Boaters casting over shore fishermen

[king fisher]

I read all these stories and wonder if some people have forgotten how to talk, or maybe they don't speak the same language.  By the time I graduated kindergarten, I had a basic knowledge of how to communicate with people politely.

      Whenever I am fishing, weather it be from a boat, shore, or kayak, and encounter another angler, the first thing I do is stop fishing, and say is Hi how are you?  The nest thing I do is ask, if I am intruding and if they mind if I fish in their proximity.  If they say they would prefer if I leave, than that is what I do.  If they tell me to go xxxx myself, then I ask them if they graduated kindergarten, then leave.

      Before I fish a lake or stream, I do try and find out what the local customs are.  Some streams people fish shoulder to shoulder,  Other places it would be considered rude to be within a mile of some one else.  Once I determine what is considered normal, I try and stick to the local customs.  If I don't know how to act, I simply politely ask.

       Once while guiding Salmon anglers on a stream where the only salmon were right where the shore angers got dropped off by the local air taxi would fish.  All the guides would fish the whole hard form boats before the planes came, and would leave once the shore anglers showed up.  One of the guides decided to stay and fish.  His line crossed a shore anglers, and the guy pulled a gun and told him to leave.  Not a good way for a guest at a lodge to enjoy a day.

     I couple days later I drove by the spot and saw a shore angler with a big king on, he was waded out as far as he could, and only had a couple feet of line left on his reel.  I helped him get in my boat ran down river and landed the king for him.  When I pulled in to shore to drop him off I asked the other anglers if I could make one run through the hole while they took a break.  They all sat down and ate something while I back trolled through and hooked a big king.  The next day I had one of the shore anglers in my boat as a client.  The remainder of the season I would make it a point to stop and talk to the shore anglers.  Give them advice on the fishing, and ask if they minded if I fished in front of them.  Rarely did anyone say no.  As the season wore on that hole became the only place to catch fish.  Other guides routinely had shouting matches, and even more than one fight.  I just kept being polite and catching fish.  It never hurts to be nice.   There are times to fight, but they are rarely over a fishing spot.  I try to pick my battles wisely.

[Dwight Hottle]

I feel your frustration. If I'm fishing from the bank I throw just in front of them to let them know how far I can cast. I do the same to another boat encroaching into my area. If they don't get the message then I verbalize my feelings by telling them if they are within casting distance they are too close. 9 out of ten respond semi apologetic & move away. If your alone & feel intimated because your out numered it's probably best to just let it go.  

[T-Billy]

On 12/4/2021 at 12:37 PM, thediscochef said:

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*)

I'm generally pretty easy to get along with, but in your situation, I'd have tied on the heaviest crankbait I had, and opened fire.

[thediscochef]

7 hours ago, king fisher said:

I read all these stories and wonder if some people have forgotten how to talk, or maybe they don't speak the same language.  By the time I graduated kindergarten, I had a basic knowledge of how to communicate with people politely.

      Whenever I am fishing, weather it be from a boat, shore, or kayak, and encounter another angler, the first thing I do is stop fishing, and say is Hi how are you?  The nest thing I do is ask, if I am intruding and if they mind if I fish in their proximity.  If they say they would prefer if I leave, than that is what I do.  If they tell me to go xxxx myself, then I ask them if they graduated kindergarten, then leave.

      Before I fish a lake or stream, I do try and find out what the local customs are.  Some streams people fish shoulder to shoulder,  Other places it would be considered rude to be within a mile of some one else.  Once I determine what is considered normal, I try and stick to the local customs.  If I don't know how to act, I simply politely ask.

       Once while guiding Salmon anglers on a stream where the only salmon were right where the shore angers got dropped off by the local air taxi would fish.  All the guides would fish the whole hard form boats before the planes came, and would leave once the shore anglers showed up.  One of the guides decided to stay and fish.  His line crossed a shore anglers, and the guy pulled a gun and told him to leave.  Not a good way for a guest at a lodge to enjoy a day.

