'Bass fishing bullies', or what???

[Fishing Cowgirl]

I always ask and never assume. If I see a boat coming to me while in my spot, I'll ask if they are in a tournament. Most times I troll to a different area and let them have it, but only if I am just out fishing for fun. If I am pre-fishing or in a tournament, I'll move on after I've worked it good.

Most of what I worry about are the cruisers or family boaters literally coming at me top speed then finally "seeing me" and turning at the last second. I've been doused by their wake or nearly knocked off the boat by the wake.

[Nebraska Bassin]

Most of the tournament fishermen I know wouldn't do that sort of thing, even if a weekend fisherman was in their usual spot during a tournament.

[Tuckman]

People who do this enough get a bad reputation. The worst thing a tournament fisherman can have is a bad rep.

[CWB]

I know this isn't the best solution, but when this happens and I'm on fish and the bite stops, sometimes I get so P.O.'d I crank up the big motor and blast off right in front of them and try to continue on the path I think they will be fishing. This is probably the equivalent of road rage by getting cut off.

On smaller natural lakes I fish, there does not seen to be any etiquette. The locals tend to be the worst, and I'm a local. I wouldn't think of pulling 30 yards in front of another boat and fishing the same drop or weedline he is fishing as I would hope noone does that to

me. But it happens more than I would like so the only way to let them know is to blast off as close to them as you can get and hope they get the message. I'm 6'3" and can take care of myself, but have never needed to.

Maybe keep this in mind. Violence is never the correct solution but opening someones eyes can wake them up.

Tournament or not, we all pay the license fees which entitle us to fish where we please

so I don't care if someone is fishing a tournament or not. This could be my only day in the month I can get out. I don't appreciate someone thinking they have more right to a spot because they are in a tournament. I would move off from the Elite pros if nothing else, just to watch them.

Difference is, they would ask me if it's O.K to share the water.

[HitmanFO]

I play blind and dumb... I don't see anything, I don't do anything different, "oops, sorry, didn't realize you were there" as I cast right where they cast, cast beside their boat, etc.  They know when they are being rude... they just don't care.  So, I play the same game, right back at'em.  In every situation like that I've been in so far, it's just a matter of minutes before they get bored with playing games instead of fishing and they move off. 

Of course, I've been the guilty party before, accidentally cutting off a guy that I thought was maintaining his position when he was actually drifting a flat... just a simple "hey man, you're cutting me off" is enough for me to apologize and move out... whoops.  No need for cursing or violence!

[garland7]

I have been in those scenario's before, and they are flat out wrong! he obviously didn't read my blog on ethics. Sorry it happened to you, but as stated, this is normally the exception instead of the rule.

[Big Tom]

There are idiots all over the world.  Some of them just happen to like tournament fishing.

[J Francho]

Why is this even about tournaments?  Nothing was said that they were in a tournament.  Many own bass boats, and don't fish tournaments.

Really, this is simply about etiquette and perception.  It sounds like those guys would have probably done the same thing in a kayak or float tube.

[Big Tom]

I thought his post made it sound as if they were dressed to be in a tournament.  Maybe I shouldn't have assumed that.

In any case, it doesn't take long to figure out that we share our waters with some truly idiotic individuals.

[CAdeltaLipRipper]

Well i wouldn't blame them for the whole roaring out of the place things because if u spend 40 grand on a boat your gonna use it.If you had one like it im pretty sure you'd do it too. But yea it really grinds my gears when we'll be fishing a bridge piling or a big ol tully stretch and these tournament guys pull up 50 feet ahead of us and cut us of.And what makes me mad the most is that they act completely normal like they think its okay and they just sset down the trolling motor and start fishing like nothing happened and everythings fine.Talk about horrible fishing ethics

[CAdeltaLipRipper]

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

Exactly. Just because they have a nice boat doesn't mean they're stuck up jerks, even know what they did was wrong.I bet youd like to have a boat like that and if you got one that doesn't mean your a tournament beasty whos inconsiderate of everyone else.Just a couple of bad apples like everyone else said

[CAdeltaLipRipper]

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

Chill?lol

[cufishin]

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 a similar thing happen on the Puget Sound, a buddy and I were fishing our favorite bottom fish spot drifting over a drop-off and had some guys in a big cruiser try to mimic our pattern. We caught a small ling cod and decided to have some fun, we used a small hook, about 100' of line and a balloon to rig up our "marker buoy" to the ling cod. We knew that the ling would go back to his 70' deep hole that was 20-30 yards away from the drop-off. We spent the next 45 min trying not to laugh loud enough for them to hear us, never seen anyone have so much trouble positioning a boat close to a marker.

After they left we pulled the ling back in and release it unharmed. Of course we knew he was fine the whole time the way he had been swimming around.

[Dockhead]

I have been pulled in on by guys fishing tournaments and I've been pulled in on when I was fishing a tournament by guys that weren't. It happens in all kinds of different

scenarios but it's always the same guys, just wearing different clothes.

(If you know what I mean.)

I think the biggest problem is this whole deal keeps paying itself forward. Somebody gets cut-off, then they figure they have the right to do it to others. It's contagious to a lot of people unfortunately.

