Rude Stren Series Fisherman in Chaumont Bay

[BARON49_Northern NY]

I am a FLW member, but no longer fish draw tournaments retired after 20 years.  The Stren series was fishing out of Clayton last week.

I was fishing in Chaumont Bay on the outside of a couple islands.  On the inside of the islands was a red Ranger, Ohio registration with two fishermen working the shallow water.  I caught one Largemouth and then another within moments of each other.  By the time I had released the second fish this red Ranger had left the shallows and was sitting right on top of the weed bed I was fishing close enough I could have touched this guys rod with mine.

I asked him what he was doing and his response was, "he was in a tournament and this was his best spot."  Stange I saw him come in, go to the inside of the other island, and work the inside of the next island.  He was in my face in the deep water only after I caught two fish.

Since when does fishing a tournament give anyone the right to be rude?  This rude person fished right over the top of the weedbed and when ever I went to move my boat he would try to cut me off.  I figured if he was that desperate for a fishing spot I would leave as I have many other places to fish.

Getting to my point....if this rude individual had simply come over to one side or the other of where I was fishing and explained to me what was going on I probably would have given him the spot.  But his rude "I am a tournament fisherman I own the water" attitude is getting very old.  This is not the first time this has happened and many of the locals are getting fed up with these rude tournament fishermen.

[MtAiryEd]

Baron:

I was at Chaumont this w/e also (Th/Fr/Sa).  Luckily I didn't see too many of the 200 tournament guys. ..at least that's how many boats were in it according to a guy staying at the Guffin Bay Resort. (my report coming soon)>

[bassnleo]

Please don't turn this into an "all tournament fisherman are rude thread".

There have been many similar threads and they don't fair too well.

Just a suggestion, in the future should you encounter such a situation, take down the guys registration number and boat decription. Casually ask him what tournament he is fishing. Report him to the tournament officials. Most tournaments have rules concerning sportsmanship.

IMHO, that's a far better resolution than complaining about it on a message board.

[Muddy]

There is a big fish, winner take all tourny every Wed night on Mauch Chunk. The boats line up by the ramp, and are not supposed to block the moorings for the daily anglers, they were doing this every week and some words were being passed between the guys staging before the tourny and the every day guys trying to get out on the lake

 Tact One; We told the useless fsh and game guy, who is mostly interested in giving guys tickets for such offenses as no whistle in the boat or a 2 of my friends discovered, for getting out of the boat in an area without a lifeguard! This guy is an overinflated mook for sure

 Tact 2: I spoke, calmly with the tourny organizer: PROBLEM SOLVED immediately! Without fuss or fanfare, it is easy to share the lake with a little cooperation from both sides

 A little aside: I love going out , right in front of the staging boats and pull a nice one right off the weed beds. This one guy kept coming out to see what we were trhowing So I hooked a rod up with an old red and white LUCKY 13 and I put a big old egg sinker on it and just left it hangin! I wonder if it worked for him ;D

[BARON49_Northern NY]

Baron:

I was at Chaumont this w/e also (Th/Fr/Sa). Luckily I didn't see too many of the 200 tournament guys. ..at least that's how many boats were in it according to a guy staying at the Guffin Bay Resort. (my report coming soon)>

Ed,

Was in Guffins Bay looking for you guys on Friday.  The fishing was pretty good and wanted to see how you two were doing.  

[BARON49_Northern NY]

Please don't turn this into an "all tournament fisherman are rude thread".

There have been many similar threads and they don't fair too well.

Just a suggestion, in the future should you encounter such a situation, take down the guys registration number and boat decription. Casually ask him what tournament he is fishing. Report him to the tournament officials. Most tournaments have rules concerning sportsmanship.

IMHO, that's a far better resolution than complaining about it on a message board.

I did not post this to have a thread do well.  Just simply pointing out a problem that is growing in our area.  Your information has been noted and in the future I will give your way a try.  Thanks for your reply.

[Bass Hole]

Not all tournament fisherman are like this please don't stereo type us like that. I for one take great pains to stay away from other fisherman weather they are in the tournament or not.

[Muddy]

What he said and like I posted if there is an issue go right to the Tourny organizers they are great at compromise and want to be welcomed to that body of water again.

BTW Are you sure that mook was even in the Tourny? We had 2 &*#@$*#$ Mooks come between us and the shore, 10 yds from where we were fishing an area. Granted we were fishing paralell to the shore, and they saw us land a double, but thats a little close. When we spoke up, they said they were in the tournament going on, EXCEPT THEY DID NOT HAVE A NUMER OR FLORECENT THREAD ON THE TROLLING MOTORS LIKE THEY OTHER CONTESTANTS on the lake that day. We answered them by casting rattletraps right at them ;D