"Horror" stories regarding fishing partners

[farmpond1]

While it's probably best to dwell on the positive traits of fishing partners, it also makes for interesting reading to hear some of the nightmares we've experienced while fishing with others.  (By this, I'm not referring to honest mistakes brought about by inexperience or simply being human.  I'm talking about stuff that anyone with any brains or scruples would refrain from doing).

Mine was with a guy who muskie fished while I bass fished.  Even while I'd navigate respectfully around the bank fishermen, he used to cast waaaay in amongst them.  I would tell him he ought to back off but he'd persist in violating their space.  One bank fisherman finally read him the riot act while I silently enjoyed every moment of his chewing.  Incidentally, I don't fish with him anymore.

[bilgerat]

My brother in law was a live bait only guy for years until he started using artificials.

We had gone in together on a jon boat. He was content to park in one spot for the entire day tossing minnows. If a spot does not produce for me after half an hour, I'm outta there. Many (good natured) arguments later...

[lynyrdsky1]

I have experience be the partner. I was with my dad and hes in the front of the boat and im in the back. I kept throwing in front of him and then he told if idid it again he would cut my line. Guess what i was dumb enough to try him and he did cut my line. I learned my lesson from then on.

[BASSclary]

I've hooked my Dad in the neck countless times by accident. Needless to say I paid for it by having to pick out my monster backlash. 

[Boogey Man]

I fish with this one guy sometimes and we usually fish small lakes and creeks. I have an 8 foot pond prowler type boat. This guy brings 7 or 8 combos, a big tackle bag, and a big Igloo cooler. When I fish with him out of this boat I usually only bring 3 or 4 combos. Since he has so many, he'll start laying his combo's on top of mine since he doesn't have enough room for his. I have to get him to pick his rods up so I can get to mine when I change. The seats are removable, I usually stand but he likes me to bring a seat for him, which he only uses about 25% of the time. So he has to push all his gear forward toward me so he has enough room to stand. He routinely cast way up ahead of me. Sometimes he'll cast up ahead on the right side of the boat so I can't cast to the right nor can I cast to the left with catching his rod or line on my backcast. I have to watch constantly to make sure he's not stepping on my rods or putting his cooler on top of my rods.

I also have a Nitro boat. He'll find the biggest mud hole to walk through before he gets in, tracking mud all over the carpet. He never hooks his lures to his rods when he changes to a different rod so he's got 7 or 8 lures dangling free. So they end up stuck in the carpet. He's taken several big chunks of paint out of the outboard where's he's hit with lures when he casts. I've pointed out these things numerous times but he doesn't get it. I think our fishing days are about numbered. He's a good guy, but fishing with him is rough.

[pudmunk]

^^^^yeeesh

[Jall65]

My brother (Lord help him) and his son get on the boat starts peeling the line of of his reels because they were left leaning where he last them whether they were outside inside or beside the gas cans just wherever . I have to untie the boat in my boat slip push off and maneuver around his rods sons rods his new just purchased paper/plastic bag tackle box just to get going. He is installing line and trying to rig on the way. My nephew who loves to fish is cold and sleepy and moving around like a slug LOL.

We arrive at location brother backlashes because his reel is almost set up to free pool so I have to get nephew rigged up and going. I catch first fish brother starts digging through bag trying to find similar lure then asks do you have another one. Fish spot and move. I get close to some humps and I grab my hand held GPS to find the sweet spot my nephew asks what is that. I explain to him what it is and how it works.. Mistake... big big mistake...

Fish here and there and catch a few and nephew actually catches one. Go to fish an old roadbed that I have marked on my gps and the waypoint is gone all the waypoints are gone. 3 years of waypoints gone. I sit down in disbelief brother asks whats wrong I tell him my waypoints are gone he calmly says well Harley(nephew) was messing around with it he must have done something. I was sick to my stomach and my brother sensed that I was pee-oed and he said to my nephew not to mess with stuff. I was mad but I bit my tongue and just basically sighed and died inside and the trip was over right then and there for me. I pulled into the middle of the lake and told my brother he can have the front of the boat as I let them worm fish in 30 feet of water while I sat behind the wheel sick as a dog. We move and on the way to another spot I pushed in the choke while under way and the motor skips and sputters and I say ohh something is wrong and that we need to head in.. The good news is that I convinced the wife in a new fishfinder/gps combo.

