They're all gonna laugh at you!!

[Madd Lunacy]

This past Sunday I was fishing on the bank minding my own business throwing my rage toad over some grass beds when all of the sudden from over my shoulder I hear this hysterical laughter coming from an older gentlemen and his wife.  I just thought they were having fun slaughtering the bluegill and enjoying each others company until I realized they were laughing at me and my rage toad.  They were getting a kick out of watching me throw this ridiculous noise making, scare every fish in the lake away, thing over the top of the water.  

I didn't let it bother me because most of the people that fish this little lake bring their lawn chairs, Wal-Mart special rod and reel, container of worms, a six pack and throw the ole line in the water and see what happens, so it didn't suprise me too much that they have never seen anything like the rage toad before.

I continued to throw my toad without any luck, so I picked up my jig rod and started dropping it into various holes in the grass.  Once again I hear the older gentleman and his wife start laughing.  I was thinking to myself "are you kidding me?" these people don't know anything about fishing.  I dropped my jig into another hole and caught a little dink.  Now they weren't laughing  8-)... The older gentleman says "Oh, you got a good one", I said "no this is just a little one, they have to be 12" before you can keep them out of this lake" and then I let the fish go.  

Then I made a cast in a big opening in the grass and land a nice three pounder, from over my shoulder I hear the gentleman say "That one is big enough to keep!".  Now I am usually strictly catch and release, but this guy wanted this fish really bad and was even trying to offer me money for this bass.  

I ended up giving the fish to him and he says "I just thought you were casting to be casting, I never thought there would ever be any fish in all that grass".  I told him there was a method to my maddnes and from that point on we were best friends.  It was nice to get the last laugh and make someones day all at the same time.  

That was the first time I've been openly mocked while fishing and was wondering if any of you have had similar experiences?

 

[Fishing Rhino]

Let 'em laugh.

He who laughs last laughs best.

I wouldn't have given them the fish. I'd have told him that you can only enjoy eating it once, but as long as it is swimming, fishermen can enjoy catching it many times.

It was a nice act on your part however. Particularly when they had been mocking you.

[Muddy]

Are you the Famous DJ from the Chicago area?

[Sam]

sorry you gave them that beautiful bass.

let thm catch their own fish.

hope you will not do it again and just smile, and return the fish to its home.  

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

Have I had similar situations? You bet. ;D

Have been openly laughed at throwing anything from large spinnerbaits,buzzbaits,and giant worms from people chucking large basketball size bobbers with night crawlers.Uusally using cane poles or some gigantic saltwater setup,a 5 gallon white bucket,and holding the spinning rod upside down.You know the type.

The one that really throws them off is when I am using something like a super spook.They see me twitching that big ol thing and they are totally confused. I had one gentleman before tell me that my spro frog looked like a toy and didn't know why they sold those funny looking things. There is no way a fish could eat that. ;D

I went back to Ohio in 2005 and was fishing one of my old spots,an old spillway that runs about 3 ft deep max using a 3/8 spinnerbait with oversize blades. I was actually approached by a smirking game warden who laughingly asked if I fishing for whales and "what could possibly be in there that would bite all that metal?" Of all people a game warden??!! (Guess he was so used to seeing 2-3 dozen people lined up on that bank with their buckets catching redears.) After harrassing me for my 50 dollar non-resident permit I told him to stick around for a minute.I then proceded to draw a small crowd after catching 10 fish or so 1.5 lbs and under on that "giant lure". :

When I get the looks and chuckles I have still openly given fish to people before since I know there is no chance whatsoever that they will catch one.It is when the "why you throw that back?" or "let me get that" crap starts is when I promptly tell them where to stick it and learn how to catch it themselves. No point whatsoever trying to explain big fish and catch and release to them.I gave up on that :

[avid]

I can understand why you gave him the bass.  In similar situations I have done both, that is one time I might give the person the bass, whereas other times I have told them that I am c&r, and explain a little conservation.  either way it just annoys me to have people ask me for the fish.  

One time I had a guy make a big deal about "throwing food away while some people are hungry" blah blah blah....anyway I gave him the fish and watched him spend the next half hour walking around and showing it to people ...bragging about the big fish he caught.  Then when I finally left I saw it sitting on top of a garbage pail.

I never gave any away for a looooooooooooong time after that.

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

I can understand why you gave him the bass. In similar situations I have done both, that is one time I might give the person the bass, whereas other times I have told them that I am c&r, and explain a little conservation. either way it just annoys me to have people ask me for the fish.

