Fishing jerks

[jack1]

I was just thinking back on a situation where I was fishing along a bank with another angler, who got upset that I was fishing too close to himif you call 20 ft or so too close.  I was casting the opposite direction from him, respectfully keeping my distant from him no where close to him at all.  He got mad and starting saying stuff to me.  As a respectful and well manner person that I amI didn't say much to him and backed off without causing an incident.

It paid off in a matter of minutes, because I moved to another spot which I ran across a school.  I noticed him watching me as I pulled one after another.  I was trying to make as much of a commotion as I can to get his attention.  It worked of course and he watched me land one right after another.  Of course, I had the biggest smile on my face and in disgust he packed up and left for home.

Sometimes I feel like I need to say something to jerks like him, but I just can't seem to do it since I know I'm not a *****.  This was actually the first time anything like this has happened to me.  Similar stories?  How do you deal with people like him on the waters?

[paul.]

How do you deal with people like him on the waters?

same way you did hopefully.  nothing says, "you suck!" like catching a bunch of fish in front of an idiot like that.  cool story.  way to go dude.

[Dan:]

I dunno, dude. 20ft is too close for me, especially if there is a lot of bank.

The best thing to do is to not be shy and just ask. When you get near him say, "am I too close to you?" or "let me know if I get too close to where you're fishing."

[fish-fighting-illini]

I dunno, dude. 20ft is too close for me, especially if there is a lot of bank.

The best thing to do is to not be shy and just ask. When you get near him say, "am I too close to you?" or "let me know if I get too close to where you're fishing."

x2

[fourbizz]

X3

You are well, well inside my bubble at 20ft

[jig]

not to be a jerk, but 20 ft is way to close in my opinion.

[Gatorbassman]

I live by the 100ft rule....... Unless we are holding a good conversation then you can get closer.

[LCpointerKILLA]

I always figure when bank fishing public waters, give someone as much space as possible because you are limited enough when on the bank, and avoiding another angler to the left or right of you is yet another limitation, an may hurt both of your odds (depending on your skills of course  )

[paul.]

i guess i assumed you had a good reason to be that close.  maybe you got there first, maybe the terrain forced you to be that close, maybe there was a crowd of other people fishing, etc.  you get the picture.  

if you had a good reason to be that close, i stick by my original answer.  if not, then i agree with these guys.  you probably were too close.  particularly if the other guy had the spot first and you moved in on him.

[southernyankee]

I would have said something to you when you got with in 50ft. My rule of thumb is I stay twice the guys casting distance.

[SirSnookalot]

20 miles is cutting a bit close for me haha, j/k

You don't know what close is until you have fished a pier.  These guys down here not only fish 2' away from you but they throw cast nets for bait while you're pulling one in.

This is not a daily occurance, but happens scores of times per day.

[Simp]

Ya 20ft is pretty close unless it's a crowded day or a very small pond. I have some exceptions to the giving people distance rule most of us try to use.First if you have a "certain spot" and the guy is near by but not on it don't go near your "honey spot"!!! My best big bass day ever happened because of patience with somebody. My nephew and I went to our favorite pond and when we got out there I could already tell somebody had hauled in 3 or 4 fish in one of my honey spots that day. I looked down the path and saw him on another but about 20yds away from another great spot. I walked down to high traffic spot that gets visited allot instead of rushing to the next honey hole on the path. The gentleman after not hooking up with any fish went back to the spot he had the ones earlier in the day. He stopped and we exchanged pleasantries. i then hit my spot and caught a 7lb and 6lb bass that day.

There is also a time where I'm willing to P.O. somebody. The best example I can give is when I held off on hitting that spot I caught the 7lb and 6lb until the sun started to set or I saw some action. That day a couple of guys came out in waders and worked the entire bank and neither were quite about it. They had moved with in about 30yds of the spot I had waited to hit until the time was right. So I finally made the walk to "my spot". Well they saw me coming and almost started running in the water to beat me to it. They didn't and I told them I had been waiting for the right time to fish this spot and I wouldn't be leaving. I also told them they were welcomed to stay as long as they kept it down and didn't wade into productive waters (they had did this all day long). I caught several good fish,exchanged fish stories, and one of them broke his rod. I'm always polite and pleasant but I won't be run off a spot by somebody who thinks he's a tough guy. With that said if somebody is already on a "spot" I give him ample room to work that spot and then some.

[Eddie Munster]

I agree with fluke. At 20 ft ( ) you were in the wrong to start fishing that close without asking the person if he minded. Perhaps the reason he was ticked at you and being a 'jerk' is that he felt you were the one being the 'jerk'. I would have probably said something to you along the lines of 'you mind wiping while you're on my butt?'

