if you come across a fisherman struggling..do you help?

[GRiver]

When passing in close proximity, I’ll usually ask “Doing any good” and If I’ve caught any thing I’ll offer what I’m catching them on, and most of the time they do they same. 

[Log Catcher]

I have helped people on the water before. Towed people in to the boat ramp a few times and been towed in. Helped people with the fishing. Have given them some soft plastics and told them the places where I had caught some.

[Munkin]

Yes, depending on circumstances. Some people are just a**hats so they are on their own, I do like to help kids as I was helped as a child myself.

 

Literally did this yesterday! An older gentleman was trout fishing a place I fish for SM. He said he had been there all day and was just looking to fill his 5 trout limit. He had been there 6 hours and only had 2 fish so I put on a Meeps spinner and caught two trout to help him out. He caught another fish so he was able to go home with 5 trout and I felt good.

 

Allen

[TnRiver46]

I don’t really pay close enough attention to know if other fishermen are struggling. If they tell me they are struggling, I really can’t help anyway unless they are after white bass 

[Darth-Baiter]

24 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I don’t really pay close enough attention to know if other fishermen are struggling. If they tell me they are struggling, I really can’t help anyway unless they are after white bass 

you could give a spinner bait tutorial.  haha.

[TnRiver46]

56 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

you could give a spinner bait tutorial.  haha.

[GaryH]

10 hours ago, Munkin said:

 

Literally did this yesterday! An older gentleman was trout fishing a place I fish for SM. He said he had been there all day and was just looking to fill his 5 trout limit. He had been there 6 hours and only had 2 fish so I put on a Meeps spinner and caught two trout to help him out. He caught another fish so he was able to go home with 5 trout and I felt good.

 

Allen

Good job. 

[Junk Fisherman]

I'll definitely help someone on the water or at the launch.   Once, there was a newbie that couldn't load his boat.  I ended up jumping in his truck, backing down a little farther, and showing him exactly how to load up.  He was embarrassed and very appreciative.  I'll never forget having some guy act all pompous and arrogant when I was struggling once at the launch when I was a novice boater.  I'll always help someone rather than get upset that they are holding up the line.

 

In terms of fishing advice, it really depends.  I fish so much pressured water around Chicago that I'm not really giving up secrets I've learned.  With that said, I am more likely to help young guys in their 20s or dad/grandpas with kids than I am the guy in the 75K bassboat.  

 

 

[DaubsNU1]

Yes!

 

Fisherman motored up to me early one morning...needed help.  He had sunk treble hooks of a crank in his shoulder and could not reach. Pretty easy hook-removal. 

 

We talked for a while sharing stores. He insisted I take a few of his home-made chatter baits as a way of saying "thanks!" Very nice fellow. 

 

And yes! I help fisherman who ask for advice, or what's working that day. 

 

Whenever I see ends of the spectrum (very young, or very old fisherman), I always stop by and ask how they are doing.

 

One afternoon I was really tired...so tied my boat up to a tree in middle of the lake and sprawled out on the casting deck for a nap. My boat isn't big, so my arm was laying over the side. Must have looked like I was dead, or having a heart-attack...as a kayak fisherman stopped by to see if I was alright. Woke me up...we both had a good chuckle. 

 

I thanked him for checking on me.

 

Have helped more than a few unload and load their boats.

[N Florida Mike]

I’ve had the privilege to teach a good number of kids to fish, and taught one of my best friends to bass fish when we were young men. Now he has a bass boat , and we still go a few times a year. He often beats me with numbers, especially when we fish his best lake. 
As far as helping on the water, I don’t remember ever encountering anyone broke down, but would of course help if it happened.

