How Close Is Too Close

[dtrs5kprs]

I had the one of the worst experiences I've had with either uneducated or stupid people on the water this weekend at Table Rock. My wife and I were fishing the end of a bluff near the dam that was holding lots of spots and a few smallies. I had been working hard all day to make sure my wife caught some fish and even though they weren't big ones they were biting almost every casts she made and she was having fun. Then a deck boat comes cruising straight towards us on plane, comes off plane and idles towards us. They were a short casts away when two younger kids jumped out and swam towards the bank. They were both young girls so I thought maybe they needed to use the bathroom so they just ran to the closest shoreline. Now we are right against the bank to stay out of the wind so I can hold the boat and make it so my wife can cast her ned rig right against the bank where they were holding. I see a movement from the top of the bluff maybe 15-20 feet in front of my boat. When I look up I see one of the girls peeking her head over the edge of the bluff. I thought to myself she isn't really going to jump right on top of the spot we're fishing is she? Then the shouts of encouragement from the "adults" in the boat made it painfully obvious she was going to jump, and she did, right on top of the spot we were fishing.

After they both jumped they swam back to the boat and they left. Our fish shut off completely and I never did find another school of fish that size and that willing to bite. It really sucked to have that happen. I felt bad for my wife because after that little flurry she only caught a couple more all weekend. I felt bad for the little kids on the boat being taught that behavior and complete lack of respect for other people on the lake, and I felt bad that there was little kids on the boat so I couldn't tell their parents exactly what I thought of them.

Nice Ned Rig mention though. Good to hear it is working for you.

[rangerman]

I am truly sorry that my comments offended. I have deleted my post after reading comments that were generated by it on the forum. You are right, I should lighten up and not say things that might be taken the wrong way. I would never steal anything from anyone. But I do pick up litter on the lakes when I see it floating like plastic bags & cans. I should have put more time in to thinking about what I wanted to say and I do retract my comments.

Mike you contribute to much information to apologize for anything but something sheerly insultive. Your opinion is always welcome in my book.

[rangerman]

Situation like Bluebassers are unfortunate but are all to common. I have a house at Kimberling City, which is a little over 3 hours from my home. Yet I still chose to drive to Bull Shoals an hour away for the peace and quiet.

I used to fish TR quite a bit for walleyes and caught some good uns there however, there are techniques used in walleye fishing that are not obviously understood by party goers and even certain bass fisherman. I can't count the times I have been on a contour trolling run and had a bass guy pull up 100 yards or less right in front of me and start vertical fishing. No bad feelings just lack of understanding. I hate summer time on TR for sure...What a shame.

[bluebasser86]

Nice Ned Rig mention though. Good to hear it is working for you.

I have actually fished with one of the people that helped Kedhe develop and refine the technique here in northeastern Kansas and fish it a lot. Table Rock is a lot different than the lakes I normally fish with it but it is just as effective out there. My wife was basically casting it out and letting it sink to the bottom and then reeling it in slowly, very similar to what works best around here except we don't normally let it sink, at least not very long because most of the lakes we fish are shallow. Most of her fish it would have just finished sinking and when she started reeling they were there. She did catch a white bass and a couple big green sunfish while she was reeling it also.

[Quillback]

I nominate Bluebasser's story as the #1 "people that got too close" story. Hard to beat that one. It sucks that they ruined the fishing for your wife.

[Stump bumper]

Bluebasser I would recommend the Beaver tailwaters for an outing with your wife, in the afternoons when they generate the water temp falls to 50 degrees and makes for some great fishing as the shad get stunned and it runs off the water skiers and swimmers who don't like 50 degree water. With a mix of whites, trout, big bass and walleye all feeding together you can have some great afternoons with few distractions except for watching beavers and mink.

When the fog runs in about dark is my favorite time but can be a little slow and hairy running back through the fog in near darkness, but it feels so good on a hot summer day. Last year when temps were over a hundred my wife and I were wearing jackets at 7pm and shaking at the ramp in 90 degree weather.

There are more people who don't understand our sport the those that do so IMO the secret to enjoying the summer months is too escape the places people like to use as swimming holes.

[ozark trout fisher]

You all remind me why I quit reservoir bass fishing. I don't mind ignorant fisherman who just don't understand proper etiquette, but I sometimes don't deal well with those who are blatantly rude. It got to the point where I just wasn't enjoying myself much anymore...You don't find as much of that on small, secluded rivers and streams, for whatever it's worth.

[Boobie]

Hey Bill B, I know your heart and soul belongs to TRL. Mine was too!!!! Im from STL and spent many of days on the rock since my parents brought our family of 10 down there camping when there were few resorts on the lake. the best days of my life were on TRL. The crowds and the tourneys ran me off a few years back and reading this post reminds me of why i left. I will never bash TRL because i know the good people who live on the lake have respect. When the meatheads show up to disrespect everything,Thats it for me

[Boobie]

Champ, Had to come back to this topic,could not resist. I too had a how close is too close some years back and I was by myself when 2 guys tourney preping cut between my boat and the shore. They were searching for bedded fish. I was off the shore a good cast away when they passed. I sat there in disbelief!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. I lashed out at the zipperhead. His response was "Thats the way it is nowadays". I really wanted to show him how it was "BACK IN THE DAY".Thank goodness for the h20 seperation. His partner got a good look at me and wanted to bury his head in a compartment. I cant believe it but i took a deep breath and moved on. I am really glad I did not take it any further. It would not have changed his mentality. I'm sure you have seen plenty of this yourself. Confronting these idiots is not the answer. Believe me,nothing would have made me happier than to tear him up. Move to your next spot and who knows you might see a OA member who will yack it up with you and may even share his lunch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tfsh4bass]

After going to Fork, Rayburn, Toledo Bend, Monticello, etc on some spring trips nothing really bothers me anymore. If someone cuts me off I usually just fire up and leave beacuse I figure I can find somewhere else to be without staring at a boat.