Are they rude or am I to sensitive?

[geedavid]

I ran into a situation last week that I believe we have all been in before but I rather doubt was handled as poorly as I did. I was fishing down a bank early in the morning (first on this bank) and had gone about 150 yards. All of a sudden, a boat comes out of the creek that opened on the bank and proceeded to go around me by about 150 feet and nose into the bank and start fishing. In my thinking, that morning, what he decided was that he wasn’t going to fish behind me but rather I would be forced to fish behind him or give up the bank. Like I said I didn’t handle it very well and I’ll leave it at that. My question to all is, what would you do? Would you just continue to fish under your new circumstances? Would you simply leave and let them have the bank? Or would you confront him? Is there one right answer? I am old school and was taught years ago that there is certain respect among fishermen and that you should respect other’s space. I try to always ask how another wants me to go past them and usually it is a positive situation. This guy was about half my age and wanted nothing to do with the “respect” I mentioned. It was his bank now and I wasn’t going to persuade him any other way.

I have seen this many times in the past few years and just wanted to hear y’alls opinion on the matter.

Happy Fishing!

[Darth-Baiter]

that is pretty annoying.   i drifted into a bass boats "water space" yesterday and go out of there ASAP.   stupid gentle wind lulled me into cluelessness.  

 

i wouldnt say nothing.  i would fish as darn cleanly as possilbe.  i love lifting up big fish and yelling to them, "hey, you all missed one!"

[Choporoz]

I have said things

I have sped up and fished right up into them

I have slowed and just fished behind them

I have quickly gone around and taken the lead

I have stood with my arms raised and a wth look on my face

I have quit the bank and done something else 

 

None resulted in truly satisfying outcomes except maybe just fishing behind them.  There really aren't many people I come across that I mind fishing behind.  The times I got angry never resulted in me fishing better, nor thinking the other guy will be more courteous next time.  

As @Darth-Baitermentioned, there's few things more enjoyable than catching a nice fish while batting cleanup

 

[Kirtley Howe]

Don't stoop to their level. Let them be the jackass. There are other banks, and other days. Unless you are a pro fisherman and your livelihood is at stake, it is just not worth the hassle or risk.

 

[TnRiver46]

I rarely pay attention to other boats, what they are doing, how old they are, etc. Sometimes you may not be able to help but witness some things, but I just ignore it all 

[Scott F]

My response is usually to leave the area, but not without first raising my motor a bit and taking off past them creating the biggest wake and most disturbing noise I can. 

[Siebert Outdoors]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

I rarely pay attention to other boats, what they are doing, how old they are, etc. Sometimes you may not be able to help but witness some things, but I just ignore it all 

 

Pretty much how I am anymore.  For the most part I just dont care anymore.  I cant remember the last time someone got what I considered to close to me.  When i do come up on someone on a small lake I fish I always ask them if they care if I go around them.  Kinda expected on a small lake though.  I've worn both shoes so to speak. 

[gim]

2 hours ago, geedavid said:

I am old school and was taught years ago that there is certain respect among fishermen and that you should respect other’s space.

I would consider this attitude to be new school too.  At least for me.  I'm probably quite a bit younger than you and I follow the same logic.

 

I try to give other boats a wide berth.  If I can see that someone is working down a bank, line of docks, etc, I won't go in front of them unless I go WAY in front of them because there is room.  I try to gauge how quickly they are moving along too before I make my move.

 

In your situation, I probably would have said something.  Quite often it really does no good as all it does if raise your blood pressure, but at least you informed them that you thought they were in the wrong and it might make them think twice about doing it next time.

 

I have not had another fishing boat invade my space or cut me off in quite a while.  The only watercraft that are causing problems lately are the recreational ones.

[Fishin Dad]

I really try to be a nice guy and meet a ton of great people while fishing, but in this case, I think I would have said something.  I don’t want a nasty altercation, but I am getting sick of those types of people these days, so, I would have probably said something.  I envy those of you who can let that go better than I can.  

[Woody B]

Just go fish somewhere else.  I fish for fun.  I'm not going to let some bu thead ruin my day.   

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Public lake, those are fighting words imho

 

Private lake, just got to take it in stride, kind of like a bad neighbor

 

It just depends on where you are fishing.    

 

Also remember people are crazy until proven otherwise, you never want to get in a gunfight over a fishing trip.    

