Confused fishing etiquette

[OG SmashSauce]

This weekend I went out in my Bass raider. I was first on the lake and I took off to the right. I made it to the end of the red line about an hour and a half later.  While I was reeling in a bass I look over and saw that a kyak had left the launch, shot straight over and started fishing about 50 yards-ish in front of me.  I thought it was pretty d**n close considering out big the lake was!!!

 

Soooo, I release my bass and started to go around him. He looks at me and we get to talking *about fishing* and he told me he didnt knwo what a Senko was. So I ended up actually giving the guy a few senkos, showed him how to rig it and continued around him even though I was annoyed as all hell! lol

 

In this situation....should I of not gone around him and just continued to follow fishing behind him right after he just fished a spot or?   I was just really caught off guard.

 

*side note* Lake drawing is not to scale!! hahahahahaha

[NittyGrittyBoy]

A public lake is just that, a public lake. You have to deal with people inconsiderate or ignorant. 

 

Seems like you did the right thing by helping him out. Doing good comes back around. 

 

But had it been different circumstances and he intentionally cut you off and was rude, get there earlier and fish faster so he can't cut you off next time ?

[padlin]

If he was not moving I don't see why you couldn't pass him. If he was moving I might just sit in one spot for a while and fish and let him get farther away before moving, but that's just me.

[WRB]

In this day and age sportsmanship has been lost on the me generation of anglers. 

You showed exceptional grace by sharing a lure and presentation that is working. All you can do is hope the next time you share the water with this angler he shows you the same consideration.

Tom

[Bird]

Don't let other fisherman get your pannies in a bunch.

Happens 75 % of the time I go out and I just chuckle. 

All I can think is they see a boat and they think.....ah they know where the fish is at.

 

Good for you for helping them.

[dodgeguy]

I think you reacted well. Hopefully he will keep learning.

[Tennessee Boy]

The world needs more kindness and less anger.  You did good.

[Wildbillb]

If he didn't know what a senko was chances are he wasn't going to catch the same fish tou were going to

[OG SmashSauce]

41 minutes ago, Wildbillb said:

If he didn't know what a senko was chances are he wasn't going to catch the same fish tou were going to

Ya, he was bass fishing but he was using a spinner at the time. I guess he could of been lying to me as well...lol

[DaubsNU1]

Good on you for two reasons:

 

1. You didn't lose your poop when he cut you off (he probably cut you off so he could ask you a few questions about bass fishing)

2. You gave him some Senkos!  It's one thing to show a guy what you are throwing, it's something much better to give them a few. Granted, I'm not going to give anyone a $10 square-bill...but you get the point...a few Senkos, plastic worms, NED's...no big deal...but I'm sure it was a big deal to him. 

 

Nice work!!

[GetFishorDieTryin]

Most of the time that happens to me its sheer ignorance on the other guys part.  I dont get irritated with the people that just dont know any better but the people that are aware they are being rude get to me every now and then.  The guy who jumps you or cuts you off and refuses to acknowledge you or make eye contact when your within 50ft are a lost cause.  They know what they're doing and just dont care.  What's worse is when they have a kid with them.

[GRiver]

8 hours ago, Wildbillb said:

f he didn't know what a senko was chances are he

He probably just didn’t know proper fishing rules. 
I think you did all right.

Hopefully he’ll help the next and so forth.

Maybe he is reading this forum and goes   “oh crap,…. That was me” 

Maybe one day they will have a section, “proper fishing etiquette” you have to read before you get your fishing license. 

[BigAngus752]

Did he look like he was heading straight for your boat rather than a fishing spot?  I've had that happen a couple times to me.  Usually right after I've caught fish.  I've had some brand new bass fisherman see me catch fish and "casually" drive almost into me.  Then they "casually" hang around for a minute pretending to fish and finally work up the nerve to engage me in conversation and ask for pointers.  I think there are a lot of people that want to learn how to fish but don't have someone to fish with so they are learning on their own.  Good for you for helping this guy out.  

[Mike L]

You did the right thing of course especially if you took the opportunity of a friendly exchange to just point out what he did and why you didn’t like it. 
 

