How close is to close?

[ctf58]

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.

X2

[ctf58]

x2

I was casting to the bank from about 25 yards out so I would not spook the fish in flooded grass about 2 feet of water all the way from the shore to me. Some SOB came flying in and came off plane about 100 feet away and following my direction of travel. He then proceeded to pass between me and the bank, pitching to the shore. > He would never look at me, until I hit his big shiny 4-stroke with a rattle trap. He spun around like he was ticked off to high heaven. I politely apologized saying that I did not realized I could cast more than 30 feet with this 7 ft rod and it was my new personal best for distance. He did not seem to get the hint so I grabbed a tex rigged worm and cast it right up to the shore about 10 feet in front of his boat and just let it sit there. He saw it and realized that his trolling motor would eat my line and yelled that it could tangle in his trolling motor prop. I agreed and just left it there and twitched the rod tip like a shakey head. He then left.

[Fish Chris]

Hmmmm. 50 to 75 yards is probably considered a reasonable space.

But how far would I prefer ? Oh.... about 2 or 3 miles, and I'm good 

Fish

[shootermcbob]

I fish from the bank and have seen all manners of politeness and rudeness. Most folks will at least go around me, giving me a cast length distance to each side. I have had a few troll right between my line and the bank.

And i have had a few ask me how I was doing, which way I was travelling down the bank, and they went the other way.

I try to get to the lake by around 4 am in the spring/summer/fall. That way, bout the time the lakes are getting busy, I am heading home.

[brushhoggin]

this guy has a pretty good idea

[Pa Angler]

I don't mind if another boat follows behind me and fishes my used water I don't like another boat cutting in front of me  2 cast lengths away is good for me I don't mind respectful company. If I come across an anchored boat while I'm fishing the shoreline I'll give greetings and inform I'll be passing behind their cast and continue on. I have never had any issues with this. Remember no one owns the water but use common sense as you would want to be treated.

Tight Lines

Pa Angler

[Pa Angler]

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.

Aaron Martens was closer that 50yds to KVD at the Classic.

Tight Lines

Pa Angler

[Hamby]

I gotta make a correction. I'll let somebody pass if i'm not doing well, and if they acknowledge my presence at least. If i'm clearly doing well and they try to pass me like i'm not even there, then fish directly in front of me, i get PO'd. It's really bad if it's a bank bite. They rarely catch the fish and only scare them.

I remember last season i was approaching a large laydown that always produces. I stopped a ways away and trolled in. As i was getting close, some bobber fisherman came flying in on the main motor, staring at me the whole time like i was gonna stop and let them fish there. HA! I put the tolling motor on full speed and steered directly for them. Some profane language followed.

[Fat Boy]

OK, sorry to revive an old thread, but it's an ongoing issue. I had something happen to me in reverse situation this time yesterday.

We motored (at no wake speed) into a creek off the main stem of a river with the intent of hitting one piece of structure, a boat dock, and maybe sit and eat some lunch. The only reason that we went in there was to show my friend some details of how to fish this particular boat dock since he hadn't fished there before.

There was another bass boater fishing a piece of shoreline to our right as we entered the creek. It was there for some time, at least 20 minutes while fishing a large blow down, not moving in any direction as he was fishing that cover thoroughly. As we passed him I asked my friend to steer wide to make sure we gave him room, so we passed by behind him (not between him and the shore) a good 75 yards away and then motored ahead to the boat dock and stopped, which was at least 400+ yards away. We weren't really in a hurry to fish and were going to eat some lunch while I pointed out the features of this spot when all of a sudden, the other bass boat comes flying at us and turns at the last second to send his wake all over us. We weren't even fishing, the trolling motor was down, and, he was parked on that other spot, when we went by. Plus, we were on another piece of shoreline as there was a cove separating the section he was fishing.

Anyway, that was uncalled for. Had he come up and simply said something we would have yielded the spot, ate lunch, and watch him fish. I wouldn't even care if he was speaking rudely to us or politely.

I usually go overboard when trying to be courteous so it was kind of surprising that this happened. If this spot was so special, he had plenty of opportunity to get there ahead of me. Basically, it was as if the entire creek was his. Plus, if he had even made a slight move in that direction then we would have opted to not fish there, or if he would have been a bit closer and obviously headed that way.

I have no problem fishing behind someone's used water. It's gratifying to me to catch fish behind people and I do it all the time (but never following people too close, always waiting for them to leave a good distance away). And I'm sure this is true for most people, because different anglers use different patterns and approach cover differently.

Prior to that, we were fishing one side of a bank to the entrance to the creek working toward the mouth with the intent of fishing around the mouth and into the creek. He arrived after us and motored into the creek and fished the other side of the point inside the mouth, less than 50 yards from us. We were obviously moving that way. Did he offer any courtesy to us? No. Did we do anything to him? No, we just fished a different section.