One time I had a guy make a big deal about "throwing food away while some people are hungry" blah blah blah....anyway I gave him the fish and watched him spend the next half hour walking around and showing it to people ...bragging about the big fish he caught. Then when I finally left I saw it sitting on top of a garbage pail.

I never gave any away for a looooooooooooong time after that.

You serious?!?! I'm speechless

[SaintsFn]

I can understand why you gave him the bass. In similar situations I have done both, that is one time I might give the person the bass, whereas other times I have told them that I am c&r, and explain a little conservation. either way it just annoys me to have people ask me for the fish.

One time I had a guy make a big deal about "throwing food away while some people are hungry" blah blah blah....anyway I gave him the fish and watched him spend the next half hour walking around and showing it to people ...bragging about the big fish he caught. Then when I finally left I saw it sitting on top of a garbage pail.

I never gave any away for a looooooooooooong time after that.

He deserved to get a beat down for that. I guess he wasn't that hungry, huh?

[Steven Ladner]

I've never been laughed at about throwing lures, but I have been looked at funny by people who weren't using them. This couple and I were fishing near each other on the bank of a river oxbow lake. There were bass beds scattered along the bank with fish on some of them.

I had my jig/craw set up while they were over there with their bobbers and live worms. They just kept looking at me like, "is this guy serious, no fish is gonna eat that". So I started pitchin to some of them and hooked a few here and there. Then the man came over to me and said, "Are you a bass fisherman?" I told him I was and he asked me to go over where him and his wife were fishing to help them catch a 4lber guarding a bed.

First cast, I twitched the bait along the bed and big boy destroyed it. Then the guy goes, "can I get one of those things from you?" ;D

[avid]

The situation I told about had nothing to do with being ridiculed for using lures instead of bait,, but was all about catch and release.

In New York, especially Long Island, the fishing is mostly saltwater.  It's only within the last 10 or 15 years that salty anglers have begun to even consider c&r.  It's like against their religion to throw back a fish, so of course they carry it over to fresh water as well.

The story I told happened in the early 80's at Belmont Lake State Park in Babylon.  I honestly think that the guy did intend to keep the fish for food.  He did look kinda poor, but as he was walking away with the fish someone stopped him to admire it and he just couldn't resist all the praise, so he ran with it.  It was his 15 minutes.  

It was summer and I think that by the time he got to the exit, the bass was pretty foul, so he trashed it.

Mackerel season is the best time to see gross examples of wasting the fish resource.  It's common to see guys come home with burlap bags full of mackerel...I'm talking 40 50 lbs or more.  There's no way they ever get to cleaning that many fish and so they end up in the trash.

I'll bet it's still happening.

[skeetermike]

Nope I wouldn't have given them the fish.  I've put them in quickly before they have had the chance to ask many times before.  Was this guys name MR. DumBa** or what?  Most older guys that are any kinda of fisherman have the old tackle box full of jitterbugs, rapala's ect.  

[DINK WHISPERER]

What's up with people giving away bass!?! Geez, catch and release or catch nothing in the future!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SoFl-native]

OP: I never, ever would have given that guy a fish.....especially after he was being a jerk.

[Mottfia]

What's up with people giving away bass!?! Geez, catch and release or catch nothing in the future!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have to respectfully disagree with you. I know people that don't make alot of money so they fish to help feed the family after work. I personally have no problem of keeping a few for the plate or giving a person a fish that needs it.

In some ponds that has an over populated system, taking a few fish for the plate can be benificial to the whole system.

back on topic, that pretty cool how you handled the situation. it speaks well of you to let things slide so easily. you have my props!

Motfia

[Madd Lunacy]

What's up with people giving away bass!?! Geez, catch and release or catch nothing in the future!!!!!!!!!!!!

This was the first time I have ever given a fish away, and if this would of happened two weeks ago I probably wouldn't have.  I was reading one of the other posts in the forum about how it is ok to keep a fish or two every once in a while, so I figured hey, why not.  I am definitely not going to to make a habit of it though.

[Madd Lunacy]

OP: I never, ever would have given that guy a fish.....especially after he was being a jerk.

I figured I would take the high road and try and maybe curb his stupidity on what his idea of "fishing" was for future fishing experiences he may have.  After we got to talking, he turned out to be a pretty nice guy and was very interested in what kind of gear I was using.  Sometimes I guess you have to help educate to curb the hate.  8-)

It just suprises me how many people think fishing consits of, or is limited to throwing a line in the water with a worm and a beach ball bobber and whatever bites becomes dinner.  I have people that can't comprehend it when I tell them all the fish I catch I let go.  I think the common mind set among most people is you go fishing for food, and not so much for the fun of it, which is why I go.  ;D

[Madd Lunacy]

Are you the Famous DJ from the Chicago area?

