Casting At An Opponent!!

[psuangler91]

I was reading one of the articles on this site about tournament etiquette and the author said if he feels someone is coming too close to his spot he'll chuck his carolina rig at them, not hitting the boat but close enough to let them get the hint or even cross their lines.

Is this really acceptable? Do a lot of you do this?

Also say I want to flip a row of docks and there's already someone hitting them goin the same direction as me. Is it acceptable to cut in front of him as long as I give them a few docks as a buffer? and if so how much space is a sportsmanlike distance?

[Hamby]

I don't fish tournaments, but i know they don't give you a reason to be an ****. Don't jump in front of guys.

[tomustang]

I always cast at my opponent, that being the bass

[Lund Explorer]

I was reading one of the articles on this site about tournament etiquette and the author said if he feels someone is coming too close to his spot he'll chuck his carolina rig at them, not hitting the boat but close enough to let them get the hint or even cross their lines.

Is this really acceptable? Do a lot of you do this?

Also say I want to flip a row of docks and there's already someone hitting them goin the same direction as me. Is it acceptable to cut in front of him as long as I give them a few docks as a buffer? and if so how much space is a sportsmanlike distance?

Nope - I throw right at them! If somebody thinks its okay to get so close that I can reach them, then they need to understand that I think its okay to put a few dents in their gelcoat.

I used to try to put my boat between the encroaching angler and the particular piece of cover or structure that I was fishing. If at all possible, I would herd them right away from the area and then go back to fishing. If that didn't work, I'd start talking to my partner in a voice loud enough that the other boat couldn't help but hear me. The discussion was always a lecture on sportsmanship and how it fit into the current situation. If that still didn't work, then I would start using words that Glenn won't allow on here while casting directly at their boat. I always figured they had the option to explain to the tournament director how those dents happened to get there, and why they couldn't help the fact that they wanted to get that close.

Dock fishing? It's the same as anywhere else on the lake. Most shorelines that contain docks, have a long stretch of them. Just like a weedline, a drop, a creek channel, etc., many of those structures/cover run along for a good sized distance. If you step back and think about it, wouldn't it make more sense (courtsey wise) to run to the other end of that stretch and work towards the other boat? Wouldn't it make more sense to pull in behind the other boat and go in the opposite direction and hope to pick up a few fish the other boat may have missed?

After fishing tournaments for over twenty years, the one thing I could never understand and certainly do not miss, are the anglers that leave etiquette sitting back in the parking lot with their trailer. The winner of a tournament should be determined by their ability to catch fish, and not on their ability to impede on another's ability to do so.

With a little time to think about it, the answer should come to you.

[psuangler91]

Thanks Lund, I've only fished one college tournament and we were provided with a driver so we didn't have to worry about those decisions. I definitely won't be one of those people who rolls up on your spot while you're trying to fish. I don't understand why someone would think that's ok, I guess that's why I asked about casting at them because I would never fish close enough to someone else that they could cast at me. You'd like to think that everyone else out there has the same idea of sportsmanship and etiquette, but I guess if you look around it's pretty easy to see that some people just feel like those moral codes don't apply to them, or that they can be a jerk all the time and no one's going to notice.

[Glenn]

If I want to fish the same stretch of bank another is already fishing, I give them at least a few hundred yards of space, if possible. Otherwise I'll either pull in behind them, or go somewhere else.

As for encroachment - I'll say something first, and ask them to give me some space. Normally that works. Only once did I have to tell a guy he was within range of my flare gun.

He moved away.

[psuangler91]

Only once did I have to tell a guy he was within range of my flare gun.

He moved away.

haha Must have been one hell of a spot!

[SirSnookalot]

Two wrongs don't make a right, so I will not provoke anyone by throwing at their boat or threatening them. I take the " I'm better than you approach", I shame them. I may say in a sarcastic tone " Am I in your way?", generally they just move out. Sometimes, especially when the fish are on, I'll be snook fishing from the shore and boaters will be trying to fish my water, this pissses me off. Being the 3rd greatest snook fisherman I ever met, I'll catch a slot close to where they are fishing, while they are fishless.........they get the point that they don't know jack sheet about fishing and quietly move out being embarrassed that an old man from shore can outfish them while they're fishing in 140K contender.