     I couple days later I drove by the spot and saw a shore angler with a big king on, he was waded out as far as he could, and only had a couple feet of line left on his reel.  I helped him get in my boat ran down river and landed the king for him.  When I pulled in to shore to drop him off I asked the other anglers if I could make one run through the hole while they took a break.  They all sat down and ate something while I back trolled through and hooked a big king.  The next day I had one of the shore anglers in my boat as a client.  The remainder of the season I would make it a point to stop and talk to the shore anglers.  Give them advice on the fishing, and ask if they minded if I fished in front of them.  Rarely did anyone say no.  As the season wore on that hole became the only place to catch fish.  Other guides routinely had shouting matches, and even more than one fight.  I just kept being polite and catching fish.  It never hurts to be nice.   There are times to fight, but they are rarely over a fishing spot.  I try to pick my battles wisely.

 

7 hours ago, Dwight Hottle said:

I feel your frustration. If I'm fishing from the bank I throw just in front of them to let them know how far I can cast. I do the same to another boat encroaching into my area. If they don't get the message then I verbalize my feelings by telling them if they are within casting distance they are too close. 9 out of ten respond semi apologetic & move away. If your alone & feel intimated because your out numered it's probably best to just let it go.  

these are pretty much the guidelines I try to stick to at all times. Just talk to people and have some manners, it feels like it shouldn't be that complex. I don't really even consider it 'my' area, just a place I'm actively working. I'm happy to move or take a break if there's some kind of decency involved, but I don't feel like the onus is on me to open those communications if I've already been standing there.
There's just so little that's worth a real altercation. I almost always fish alone so it's especially not worth it. I may pipe up next time and see what happens. Thankfully this is a pretty rare occurence...most of the people who fish Ray Roberts know that particular cove is not a prime trolling location. There's significantly better areas within a five minute boat ride of that one. Kayakers come through there a lot, but I've never had one park on top of me or anywhere within casting range - except to get to the other side of me and away. 

[DitchPanda]

I think there is a misconception here that the altercation is about a fishing spot..its about lack of respect and people thinking they are better than everybody else. Most people I've ever encountered have apologized for entering an area I'm fishing..they usually just weren't paying attention. In that case I say no problem at all and if you want feel free to fish by me if you want. Its when you say hey man I'm fishing here would you give me a little room and they respond you don't own the lake you stupid as$%&#@ that I take exception to it.

[Bluebasser86]

On 12/4/2021 at 9:19 PM, cyclops2 said:

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.  

This is a terrible idea, escalate a situation and committed battery. I understand is sucks when people decide to be like this, but don't let it make you react in such a way that you end up getting hurt or arrested. 

[fin]

5 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

This is a terrible idea, escalate a situation and committed battery. I understand is sucks when people decide to be like this, but don't let it make you react in such a way that you end up getting hurt or arrested. 

 

The comment about firing on the boat with a wrist rocket loaded with lead sinkers is about the worst recommendation I can think of. In fact, I’m kind of surprised to see that comment allowed on this website.

 

19 hours ago, king fisher said:

the first thing I do is stop fishing, and say is Hi how are you?

 

I can be a hot head myself, and I find this comment pretty wise. It's pretty simple. Once you try to start a civil conversation instead of making a smart comment, it will be harder for both of you to get into something that might ruin your day. I have gone from being angry enough to fight to making a new friend before.

 

I bank fish a lot, and it’s very rare that boats will come near me, even kayaks that have to paddle a long way out of their way. Fishermen in boats in general seem to have more respect for fishing etiquette than bank fishermen, and I say that as a bank fisherman. Occasionally you will run into exceptions. In those cases, generally all that’s needed is a hint of casting in their direction.

[Jaderose]

The little lake I fish most of the time has limited access for shore fishermen and a lot of times the people there can be broken into 2 categories.  Families with kids or people trying to catch dinner.  Why would I interfere with either of those groups when I have the rest of the lake nearly to myself?  Why screw up a kid's fishing experience or (especially) ruin a possible meal for someone that needs one?  There's plenty of lake.  I don't need to be a jerk and I don't go fishing to argue with people.  In fact...quite the opposite.

On 12/4/2021 at 11:40 AM, OldManLure said:

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.  

Maybe this was a good idea back in the day, but this would be a fine way to get shot in Northwest Missouri in 2021.

[Bassbum1016]

Poor judgement on their part.

Shore fisherman are limited while boaters are not

 

Rule of thumb, if you have to think whether you’re fishing too close to anyone, you probably are

[gim]

On 12/4/2021 at 2:44 PM, LonnieP said:

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.