Someone else in the future might not be as gracious 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[Junk Fisherman]

Nice job OG.  Too often I get angry about these kind of incidents but I am getting better at ignoring it and keeping focused on what I'm doing.  Like others have said, slow down and let them go.  I have actually been preparing myself for a bunch of bent pole patterning I will experience in another couple weeks when I head north for a long smallmouth trip.  You went above and beyond what I would have done so kudos to you.  

[813basstard]

Two things, first, that drawing is pure gold. I’d put that on a shirt and wear it. A lot.

 

Second, missed a chance when giving him a bait to clue him in on some fishing etiquette.

 

 

 

[RDB]

9 hours ago, 813basstard said:

Second, missed a chance when giving him a bait to clue him in on some fishing etiquette.

??This??

 

Like others said, if he didn’t know what a Senko was, it is likely he was unaware of proper fishing etiquette.  Everyone seems to think that pointing something out means you have to either get in a fight or it has to ruin your day…neither of which is true if handled properly.  This was a learning opportunity.  IMO when this happens, it is often due to a lack of awareness.

 

If you didn’t want to fish behind him, going around was perfectly fine.

[T-Billy]

I generally just keep fishing and don't say a word. It's gratifying pulling fish from their used water. They usually fire up and motor off after I boat a few.

[fin]

I think it’s pretty common among new fishermen to think they are being really clever to fish next to someone who looks like they know what they are doing. A couple things about this:

 

1. They are not a threat (except for maybe scaring away fish).
2. Take it as a compliment that they think you look like you know what you are doing.

 

[MAN]

I have noticed where I fish that new fisherman (to the sport) usually do not understand the concept of "working a bank" or "drift fishing" and assume a person is fishing in a fixed spot unless they pull up anchor and move on.  They figure a safe distance away from another person IS being polite.  It does not get to me anymore because I understand that most don't realize they are being rude and are really nice when you meet them. (as you did).   Just my 2cents

[OG SmashSauce]

14 hours ago, 813basstard said:

Second, missed a chance when giving him a bait to clue him in on some fishing etiquette.

 

 

 

Yaaaaaaa, I honestly thought about saying something while talking and I thought to myself….. what if he takes it the wrong way and it turns sour and then i have to push his kayak over!!!!!   Lol. 
 

Then again how would he learn and to honest, I wasn’t sure at the time what he did was wrong or not and then I’m the A hole lol.   I just new it irritated me.  I’m a truck driver and it was like being cut off in my truck!

14 hours ago, 813basstard said:

Two things, first, that drawing is pure gold. I’d put that on a shirt and wear it. A lot.

 

 

 

Loll.  If I ever make it a shirt I’ll personally send u one!  Lol

 

 

 

 

glad to hear it seems like I did the right thing I guess even tho it was hard.  Thanks guys!

[Trox]

Today you introduced him to a senko... Tomorrow he will throwing bandito bugs and yelling "IT'S A SLAUNCH DONKEY" from across the lake...

[jbsoonerfan]

You handled it well. Maybe in the future you should approach it like this. Talk about fishing, give him some senkos, etc. and then tell him. "Hey man, I could care less, but there are some people that are going to get really mad if you move ahead of them and start fishing. Like I said, no big deal to me, just letting you know there are some real jerks on the water." He will know that he was in the wrong and you are trying to tell him nicely. 

[scaleface]

If he doesnt know what a Senko was then he is new to bass fishing and didnt know any better . I'm sure I did worse as a noob .

  I gave a bank angler  a couple of brand new spinnerbaits last year . He saw me catching bass when I got close he said " Let me have one of those lures , I know you have more ." LOL

[gim]

I really can't add to this thread other than what has already been stated.  I'm just theorizing but he likely didn't know any better.

 

Let's assume that he did though.  Did you just go there and remain stationary?  I don't like people "cutting me off" within about 200 yards in front of me when I'm deliberately working down a shoreline, because then I'll I'm doing is fishing used waters.  So when I see someone doing it, I go WAY out in front of them to make a point that I'm not cutting them off.  If a boat or kayak goes in front of me, and intends to just stay there, I just simply go around them.

 

BTW I think you handled it well too.  I wouldn't have been handing him senkos myself though, but that's just me personally.