How close is to close?

[Ima Bass Ninja]

So how bout it, how close to a another angler do you have to be to say something/or leave the area?

Since i mostly just recreational fish and if there's another boat within 75 yards i'll just leave.

[roadwarrior]

Technically, 50 yards if anchored. I prefer several

hundred yards and always behind, not in front of

a leading boat.

8-)

[ww2farmer]

If your a good buddy, I don't care how close you get as long as it's not a tournament. If I don't know you, stay at LEAST a reasonable cast away, and don't cut in front of me, go out and around me, or get on my butt, unless you ask, then despite my bubbly personality here, I am usually pleasant and will let you, unless it's a tournament, then just don't ask and go away. I do the same in return.

[Nova Kaw 650]

A cast away is fine by me, even in a tournament.  I don't pretend to own the water.

If it's a close buddy, I don't care if we tie the two boats together and make a raft, lol. 8-)

[Hot Rod]

I apply the "two cast" rule.  That way if the other boat and I cast toward each other we don't get tangled.  Plus it is a reasonable distance.

I never pull in front of another boat while they are fishing.  I follow by a minimu of the "two cast lenghts".

Nothing POs me more than when some jerk see's you catching fish then cuts you off and starts fishing right in front of you or tries to horn in on you.

Yes it is public water and no I don't own it, but come on man don't be so rude and inconsiderate.  Go find your own fish or wait till I leave.  I wouldn't crowd in on someone else either.

Still, I usually don't say anything unless it is a tournament and it is a fellow copetitor pushing in.

[Nova Kaw 650]

A cast away is fine by me, even in a tournament. I don't pretend to own the water.

If it's a close buddy, I don't care if we tie the two boats together and make a raft, lol. 8-)

I should have been clearer; the above is how I consider those that move in near me.  If I'm the one on the move then I keep a much greater distance.

[salmicropterus]

Two answers:

Aaron Martens: If I can see you or hear you it is too close.

KVD: Close enough that you can see how much I am catching and it wears on you mentally.

[NBR]

I usually go in behind the guy fishing my intended shore ask him if he plans on coming back and if he doesn't I go the other way. If he is coming back through I find another spot.

[fourbizz]

If you move in on me while I am throwing a Hudd and I can hit your boat with it, I probably will.

[A-Jay]

I am very spoiler regarding angler proximity.

I fish smaller lakes that are less than 500 acres and many are less than 250. I rarely even see another angler let alone get close enough be concerned about it.

A-Jay

[WRB]

The original B.A.S.S. rules stated 200 feet as I recall. Common sense and good sportsmanship should be your guide. If you think someone is too close, politely say something or cast in that direction.

Today too many anglers think they own the water and could care less if you are on a spot they want to fish.

Most bass anglers will heed the warning, the ones that don't usually are running and gunning and they leave soon anyway.

Life is too short to argue about fishing.

[Fishing Rhino]

Buddy or not, unless invited, my rule of thumb is to give plenty of room, maybe 200 yards or more.

If they are working an area/shore, I pay attention to the direction they are moving, and make sure I do not jump in front of them, not even by two or three hundred yards.

It's common courtesy, and what I'd expect of others.  If they are anchored, I'd still give them a wide berth, but would not hesitate to work any side of them as opposed to someone drifting or motoring a consistent direction.

It makes no sense to follow someone closely.  If they have disturbed fish, your quarry is less likely to take your offerings.  Give 'em a chance to settle down.

Last year I was working a shoreline and a man and his wife (I assume) jumped ahead of me.  I just kept working my way toward him. 

As I got closer, he asked how close I was going to get.  I told him it was possible I'd bump into him since it was he who was rude enough to jump closely ahead of me when it was clearly evident that I was moving to the south along that shore.  I told him that rudeness does not deserve the least bit of courtesy.

He grumbled and huffed, then left.

I don't go looking for trouble, but I'm not going to be driven from the area I'm working by anyone.

Twenty five plus years as a commercial lobsterman have served me well regarding protecting my turf, even though my possession of that turf is only temporary.

Treat others with the same courtesy you expect from them, and you'll be fine.

[Bassnajr]

Some local rules say as RW stated a certain distance if anchored or if the trolling motor is down etc. Common sense is a good rule of thumb. Don't do to others what you wouldn't want done to you. If someone is fishing down a shoreline I wouldn't jump in front of them...but would follow behind them at a cast or two distance. If they are not moving or at anchor, I would go around them on a wide angle. Comminication is also key. I think most people get more upset when you pretend that there not even in the area. Common courtesy.