[fishfordollars]

Being paired with a negative, complaining person.

If you don't watch out he can knock you off your game plan.

[farmpond1]

My brother (Lord help him) and his son get on the boat starts peeling the line of of his reels because they were left leaning where he last them whether they were outside inside or beside the gas cans just wherever . I have to untie the boat in my boat slip push off and maneuver around his rods sons rods his new just purchased paper/plastic bag tackle box just to get going. He is installing line and trying to rig on the way. My nephew who loves to fish is cold and sleepy and moving around like a slug LOL.

We arrive at location brother backlashes because his reel is almost set up to free pool so I have to get nephew rigged up and going. I catch first fish brother starts digging through bag trying to find similar lure then asks do you have another one. Fish spot and move. I get close to some humps and I grab my hand held GPS to find the sweet spot my nephew asks what is that. I explain to him what it is and how it works.. Mistake... big big mistake...

Fish here and there and catch a few and nephew actually catches one. Go to fish an old roadbed that I have marked on my gps and the waypoint is gone all the waypoints are gone. 3 years of waypoints gone. I sit down in disbelief brother asks whats wrong I tell him my waypoints are gone he calmly says well Harley(nephew) was messing around with it he must have done something. I was sick to my stomach and my brother sensed that I was pee-oed and he said to my nephew not to mess with stuff. I was mad but I bit my tongue and just basically sighed and died inside and the trip was over right then and there for me. I pulled into the middle of the lake and told my brother he can have the front of the boat as I let them worm fish in 30 feet of water while I sat behind the wheel sick as a dog. We move and on the way to another spot I pushed in the choke while under way and the motor skips and sputters and I say ohh something is wrong and that we need to head in.. The good news is that I convinced the wife in a new fishfinder/gps combo.

All your waypoints were erased?  Oh my God!  Now for me that wouldn't be that bad because I haven't thoroughly graphed a lake yet and any waypoints on my GPS are still just "suggestions".  But if I'd charted out a lake thoroughly and had a kid erase all the waypoints, I think I'd puke!  You don't have them backed up on your 'puter?

Kids seem to come in two categories-the kind that know waaay more than me about computers/technology and the kind that seem to destroy everything they touch.  Actually, adults aren't so different.

[Grey Wolf]

I fish with this one guy sometimes and we usually fish small lakes and creeks. I have an 8 foot pond prowler type boat. This guy brings 7 or 8 combos, a big tackle bag, and a big Igloo cooler. When I fish with him out of this boat I usually only bring 3 or 4 combos. Since he has so many, he'll start laying his combo's on top of mine since he doesn't have enough room for his. I have to get him to pick his rods up so I can get to mine when I change. The seats are removable, I usually stand but he likes me to bring a seat for him, which he only uses about 25% of the time. So he has to push all his gear forward toward me so he has enough room to stand. He routinely cast way up ahead of me. Sometimes he'll cast up ahead on the right side of the boat so I can't cast to the right nor can I cast to the left with catching his rod or line on my backcast. I have to watch constantly to make sure he's not stepping on my rods or putting his cooler on top of my rods.

I also have a Nitro boat. He'll find the biggest mud hole to walk through before he gets in, tracking mud all over the carpet. He never hooks his lures to his rods when he changes to a different rod so he's got 7 or 8 lures dangling free. So they end up stuck in the carpet. He's taken several big chunks of paint out of the outboard where's he's hit with lures when he casts. I've pointed out these things numerous times but he doesn't get it. I think our fishing days are about numbered. He's a good guy, but fishing with him is rough.

With a friend like that , you sure don't need any enemies.

[Josh Bassman]

I have experience be the partner. I was with my dad and hes in the front of the boat and im in the back. I kept throwing in front of him and then he told if idid it again he would cut my line. Guess what i was dumb enough to try him and he did cut my line. I learned my lesson from then on.

