tournament ettiquite towards non-tourney fishermen

[farmpond1]

Sorry if this question has been asked before.  I don't tournament fish (except one non-descript local tourney) so I haven't visited this particular area much.

I understand that in many/most tournaments, participants must stay a certain distance from other competitors-particularly if they are anchored.  But what about crowding out non-tournament fishermen?  What do the rules usually say about respecting non-tournament fishermens rights/space?

[Catt]

All tournament trails have its own set of SPORTSMANSHIP AND CONDUCT rules; this one applies to the ones I fish.

SPORTSMANSHIP - All contestants are expected to practice courtesy, safety, and follow local and state game laws. Anyone displaying poor sportsmanship or violating local and state game laws will be disqualified.

RULES - All decisions made by the tournament director and or the tournament officials will be final. The tournament director can make a change at his discretion or when the safety of anglers is in question. Interpretation of these rules will be left exclusively to the tournament director.

[jrhennecke]

As a general rule I treat non-tournament anglers the same as I would if they were a competitor.

[Bass XL]

As a general rule I treat non-tournament anglers the same as I would if they were a competitor.

Yeah. I treat them as nice as I can. You never know what tomorrow brings. For instance, one time I was prefishing in this cove and their is a small hump that carries a load of bass (usually). A couple of guys (looked like a father and adult son) saw that I wanted to test it out and see if it would be good for the next day...Well, I saw that they were catching some, so I just went on. The next day, I showed up, and the same 2 people were there. I was pretty discouraged, because I knew I could catch fish. I started to go past it again, and all of a sudden out of no where the older man yells and said that he saw me yesterday, and being that I was fishing a tournament (I had my tourney shirt on) I could have the spot.....See, what goes around comes around.

[bassnleo]

As a general rule I treat non-tournament anglers the same as I would if they were a competitor.

X2. Gotta add bank fisherman to the list also. I will make a wide swing around bank guys as well.....

[farmpond1]

As a general rule I treat non-tournament anglers the same as I would if they were a competitor.

X2. Gotta add bank fisherman to the list also. I will make a wide swing around bank guys as well.....

Amen, brother.  I was with a friend once (not a very bright fellow, really) and my friend was fishing for muskie (one symptom of not being very bright)  ;D Anyway, he was making looooong casts and we came along some bank fishermen.  One might think my friend would have backed off but instead, he kept casting right up to where the bank fishermen were.   One of the bank fishermen read him the riot act.  I just shook my head and chalked it up to experience.

[BillyBob]

Most tournaments are held on public water and that alone gives everyone the right to fish where they wish. We as tournament anglers have no more right to it than they, and should act accordingly, rules or no.

[GobbleDog]

I don't know exactly what my club rule is, but it's probably a lot closer than I'd ever go.  As a general rule I try to stay at least 2 to 3 cast lengths away from ALL boats. Meaning if I cast as far as I can at him and he casts as far as he can at me, the lures should never pass each other.  I've seen a lot of boats (tourny and non) who don't mind getting a lot closer than that, but I won't do it.  

Since I anchor up more than most boats in my club I'm usually the one getting intruded upon, but I don't make an issue about it with fellow club boats. With non-club boaters I'm more prone to speak my mind if they get too close.  "It's a big lake dude.  Ya mind backing off?"  That usually works.

Over the years I have seen a couple of fights occur at the boat ramp after a tournament because of that kind of thing.  Grown men fighting over a fishing spot in a low stakes tourney... idiots.    ;D

[WBFishing]

I am along the same lines of thinking as a lot of you.  I don't think it should be a matter of it being written in the rules or not.  I try to just practice the "treat others as you want to be treated".  I have fished tournaments from the back of the boat, and have simply stopped fishing when I felt the boater moved in to close to someone, bank or boat.  Yea it cost me a couple casts, but at least they can't say I was the a-hole.

[Hot Rod]

It only takes one bad act to spoil it for the rest of us.

I was fishing one eveing last summer about the time a weekly local tournament takes off.  I was set up over some deep structure then just like clockwork here comes three tourney boats blazing right at me.  The first guy went buy so close right across my bow and the spot I was fishing I could have cast and hit the boat!  That really upset me as a tournament fishermen.  No wonder we all get a bad rap when there's some egghead doing that.  I don't mind sharing an area with someone but to run right through a spot where a guy is set up on, come on.

He got his pay back though.  A little latter he hooked a nice bass.  In his attempt to get it into the boat he fell out.  Fortunately for him his partner and the two other nearby boats were able to help him back in his boat.

I wanted to head back tournament launch site and complain but I didn't think it would do any good, so I didn't.

We just have to be careful to respect one another on the water, regardless of how we recreate.

[Glenn]

I give other anglers a wide berth.  I don't like to be crowded, so I won't do it to others.  And if I'm not in a tournament, I'll give up my holes to other tournament anglers just out of courtesy.  It also gives me an opportunity to try a new area without being under pressure.

[fishfordollars]

Treat everyone as an equal, especially someone that is tied to the bank.. If I come on a spot that has another boat fishing out of an area I will ask them (With an arm motion) which way they would like me to go. If they wave me away I respect their wishes wave back and go to another area. If fishing down a break behind someone else I try to fish something other than what the first boat through is throwing.  

