What Is Wrong With People?

[taxidermist]

Saturday I put in at White HOle and motored up to the dam.

Low and behold inside the signs by some 100 yards is a boat fishing,, on the left hand side. Well well inside the signs. do people think they are special??? Is it that important that they cannot read these huge signs?

Next I see some guys come screaming up and start throwing Rapalas!! Catching small rainbows and keeping them!! Again am I wrong or are the rules just for me and a few other people? I understand you can use a lure with a sinlge barbless hook, but I know you are not suppose to keep the fish you catch if they are trout.

Or has this rule been suspended?

I watched as a couple other boats kept trout. and went up well inside the signs to fish.

I guess if they have to cheat to catch a few trout then so be it.

I am not a tattle tail but sure felt like calling the G&F I probably would have if I was one of the people who cant live without a cellphone.

Later since few were catching fish, it took me a bit to figure out them too. but I was well down stream from the park, figured out the fish and was having some fun and here comes every boat on the river, like there was no other place with fish.

Lots of water lots of fish and I had two boats darn near hit mine, I mean with in two feet, had I not backed up they would have. Others would cut right in under my drift.

Am I wrong or is the boat without power and drifting not have the right of way?

I mean this is unreal, there is not any excuse for people guides included being rude on the river.

I thought the rules were if you wanted to fish the same bank you went upstream from the drifting boat and the first one there has the right of way, you dont use a motor to push someone off the bank.

Guess this is going to serve as a warning, I will never cut you off, I will never get in front of you on a drift. I expect the same courtesy!! You better be just that too. I promise it will not be as much fu nnthe next time and your clients will not appreciate it either.

[Phil Lilley]

I was under the impression that most if not all the guides on the White had this thing down. I've read over on John Wilson's board a list of rules for boating on the White, especially the area below the dam. Actually, pretty impressive IF everyone knows them but it's impossible for everyone to know them unless you read the forums. Most of it is common sense.

May be your guide was a rouge guide from out of state... may be Missouri!!

[Trav]

Haha

Now I dont feel so bad!

I just want to be left alone and not be used as a fish locator!

[John Berry]

This, unfortunately, is a problem that just will not go away. There is no place on our rivers for rude, illegal and dangerous anglers. Things happen very fast out there with eight units on and you have to be aware of others at all times.

[Clay Goforth]

A little clarification please...I know the three answers people give to this question but I would like to know answer and source so this question can finally be put to rest for me as well as others out there.

What is the LEGAL line at BSD?

The three most popular answers are:

1. The white and blue caution signs

2. The red warning signs

3. The Power lines which seem to mark the actual line between the two red warning signs

When in the middle of the river, it is hard to tell based on looking at either set of signs as to where the line actually lies. Does anyone have clarification on this?

Also, I don't think there are 100 yards between any of these three and the actual face of the dam. The people in the boats would have to be anchored off the short concrete wall on the left side of the dam to be close to this point.

[taxidermist]

The people were well inside the left or south shore sign.

Since there is so little difference in the markers yu stated, WHy do they think getting that extra 100 yards will help?

Just to me it seem people ignore signs. I would figure those signs are for saftey reasons.

Just my opinion, that and 5 bucks will buy me a hapy meal at McDs.

[Jeremy Hunt]

The cables are to far up. They say the first red caution sign is when you should stop. I know the angle from looking at one sign to the other you can't really tell, but if you bump the cables, you will eventually get in trouble. One of my buddies did get in trouble and the judge showed no remorse for this. If they give you a ticket, you can bet you will pay it. It's usually $800.

[John Berry]

I always stop at the red caution signs. That leaves me plenty of river to fish.

[Cody Smith]

Throughout my fishing young career as a guide and not, I have learned many things about the water and the fish that inhabit them. One thing that you CAN ALWAYS count on is ignorant and disrespectfull people. I don't care if it's just me and one other boat on the water (any water) that other boat is typically going to do something I don't agree with. The sad part is that there are few times when the "law" is on your side. I hate to say it but this will never change. I find alot of the time there is a Huge case of ignorance involved on said party. It's really kinda sad to say the least. Now, even here on the LR there are a couple of "bait" guides that have no courtesy for you drifts and or water your fishing, be it with Fly or other means. They will literally pass (in there pontoons) within 2 feet of you at moderate speed, wave and keep on trucking, even if they almost swamp your boat. Now with the table turned If I'm running up or down river they will do anything, Jump N Jacks, Shout, etc. to keep you from coming within even 75 feet of there anchored boat. As common courtesy when I'm changing location's with or without client's I always signal to the other guide or fisherman and ask which side they would like me to pass them on. A few years back and alot less patience then I have today, I admittedly have done donuts around these guides with my 25 wide open returning the favor to these unnamed pontoons, after almost being swamped as they passed me earlier. Not the right thing to do but there is only so much a guy can take. Like I said this was well before I learned to have patience. I can say that I do get quite a bit more respect on the water from this individuall that I speak of now. NOT THE RIGHT THING TO DO, however sometimes you do have to fight stones to stones. Just a little rant~

[RiverRunner]

I just about got run over last weekend on the White River below Norfork. A guy in an AFF river boat with a Honda jet drive almost ran me and my crew over. I was drift fishing the inside of a turn and this guy comes alongside of me and revs the motor several times (water was rolling with 8 units on), sending a wall of water into my boat soaking me and my fishermen. Of course, he had the whole river to play in, but I guess he felt that he needed to run right next to me to be happy. Had I not had a small child in the boat, there would have been a confrontation.

Cody, It seems that there are some people on the LR who have a real problem with anyone who runs a boat on plane anywhere on the river. I've had them yell and wave and all that around me, I guess they don't understand that you almost have to be on plane to get over some shoals and be able to move upriver against heavy current. I would never run anyone over and I always give other anglers plenty of room. You also have those folks that live on the water and consider it "their" river and will come running out onto a dock to give you driving instructions.