fights back. But if you come up to me, threaten me and throw my personal property into the lake...chances of something bad happening to you are pretty high. 

PS let me add that my last few posts indicate that I'm a hot head who may be looking for a fight. That's not the case and in general I don't like violence or confrontation but sadly enough that's what some people respond to. I don't wanna fight but also will not allow someone to treat me like a doormat.

[Bankbeater]

Last year I was fishing a 65 acre lake. I was anchored over a drop off and casting into a little pocket where I was catching dinks on a spook.  I kept hearing splashing right behind me and thought at first it was shad.  I turned around and there were two guys in another boat casting toward my boat.

I asked them not too nicely to stop before they hit me.  They just waved and moved on.  I guess they ticked off more people besides me because about an hour later I saw them at the boat ramp.

[Columbia Craw]

You are dealing with people. These are the same people that park in the yellow zones when the pick their kids up at school, pull into intersections on a yellow signal blocking the intersection, park in front of your driveway to check the garage sale across the street, leave their shopping cart in the lane and drive away pulling out in front of you, through their garbage and cigarettes out the window, drink a beer while walking the kids while trick or treating, put their garbage in the recycle only can, and on and on and on. 

[MassYak85]

My rule, whether it's another shore fisherman, another boater or kayaker...is if we can both cast towards each other and cross lines someone got too close. 

[K1500]

4 hours ago, MassYak85 said:

My rule, whether it's another shore fisherman, another boater or kayaker...is if we can both cast towards each other and cross lines someone got too close. 

Common courtesy seems to be a somewhat uncommon trait it appears. That being said, if you have ever been steelhead fishing or shore fishing in a tail race there is no way the above works. It’s sometimes nearly shoulder to shoulder. 

[ironbjorn]

Fishing the same area isn't the same as casting over. I'm usually in the defense of the bank angler but the boaters shouldn't get lost just because their "bank" is extended. When I'm bank fishing it's the tool that sees me catching fish and then stands 10 feet from me who bothers me more than any boater ever has.

[MassYak85]

14 minutes ago, K1500 said:

Common courtesy seems to be a somewhat uncommon trait it appears. That being said, if you have ever been steelhead fishing or shore fishing in a tail race there is no way the above works. It’s sometimes nearly shoulder to shoulder. 

There's definitely exceptions, small ponds and situations like you said. 

[cyclops2]

I have a 2 ounce sinker with a fast working snap.  I have sent it crashing into or against the side of a dirt bag.

 When they start yapping.  I ask them if they want me to call for the State Police.  

[thediscochef]

6 hours ago, ironbjorn said:

Fishing the same area isn't the same as casting over. I'm usually in the defense of the bank angler but the boaters shouldn't get lost just because their "bank" is extended. When I'm bank fishing it's the tool that sees me catching fish and then stands 10 feet from me who bothers me more than any boater ever has.

Oh there's definitely a distinction to be made there. This cove is maybe 50 feet across at the spot I was fishing, which is about 150 yards into the cove. The way they parked, they sat about 20-30 feet from where I was standing. I would cast, and seconds later there would be a lure hitting that same spot. All they had to do was stick to the deeper, wider segments of the cove and this wouldn't have happened. They also probably would have actually caught something other than my salt.

 

I firmly believe the lake is for everyone and if they'd had any manners or acknowledgement at all about wanting to fish right on top of me, I probably wouldn't have made this thread tbh 

[islandbass]

16 hours ago, thediscochef said:

Not really sure where this topic goes but...

Am I wrong to be a little upset when I'm bank fishing and two guys in a bass boat troll and fish right through where I and three others are casting, have been casting, and are continuing to cast? Is there some unwritten rule that boaters automatically get the right of way for casting and bank fishermen should just suck it up? For reference, this is in a small cove in a big lake. They have their pick of any other spot in the lake, there are many more coves less pressured than this one, and everyone fishing from the bank is clearly visible from outside the cove. Just go somewhere else? It's easier to do that in a boat than it is on the bank. 

Thoughts?

No they don’t have priority and I don’t care who they are, even if it’s a tournament. Tell them straight up and we bank anglers need not be rude in what we say for them to get the message. 
 

You should see what happens to people fishing from a boat that come encroaching on shorebound anglers and anglers on the docks in the puget sound. 
 

Some boat anglers are stupid enough to encroach, and sometimes blatantly.  Look up what a buzz bomb is and then imagine what a million of those look like hurled through air toward their boats. It would look like arrows darkening the sky in 300. 
 

They have the entire puget sound to fish and they want fish  in the area that the bank and dock anglers are. Stuuuuupiddddddd is as stupid does. 

[detroit1]

I fish lakes less than 1000 acres and every inch of shoreline is someones back yard. Early spring and late fall there may be only a few others out fishing, so you can usually get to fish wherever you want on the lake. Of course, the rest of the summer people are out in full force, some give berths to fisherman, most are either clueless or don't care. But i am used to it, and it doesn't get me upset. If i have been catching fish, i think thats ok to drive over my spot, i have caught some already. If my day is fishless, i don't care if they drive over my spot, because hey - i aint catching them anyway...win / win  ?

[Skunkmaster-k]

When I go fishing these days I feel like Rodney Dangerfield.