My fishing partner cast over my line non stop. I'll have to threaten to cut his line...

[shutupnfish]

I fish with this one guy sometimes and we usually fish small lakes and creeks. I have an 8 foot pond prowler type boat. This guy brings 7 or 8 combos, a big tackle bag, and a big Igloo cooler. When I fish with him out of this boat I usually only bring 3 or 4 combos. Since he has so many, he'll start laying his combo's on top of mine since he doesn't have enough room for his. I have to get him to pick his rods up so I can get to mine when I change. The seats are removable, I usually stand but he likes me to bring a seat for him, which he only uses about 25% of the time. So he has to push all his gear forward toward me so he has enough room to stand. He routinely cast way up ahead of me. Sometimes he'll cast up ahead on the right side of the boat so I can't cast to the right nor can I cast to the left with catching his rod or line on my backcast. I have to watch constantly to make sure he's not stepping on my rods or putting his cooler on top of my rods.

I also have a Nitro boat. He'll find the biggest mud hole to walk through before he gets in, tracking mud all over the carpet. He never hooks his lures to his rods when he changes to a different rod so he's got 7 or 8 lures dangling free. So they end up stuck in the carpet. He's taken several big chunks of paint out of the outboard where's he's hit with lures when he casts. I've pointed out these things numerous times but he doesn't get it. I think our fishing days are about numbered. He's a good guy, but fishing with him is rough.

I got two words for ya. Get a new fishing partner! Seriously though, I can tolerate a lot of things ignorance, and hard heads, (me, and me sometimes), but stuff like this I cain't and won't take. And when I say ignorance, I'm saying lack of knowledge, not dumbas$. He probably ain't doing any of this on purpose either, is he? That'd fall under being a richard, lol. Anyway, good luck finding another partner.

Steve

[Gatorbassman]

I can't stand a partner that whines and complains all day long that he's not catching fish. I'm very lucky to have some great fishing partners though. They are always on time and work as hard as I do at finding and catching fish.

[Jall65]

My brother (Lord help him) and his son get on the boat starts peeling the line of of his reels because they were left leaning where he last them whether they were outside inside or beside the gas cans just wherever . I have to untie the boat in my boat slip push off and maneuver around his rods sons rods his new just purchased paper/plastic bag tackle box just to get going. He is installing line and trying to rig on the way. My nephew who loves to fish is cold and sleepy and moving around like a slug LOL.

We arrive at location brother backlashes because his reel is almost set up to free pool so I have to get nephew rigged up and going. I catch first fish brother starts digging through bag trying to find similar lure then asks do you have another one. Fish spot and move. I get close to some humps and I grab my hand held GPS to find the sweet spot my nephew asks what is that. I explain to him what it is and how it works.. Mistake... big big mistake...

Fish here and there and catch a few and nephew actually catches one. Go to fish an old roadbed that I have marked on my gps and the waypoint is gone all the waypoints are gone. 3 years of waypoints gone. I sit down in disbelief brother asks whats wrong I tell him my waypoints are gone he calmly says well Harley(nephew) was messing around with it he must have done something. I was sick to my stomach and my brother sensed that I was pee-oed and he said to my nephew not to mess with stuff. I was mad but I bit my tongue and just basically sighed and died inside and the trip was over right then and there for me. I pulled into the middle of the lake and told my brother he can have the front of the boat as I let them worm fish in 30 feet of water while I sat behind the wheel sick as a dog. We move and on the way to another spot I pushed in the choke while under way and the motor skips and sputters and I say ohh something is wrong and that we need to head in.. The good news is that I convinced the wife in a new fishfinder/gps combo.

All your waypoints were erased? Oh my God! Now for me that wouldn't be that bad because I haven't thoroughly graphed a lake yet and any waypoints on my GPS are still just "suggestions". But if I'd charted out a lake thoroughly and had a kid erase all the waypoints, I think I'd puke! You don't have them backed up on your 'puter?

Kids seem to come in two categories-the kind that know waaay more than me about computers/technology and the kind that seem to destroy everything they touch. Actually, adults aren't so different.