 

I had a guy do exactly that a week ago to me, and then had the nerve to try and have a conversation with me, I was polite but not talkative.    

[Skunkmaster-k]

Happens to everyone at one time or another. I’ve accidentally done it to people and have had it done to me. Hardly ever feel good about it. 

[Tim Kelly]

I did it years ago on Oneida. Was in a little tin hire boat with a 9.9 and no trolling motor. Drifting over some deep weeds I drifted far too close to another boat who got up and left. Felt a bit guilty about it ever since. 

[ironbjorn]

Every single time someone has rudely tried to take over my area I have out fished them either in size, numbers, or both, or neither of us do any good. I can't recall a single time it has been worth their efforts. So now I know when someone is a jerk, they're not to be respected as a fisherman, so I couldn't care less. In fact, any emotion I get is a little excitement over the fact that I will probably end up making them jealous.

[thediscochef]

I usually out fish the encroacher types, and then leave. If I'm at the State Park I'll catch one, then go around the bank a little ways and see if I can lure them out of where I want to fish lol

[Darth-Baiter]

even Western basser are assers.  i was long casting to tule and a bass boat just floated right on by.  i got them on GoPro, but i wont show their image.  no big deal.  i was ready with a witty comment if they said anything, but they pretended i wasnt there.  i was praying.."please bass hit me now!!"  nope.  i got a five right when they rounded the bend.  they heard my fish for sure.  ahhaha...

all fun..nothing to get my panties all wadded up about.

[Woody B]

I was fishing today, came around a point, with a dock basically just off the point.  I came around the point a skipped a wacky rig under the dock.  There was a boat on the other side of the dock (we hadn't seen each other) done the same thing.  We both caught dinks from under the dock (on opposite sides) at the same time.   We were both laughing.  I said "I think mine's bigger".   We both laughed more.   Sometimes you're going to end up fishing on top of each other.  It's good with 2 people can laugh about it instead of getting mad.   Picture is the dink.  

[IcatchDinks]

I had the bank fishing version of this happen today. There's man-made outlook about fifteen feet above the river, with a rock covered bank below. I was down on the rocks, directly underneath the outlook, fishing the river. Three young guys show up on the outlook and ask me how the fishing is. I told them I'd caught one or two smallies. They then proceed to CAST DIRECTLY OVERTOP OF ME. As in, they're casting over my head and directly on top of my line. I packed up and left without a word. I felt like cussing them out. But it's just not worth the hassle. I found fish elsewhere. 

[Bankc]

Remember, we don't forgive others so that they may feel better about what they've done.  We forgive others so that we may let go of our own anger.  

[Choporoz]

On 8/1/2023 at 11:58 AM, Choporoz said:

 None resulted in truly satisfying outcomes except maybe just fishing behind them

 

I totally forgot about one incident that was immensely satisfying....

  My wife and I were fishing a smallish cove on Smith Mountain Lake years ago when a glitter boat rolled in right on top of us, not 70 feet away and put the trolling motor down.  I was pizzed, but hadn't said anything yet when my wife started talking to them...a lot...nonstop...they left within 10 minutes and we had a good laugh 

[Darth-Baiter]

On 8/16/2023 at 2:10 PM, Bankc said:

Remember, we don't forgive others so that they may feel better about what they've done.  We forgive others so that we may let go of our own anger.  

WOW.  nice.

 

just last week, i turned on my GoPro to capture a boat completely cut me off and park right where i was casting.  they never faced me, i imagine because they knew what they were doing.  i decided right there, it was not worth it and actually turned off my camera.   they had names on their boat..i didnt want to make trouble for them..hahahha..

 

i was super super bummed when i caught a bass after they left.  

[IcatchDinks]

On 8/16/2023 at 5:10 PM, Bankc said:

Remember, we don't forgive others so that they may feel better about what they've done.  We forgive others so that we may let go of our own anger.  

Amen. 

[TOXIC]

Totally depends on if the other boat did it intentionally or if they were just clueless.  If intentional, I normally do 1 of 2 things.  1. pull out and leapfrog in front of them or 2. Fish up close to them and catch fish right behind them.  If they are clueless, I just move on.  

[scaleface]

That always bothers me but I get over it.  

[Bankbeater]

I fish in a pretty pressured lake so it's fairly common for boats to go around each other.  What really burns me is when a boat runs right through the area I am fishing in.