Nope.  I wasn't aware there was a famous DJ with the same name.

[SammyLee]

The lake managers want us to keep all the small bass we catch which is a PITA for me.  My dad and I used to give away most of the fish we caught after keeping enough for several meals.  He was the Director of the housing projects and there were plenty of people who needed them and liked them, especailly after he cleaned them.

We would go to Florida and catch a hundred pounds or more.  Dad would have them cleaned by the dock hands, put them in metal cans, layered with ice and we would bring them home to give away.  Most of those folks had never had grouper and snapper filets and let me tell you, we were popular after that.  "When you going fishing again Mr. Teel?  We show liked them last ones!"  The line of cars at his funeral went on for blocks.

[benlee1]

At 16yrs. old I entered a bass tourney on Lake Panasoffkee. When the boats were lining up for the pistol to sound take off, I heard laughter from all around. Amongst the Rangers, Skeeters and other highline bass boats, there I was in my john boat, equipped with Sea King 5 horse, paddle and styrofoam cooler for livewell. They were laughing hard. Well, I won that tourney, $1800 and a trophy. After that, they were still laughing at me, but I didn't care. Looking back, I laugh at that day myself.

[Fish Chris]

Typically, I tell people, "I'm letting it go so you > and I, have a chance of catching that fish again. If I kept it, neither you, or I, would have any chance whatsoever, of catching that fish again. I then go on to explain, "I'm not releasing it, because it has zero value to me. I'm releasing it because it's value, alive, and still swimming in a lake I like to fish, is far greater than it's value as my dinner tonight".

Oh, but about people laughing at me for fishing a particular lure.... Most people (even trout fishermen) especially nowadays, know what a big 8" to 12" swimbait is used for, even if they will never throw one. However, 7 years ago, I rounded a curve in the shoreline, only to have a whole family totally freak out on my 9" trout swimbait. I guess they might have laughed a little, but it was more mumblings of shock, and disbelief, that anything in that lake could / would eat a lure like that.

Five minutes later I was coming back around that bend, holding a 16.5 lb Largemouth, with that lure still completely inhaled in it's huge mouth :-) I didn't say it..... but that was definately one of those, "How ya' like me now" moments  ;D

Peace,

Fish

[SirSnookalot]

There is a young man that fishes out of the Boynton inlet in a 14' alum rowboat with a small outboard, it's a wonder how he can navigate those dangerous waters.  He fishes with no electronics, no out riggers, no big expensive gear, no live well for bait and guys in $150,000 contender boats follow him every where he goes.  This 20 year old kid is the MAN, he catches more and bigger kings,wahoos, blackfin tuna than most.

There is an "old man", he took a box from a pick up truck, made it water tight, put a small outboard on it, fashioned some rod holders and goes out the inlet.  Get laughs, you bet, but he brings in the fish when others are going blank.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

This past Sunday I was fishing on the bank minding my own business throwing my rage toad over some grass beds when all of the sudden from over my shoulder I hear this hysterical laughter coming from an older gentlemen and his wife. I just thought they were having fun slaughtering the bluegill and enjoying each others company until I realized they were laughing at me and my rage toad. They were getting a kick out of watching me throw this ridiculous noise making, scare every fish in the lake away, thing over the top of the water.

I didn't let it bother me because most of the people that fish this little lake bring their lawn chairs, Wal-Mart special rod and reel, container of worms, a six pack and throw the ole line in the water and see what happens, so it didn't suprise me too much that they have never seen anything like the rage toad before.

I continued to throw my toad without any luck, so I picked up my jig rod and started dropping it into various holes in the grass. Once again I hear the older gentleman and his wife start laughing. I was thinking to myself "are you kidding me?" these people don't know anything about fishing. I dropped my jig into another hole and caught a little dink. Now they weren't laughing 8-)... The older gentleman says "Oh, you got a good one", I said "no this is just a little one, they have to be 12" before you can keep them out of this lake" and then I let the fish go.

Then I made a cast in a big opening in the grass and land a nice three pounder, from over my shoulder I hear the gentleman say "That one is big enough to keep!". Now I am usually strictly catch and release, but this guy wanted this fish really bad and was even trying to offer me money for this bass.

I ended up giving the fish to him and he says "I just thought you were casting to be casting, I never thought there would ever be any fish in all that grass". I told him there was a method to my maddnes and from that point on we were best friends. It was nice to get the last laugh and make someones day all at the same time.