There was an older couple visiting my home lake once, fishing with cane poles for bream. They just weren’t catching any on the bank where they were. They sounded  so disappointed when I went by them. I had some good bream spots, so I went and caught them some. They were so happy and thankful when they got those fish.  
I also give away a lot of fish I catch now, and believe I catch more because of it. Give and it shall be given to you…

[BigAngus752]

If someone asks me how I'm catching there's a 99% chance I'm going to give them every detail I can.  It's very rare that the bite is so tough that day that I say, "I'm sorry but I'll tell you when I'm headed back to the ramp".  Very rare. 

 

Also, I will go out of my way to direct other species guys to their fish.  If I find crappie or walleye by mistake, I'll hunt down the nearest fisherman and give him the where/what.  Why?  Treat others as you wish to be treated.  I'm always open to listening to advice.  Unfortunately in this sport many times it's intentionally B.S. when someone starts running their mouth at the launch. 

[A-Jay]

if you come across a fisherman struggling..do you help?

 

They come to me . . . .

 

A-Jay

[geo g]

Over the years I have tried to help others that asked for help fishing.  With mechanical problems I always stop and try to help.  I have towed others miles back to their ramps.  If you own a boat long enough we have been in a situation where we needed help.  I was out 25 miles from the ramps in the Everglades, with my 12 year old son and had to have Florida Fish and Game tow me back in.  I always keep emergency numbers in the boat, and this saved us from serious problems running low on drinking water and a long night with hungry mosquitos.  I learned some valuable lessons that day.

[Susky River Rat]

2 hours ago, BigAngus752 said:

If someone asks me how I'm catching there's a 99% chance I'm going to give them every detail I can.  It's very rare that the bite is so tough that day that I say, "I'm sorry but I'll tell you when I'm headed back to the ramp".  Very rare. 

 

Also, I will go out of my way to direct other species guys to their fish.  If I find crappie or walleye by mistake, I'll hunt down the nearest fisherman and give him the where/what.  Why?  Treat others as you wish to be treated.  I'm always open to listening to advice.  Unfortunately in this sport many times it's intentionally B.S. when someone starts running their mouth at the launch. 

I personally do not like if the first few sentences out of someone’s mouth is asking if I am catching.  If we get into a conversation I have no problem spilling the beans most times.  When the conversation goes “nice day out catch anything?” I just say win some lose some and go about what i was doing. I will never flat out ask anyone about their fishing success. 
 

The other week I did help someone navigate the susky that was unfamiliar with it. We got back to the ramp he thanked me. He also told me that way was a lot better then how he was going to do it. He was going to go through the rock ledge. Which you can do but, was a risk he didn’t need to take. I showed him the safer but, shallower way. 

[TOXIC]

I’ve spent the majority of my fishing career “helping people” whether it be guiding, doing seminars or demonstrations and repping products that I believe in.  I can’t tell you how many bags of Senkos and Gamakatsu hooks I’ve handed out and shown how to rig but there’s a specific example that honestly brings me to tears every time I think about it.  I feel honored to donate my time and gear to take wounded soldiers out for a day of fishing through a number of different organizations.  It’s a very rewarding experience.  It was at one of these events out of Columbia Island Marina on the Potomac river that I got paired with a USMC Sargent wearing his military issue BDU hat pulled down over his eyes.  All the military members were bussed in from Walter Reed.  We got on my boat and headed up towards and above Washington, DC. I was pointing out all the landmarks, the Washington memorial, generals row, the waterfront barges, etc.  We had been fishing about an hour and caught a few largemouth and smallmouth.  I had been talking and chattering the entire time while he hadn’t said a single word.  I stopped fishing, turned around and sat down on the deck step facing him and said “ I’ve been talking to you all morning and it’s going to be a d**n long day unless we start interacting because I’m not gonna shut up”.  He sat there for a minute, raised the brim of his hat and we started talking and oh boy did we talk.  4 hours of laughing, personal history, hometowns, and life in general. We transitioned over to catfishing and caught some big cats in the marina.  It was an all species tournament format with a lot of awards and prizes for all involved but special recognition for high finishers and we had a tournament style weigh in.  When it came time for us to weigh in he looked at me and I told him that they were his fish and to walk up there and weigh them in.  He did and after all weighed in, he took 2nd place.  I walked up and high 5ed him and we hugged and fist pumped.  Everybody ate bbq collected their prizes and as the festivities came to a close and I was standing with all of the other boat captains, 3 service members walked up to me and asked what I did to the Gunny.  I explained he was a little quiet and reserved but I got him straightened out…laughing.  It was then I noticed they were stone sober. They told me he had been through some pretty bad experiences in the sandbox and he hadn’t spoken a single word in the 3 months he had been at Walter Reed and as a matter of fact he was on suicide watch.  They all 3 thanked me and hugged me before they boarded the bus.  I can tell you this…there wasn’t a dry eye between about 15 boat captains.  It affects me still to this day.  One of my life’s greatest moments.  