Thinking about it a little ask yourself "how far can the the average person cast?" then add 10% to that for longer casts. Then double it for the amount of distance you would need to cast and not cross him. That should be your minimum unless there is just not enough shoreline to manage that. If that's the case, then either find another spot or buy/rent/borrow a boat.

[BUCKEYEone]

I fish within 20 feet of other bank fisherman quite often.  If you are on water that gets a good bit of bank pressure, then this is probably common.  If the other angler is there first I usually ask them if I am getting too close, or if they approach my area, I at least say hello or something to open up the lines of communication, so that way the first thing we say to each other doesn't end up being "back off, dude."  It is always a judgement call, but asking if your bothering someone is the most respectful thing you can do.  Never hurts to talk to the guy you are fishing next to anyway!

[roadwarrior]

Wow! These stories are amazing.

#1 20' is too close, period.

#2 No one owns "a spot".

#3 I'm glad I have lot's of places to fish.

      I rarely (never) run into a problem and

      if I did, I would just leave.

8-)

[simplejoe]

All of the places I shore fish from not alot of people know about them but , the few places I fish with other guys we all give each other a little fishing room. Out on the boat is a different story some guys stay their distance but others are fishing 10' from you without caring trying to push away from that spot. >

[jack1]

Ooops, forgot to fill in some of the holes.

This place was not a big place to fish. It's pretty common to have anglers side by side at this fishing hole. And of all the times I fish this place during the spring, not once have I ever seen an incident like this. A place where families come out to spend an afternoon - have the kids wet some line. Not a bass fishing type of situation where you're constantly tossing a lure for the next bite. In fact it was bobber fishing spot for spring spawning crappies.

I understand and respect giving other anglers their space when it comes to bank fishing and during this incident, I gave him as much room as I possibly could. 20 ft was alot of room to work with, believe me. We were lucky to even have around 20 ft between us to fish.  In this situation, the guy's comment and actions were out of line.

[simplejoe]

No doubt you handled yourself pretty well by walking away from the situation and it benefited you by doing so.

[fishinfiend]

It is understandable in smaller spots that there will be some crowding. I hate to be crowded so I make sure I do not crowd other people. I always like to ask if they mind if I fish there if they are there first.

[Tin]

I live by the 100ft rule....... Unless we are holding a good conversation then you can get closer.

X2 And I have my 5 fish with a couple kickers.... ;D

[bass wrangler569]

20ft would be way too close for me, I would probably have been irritated even if it was 50ft. Like RW said, 20 ft is too close, period. The only possible exception would be on the opening day of trout season on an exceptionally crowded body of water. I wasn't there so I'm not going to judge too harshly but unless you were fishing a puddle 20ft was probably way inside that guys bubble.

[exist]

it's easy to avoid jerks like that, stay more than 20ft away! i have had the same problem ,i have had guys start fishing behind me and a fish would rise to my bait and "thief" would cast right at it!so what i did was to turn around, start casting right over his line,he got the message. if it is a small lake and if i see someone fishing clockwise, i start fishing counter clockwise this way i am fishing where he's not.cause i really don't like it when someone is behind me pressuring me to move on,like most people i like to spend at least 5mins fan casting, then i'll walk 30-40ft down the bank and start again.  i understand what your saying,but sorry, i disagree. especially if he was fishing there before you,you could have started fishing in the other direction.  

[Sam]

Never had a problem.

I just make sure I am not in the other guy's "zone" and give him enough room.

I also speak with everyone either when I arrive or during the time I am on the bank.

Letting the other guy you are not going to intrude eliminates 99% of the problem.  

[Pond Hopper]

Unless you are a good friend of mine or we are fishing a pond, if I can shoot you with a bow you are too close... but that is for me to know and you to find out.

[Calcutta]

People are crazy and sometimes you have to be careful who you are foolin with. Their are fishing jetties on a lake I frequent Im in a boat,I have the whole lake I try to stay away from the bank fishermen, its all they have. One day two guys in a boat went straight for a area where 2 kids were fishing. The kid said"sir, we were here first." Th e boaters said really bad things to those kids. the day went on, we went to the boat ramp and there was a big burly fellow at the boat ramp at the dock in a lawn chair.I loaded up the boat and those other guys rode up. The big guy didnt say a word. He stepped aboard and picked one of them up and threw him in the water, followed by the other guy. He then took the keys of the boats ignition and threw them way out into the lake. He folded up his chair and yelled come kids lets go!