I agree that when fishing a shoreline not to cut people off when they are working that direction, but this wasn't even the same section of shoreline, there not only was the distance but a cove separating us.

Furthermore, I would never do anything adverse to another angler, it's just fishing. If I do something wrong, even in this case where I don't think that I was wrong, at least talk it over with me and I will yield. I'm not out to ruin someones day, and if it's that important to them then fine, go for it. It's not worth the hassle to me for a couple bass.

If someone needs virgin water to catch the stupid bass, they can have it. Anglers with talent can catch fish regardless of any kind of pressure.

Was I wrong???? I appreciate your opinions.

[Grey Wolf]

OK, sorry to revive an old thread, but it's an ongoing issue. I had something happen to me in reverse situation this time yesterday.

We motored (at no wake speed) into a creek off the main stem of a river with the intent of hitting one piece of structure, a boat dock, and maybe sit and eat some lunch. The only reason that we went in there was to show my friend some details of how to fish this particular boat dock since he hadn't fished there before.

There was another bass boater fishing a piece of shoreline to our right as we entered the creek. It was there for some time, at least 20 minutes while fishing a large blow down, not moving in any direction as he was fishing that cover thoroughly. As we passed him I asked my friend to steer wide to make sure we gave him room, so we passed by behind him (not between him and the shore) a good 75 yards away and then motored ahead to the boat dock and stopped, which was at least 400+ yards away. We weren't really in a hurry to fish and were going to eat some lunch while I pointed out the features of this spot when all of a sudden, the other bass boat comes flying at us and turns at the last second to send his wake all over us. We weren't even fishing, the trolling motor was down, and, he was parked on that other spot, when we went by. Plus, we were on another piece of shoreline as there was a cove separating the section he was fishing.

Anyway, that was uncalled for. Had he come up and simply said something we would have yielded the spot, ate lunch, and watch him fish. I wouldn't even care if he was speaking rudely to us or politely.

I usually go overboard when trying to be courteous so it was kind of surprising that this happened. If this spot was so special, he had plenty of opportunity to get there ahead of me. Basically, it was as if the entire creek was his. Plus, if he had even made a slight move in that direction then we would have opted to not fish there, or if he would have been a bit closer and obviously headed that way.

I have no problem fishing behind someone's used water. It's gratifying to me to catch fish behind people and I do it all the time (but never following people too close, always waiting for them to leave a good distance away). And I'm sure this is true for most people, because different anglers use different patterns and approach cover differently.

Prior to that, we were fishing one side of a bank to the entrance to the creek working toward the mouth with the intent of fishing around the mouth and into the creek. He arrived after us and motored into the creek and fished the other side of the point inside the mouth, less than 50 yards from us. We were obviously moving that way. Did he offer any courtesy to us? No. Did we do anything to him? No, we just fished a different section.

I agree that when fishing a shoreline not to cut people off when they are working that direction, but this wasn't even the same section of shoreline, there not only was the distance but a cove separting us.

Furthermore, I would never do anything adverse to another angler, it's just fishing. If I do something wrong, even in this case where I don't think that I was wrong, at least talk it over with me and I will yield. I'm not out to ruin someones day, and if it's that important to them then fine, go for it. It's not worth the hassle to me for a couple bass.

If someone needs virgin water to catch the stupid bass, they can have it. Anglers with talent can catch fish regardless of any kind of pressure.

Was I wrong???? I appreciate your opinions.

Reading your side of the story , It sounds like you were the wronged person here.

[Shad_Master]

I was fishing in a club tournament a couple of weeks ago and we were fighting a 30 - 35 mph wind. Late in the day, I had moved to a wing dyke that was open and started letting the boat drift me up the shorline. There was another guy (not in our club) fishing about 200 feet off shore and I was about 50 feet off shore. I really didn't even consider him as when I saw him, he was dinking around in the boat and looked like he might be leaving. All of a sudden he started yelling that I was going over his brush pile and he couldn't believe I was so rude. I knew the brush pile was there, but he was at least 100 feet away from it and I was working down on the other side. I tried to turn the boat, but was having trouble because of the wind. I apologized and started working back down the shore line. He pulled up his trolling motor and moved down the direction I was now heading and and set up again 200 feet out from the shore.

Was I in the wrong?