[NBR]

I would not find it acceptable under any circumstances to pull in less than several hundred yards a head. I'd pull in behind or go somewhere else. This is regardless whether it is a T or just pleasure fishing. Re throwing at another boat, I have done this but not for many years. You could really hurt someone and I would be sad that I did and you could be charged. Contrary to some seemingly popular opinions you are responsible for your actions.

There are a few jerks that just don't care but for the most part those that come to close just don't have a clue. I usually have a camera on board and if the jerks start to play games I get a picture.

Here in NH it is headway speed max if you are within 150' of shore, another boat, swim raft, dock, swimmer. Of course this law is broken often but a picture with a boat registration number will do wonders.

Treat others as you would wish to be treated works well in all the situations I have experienced.

[Hooligan]

Encroachment- I'll flat tell them to move along. If it's a tournament there is a measure of distance they cannot move within without your agreement. They won't get my agreement in that situation; almost without exception.

Docks- No, I won't pull in several docks, or even a hundred and fifty yards in front of them. I'll fish directly behind them and catch fish they've missed. I've won quite a few tournaments from doing just that, that they not only donated their entry fee and then I caught my limits behind them makes it that much more enjoyable. I particularly love doing it when someone pushes in on me. Yes, I'm being cocky about it, because on the vast vast majority of the tournament lakes that I fish the greatest majority of anglers have no idea how to attack and approach the docks. Do it right and the rewards are there. Do it wrong and I'm gonna wax the floor with you by fishing behind you and catching everything you missed.

[J Francho]

Best post this weekend.^^^

I'd fish a T with you, LOL.

[Lund Explorer]

Thanks Lund, I've only fished one college tournament and we were provided with a driver so we didn't have to worry about those decisions. I definitely won't be one of those people who rolls up on your spot while you're trying to fish. I don't understand why someone would think that's ok, I guess that's why I asked about casting at them because I would never fish close enough to someone else that they could cast at me. You'd like to think that everyone else out there has the same idea of sportsmanship and etiquette, but I guess if you look around it's pretty easy to see that some people just feel like those moral codes don't apply to them, or that they can be a jerk all the time and no one's going to notice.

I think most of them know they are pushing the limits of the rules of etiquette or sportsmanship, but in the middle of competition, sometimes common sense takes a back seat. Those are the guys that will react to a polite request to back off and learn to not repeat the behavior. They're a nuisance when you have to deal with it, but you know it is simple ignorance that caused a mistake in judgment that they'll never make again.

With others, it takes a little more to get the proper reaction. These are the guys that finally catch the wrath of so many others that the TD or other officials have to take an active hand with. Some learn and others just move on to another venue where they can start to alienate a whole new group. Fortunately, most tournament organizations I fished with over the years were filled with other anglers who felt the same way as I did. Anglers who can't live within the rules run out of options sooner or later.

[Bass Junkie]

Why do you think they make punch skirts with 1 1/2oz. tungsten heads? But seriously, if someone moves in on my spot I usually just move along.... They can go ahead and fish it. The majority of the time I just move ahead of them and they'll fish the spot they saw me catch a fish out of. Meanwhile, I'm already covering the water ahead of them, so unless they're Hooligan they're just wasting their time.

[Hooligan]

Best post this weekend.^^^

I'd fish a T with you, LOL.

I'll be on Erie in late June if all things hold.

Meanwhile, I'm already covering the water ahead of them, so unless they're Hooligan they're just wasting their time.

I got a laugh out of that. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of guys that I won't catch fish behind, but those are also the guys that won't crowd me in a tournament. A lot of the guys I fish against, too, are bank beaters, they just don't know how to approach structure. I'm not saying I'm KVD, because I'm not, but I'll fish behind an awful lot of people and fare pretty well, as would, I am sure, a lot of other people here, yourself included most likely.

[lazeebum]

A couple of years ago two guys in a big bass boat came roaring into the slough I was fishing. They came to a halt about 100 feet from my boat on the opposite point of a very small cut in the bank. They made very huge waves, almost washing me to the shore. They made a few cast and left just as rudely. They stopped within site of me again. So I started my outboard and ran to where they were at, made a tight circle, making as much wake and noise as I could. And then stopped, put my trolling motor down and waited for them to get indignant. They never did. That being said, most people have no etiquette or manners anyway. They hog the ramp and crowd the other fisherman, without realizing that they are being sh@@@heads.