[ky_madman]

Hi,

I'm a newbie to posting here, but have lurked for a long time. I'm trying to decide whether or not I'd like to start fishing tournaments. From some of the posts here, from casting ontop of others to running thru their spots, here's my thoughts. I feel like this is probably like every other walk of life. If your a jerk on the water, your more than likely just a jerk, period. Also, as far as people being unsafe and endangering others on the water, a call to the local conservation officer is probably the best route. I really appreciate this site and the info provided here. Still undecided about the tourneys though.

[preach4bass]

Welcome to BR Madman!  I agree, if a guy is a jerk on the water, he's probably a jerk on land too.

[Bassnajr]

Hey,

I am starting club, local tournament fishing this year. I have fished for over 30 years, and treat people like they treat me. I will do the same in club and tournamemt fishing as well. I wouldn't go anywhere NEAR another boat that's fishing, tournament or not.  That doesn't mean I would let people walk all over me either. I agree, a jerk on land is a jerk on water.

ajr

[jrhennecke]

Hi,

I'm a newbie to posting here, but have lurked for a long time. I'm trying to decide whether or not I'd like to start fishing tournaments. From some of the posts here, from casting ontop of others to running thru their spots, here's my thoughts. I feel like this is probably like every other walk of life. If your a jerk on the water, your more than likely just a jerk, period. Also, as far as people being unsafe and endangering others on the water, a call to the local conservation officer is probably the best route. I really appreciate this site and the info provided here. Still undecided about the tourneys though.

1st off Welcome.  About the torneys you have to understand that for every "horror" story you hear there are about a hundred you don't.  If you are thinking about fishing one then do it.  I would start out with a small local tourney.  You don't have anything to loose and will probably have the time of your life.

[FD.]

The actual percentage of Jerks on the water appears to be lower than in traffic but they are still there.  I think because there are so few bad apples in the boating family that they stick out more.

[TournyFish001]

I steer clear and do not fish on top of people- you must have patience with the non-tourny fisherman, last year I had a guy non tourny fisherman at my favorite spot fishing out my favorite place right in front of me and he joked, you can have my fish if you want- rather than being kind he stayed there the whole time hooking'em up he was was pretty abnoxious bout it, he was a tourny fisherman not from my club- I took the high road filled my limit elswhere- so hey, you win some you lose some, I'd have never done that- Karma is huge with fishing- that SOB has it coming lol.

[roadwarrior]

I steer clear and do not fish on top of people- you must have patience with the non-tourny fisherman, last year I had a guy non tourny fisherman at my favorite spot fishing out my favorite place right in front of me and he joked, you can have my fish if you want- rather than being kind he stayed there the whole time hooking'em up he was was pretty abnoxious bout it, he was a tourny fisherman not from my club- I took the high road filled my limit elswhere- so hey, you win some you lose some, I'd have never done that- Karma is huge with fishing- that SOB has it coming lol.

Hmm...

I guess I don't understand. Why would anyone move just because someone else is in a tournament?

[TournyFish001]

I steer clear and do not fish on top of people- you must have patience with the non-tourny fisherman, last year I had a guy non tourny fisherman at my favorite spot fishing out my favorite place right in front of me and he joked, you can have my fish if you want- rather than being kind he stayed there the whole time hooking'em up he was was pretty abnoxious bout it, he was a tourny fisherman not from my club- I took the high road filled my limit elswhere- so hey, you win some you lose some, I'd have never done that- Karma is huge with fishing- that SOB has it coming lol.

Hmm...

I guess I don't understand. Why would anyone move just because someone else is in a tournament?

I do it all the time- the guy launched before safe light and knew what was up-

[Bassnbrett101]

I'm the same way, if theres a tournament going on, and i'm not in it, they can have the spot i'm fishing.  I hate when people do that to me so I don't do it to other people either.

If I'm in the tournament and I get there before everyone else though that spot is mine  ;D lol

[farmpond1]

I steer clear and do not fish on top of people- you must have patience with the non-tourny fisherman, last year I had a guy non tourny fisherman at my favorite spot fishing out my favorite place right in front of me and he joked, you can have my fish if you want- rather than being kind he stayed there the whole time hooking'em up he was was pretty abnoxious bout it, he was a tourny fisherman not from my club- I took the high road filled my limit elswhere- so hey, you win some you lose some, I'd have never done that- Karma is huge with fishing- that SOB has it coming lol.

Hmm...

I guess I don't understand. Why would anyone move just because someone else is in a tournament?

I do it all the time- the guy launched before safe light and knew what was up-

It's nice of you to give up your spot.  But I don't think it's wrong if some else doesn't.  I mean, tournament fishermen do not have god given rights to special privileges.  There may be money on the line and having someone else on your spot is disruptive but isn't it that the same way for everyone?  No one particularly cares to be inconvenienced.  That's why I try to fish during the week days and leave the weekends to the crowds.

On the other hand, if the guy you mentioned, crept into the spot before legal light, he was also in the wrong.  I believe the playing field should be kept even and fair for everyone.  All fishermen should abide by courtesy and, short of that, regulations.