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

[WIGuide]

Generally I'll help if I see someone struggling at the ramp or at least ask if they need help. When it comes to giving help on the water, it really depends. Most of the time if you're close enough to ask though you're already on my bad side though haha. 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

11 minutes ago, WIGuide said:

Generally I'll help if I see someone struggling at the ramp or at least ask if they need help. When it comes to giving help on the water, it really depends. Most of the time if you're close enough to ask though you're already on my bad side though haha. 

Finally someone speaks the truth!   If we're in speaking range, one of us has seriously screwed up in my book ?

[Bankbeater]

I've loaned some of my tools to other anglers out on the water, and I've helped younger anglers out when they asked for assistance.  Nine times out of ten the younger folks need help with their reel.

[Alex from GA]

50+ miles off shore in So Cal a boat signaled us for help.  Boat wouldn't start.  My buddy put me aboard the broken boat and I found the starter didn't work.  I took it apart and got it working once and told them not to turn the boat off.  We caught some good albacore that day and did a good deed.  If asked I'll help with fishing but won't offer.

[Skunkmaster-k]

I help other fishermen find fish by getting excited and forgetting to lift my fish on the side of the boat they can’t see. I also high five and say things above a whisper , accidentally of course. 

[thediscochef]

I'll always offer up my tools if someone's having a hard time, likewise I will tell people what I throw if they ask. Though, lately I would take whatever I say and do the exact opposite....can't seem to buy a bite this year. Haven't had one since late January and it's not for lack of trying or variety in locations. I just can't figure it out. All this time spent casting at empty water has made me think real hard about the life decisions that have kept me on the bank instead of on a boat. Maybe someday.

[Susky River Rat]

2 hours ago, thediscochef said:

All this time spent casting at empty water has made me think real hard about the life decisions that have kept me on the bank instead of on a boat. Maybe someday.

People get skunked in boats all the time. You just have more water to let yourself down with. 

[btoups]

Always.  Especially if they are having mechanical issues or need help at the launch.  I been on both ends of the tow line and always offer help.  

 

As far as fishing, I'll offer suggestions especially to a boat with young kids in it.  

 

Just this past weekend a dad in a bass boat with two pre-teen kids were fishing the mouth of a cut that I had to pass through as it is the only entrance/exit to the area we were fishing.  He wasn't from the area and I politely asked him if I could pass as it was the only exit.  He agreed and we talked a little.  The kids were fishing a tournament and were struggling to catch any bass.  I gave them a couple suggestions on baits to use and they ended up catching a few fish to weigh in.

 

He also followed me out of the area as you have to run through some shallow marsh and it gets sketchy if you don't know where to pass.  

 

I can usually tell by the demeanor of the other boater if they want any suggestions and I'm always willing to accept suggestions as well.

 

 

[Gera]

Yes, I once meet guy who wanted to start fishing, I told him that its a money pit. 

 

saved his butt, wallet and marriage... 

 

[thediscochef]

11 hours ago, Darnold335 said:

People get skunked in boats all the time. You just have more water to let yourself down with. 

more gas to burn too for that matter

[TnRiver46]

20 hours ago, thediscochef said:

I'll always offer up my tools if someone's having a hard time, likewise I will tell people what I throw if they ask. Though, lately I would take whatever I say and do the exact opposite....can't seem to buy a bite this year. Haven't had one since late January and it's not for lack of trying or variety in locations. I just can't figure it out. All this time spent casting at empty water has made me think real hard about the life decisions that have kept me on the bank instead of on a boat. Maybe someday.

Empty water doesn’t exist where I live, it’s smart fish. I would imagine TX is the same. If you can show me a cove or a point or a river or a lake or a pond that doesn’t have a bass in it, I’ll kiss your……..

 

I learned this lesson fishing a set of rapids on a hot summer day. 3 people in the boat, skunked for hours. I got bored and my buddy said hey I’ve got a mask and snorkel if you wanna use it. Jumped in and there were huge smallmouth everywhere 

 

also ask anyone with electronics, especially live scope. Finding fish is as easy as turning the unit on, the hard part is finding ones that will bite or making smart lazy ones bite 

[Bluebasser86]

I've helped lots of people who seemed deserving of help. Parents with kids, beginners that were struggling, people who really seemed to want to learn and appreciated help. I've not been so helpful to those that see me catch a fish and then start badgering for information. 

[PhishLI]

I'll always gently offer help to kids I see struggling, but not when they have their fathers present. No need to embarrass a dad, and it was clear as a few have subtly reacted that way, so I leave them be now. His kids should feel like he's superman no matter what.

 

I'm usually wading, so I'll usually offer to un-snag the shore bound. Everyone happily accepts that courtesy without a red face. Quite a few newbies to bait casters who I've watched blowing up constantly have gotten full lessons when I've had the time. I've only failed twice AFAIK. One guy had full blown ADD. Just hopeless, and the other was a total spazz who insisted on casting one-handed with a 7'3" rod. He had weak wrists or something, so it looked like he was trying to swat flies with a badminton racquet. Thick as a brick.

 

For everyone else? As it turns out, you can often judge a book by its cover when it comes to people. I've gotten better at quickly sniffing out a jackazz right off the jump, and usually without a word spoken, so they're ignored unless they're drowning, stranded, or convulsing.

 

[DogBone_384]

If I think I can, yes.

[Chris Catignani]

As of late...the thinking is to start paying it forward.

[Sam]

Yes, all the time.

Showed a neighborhood boy how to rig his Senko wacky style and found out a few weeks later from his friend that he caught a four-pounder out of the pond on the "new" rig.

 

Showed a friend how to set up a Chatterbait and he caught a beautiful lady at a local pond on his third cast. I don't know if he or the fish were the most surprised!

[DTFWI]

I’ve helped many kids in the past and it’s great to see the smiles on their faces.

[TnRiver46]

I need some help, can somebody show up later today? 

[geo g]

Since posting my last response to this question a week ago, I became the guy in need of help Sunday.  I checked my batteries before the trip and all was good.  We fished for 4 hours, and upon time to leave all I got from the motor was a chick.  Come to find out the battery was dead, zero load.  We were almost alone on the water and lucky we found a guy who towed us back to the ramp.  He saved us another hour on the water, with just the T/M!  He would not take money but told me to pay it forward.  Thank you sir!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Woody B]

7 hours ago, geo g said:

He would not take money but told me to pay it forward. 

 

I'm a firm believer that what goes around comes around.  Saturday when I was leaving there was a guy at the landing who's truck had a dead battery.  I jumped him off.  He offered to pay but I wouldn't accept anything.  Sunday my wife and her sister were a few towns away in her sisters husbands truck.  They had accidently left the interior light on, draining the battery.   A stranger jumped them off, and wouldn't accept any pay.