[slonezp]

I was fishing in a club tournament a couple of weeks ago and we were fighting a 30 - 35 mph wind. Late in the day, I had moved to a wing dyke that was open and started letting the boat drift me up the shorline. There was another guy (not in our club) fishing about 200 feet off shore and I was about 50 feet off shore. I really didn't even consider him as when I saw him, he was dinking around in the boat and looked like he might be leaving. All of a sudden he started yelling that I was going over his brush pile and he couldn't believe I was so rude. I knew the brush pile was there, but he was at least 100 feet away from it and I was working down on the other side. I tried to turn the boat, but was having trouble because of the wind. I apologized and started working back down the shore line. He pulled up his trolling motor and moved down the direction I was now heading and and set up again 200 feet out from the shore.

Was I in the wrong?

I don't think so.

It's funny sometimes. 2 weeks ago I'm in a buddy tournament. I'm fishing a small lake in a 12000 acre river system. Winds blowing similar to yours. There was 8 of 44 boats fishing the same small area because everyones trying to ditch the wind. So we are approaching another boat. I'm still 50 yards away. He watches me catch 2 dinks one after another. I watch him pull up the TM and drop anchor in the middle of the channel. We get a little closer and he says "Are you in the tournament? because we're anchored" He knows darn well we're in the tournament. I have 1 of the 2 tin boats in the club. So my son acknowledges him and we turn the boat around. Well we get to the weigh in and dock next to him. My son says "How'd you do?" He says "Probably the same as you." My son says "We got 4." He doesn't say a word. They weighed in a goose egg and we took 3rd with big bass.

[Red]

I fish from an 8' Pelican and I get the feeling alot that the bass boat guys just figure I am not worthy or something. They have no problems geting right up near where I am fishing or whatever. I don't mind though. I just go around them or turn around.

[Sam]

50 yards is acceptable.

[slonezp]

50 yards is acceptable.

50 yards is when I saw him anchor. 50 feet is club rules from an anchored boat.

[kms399]

I just do my own thing. if a guy is sitting and working one weed edge and not moving I will fish to within 3 casts then max out the trolling motor and go around them maintaining about 3 cast distance then slow back down again. I wont drive over with the outboard and I try not to crowd people. when people start getting close to me I just ignore them they are usually gone within 5 minutes. if I am in their way too bad if I was there first. if they start casting to the edge of my boat I will usually just look at them and shake my head.

[Fish Chris]

Well 75 yards, or 200 ft sounds reasonable to me.

But here's the thing > When I'm fishing "the best case scenario" is that I can't see another boat as far as my eyesight allows, on glass calm water allows. Next best is.... Well, their are a few boats 600+ yards away over their.... but at least they are just trolling for 8" Kokanee trout (in an $80k boat, I might add ! How funny is that ?)

When I see a glitter rocket zooming past me (while sitting on one of my hot spots) I always think to myself, "I sure am glad I'm in a camo'd 14ft aluminum.... because I wouldn't want that guy to to think I know what I'm doing..... or for that matter, to even know I'm a bass fishermen"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So now that you know how I feel about all that, check this out....

A few weeks ago, I was sitting up on top of an offshore hump. The shallowest parts of it are about 3ft deep, by 20 feet wide, by 50 feet long. So as I'm sitting there, looking North, with my typical tunnel vision, I hear the faintest of bumps behind me. I turn to see this guy sneaking up to park maybe 30ft behind me, on the same hump ! So the guy starts casting some kind of little micro-jig or something (I think he was trout fishing).

I'm sitting there thinking, "You have to be freaking kidding me" !!! Fortunately, I had already stuck 3 or 4 nice fish on that spot (had basically worn the spot out) and was ready to leave anyway.

Now typically, when I leave a spot, I t-motor out a good distance, then fire up the gas motor, and idle out a little farther still.

But not this time ! Instead, I pulled up my t-motor. Pulled up my anchor. Made sure my motor was aimed straight at the guy, fired her up, and went from an idol, to full tilt ! I looked back to see my motor wash, which was filled with mud, and bottom debris, heading straight for the guy !

Here ! You want this spot ? You can have it ! I hope he got the message !

Fish

[bilgerat]

I fish from an 8' Pelican and I get the feeling alot that the bass boat guys just figure I am not worthy or something. They have no problems geting right up near where I am fishing or whatever. I don't mind though. I just go around them or turn around.

I get the same feeling in my kayak at times, although there are several bass boat guys I cross paths with at several different lakes. We've come to know each other but keep our distance on the water. The one exception may be if one of us passes another on our way to a different spot, we'll stop to see how they're doing and then be on our way.

No offense, but some of the worst offenders are the local club guys fishing tourneys. I actually think some of them are convinced since they're in a tourney they have supreme rights at the ramp and on the lake. It's not all of them, usually the KVD wannabees. You cant miss them. They're the pathetic looking ones.

Thank God there are no water or jet skiers on my waters. The stories I hear from some of you guys....