'Bass fishing bullies', or what???

[Oldbritguy]

It was the opening day of our Ontario bass season, last Saturday. I was anchored in my little aluminum flatbottom jonboat, quietly trying to finesse some visible clearwater largemouth by pitching plastic craws into the weeds on my favourite spot, just 300 yards from my dock.

A glittering 250+HP 'tournament-style' bass boat roars out of nowhere, two well-decorated guys plus large dog on board, plus array of about a dozen or more rods, etc etc. drops to a halt about 50 yards from me, zooms in closer using electric motor, and starts slinging large spinnerbaits crashing into the water within a few feet of where I'm fishing. My visible bass quickly become invisible. . .

Not being used to this kind of intimidating situation, I quietly pull up my anchor and row away, wondering if this is what serious bass fisherman consider normal behaviour. If so, I can understand the antagonism of many of my local friends against tournament fishing in general, and tournament fisherrmen in particular. . .

My question is: are there any 'unwritten' rules regarding how close one should approach other fishing boats. Is there any code of behaviour among serious bass fishermen regarding consideration for other people already using the same piece of water? Or is it a simple case of " big powerful well-equipped bassboat with 'professional-looking' equipment and occupants, takes precedence over scruffy little aluminum jonboat with 9.9 HP and oars, manned by old man in straw hat trying to finesse fish in the weeds".

I was pretty disgusted by the whole scenario. Went back to my house and watched them through binoculars. Didn't see them catch a thing for half an hour, when they took off screaming away down the bay, as fast as they arrived.

Incidentally, went back out again later and had five nice bass, plus two small pike from the same general area. (Bass returned, pike kept).

Any comments, you 'serious bassbusters'? Do you feel you have more rights to the water and the fish than us "amateurs"?

How would YOU handle this kind of situation if it happened to you, ( presuming you were also 75 years old and just trying to enjoy a quiet morning's bass fishing. . . ?)

[Frogman]

Well theres not really alot that you can do other than start bouncing Rat L Traps off that nice fiberglass bass boat. Lol..JK Don't do that!  ha!  General rule in a tournament is 50 yards of another boat anchored or with trolling motor down.  Most people ive met tournament fishing have been great sportsmen and great people who would not intrude on anyone, but as with everything you have your bad apples!

[brushhoggin]

next time it happens just take off all your clothes and start fishing naked. i promise...they will leave ;D

[Diablos]

You did the right thing by just leaving. We all have bad moments on the water where you feel like a bit of your manhood has been stripped. There is nothing worse then feeling inferior.

With that being said, just think of all the good times you have fishing. I don't think anyone here can't say that 99% of their fishing time has been peaceful and fun.

Most of my 1% stress comes from boat ramp shenanigans. The tournament guys here know this too because they are guilty of this. If you are at lake/pond and their tournament is over and you want to pull your boat out, forget it! They will cut you in line to make sure their "crew" gets out first. You have to spend an extra 20-30minutes on the water or face the possibility of 20 aggressive men. It's usually my only gripe of water etiquette.

[K_Mac]

That is the kind of behavior that gives all tournament fishermen a bad name. As in any any activity there are always a few...

I would find out who put the tourny on, and contact the Director. Maybe it helps in the future. As far as what I would have done; I would have told them very clearly that I didn't appreciate their pirating my spot, and that I had their hull number, intended to notify the Director and the Dept. of Natural Resources (or whatever the controlling agency) of their conduct.

[J Francho]

Its an unfortunate incident, but the boat has nothing to do with it.

[D4u2s0t]

I don't fish anywhere near anyone, and don't even like to drive the boat past people that are fishing... my lake is not that big, so sometimes it's unavoidable, but if possible i'd rather go a lil out of my way to not disturb someone's spot.

[Shad_Master]

J Franch is right - it ain't the boat, it's the boater - the thing is it happens all the time - but some of my greatest thrills have been pulling a "big ol' pig" right out from under their boat - that happens sometimes, too.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Stories like these really make me love the fact that I fish small lakes that get little to no fishing pressure.  Stuff like that would make my agent orange act up.  I'd get incredibly PO'd at that.

[evrgladesbasser]

I don't fish anywhere near anyone, and don't even like to drive the boat past people that are fishing... my lake is not that big, so sometimes it's unavoidable, but if possible i'd rather go a lil out of my way to not disturb someone's spot.

X2

Tell those "well decorated" guys to kiss your butt. I would have started casting my lines right across their bow cause that crap just don't fly with me. And if they push the issue I could tell you how to put your oars to good use.

To answer your question, NO, a big boat has no more rights than a dingy. Hearing this kind of thing ticks me off so freakin much...... Sorry you had to deal with this crap dang that ticks me off

[Big-O]

That is the kind of behavior that gives all tournament fishermen a bad name. As in any any activity there are always a few...

I would find out who put the tourny on, and contact the Director. Maybe it helps in the future. As far as what I would have done; I would have told them very clearly that I didn't appreciate their pirating my spot, and that I had their hull number, intended to notify the Director and the Dept. of Natural Resources (or whatever the controlling agency) of their conduct.

X2...K Mac is right and this is the correct way to react Sorry to hear that happened to you. I also despise those who do that regardless of the situation and asking them to keep their distance is absolutely your right. Those who refuse deserve reporting.

I'm just glad that there are more Terrific Folks on the water than disrespectful pukes.

Big O

www.ragetail.com

[Nitrofreak]

No I would not do that to anyone I would have politely asked permission, after all you were there first and if the answer was no I would have given you enough room to fish your spot without disturbing you, Most likely at least 100 yards or would have just moved on to another spot.