Yup, All gone.. The handheld GPS was a older one that just marked the coordinates where you were. I should have stated that was a couple years ago but it still makes me sick today to think about it. My nephew is a good kid, smart too and I cant blame him 100%, He was only 10 at the time and I know remember what I was like at 10.. LOL . I have taken him fishing several time since and he's eager and willing to learn. I'd rather take him fishing than my brother anyways :-X.

[Boogey Man]

I fish with this one guy sometimes and we usually fish small lakes and creeks. I have an 8 foot pond prowler type boat. This guy brings 7 or 8 combos, a big tackle bag, and a big Igloo cooler. When I fish with him out of this boat I usually only bring 3 or 4 combos. Since he has so many, he'll start laying his combo's on top of mine since he doesn't have enough room for his. I have to get him to pick his rods up so I can get to mine when I change. The seats are removable, I usually stand but he likes me to bring a seat for him, which he only uses about 25% of the time. So he has to push all his gear forward toward me so he has enough room to stand. He routinely cast way up ahead of me. Sometimes he'll cast up ahead on the right side of the boat so I can't cast to the right nor can I cast to the left with catching his rod or line on my backcast. I have to watch constantly to make sure he's not stepping on my rods or putting his cooler on top of my rods.

I also have a Nitro boat. He'll find the biggest mud hole to walk through before he gets in, tracking mud all over the carpet. He never hooks his lures to his rods when he changes to a different rod so he's got 7 or 8 lures dangling free. So they end up stuck in the carpet. He's taken several big chunks of paint out of the outboard where's he's hit with lures when he casts. I've pointed out these things numerous times but he doesn't get it. I think our fishing days are about numbered. He's a good guy, but fishing with him is rough.

I got two words for ya. Get a new fishing partner! Seriously though, I can tolerate a lot of things ignorance, and hard heads, (me, and me sometimes), but stuff like this I cain't and won't take. And when I say ignorance, I'm saying lack of knowledge, not dumbas$. He probably ain't doing any of this on purpose either, is he? That'd fall under being a richard, lol. Anyway, good luck finding another partner.

Steve

I don't think he's doing it on purpose, he's just oblivious to some things. I've seen him leave his tacklebox out in the rain and dump the water out of it and be ready to go. He doesn't take care of his equipment (fishing, house, truck, etc.) so it never occurs to him that I may want to take care of mine. He's called the last two weekends and I've made excuses and went by myself. I don't get to go as much lately as I used to so it's just not worth the trouble. The last time we went it was after we both got off work. I was actually looking forward to it getting dark so the trip would be over. That's bad, when you can't wait to get off the water ;D

[Blue Streak]

I fish with my grandson a lot and he eats everything in the boat before lunch time. I keep packing more and he still eats it. Before we leave the dock I can see his butt sticking out of the dry storage checking out the grub. He is 13 very active, athletic, and hungry. 

[shutupnfish]

I fish with this one guy sometimes and we usually fish small lakes and creeks. I have an 8 foot pond prowler type boat. This guy brings 7 or 8 combos, a big tackle bag, and a big Igloo cooler. When I fish with him out of this boat I usually only bring 3 or 4 combos. Since he has so many, he'll start laying his combo's on top of mine since he doesn't have enough room for his. I have to get him to pick his rods up so I can get to mine when I change. The seats are removable, I usually stand but he likes me to bring a seat for him, which he only uses about 25% of the time. So he has to push all his gear forward toward me so he has enough room to stand. He routinely cast way up ahead of me. Sometimes he'll cast up ahead on the right side of the boat so I can't cast to the right nor can I cast to the left with catching his rod or line on my backcast. I have to watch constantly to make sure he's not stepping on my rods or putting his cooler on top of my rods.

I also have a Nitro boat. He'll find the biggest mud hole to walk through before he gets in, tracking mud all over the carpet. He never hooks his lures to his rods when he changes to a different rod so he's got 7 or 8 lures dangling free. So they end up stuck in the carpet. He's taken several big chunks of paint out of the outboard where's he's hit with lures when he casts. I've pointed out these things numerous times but he doesn't get it. I think our fishing days are about numbered. He's a good guy, but fishing with him is rough.

