How to deal with people fishing right on top of you?

[IcatchDinks]

1 hour ago, Bankc said:

People are crazy these days.  And anger has a way of spreading, like a disease.  Best thing to do is walk away before you get angry.  Avoid the problems before they get worse.  Because the last thing you want is them to drag you down to their level.  Keep your happiness intact, even if it means letting the bad guys win, because your happiness is worth more than your righteousness.  

 

Second best thing to do is ruin it for everyone else.  And in order to do that without getting into a confrontation, I've discovered a little secret about humans.  No one believes you when you tell them you're smart, but everyone believes you when you tell them you're stupid.  So you can act like a real jerk, so long as you're super friendly and don't seem to be aware that you're acting like a jerk.  In other words, you can do things like pester them with constant questions and keep reminding them that you're new to this, so you don't know what you're doing.  Then maybe cast way off to the side and cross the other guy's line so you get caught up in theirs and say something like "sorry, I'm not very good at this".   If they tell you to leave, just say "one more cast, I've got a good feeling about this one" over and over again.  So long as you smile and act like you have no idea that they're getting angry at you, it makes it really hard for them to act on that anger.  People want to believe that they're good at heart, so they need your help to escalate the anger into violence.  That's why people almost always shove each other before throwing punches.  But you can often avoid the violence by pretending not to recognize their attempts at escalation, and just remain calm and happy.  It's still risky, because there are people crazy enough to snap without warning and not need you to help them escalate things.  So you can still get yourself hurt or worse.  But it's a method I've found that works more often than not.  

This. Is. Brilliant. 

[GreenPig]

4 hours ago, Bassabductor69 said:

Hey all, I decided I’m going to invest in a foldable kayak if I can find a decent one in my price range. That solves the problem.

I’ll also get a GoPro eventually, so if something like this happens again I can post it here and elsewhere, show FWC the reg violations, etc.

May finally get myself a gun this year while I’m at it considering the new conceal carry laws down here. Although an open carry may serve more purpose by that logic, I’m not gonna harm someone over fish but if the perceived threat keeps them a respectful distance away from me then it’s worth it.

Read and understand the gun laws. Read and understand the gun laws. 

[huZZah]

Seems counter intuitive, but the quickest way to get shot? Pull your gun first.  

10 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

one time a kayak floated 6 feet in front of and started fishing. 

This just gets me casting at you. Oops. Oops. Man sorry. Oops. Ah Jeez sorry. Oops. Whoa my bad. Oops.  Ah gosh sorry. Oops. Whoops. 
 

But at the same time, I’m always hyper aware that we live in the world where kids eat Tide pods and shoot up schools. So if it’s gonna be a serious confrontation I’ll just move.  My family needs me alive and providing, not dead cause I wanted a good story of teaching some inconsiderate tool a lesson. 
 

[Bankc]

19 hours ago, IcatchDinks said:

This. Is. Brilliant. 

It's a technique I picked up in my youth working customer service call centers.  The turnover in those places is ridiculously high because you just get abused by everyone and they won't let you stand up for yourself or hang up on abusive customers.  So the senior employees taught me if you want to last longer than a month there and not become clinically depressed, you have to develop some thick skin and learn how to take back control without breaking the rules.  So, when you get an abusive customer, you anger them into a frenzy until they ask to speak to your supervisor.  Then you can transfer them, and they're out of your hair.  And when they tell the supervisor of all of the things you said and did, it sounds a whole lot like you were a model employee and followed every procedure to the letter.  Plus, your call times drop because you're not wasting time with abusive customers, so you get raises and promotions.  

Yeah, it's a messed-up system. 

 

[@reelChris]

The easy way is fireworks.  But, that's kind of loud and will probably distract you from fishing.  A much quieter way is just stripping down to your speedo.  If that doesn't do it, just keep asking your neighbors to reapply sun team lotion every 10 minutes.  The great part of this solution is the more out of shape you are, the better it works. 

[Run2jeepn]

Happened to me last week. Went bank fishing at the river. This part has 3 islands. I set up all my gear and got one line out. On an island with no one on it.(Catfish/Gar fishing) Turned around to grab my 2nd rod to cast out. Some guy waded from another island and stood 2ft from my first rod and started casting. Mind you there was 2 other islands empty.

 

I guess I wasn't in the mood to deal with it. I said to him " your kidding right?" he just looked at me and didn't say a word. So I grabbed my casting net and started throwing everywhere, Even right in front of him. Didn't stop him. So I grabbed one of my bass rods and as soon as he casted. I casted and snag his line. Just played dumb and said sorry. I did that 2 more times. back to back. He finally got the message and left. I normally don't care at all. Specially if they ask if they can work in and fish as well. I've never told anyone No when they've asked. I've meet some good people that way fishing. I've never been that rude to anyone out fishing. In my job I've learned to talk my way through some tough/heated moments with some of the roughest characters in sketchy moments. ( to say the least) 

[Woody B]

FWIW I carry a firearm every where it's legal (and a few places it isn't legal).  I'd never use it, or even hint at using it to defend a fishing spot.   I would "bluff" if someone was stealing my truck of boat, but I wouldn't pull the trigger for property either.   Become an active threat to my family.....all bets are off.   

 

Being armed should not change your demeanor when dealing with idiots.   

[Bankbeater]

In some of the local small lakes I fish, catching a bass is like firing a flare into the sky. People just come over and start fishing around the spot.  After not catching anything, the other anglers will move somewhere else and I get back to boating fish.

[TnRiver46]

Fishing below the dams off the bank, they will swarm like flies when you start catching. Then they will ask you for your catch. I usually give them one or two fish then release the rest, trying to teach some conservation with actions not words 

 

now if somebody seems pretty hard up, I’ll give them a good many white bass 

[1024cwalker]

chill and let them get in on the action. Unless you're in a tournament and have a possibility of losing that money fish whats the point of being hateful (even if its subliminal) when we all should jus be spreading the love. Now if they are sending bad vibes dont Impeach on your own mental well being, sometimes being petty is good for the soul. I like to play defense with my boat, plot out where I think they are heading, and set my troller to Mach Jesus so I can get there first.