That was the first time I've been openly mocked while fishing and was wondering if any of you have had similar experiences?

Very "amBASSadorial" of you. You've set a good example

There is a young man that fishes out of the Boynton inlet in a 14' alum rowboat with a small outboard, it's a wonder how he can navigate those dangerous waters. He fishes with no electronics, no out riggers, no big expensive gear, no live well for bait and guys in $150,000 contender boats follow him every where he goes. This 20 year old kid is the MAN, he catches more and bigger kings,wahoos, blackfin tuna than most.

That's how we got the name originally, winning saltwater striper tournaments up in the rivers in a 16' Lowe jon w/ a 9.9 on it (was originally "Lowe Budget Hookers) while all the regulators, rampages and contenders headed for deeper water. Wrong move,lol

There's more than 1 way to get respect,lol

We've since been replaced by a guy we call "neil the eel". This kid can catch. He's out there everyday, plays in a local band at night, "young Neil and the Vipers" aptly renamed by his angling brethren to "young neil and the stripers" lol

[grimlin]

OP: I never, ever would have given that guy a fish.....especially after he was being a jerk.

Same here.....

That was way to disrespectful in my eyes.

[Madd Lunacy]

There is a young man that fishes out of the Boynton inlet in a 14' alum rowboat with a small outboard, it's a wonder how he can navigate those dangerous waters. He fishes with no electronics, no out riggers, no big expensive gear, no live well for bait and guys in $150,000 contender boats follow him every where he goes. This 20 year old kid is the MAN, he catches more and bigger kings,wahoos, blackfin tuna than most.

There is an "old man", he took a box from a pick up truck, made it water tight, put a small outboard on it, fashioned some rod holders and goes out the inlet. Get laughs, you bet, but he brings in the fish when others are going blank.

Good for them!    Just because you have the best gadgets and equipment dosen't make you a better or the better fisherman.

[Madd Lunacy]

This past Sunday I was fishing on the bank minding my own business throwing my rage toad over some grass beds when all of the sudden from over my shoulder I hear this hysterical laughter coming from an older gentlemen and his wife. I just thought they were having fun slaughtering the bluegill and enjoying each others company until I realized they were laughing at me and my rage toad. They were getting a kick out of watching me throw this ridiculous noise making, scare every fish in the lake away, thing over the top of the water.

I didn't let it bother me because most of the people that fish this little lake bring their lawn chairs, Wal-Mart special rod and reel, container of worms, a six pack and throw the ole line in the water and see what happens, so it didn't suprise me too much that they have never seen anything like the rage toad before.

I continued to throw my toad without any luck, so I picked up my jig rod and started dropping it into various holes in the grass. Once again I hear the older gentleman and his wife start laughing. I was thinking to myself "are you kidding me?" these people don't know anything about fishing. I dropped my jig into another hole and caught a little dink. Now they weren't laughing 8-)... The older gentleman says "Oh, you got a good one", I said "no this is just a little one, they have to be 12" before you can keep them out of this lake" and then I let the fish go.

Then I made a cast in a big opening in the grass and land a nice three pounder, from over my shoulder I hear the gentleman say "That one is big enough to keep!". Now I am usually strictly catch and release, but this guy wanted this fish really bad and was even trying to offer me money for this bass.

I ended up giving the fish to him and he says "I just thought you were casting to be casting, I never thought there would ever be any fish in all that grass". I told him there was a method to my maddnes and from that point on we were best friends. It was nice to get the last laugh and make someones day all at the same time.

That was the first time I've been openly mocked while fishing and was wondering if any of you have had similar experiences?

Very "amBASSadorial" of you. You've set a good example

There is a young man that fishes out of the Boynton inlet in a 14' alum rowboat with a small outboard, it's a wonder how he can navigate those dangerous waters. He fishes with no electronics, no out riggers, no big expensive gear, no live well for bait and guys in $150,000 contender boats follow him every where he goes. This 20 year old kid is the MAN, he catches more and bigger kings,wahoos, blackfin tuna than most.

That's how we got the name originally, winning saltwater striper tournaments up in the rivers in a 16' Lowe jon w/ a 9.9 on it (was originally "Lowe Budget Hookers) while all the regulators, rampages and contenders headed for deeper water. Wrong move,lol

There's more than 1 way to get respect,lol

We've since been replaced by a guy we call "neil the eel". This kid can catch. He's out there everyday, plays in a local band at night, "young Neil and the Vipers" aptly renamed by his angling brethren to "young neil and the stripers" lol

Thanks!