[redboat]

Tournament manners, yeah...

Couple years ago my buddy and I fished a "working man's tournament" on one of the local lakes every Wednesday. The takeoff was at 6 Pm, weigh in at 10.

So the last time we fished it there were about 15 boats lined up. The director blew an air horn; half of us took off down lake, the other half up lake. I was in the down lake group, about a half dozen of us running wide open. Buddy and I got the best hole shot, we were in the lead.

A boat on the left was slowly gaining on us - we were running about 65 mph at the time; he must have been doing like, 66. A guy on the right was also gaining, he was about 50 feet to the right. He gradually pulled even with us - then suddenly cut right in front, and by 'right in front' I mean about four feet in front. Scared the c**p outta me, his prop wash was blowing right in my face, all over my boat. I was scared to just cut power, afraid somebody was behind me and I'd get run over.

I slowed down a little and let him pull away, then when I could see we were clear I cut power. My buddy was just back from Iraq; when we got stopped he said, "Gee, and I thought Baghdad was dangerous!"

[lazeebum]

Tournament manners, yeah...

Couple years ago my buddy and I fished a "working man's tournament" on one of the local lakes every Wednesday. The takeoff was at 6 Pm, weigh in at 10.

So the last time we fished it there were about 15 boats lined up. The director blew an air horn; half of us took off down lake, the other half up lake. I was in the down lake group, about a half dozen of us running wide open. Buddy and I got the best hole shot, we were in the lead.

A boat on the left was slowly gaining on us - we were running about 65 mph at the time; he must have been doing like, 66. A guy on the right was also gaining, he was about 50 feet to the right. He gradually pulled even with us - then suddenly cut right in front, and by 'right in front' I mean about four feet in front. Scared the c**p outta me, his prop wash was blowing right in my face, all over my boat. I was scared to just cut power, afraid somebody was behind me and I'd get run over.

I slowed down a little and let him pull away, then when I could see we were clear I cut power. My buddy was just back from Iraq; when we got stopped he said, "Gee, and I thought Baghdad was dangerous!"

That guy needed to be taught some manners at the ramp! That is why I don't fish any tournaments. It always seems like tournaments bring out the worst in some people. They race around one of the local harbors down here like they are the next great thang, as if fishing in a tournament makes them exempt from boating rules and laws.

[lazeebum]

And just because someone is fishing in a tournament does not mean that their fishing trip is more important than anyone elses.

[bigbassctchr101]

I've fished in tournaments that I have shared a "hole" with a couple boats. I knew the guys, and I had seen them there in practice. So it was not a problem. In the tournament we were all within casting distance of each other doing figure eights around the structured point. Reminded me a lot of this past years BASSMASTER classic, except with a lot more pride to fish for in our tournament lol.

I don't mind if I am passing someone else going down the bank, if I start at one dock on one end and the other guy was already working on the opposite end, I will go around him and give me a couple docks between us. Or, i will start behind him.

If I am fishing open water or a point where it is obvious that the boat will need to be moved around to successfully work the area over good, I would cast in their direction enough to where the point can be made clear. In no way would I ever cast at them or intent for any hurt.

I think the only time I ever casted at a person was with a DD22 past his ear while he was bad boating me in a BFL lol jk.

I think its more important to show respect to people. In some cases, it may even be important to explain to them that you were fishing a hole and they shouldn't be imposing on you. (Some idiots just don't know)

[Jason Penn]

i've never fished in a tournament, but last year i had a deal happen where i wanted to cast at someone.

i was fishing a small lake and had just put in. the area i wanted to fish already had a boat on it, so i went the opposite way. well these guys apparently decided they wanted to fish the bank i was working down, so they cranked up and come across the lake and cut me off. i really couldn't believe it!

the really funny thing about all of it was when they got close enough i could really see (bad eyes) the guy in front of this nice big skeeter had a tourney shirt on!! i guess i was sposed to recognize his gangsta and stay out of his way!!!