Sorry to hear about your encounter please don't think that all of the people out there are like that.

You did what you felt to be the right thing to do and I applaud you for doing so ( well with the exception of the spy glasses ;D ) But you should feel good about going back and catching fish it shows that you have a lot more wisdom than they did good job.

[unageo09]

Our 40 hp motor doesn't make all that big a wake but we always slow near people who are anchored fishing, especially catfishing. We usually try to stay 50-100 yards away from someone. If we are drifting and someone is anchored, we'll just take the trolling motor and go well around them and try to make as little impact on them as possible. Fishing during the week seems to help a lot too. Less boat traffic to contend with and most of the fisherman are respectable. Had I been in the same position as you, i would have probably just motored away too to another spot and come later just to avoid confrontation.

[NBR]

Proof that some jerks fish T's but my experience  has been that most T guys are courtious.

[Senkoman12]

that just breaks the "code of fishing", when i ever see someone fishing i will give them lots of space and dont go into a spot where there is other fisherman and if someone invades me i just return the favor of being a jerk

[mrclean77]

I gotta be honest, that kinda thing would raise my blood pressure, but after reading the whole story, I see it:

Oldbritguy - 1 (or 5 or 7, however you wanna look at it)

well-decorated guys - 0

[Hammer 4]

I don't think I would have left. I would have politely asked them to move elsewhere. I have been on the water in a tin boat while a tourney was going on, and none of the guys/gals in the tourney were so disrespectful as to do something like that. In fact a few them asked if they could fish in some of pockets, or small coves we were in, we always let them in..and wished them luck.

If they refused to back off, I would have contacted the tourney director to tell him about the situation. I guess it's my old age..and the old adage, don't tread on me pops up more often these days.. ;D

[flippin and pitchin]

This is a sad commentary on what is pure rudeness.  The person who acted so poorly most likely has the same or a similar attitude in his other behaviors.  You were and are the sportsman and the gentleman in this scenario.  Enjoy the rest of your fishing season !!!!!!

[kms399]

fishing the twin cities here in MN it happens constantly it doesn't even bother me any more. the ones who do though are the water skiers, on the lake I fish they are always out around 6 30 and set up a course right around one of the best areas on the lake to fish, and of course they have to be 30 yards behind me though I have had them run, pulling a guy 20 feet from me between me and the edge of the cover I was working after the third pass calls were made. but thats another topic, I guess people are just arrogant every where you go just ignore them and don't move they will move on eventually.

[basser223]

next time it happens just take off all your clothes and start fishing naked. i promise...they will leave ;D

X2

[Blue Streak]

I am sure those guys take their arrogance and rudeness with them where ever they go. Enter them in the " butt head " column.

[Goose52]

My question is: are there any 'unwritten' rules regarding how close one should approach other fishing boats. Is there any code of behaviour among serious bass fishermen regarding consideration for other people already using the same piece of water?

I don't know anything about tournaments, but my own code is that the first person there owns that piece of water. Whether fishing on the bank, or from the boat, I imagine an arc around them that represents their casting distance, and I make sure MY cast doesn't end up in their water. My lakes here aren't crowded and I have plenty of water left to fish using this policy...

[bigbill]

Trust me there all over out there.

We were circling a school of weak fish in long iland sound trolling and picking them off a little at a time when a clown roars right into the school and stands up and casts out and drove them down.

My buddy who just got back from nam had his dads new boat out fishing anchored when a guy came up right against his dads boat. My buddy pulled anchor and moved and the guy followed him. He them bumped his dads new boat so my buddy moved again and again the guy followed and bumped the new boat again. Well that was it my buddy lost it and pull his 45 and told the guy to move away or theres going to be a hole below his waterline. I felt bad for my buddy since the war he isn't wrapped too tight but he got pushed.

My brother was fishing on a local dock with about 50 other guys catching blue fish. A boat came in too close trolling and he hooked my brothers lure. The boat guy had words with my brother and the whole dock fired up and told the boat guy to come ashore. My brother had a 14' harnell custom rod and i could see his cast go farther than anyone elses. Plus my brother could press 175lbs barbell with one arm. He did cement work. Luckily the guy never came ashore.

I have more stories but there worse so i won't post them.

My job working for the engineering group put me on the road at times.  I was going from the wilds in the green mountains in VT on weekends to the heart of new york city to work during the week.  I knew already i liked it better with the wild animals in VT.  I went from zoo to zoo.

[Olebiker]

I can't say that I have ever had a problem with tournament fishermen encroaching on my water.  It's the bream (bluegill) fishermen around these parts that just can't seem to understand that you need to give other fishermen room.

There is one old man on Lake Talquin that has twice pulled in within 30 feet of me.  Both times I asked him what he thought he was doing and all he would say is, "Dis is my bream hole."

[Crestliner2008]

I've had similar problems develop over the years. Especially fishing deep, off-shore structures for smallies. Some fishermen "know" my boat and deliberately follow me around. They feel they can capture a "short cut" to success I guess? That's when I usually take them "for a ride" and sight seeing tour. They usually get fed up after about 15 min. of being run around pointlessly.

I had one guy zoom up on me like that once and park his rig barely a cast (short cast) away from me. Now understand, this is a HUGE reservoir and there are plenty of off-shore structures to fish. I calmly pulled anchor my anchor and moved up right along side the dude's boat (I'm talking about being right along side him, almost touching!) and started fishing. When asked what I was doing, I asked, "You don't like it? Then why do it to me?" They moved, I didn't.