I got two words for ya. Get a new fishing partner! Seriously though, I can tolerate a lot of things ignorance, and hard heads, (me, and me sometimes), but stuff like this I cain't and won't take. And when I say ignorance, I'm saying lack of knowledge, not dumbas$. He probably ain't doing any of this on purpose either, is he? That'd fall under being a richard, lol. Anyway, good luck finding another partner.

Steve

I don't think he's doing it on purpose, he's just oblivious to some things. I've seen him leave his tacklebox out in the rain and dump the water out of it and be ready to go. He doesn't take care of his equipment (fishing, house, truck, etc.) so it never occurs to him that I may want to take care of mine. He's called the last two weekends and I've made excuses and went by myself. I don't get to go as much lately as I used to so it's just not worth the trouble. The last time we went it was after we both got off work. I was actually looking forward to it getting dark so the trip would be over. That's bad, when you can't wait to get off the water ;D

Like the man says:  "You can't fix stupid."  Sounds a little like my bro-in-law.  Super good dude, one helluva carpenter and he'd do anything for anybody.  But he don't take care of anything, his or yours.  A while back I noticed his Husky chainsaw on the pile of Lone Star empties in the bed of his truck.  A month later it was still there so I asked him if he wanted me to turn it over so it could rain in the other side for a while.  He just laughed.  I'm thinkin' he's a bit brighter than your fishing partner though.  Wait, that might not be the case, he did marry my sister.

Steve 

[Nibbles]

I fish with my grandson a lot and he eats everything in the boat before lunch time. I keep packing more and he still eats it. Before we leave the dock I can see his butt sticking out of the dry storage checking out the grub. He is 13 very active, athletic, and hungry.

Try having him eat a bowl of cottage cheese with some fruit in it beforehand. Casein protein is slow-digesting and should keep him full for a good while since protein is great for giving people that "full" feeling.

Plus it will help him grow big and strong. 

[Bass_Fanatic]

Well, I live in the GHETTO of my city and my neighbors are always asking me to bring them fishing.  One day I got up the patients and courage to bring a few of em and man, what a mistake.  Took tow 14 year old kids and their 29 year old step dad.  It was their first time ever in a boat, so when I hit about 50mph they were about crying.  When I got to 65 one of the kids actually told me stop and he had peed himself.  Im now thinkin, what the heck did I get myself into.  Well, we are brim fishing, because i thought that they might could catch a brim.  I caught like 20 that were perfect size for trot lines, and they wanted to keep every one of em.  One kid hit the step dad in the back of the head three times and on the last time he broke his line in the dads dreads!  I was laughing so hard and crying all at the same time.  The dad threw the kid in the river and told him to swim back.  Well, I helped him back in and we headed home with about 20 gold-fish sized brim.  I rode home a soaking wet kid in my truck and when we got home, they didn't know how to clean a fish, so I had to clean these shiners for em. 

Looking back at it now I laugh, but at the time, I was ready to sell my boat!! ;D

[pudmunk]

Well, I live in the GHETTO of my city and my neighbors are always asking me to bring them fishing. One day I got up the patients and courage to bring a few of em and man, what a mistake. Took tow 14 year old kids and their 29 year old step dad. It was their first time ever in a boat, so when I hit about 50mph they were about crying. When I got to 65 one of the kids actually told me stop and he had peed himself. Im now thinkin, what the heck did I get myself into. Well, we are brim fishing, because i thought that they might could catch a brim. I caught like 20 that were perfect size for trot lines, and they wanted to keep every one of em. One kid hit the step dad in the back of the head three times and on the last time he broke his line in the dads dreads! I was laughing so hard and crying all at the same time. The dad threw the kid in the river and told him to swim back. Well, I helped him back in and we headed home with about 20 gold-fish sized brim. I rode home a soaking wet kid in my truck and when we got home, they didn't know how to clean a fish, so I had to clean these shiners for em.

Looking back at it now I laugh, but at the time, I was ready to sell my boat!! ;D

lol that's great stuff  ;D