[Hellbenderman]

When they start to get too close, I develop a pronounced tick in one shoulder, tilt my head to one side, and make loud slurping sucking noises followed by drooling, and then I start start whooping and cursing ala Tourette's Syndrome. Then I winkle in their direction. I generally have all the casting room I warrant.

[Hamby]

I'm usually pretty friendly on the water. I don't mind if people get close enough to pitch into my boat unless they're purposely cutting me off and disrupting my intended path. If i'm pitching docks and another guy comes up on me fast, i usually let them pass if they do it friendly enough. I just look at what they're doing and hit the spots they didn't. No different than fishing from the back of the boat.

I purposely let people get close and fish my area sometimes. Let's me start a conversation and find out if they're doing any good, and what they've done so far.

Same thing when i'm fishing behind a guy. If i'm not doing too hot, i'll speed up on purpose so that he sees me. Then i can ask him if he's had any success.  8-)

[SirSnookalot]

If you are in the same state, you are too close.......lol.

I was fishing with a hall of fame fisherman the last few months, keyword  WAS.

Every time I got a hookup and before I could even land the fish this guy was casting right into my spot( beach fishing).  This happen a good 10 times, at first I payed no attention to it considering he was new in the area, I also took him to a few of my hot spots( big mistake).  Now when I see him I just leave.  With this guys background he should have better fishing etiquette.

[frogtog]

Stay out of my casting distance, you could get your boat scratched up. >

[jdw174]

When you fish a lake with 2500 miles of shoreline and is 185 miles long, I figure there's no reason whatsoever to jump in front of me, yet it happens regularly.  And, I fish during the week, so these people aren't fishing tournaments, either.  Occasionally these transgressors are bass fishermen, but mostly they're crappie/bream anglers.  I could tell you some horror stories about some of the crap they've pulled on me.  For those people, I definitely will "jump" them and continue on my way.  Bass anglers, well, I look at what they're throwing and I'll change rods to something else.  Catch a lot of fish that way

[Tin]

Stay out of my casting distance, you could get your boat scratched up. >

A heavy jig can take out some gel-coat or a windshield.

[J Francho]

Some of you guys would not get along too well up here, LOL.

Tournament rules usually say something about competitors being somewhere from 50 to 100 yards apart.  On some smaller, busier waters, its not unusual for to boats to pass within a few feet of each other.  Especially if just rec. fishing.  99.99% of the time, its just that, and friendly chat about what's working.  Once in a while someone gripes.

There are isolated instances where my "fishing water" has been encroached by another boat.  Its usually out of ignorance.  When I am through with the offender, they are thoroughly educated, LOL.

[Md]

Nothing POs me more than when some jerk see's you catching fish then cuts you off and starts fishing right in front of you or tries to horn in on you.

Yes it is public water and no I don't own it, but come on man don't be so rude and inconsiderate. Go find your own fish or wait till I leave. I wouldn't crowd in on someone else either.

And I may add, if you come ripping by on plane and are within casting distance, you may need pliers to pull the hooks of a magnum spook out of your skull!

[bandsr4me20]

If i can hit you with my lure, thats too close.

[brophog]

Nothing POs me more than when some jerk see's you catching fish then cuts you off and starts fishing right in front of you or tries to horn in on you.

I had a situation a few years ago where I made the mistake of fishing a Saturday morning (which I try to avoid). I was on a good run of fish, from the shore, and a boater came in so close that his bait actually hit me in the foot.

That pretty much ruined that spot. I never did see that boater catch anything that morning, though, so at least I got some joy out of that. That guy took the term 'bank beater' a little too literally.

[farmpond1]

Out of respect for their space, I won't cut in front of someone (if they are moving), and I won't crowd them.  I expect them to do the same.  The question is, however, how close is too close?  If I see someone working a long bank and I see that they are moving, I won't get any closer than about a 200 yards in front of them.  Probably not even that close.  It depends on how fast they are working the bank.  If they are moving quickly, I'll move behind them and work all the bass they didn't catch.  If they are not moving or it can't be discerned which direction they are traveling, I try not to get any closer than 100 yards.  It all depends on the size of the lake and how many other fishermen/boats there are to contend with.  Mostly, I try to avoid others altogether-which is why I prefer to fish during weekdays.

[Sherlock 60]

Normally I have no problem with other fishermen getting too close. I fish a chain of 7 lakes that range from 18 acres to about 350 acres and I spend most of my time on lakes that range from 100-175 acres, so there is not a lot of elbow room. I try to keep at least 200' or so from other boats.

But something changed last summer. On one occasion another fisherman anchored about 50 feet from me and pretended I was not there. And two or three times, while I was obviously fishing, pleasure boaters in pontoons passed within 25' or so without slowing down and seemed to be totally oblivious to my presence.

I chalked it up to how rude we have become as a society in recent years.