There isn’t a lot of bank anglers where I fish other than in the spring when the panfish bite is going, but kayaks seem to almost be everywhere now and they sometime slide right behind me while I’m fishing.

 

I routinely fish a specific lake in the summer that has a rowing team on it. Those guys royally suck. The problem is that they don’t face forward when they’re rowing. So they just go where they want without watching where they go.

[the reel ess]

On 12/4/2021 at 12:24 PM, Tennessee Boy said:

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.

My rule of thumb is to give them a minimum of 2 cast lengths. That goes for other boats too. That way my line could never touch theirs. I've had someone literally get my line caught in his trolling motor. This when I was there first and anchored 1 cast distance from the bank. Then the guy told me it's a big lake. Use your imagination for what I said. That's a bit too close.

 

There are no bank fishermen where I usually fish now. There are usually no boats. And when there are, about half the time they're crappie fishing.

[Junger]

I give bank fisherman plenty of space on both sides, at least 50 yards. I'm in a boat, I can go find many other spots the bank fishers can't access.

[scaleface]

There are times on an elec motor only lake where I'm fishing down the same bank as  perch jerkers "a Harry and Charlie term " and covering water much faster than they . I always ask if I can pass and they always give permission  . I give bank anglers a wide berth . When bass anglers cut me off and start fishing ahead of me , that tics me off .

[Bankc]

I don't like to fish within shouting distance of anyone else.  To me, if you can hear them, you can be scaring their fish away.  So I always keep a healthy distance, as much as possible.  

 

Though I have noticed quite a few boaters that just don't care about others.  Not all.  Not even most.  But still, quite a few.  Whether I'm fishing from a bank or from my kayak, I've ran into more than my fair share who have no qualms about trying to crowd you out.  And some that even put me in dangerous situations for no reason, other than they just didn't care.  It's just the world we live in now, and it doesn't have anything to do with owning a boat.  There's just an increasing number of people who can't see anything from anyone else's perspective but their own.  To them, you're the problem, just because you exist for reasons other than to benefit them.  Sad.  But the best way to fight it is to be the example you wish others would follow.  

[cyclops2]

Bass Bum stated the truth about some pushy / bully boat people. I own boats. But I also fish from a dock & shore.  Bass boaters are the worst at being bullies around docks with people fishing from them.  We have 2 long T  docks close to each other just enough room for 1 boat to pull in or go out at a time. A boat is backing out of the tight inner docks & a flying bass boat charges to the .chops the throttle late sends a medium wake into all the boats. BLOCKS off the guy trying to leave. continues INTO the pathway casting as he goes. Dirtbags.  Then says. Hope you do not mind. 

 

I will not post what I said as I held up his wake coming at the dock on my cell phone. ..........Leave NOW or my buddies at the CG station will write up a ticket for tossing a wake into all our boats.

[MickD]

On 12/4/2021 at 12:37 PM, thediscochef said:

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*)

I would be very tempted to drop a few casts right into the boat.

[Catt]

Just now, MickD said:

I would be very tempted to drop a few casts right into the boat.

 

3/4 oz Rat-L-Trap ?

 

 

[MickD]

Just now, Catt said:

 

3/4 oz Rat-L-Trap ?

 

 

Being cheapskate, and knowing that what hits the boat really won't matter, the message will get through, I'd use something cheaper.  If I had some really stinky catfish bait, that would be good.

[J Francho]

I try to give bank anglers all the room they could possibly need, but there are a few places where I have to encroach, like any narrow outlet to the the big lake and at the boat ramp.  It's actually really annoying to have to wait for some shmo the reel up before continuing under way.

[thediscochef]

1 minute ago, J Francho said:

I try to give bank anglers all the room they could possibly need, but there are a few places where I have to encroach, like any narrow outlet to the the big lake and at the boat ramp.  It's actually really annoying to have to wait for some shmo the reel up before continuing under way.

I specifically avoid areas of necessary traffic, like inlets needed to access either the rest of the lake or a boat ramp. I also don't fish near the ramp if I can see or hear a boat or truck with a boat. That's an area of boater's right-of-way, no questions asked. If someone fishing the boat ramp is holding up a boater...the bank fisherman is in the wrong pretty much every time. The cove I was in only has one way in, and no launches in the cove itself. The only non-fishing reason I see people boating up in that cove is to park while they grab the truck if they're alone or the ramp is busy. I don't mind this because I'm much much deeper in the cove than those guys come and I still catch fish while they're getting situated. I just admire their boats and daydream usually. One guy does that a lot, has a really nice white sparkle skeeter. v jealous lol

[cyclops2]

Age test.

