Inconsiderate Fisherman

[J Francho]

I had a tournament where my partner and I were fishing a deep hump, in the middle of a large cove, far off shore. Other guys in the club kept motoring over to see if we were OK, LOL. It took all of our self restraint not to chew them out for driving over our fishing grounds... We kept our mouths shut though, for fear they'd figure out our spot - a huge, deep flat untouched by the weed eating machine on this lake. Took 2nd, and got beat by a great bag anchored by two 4 lb.+ fish.

The lesson: don't assume the other boats know what you are doing. No one that day knew we were even fishing there.

[clayton86]

I watched a guy on shore intentionally snag a guys planer board and cut all his gear off after the second time his planer banged against the pier on a trolling pass. Clearly, the boater was wrong, but that was extreme. I've seen fist fights erupt over spots during the salmon run in late summer. It's kind of sad. Other times, I've had guys scream at me for coming within 100 yards of them. One even started an "internet battle" over a main lake point that usually has 20 boats fishing it anyway.

Bottom line is communication and avoiding any escalating emotions. It isn't worth it - it's just fishing. Tell the other guy what you are doing, and that you'd rather he not be so close. If he continues, leave. If he harasses you, call the authorities. Flinging a bait at someone may have consequences you aren't prepared to deal with.

its bad on oak orchard and johnsons creek its why i dont salmon fish anymore cuz it gets packed on them rivers and to many people get angry

[Andy C]

I guess I wouldn't have been as mad if it was a popular lake, or if there were more than 2 trailers in the lot. I would never try to escalate the situation. I just said--Would you have came back here to fish if there was a boat back here? There are plenty of other creeks to fish. He knew my spot was good and figured I was fishing for crappie or something since I was on shore. I left that spot to head to a couple of other creeks and landed plenty of 2-3 pounders. I came back to that spot just before dark and landed a 22 incher.

[webertime]

if there realy close to you on the bank just pray for the stinky hang over farts they'll clear out lol you know the nasty rotton egg ones

HA! walk up and down the bank crop-dusting them all!!!

[L a r r y]

SPARK PLUGS.....SPARK PLUGS

Keep a few spark plugs handy. Zip tie 2 or three together, then attach them to a heavy action rod. A few well placed casts and the boaters should get the idea

But in all seriousness....I found out if everyone talks, the fishing will go alot smoother. I bank fish back in a cove, and guys in little two man boats are always back there, we try to give each other room and it all works out pretty good. There was even a time, a guy put his boat in the water, started out to the main part of the pond, he made a cast one direction, I made a cast another direction, and we both hooked up

[BassThumb]

I get angry, but I keep my mouth shut when people crowd me on the water. I'd feel like an idiot if I ended up going to jail for fighting or got my tires slashed at some remote landing over a fishing spot. I'll just move, or keep doing what I was doing.

[.ghoti.]

Just forget about it, most boaters don't hang around too long anyway. Getting upset only bothers you, not them.

A jerk is a jerk , you find them in all aspects of life. Don't let them get under your skin.

Two excellent points.

I'll add another.

People are going to talk about you if start killing off jerks.

[BASS fisherman]

You guys think people getting too close is bad huh? In PA on opening day of trout season, the guys line the lakes shoulder to shoulder close as close can be. I find it hilarious!! Especially when someone catches a fish.. You yell "fish on" and all the guys around you reel in their lines double quick. Watching the "fish on" scramble is always good fun.

It isnt always inconsideration. I think most of the time it is just ignorance. Most people genuinly dont know when they are being inconsiderate.

To me, a bass fisherman, I want room to fish, water to disect, and room to fish. Trout fishermen (at these trout stocked lakes) dont fish the same way in that they cast out and float some bait, and then relax and talk to all the people within 5 feet of you.

So the trout guy who comes down to this giant lake with no one else around and sets up shop literaly 5 feet away is not being inconsiderate, he is just ignorant to the fact that I am bass fishing and trying to cover water, not soak some bait. I have had trout guys cast on the same exact spot I am catching from. In bass fishing, that is not cool, however up in the tributary creeks around erie, when the rainbows and steelies are running, you will see 4,5 guys drifting baits through a pool of fish all lined up casting up stream and letting it drift down, over and over and over..........

[Bluebasser86]

I fish a lot of smaller lakes and I keep some pretty simple rules. I shouldn't be able to cast and reach your boat or to the spot someone is fishing on the bank and if you're going to get in front of me on the bank I'm fishing it better be about a football field in front of me. I always try to give other people room to fish. If they're on a spot I want to fish I'll just check back later and fish it then.

[CWB]

I fish a lot of smaller lakes and I keep some pretty simple rules. I shouldn't be able to cast and reach your boat or to the spot someone is fishing on the bank and if you're going to get in front of me on the bank I'm fishing it better be about a football field in front of me. I always try to give other people room to fish. If they're on a spot I want to fish I'll just check back later and fish it then.