For example:

I was fishing a draw tourney in a small club, and as I pulled in through the fog I saw someone from the club working the shoreline I was headed towards. I told my co-angler we should just move on down so I sped off. When we got down there he chided me saying that the other guy would have butted in on me so I should have done it to him. I didn't say much about it.

Then at the end of the day we pulled into a cove to get out of a fierce wind. It had maybe 10 docks in it, we started at the first. The 3rd had a brush pile off the front. We weren't there 2 minutes when that same boat that I stayed away from earlier pulls in, on the third dock. I felt kind of stupid, because of course the co-angler couldn't stop talking about it and saying he told me so. Still, I knew I did the right thing and that is what matters to me. I just told him that's not my style.

But I'm sure that situation just reinforced his philosophy of, "Do unto others before they do it to you."

[VABassin'14]

I have been cut off by people in boats while fishing on the bank, but they don't make me as mad as idiots on jet skis when I'm on a boat. Some of them idiots act like they own the lake and that you aren't even there.

[WanderLust]

I've had more than a few incidents where anglers have used their boat to position themselves in front of where I am fishing; even my kids... I normally find that if you politely ask them to move on they will.

Its unfortunate that people choose to act like that...

[Locked]

i would have to say my first second and third reaction would be to tie on the biggest heaviest lure in my box and start casting directly at them and their boat.  but i would then be just like the two idiots on the boat...  after thinking about it,  you did the right thing.  i don't know if i would've been man enough to do the same.

[chromedog]

I HATE JET SKI'S!

We have had that happen and usually a "hey, we are fishing here" works.  As long as I can't cast and hit your boat then I am usually ok.  Anything closer, well, I have been known to speak my mind.  That usually solves the problem.  But I like the naked idea.

The one that bothers me is people launching and putting their boats on trailers.  Give people enough room and courtesy.  It isn't rocket science. 

[Gale1980]

one thing i didn't see mentioned was. ignorance... maybe these guys had no clue what they were doing was rude...??? even with a 50k bass boat and jerseys that doesnt make them tenured or knowledgable fishermen. i have had this happen a few times and i just calmly say something to them and most go away. it would suprise you how many don't even know what they did is wrong. the ones that do and stay i just ask them next time if they wanna ride and fish together it will save some gas...

[farmpond1]

It seems a code of ethics only works with people who give a darn.   >:(There is, evidently, a certain percentage of folks who think that being in a tourney or have a fast, expensive boat gives them certain "entitlements."  Fortunately, they are the exception rather than the rule.  But like the one piece of trash that's thrown on a lawn, it's that trash that catches the eye rather than the other 99% of the lawn where there isn't garbage.  "Garbage" is a good word for the folks you've described.  I think I would've asked if they were finishing a tournament and, if they said yes, asked what the club/tourney was and who the president was.  If they refused to say, a lot of lakes require tournaments to register and you could find out that way.  Anyway, I wouldn't do anything unethical (though I'd be tempted) but I would make their actions be known to their peers.

[Incheon Basser]

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

LMFAO

Thats sounds like something Mike I would do lol

[rboat]

I have the department of game and fish for my state on speed dial. I simply whip out the cell phone and report the incident. I can't tell you how many personal watercraft hull numbers I have reported for reckless and dangerous operating to close to me while I am trying to fish.  They take it serious and give me a report number that is being filed. I hope they catch the scoundrels and slap a big fine on them, and that cash goes to improve fishing!

P.S. I have also reported idiots at the ramp for taking way too long to load or unload.  >

[burleytog]

I have the department of game and fish for my state on speed dial. I simply whip out the cell phone and report the incident. I can't tell you how many personal watercraft hull numbers I have reported for reckless and dangerous operating to close to me while I am trying to fish. They take it serious and give me a report number that is being filed. I hope they catch the scoundrels and slap a big fine on them, and that cash goes to improve fishing!

P.S. I have also reported idiots at the ramp for taking way too long to load or unload. >

What law did the offending party break?

[Nebraska Bassin]

I have the department of game and fish for my state on speed dial. I simply whip out the cell phone and report the incident. I can't tell you how many personal watercraft hull numbers I have reported for reckless and dangerous operating to close to me while I am trying to fish. They take it serious and give me a report number that is being filed. I hope they catch the scoundrels and slap a big fine on them, and that cash goes to improve fishing!

P.S. I have also reported idiots at the ramp for taking way too long to load or unload. >

What law did the offending party break?

Littering.

Littering and... littering and... littering and... littering and...

Actually, I think he was just kidding. 

[Tin]

I have the department of game and fish for my state on speed dial. I simply whip out the cell phone and report the incident. I can't tell you how many personal watercraft hull numbers I have reported for reckless and dangerous operating to close to me while I am trying to fish. They take it serious and give me a report number that is being filed. I hope they catch the scoundrels and slap a big fine on them, and that cash goes to improve fishing!

P.S. I have also reported idiots at the ramp for taking way too long to load or unload. >

Someone gets their feathers ruffled a little easy. I hope you report legit incidents and not just because people are to close to you. I was fishing docks one time and a guy called the cops and said I was fishing on his property and was too close to his boat. lol

Don't think all guys with bass boats are tools. Although if they are both dressed up in tournament jerseys and fun fishing they are in my book.

Next time just tie on a big c-rig sinker and take off some gel-coat.   ;D