Bent Rodders

[quanjig]

What are your thoughts on people who see you catch fish on a fairly non-descript place and then set up camp on that hole and decimate it for the next 3 hours. I know I probably should have stayed and kept on fishing but wanted to hit a few other spots before it got to late in the morning. Time and effort were put into finding the spot only to see it become fished out. Thoughts?

[FD.]

I would be irritated, but, unless you own the lake, too bad. There are people like that everywhere.

I fish Kissimmee a lot. That's 35k acres that looks pretty much the same. It can takes days to find good fish, and like you I try to manage my spots carefully. When one of "my" spots get whacked like that, I just shake my head and go find another one.

[Gangley]

I've had that happen on smaller bodies of water and it really irritated me at first. However, most of the individuals who have done that to me generally aren't able to repeat the results because they don't know what they are doing. They are looking for the quick catch and don't take the time to work the spot like they should.

For instance, there is a brush pile about 40 feet out from one the of the banks I generally fish from that will usually have two or three bass on it that are willing to bite at something. I can usually run a jig or worm over it and get hits, but I am rarely ever able to pull one in on a spinner bait or crank bait. Anyways, I pulled 2 bass off that pile in about 15 minutes and walked away from the bank to grab a bite to eat. As soon as I left, a nearby boater motored over to the spot in a huge rush and proceeded to fan-cast a spinner bait for the next 30 minutes. He never got a hit from what I could tell, but he sat there throwing the same thing over and over before leaving. Once he left, I walked back over to the same spot and pulled in 3 over the next 30 minutes.

Since that time, it doesn't bother me so much to see somebody crash a spot because I know that it takes more than simply knowing the general area where the bass are to be successful.

[Grey Wolf]

Once you left it was an open spot , not much you can do.

[quanjig]

Oh, believe me, not the first time and certainly won't be the last!! Just wanted to see if opinions were somewhat the "yea, happens, suck it up, find another nice spot."

[basscrusher]

Quanjig, you and I fish alot of the same waters, so I feel your pain. as much as some people like to play the whole "it's rude but they have a right to fish there" card, we often forget something else...you have a right to be angry about it too! Granted, you probably aren't going to run anyone off your spots, and you'll probably just unnecessarily raise your blood pressure, but you have a good reason to be upset. Just because someone is legally entitled to fish your water doesn't mean they should do it. Many people often lose sight of this simple dichotomy.

[mudkart]

The least they could do is give you a call and ask where you're fishing, that's what myself and a notorious ex-member do.

Similar situation happened in Neabsco last Friday, had some topwater action from a grassbed that usually gets bypassed AFAIK. I left, trying to save the spot for a tx Sunday. Two boats came in right behind. Oh well, didn't make me feel good, but waddaya gonna do? The "bent-rod pattern" is a Potty cliche.

And that was not, by far, the worst angling behaviour i witnessed on Friday, but that is another story and a hijack.

[quanjig]

You guys were fine Sunday. Congrats on the 6.2! Could have used that one!!

[J Francho]

If I know there are other boats nearby, and I'm trying to manage the spot, I get stealthy. I may even complain to other guys how bad the fishing is at that spot.

[quanjig]

Wish it was as easy as that. Partner and I caught 2 good keepers and lost a 3 lber as the the other boat watched. Who knows, I might have even jumped on it as they were letting it cool off a bit. Dont think that was the case as every fish they caught from that spot was followed by screams of joy!! Like it was the firs time they had ever found a spot with multiple fish!!

[Hyrule Bass]

also, "your spots" may be someone elses "spots" too. could be a spot they found on their own on other outings and were just being courteous enough to wait for you to leave that spot. granted, thats not the point youre making with this thread, but it is a possibility...

[grimlin]

Oh, believe me, not the first time and certainly won't be the last!! Just wanted to see if opinions were somewhat the "yea, happens, suck it up, find another nice spot."

Don't let it bother you.You left it,somebody else moved it.Plain and simple.No reason to get mad to be honest.

You'd probably hate me too,I've done it before.I however always wait till the person leaves.I feel it's common curiosity. I really can't see what the other guy did wrong.

I have a few honey holes I know about....but I'm down to bet 30-100 other people know my holes too.

[quanjig]

No hate involved, I'm sure this is how some people "learn" certain things about a body of water. The way I thought to gain knowledge was to seek out others who were familiar with the water I was fishing and politely asked if the were willing to help me be a better angler or just flat out put in time on the water and try to figure stuff out. Don't get me wrong, everyone has brought up excellent points and I'm sure someone found that spot before I did. I guess I should have titled this thread something about spot courtesy!!

[mudkart]

You guys were fine Sunday. Congrats on the 6.2! Could have used that one!!

If I ever get tired of catching bass like that, shoot me and put me in the ground.

That fishery has yielded 2 of my top 3 bass this year.

I haven't seen many fishing that spot this year?

[quanjig]

That spot has not been as productive as in years past. I'm sure at some point in the year it will turn on!!

[Hyrule Bass]

No hate involved, I'm sure this is how some people "learn" certain things about a body of water. The way I thought to gain knowledge was to seek out others who were familiar with the water I was fishing and politely asked if the were willing to help me be a better angler or just flat out put in time on the water and try to figure stuff out. Don't get me wrong, everyone has brought up excellent points and I'm sure someone found that spot before I did. I guess I should have titled this thread something about spot courtesy!!

if a person waits for you to leave as opposed to encroaching on the spot while youre there, then i think thats pretty courteous of them...

[quanjig]

Waiting is fine, lurking, not so much. When someone watches your every cast and slowly encroaches, that's bentrodding to me. Don't get me wrong, it's a public reservoir and I by no means have any spot labeled mine and mine alone. I was just trying to get opinions and what peoples experiences were in this type of situation.

[BassThumb]

For that very reason, I don't fish my favorite spots with other people around.

[LWD]

There's a bunch of boats at the lake I fish that go about trolling along always fishing the channel bank. I think they hate it when they see me in their way with my kayak. Some politely go around some get way too close but I don't move spot. Especially if that's where the fish are at. One time I pulled a fish and moments later some dude in a nearby boat who seen me does a long cast right in the exact same spot I pulled it from. He didn't catch nothing would of been funny if he did. Some of that stuff makes my blood boil but being friendly is your biggest asset.

[Ratherbfishing]

Who's to say your spot wasn't their spot first? I know it's a pain to have to share public water but what are you going to do about it? So long as they aren't breaking any laws, it's their lake too. You can't paint a big X on the surface and proclaim a spot as yours.