[BigAngus752]

5 minutes ago, Darnold335 said:

I personally do not like if the first few sentences out of someone’s mouth is asking if I am catching.

I'm the exact opposite.  I've never started a conversation with another fisherman in my life, but if they want to ask me how I'm doing I'm always ready to talk.  If they tell me that they are catching and I'm not catching then it gets my brain working on what I need to change.  If they tell me that they aren't catching and I'm not either then I know it's not just me.  If they tell me they can't get anything and I'm loading my boat then I'm wondering why I'm not traveling the country in a sponsored boat and truck!  LOL

[Susky River Rat]

1 minute ago, BigAngus752 said:

I'm the exact opposite.  I've never started a conversation with another fisherman in my life, but if they want to ask me how I'm doing I'm always ready to talk.  If they tell me that they are catching and I'm not catching then it gets my brain working on what I need to change.  If they tell me that they aren't catching and I'm not either then I know it's not just me.  If they tell me they can't get anything and I'm loading my boat then I'm wondering why I'm not traveling the country in a sponsored boat and truck!  LOL

I figured if I am catching everyone else is catching too lol. 

[ThatZX14Fella]

I don’t have any advice to offer. I never catch anything myself. I just basically go to enjoy the outdoors and the tackle I’ve bought. 

[Darth-Baiter]

11 hours ago, DaubsNU1 said:

Yes!

 

 

 

Whenever I see ends of the spectrum (very young, or very old fisherman), I always stop by and ask how they are doing.

 

 

I love this!  
 

I met a senior citizen on the lake. I was getting into the smaller bass.  He said, he is still trying to get his first bass….screech. I stopped and tied on a worm setup for him.  He had tied-dyed shorts, socks, shirt…. And I did rib him about his outfit scaring the fish.  His problem was he couldn’t cast to save his life.  I stayed with him hoping and praying a bass would grab his bait.  It never happened.  I hope he didn’t quit.  I look for him all the time. 

[Dogface]

10 hours ago, TOXIC said:

3 service members walked up to me and asked what I did to the Gunny. 

 

? The best story yet!!!!!

[Columbia Craw]

As said, treat people the way you would want to be treated in the same or similar circumstances.  Being a giver is a good thing.

[Zcoker]

I'd help most anyone out if they asked or if I noticed some sort of struggling. Even on the water, folks offer up. Just the other night I was fishing out of my yak and an airboat roared closer and closer, finally coming up close to me and hitting the flood lights. I was like, what the heck! Fool has the whole darn lake! Well, he was only getting close enough to see if I was ok. How about that! Guy was flying back, saw a yak and decided to check up on it before he went in. So help can come in many forms.

[LonnieP]

If it’s some sort of medical or mechanical help yes, if I get asked what I’m catching them on, my answer is always the same, I haven’t caught a thing. 

[Finessegenics]

If you're talking about fishing tips and stuff then I'll always help if they ask. I might not give in and tell all my little secrets but I'm always happy to help. I don't go out of my way to give unsolicited advice though. 

[Will Ketchum]

On the first day of trout, some young guys about high school age sheepishly asked if I could spare some hooks and split-shots, and while I was traveling light, I gave what I could.