Same here on the smaller lakes. Most guys are used to close quarters and are pretty good about etiquette. They will pull in behind you but occasionally I've had guys pull in a few casts ahead of me. I just fire up the big and lay a hole shot past them and wave as I go buy. Doesn't happen twice in the same day.

Usually I pass guys going the other way and there is always some cordial talk. I did have a guy pull up behind me and I got 2 on a worm so I stopped to thoroughly fish the area and he went past me and sarcastically said "I guess this is your spot" As I set the hook and landed my fourth keeper from the spot I unhooked it and said "yeah, I guess it is" and kept fishing.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

The majority of my fishing is done from the bank. So I try an be curtious to the bank fishers when I'm in a boat. On one lake I fish a lot, bank and boat, I've found the magic spot. However the only way to get in and out of it is through a feeder creek with a bridge over it. And bank fishers line the area under the bridge and adjacent to it. Id say 90 some odd percent of them are crappie or catfishing. I have found if you troll up about twenty yards from them and ask if u can troll past, they will almost always guide you past their lines or reel in until you pass by. Courtesy goes a long way. However if someone starts crowding in on me when I'm fishing I find that slowing way down and crossing their line generally sends them on their way.

[bilgerat]

If I'm in my kayak and have to squeeze through where there is someone on the bank, I make it a point to thank them and paddle by as smooth as possible. Often I find broken off bait rigs (bobber, hook and weights)in my travels. I give them to the bank beaters when I go by. You'd think I was Santa Claus by the reactions I get.

[ChrisAW]

I've only had any real problem with one other fisherman out on the water. For whatever reason, even though he never seen me catch a fish, he kept cutting me off along the shoreline I was fishing. I moved three times before I got really frustrated with him and started to go off on him. After a few unkind words were exchanged, he thought he would be cute and cast right across the front of my boat. Well, he didn't expect me to pitch my jig out over his line. I felt his lure catch on my jig, and I set the hook on it. His line sprang up without whatever he had tied on, he got extremely angry, and was cursing me out as I was starting up my boat and moved one last time.

I guess he finally decided not to follow me after that.

[The Bassinator]

I think the best thing to do is take a step back and think. Is it a kid who doesnt know any better or a guy who just wants your spot? If you feel like youre being infringed upon state your claim but dont be rude sometimes people just dont realize. Other times they need to be reminded that they dont own the water. Whatever your situation is just speak your mind and most people should be reasonable.

[Hamby]

If done nicely and politely, i don't mind a guy coming close enough for me to leap into his boat. As long as he knows what he's doing, acknowledges me and makes sure it's ok, and works to stay out of where i'm casting. I love to talk to the other fisherman.

The only problem with this is that the nice, considerate guys hardly ever come close in the first place.

[Fishes in trees]

Back to the original premise of this thread, try to look at it from a different perspective. You're the boater. You don't know that someone has walked a quarter mile to reach this creek inlet. All you know is that you've taken the time to run up a creek to fish in inlet, you get there and then there is someone fishing on the bank.

I don't know about you but if I've invested the time to run up a creek, and as we all know running up creeks can be tricky and time consuming, once I've got there I'm probably going to get a lure wet. As far as smacking into stumps and muddying up the water goes, that is just stuff that happens once you've run a long ways up a creek.

In the situation described in the original premise, I don't think the guy was being that rude. Is it the job of every boater to know which creek inlets have bank access and which don't? I don't know?

From what I read into this situation it sounds to me like one of those unfortunate things that happen during fishing from time to time, and can't we please all get along?

[Fishes in trees]

Back to the original premise of this thread, try to look at it from a different perspective. You're the boater. You don't know that someone has walked a quarter mile to reach this creek inlet. All you know is that you've taken the time to run up a creek to fish in inlet, you get there and then there is someone fishing on the bank.

I don't know about you but if I've invested the time to run up a creek, and as we all know running up creeks can be tricky and time consuming, once I've got there I'm probably going to get a lure wet. As far as smacking into stumps and muddying up the water goes, that is just stuff that happens once you've run a long ways up a creek.

In the situation described in the original premise, I don't think the guy was being that rude. Is it the job of every boater to know which creek inlets have bank access and which don't? I don't know?

From what I read into this situation it sounds to me like one of those unfortunate things that happen during fishing from time to time, and can't we please all get along?

[SirSnookalot]

Regarding the premise of the original post, the fisherman was already there and fishing. Is the time and effort the boater took to pilot his boat to the same area worth more than the bank fisherman? I say, like in basketball, the bank fisherman had position and the boater is guilty of " charging", bank fisherman gets 2 free casts with a 3 oz. pyramid sinker......lol j/k.

The boater is mobile , can go anywhere and should have showed some consideration.