 

You look at a great boat longer.  Than you look at a cheer leader.   

[thediscochef]

6 minutes ago, cyclops2 said:

Age test.

 

You look at a great boat longer.  Than you look at a cheer leader.   

I'll be 30 in a couple of days so I guess this checks out ? that skeeter has those things on the back that stabilize the boat when you're nose up on the bank, I didn't know what the heck those things were until I saw that boat. I think he thinks I'm staring him down when he pulls in, but really I'm just picturing myself in that boat, eyebrows flapping in the breeze...

[J Francho]

24 minutes ago, thediscochef said:

I specifically avoid areas of necessary traffic, like inlets needed to access either the rest of the lake or a boat ramp. I also don't fish near the ramp if I can see or hear a boat or truck with a boat. That's an area of boater's right-of-way, no questions asked. If someone fishing the boat ramp is holding up a boater...the bank fisherman is in the wrong pretty much every time. The cove I was in only has one way in, and no launches in the cove itself. The only non-fishing reason I see people boating up in that cove is to park while they grab the truck if they're alone or the ramp is busy. I don't mind this because I'm much much deeper in the cove than those guys come and I still catch fish while they're getting situated. I just admire their boats and daydream usually. One guy does that a lot, has a really nice white sparkle skeeter. v jealous lol

Often, the issue is that people occupying the ramp take the position of the have nots, and you are the enemy, or the haves.  Despite signage that fishing is prohibited, they are sometimes confrontational, and honestly, I'm not down for a fight out in the sticks with no one around.  It's an irritating situation.  I suppose I could call the police, but they are at least a half hour away from the ramp and by then it would be too late to prevent any altercation.  Most often I try a friendly announcement that I'm pulling the boat out so I need the space, and there might be complaining, but they usually comply.  I've had a couple times where I had insults yelled at me, and tried to get me to react.  I ignore it, and get the boat on without taking extra time.  

[thediscochef]

7 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Often, the issue is that people occupying the ramp take the position of the have nots, and you are the enemy, or the haves.  Despite signage that fishing is prohibited, they are sometimes confrontational, and honestly, I'm not down for a fight out in the sticks with no one around.  It's an irritating situation.  I suppose I could call the police, but they are at least a half hour away from the ramp and by then it would be too late to prevent any altercation.  Most often I try a friendly announcement that I'm pulling the boat out so I need the space, and there might be complaining, but they usually comply.  I've had a couple times where I had insults yelled at me, and tried to get me to react.  I ignore it, and get the boat on without taking extra time.  

See at this ramp there's no posted signs about fishing, but I keep an eye out and if I can see or hear a boat or a truck I'm gone. Even if I just casted, the lure comes in at top speed and I move. It's a boat ramp, not a fishing ramp. They get priority and always should. I don't fish the actual ramps very much though, as the better spot at said launch area is the rock pile to the south that creates the cove I frequent. Bass to 4lbs and drum to 10lbs pretty regularly and you will never once be in the way of any boater; it's physically not possible unless they do the things that started this thread to begin with. 

[Functional]

I've always gone with the rule "least mobility gets the priority". Far easier for me to use the TM or big engine to cover a little further down or new area than a bank fisherman or canoe/kayak than for you to walk. Even if I'm there first sometimes I'll see someone pop out of the woods and not know I was there, I'll pack up and be on my way. Kayaker working a shoreline I wont even go a few hundred feet by like I would a boat, I'll just try a new area. Far harder for a kayak or canoe to paddle around me far enough to not cut me off than just avoiding it. I've found some new hot spots this way too, when my normal areas are taken up by others. Not always a bad thing. If I'm up a long narrow channel sometimes its unavoidable passing bank fisherman but I'll always go as far over as I can and throttle down so I dont ruin the spot for them.

 

What drives me up a wall is if I'm working a spot, not moving and the paddleboarders or kayakers coming between me and the shore i'm fishing...or boats/jetskis driving by close enough to throw my shoe at when spot locked in open water. Zero need for either, only time I want someone that close is if my boat is on fire or they are delivering pizza and beer.