Common Sense On The Water

[Champ188]

Let me try to really say this briefly without completely losing the message.

People have no concern for anyone but themselves anymore. It starts in the home. I'm 51 now, and I believe that my generation was probably the last to be introduced at an early age to the fact that life ain't always about getting exactly what you want, when you want it. My parents knew the word "no" and I heard it frequently. I always had more than fair opportunity to accept it, but if I chose not to, then my backside paid the price.

Many younger adults these days were raised completely different. They were not told "no" to anything and they sure never got their backsides warmed. For gosh sakes, that's child abuse and will scar a person for life! From birth, life has been all about them getting what they want, saying what they want and doing what they want, whenever they want, and that includes running their boat between you and the bank if they so choose. You don't matter, don't you see?

Sadly, it ain't a gonna get no better — ever.

[powerdive]

The problem is on both sides. They're trespassing in "our" world, and we're trespassing in "theirs." Each has an equal right to enjoy the beauty of the lake, in their own way. But as Champ mentioned, people are different, both by age group and by activity. We don't understand their thinking, and they don't understand ours.

People who don't fish have no idea what we're doing, sitting motionless with the trolling motor down, nor do they particularly care. They're moving, we're not, and that's about all there is to it. For the most part, they're not consciously being jerks, they're simply doing what they do--navigating around an obstacle, or showing off, or whatever. But of course, we transplant our values onto them by assuming they know that they're wrecking our day, which makes them real a-holes in our own minds. Wrong approach.

Me, me, me. It goes both ways.

[Hunter91]

Excellent explanation of the way people think on the water, PD. Even though they are wrong and we are right, I understand them at least ;-)

[IL Fisherman]

I have had 2 real close calls on TR. First was at 13 bridge south pier. Had a bass rig go between myself and the rip rap full speed. Scared the Sh** out of me. Second had a jet skier stop dead in front of me while I was wide open. Hard turn to right and killed the throttle. When I stopped I was not more than 5 ft from them. I was so flabbergasted that I could not even cuss them out. All I can say is watch out for yourself. No one else is. Coming down in August can't wait.

[Jacob W]

I'm not fortunate enough to fish from a boat most of the time. Back during memorial day weekend, I was fishing a favorite point at big m and I personally witnessed several close calls from boats and jet skies. I couldn't keep a jig wet long enough to catch a fish sometimes! If they don't respect your personal space while your in your own boat, imagine them 10 yards at half throttle flying by your face...

[Jason Essary]

Just venting guys, I understand its not getting better. Im with champ, a lot of this is from people not caring about the others. Powerdrive, its not me, me, me....I leave them to their thing, they are just to stupid to leave me alone with mine. I dont chase them down, drive around them, or anything else to mess with their time on the water.

[Feathers and Fins]

Both Champ and Powerdrive make good points.... Much of these issues could be avoided with mutual respect which is lost today in many people and because of that I see only 1 option comming down the pipe. Enough deaths will force Speed reduced areas on the lakes, I would actually support that as most fishermen would. In FL on the inter coastal you could go as fast as you wanted down the marked channel and channels but when you got out of the area it went to 10mph.

This saved a-lot of problems and im sure lives. With the lakes dropping my biggest fear is seeing some kids on a tube get impaled by the timber and its comming. I went over one that was 1.7 ft under water the other day and watched a tuber go over it. I think it would be smart of the states to limit speed in the creek arms and areas where timber could become a danger. Let them have the main lake where its safe and make navigation channels where no skiing or tubing is allowed for safe navigation.

But as always I will also say if Law Enforcement was out on the lakes enforcing boating laws harshly some of this will end fast.

[abkeenan]

Both Champ and Powerdrive make good points.... Much of these issues could be avoided with mutual respect which is lost today in many people and because of that I see only 1 option comming down the pipe. Enough deaths will force Speed reduced areas on the lakes, I would actually support that as most fishermen would. In FL on the inter coastal you could go as fast as you wanted down the marked channel and channels but when you got out of the area it went to 10mph.

This saved a-lot of problems and im sure lives. With the lakes dropping my biggest fear is seeing some kids on a tube get impaled by the timber and its comming. I went over one that was 1.7 ft under water the other day and watched a tuber go over it. I think it would be smart of the states to limit speed in the creek arms and areas where timber could become a danger. Let them have the main lake where its safe and make navigation channels where no skiing or tubing is allowed for safe navigation.

But as always I will also say if Law Enforcement was out on the lakes enforcing boating laws harshly some of this will end fast.

They would have to add a thousand times the amount of Water Patrol they currently employ to have any sort of effect on the nonsense that goes on on the water. It comes down to people not knowing the rules/laws, not caring and more people on the lake = more incidents and more idiots. I will say that its not just the pleasure crafts and jet skiers either, many times it has been our own fellow bass fisherman that do idiotic things. I guess I would fall under Champs younger generation of careless people that have little to no respect for others and I won't even argue as it is mostly true. I am 31 and did get my butt blistered from time to time but it was somewhat a rare punishment, my father got the switch quite often and I am sure his father got it 5 times as much as my father. That is just how it is these days with child abuse, positive reinforcement and other child rearing techniques and some of the more effective yet taboo use of physical punishment has fallen by the wayside. I have already discussed with my soon to be wife that we are going to hand out "spankings" to our children (God willing) and physical punishment just because I don't like the way kids act these days and see misbehaved kids on a daily basis at stores and in general public and can't stand the sight of it. Kids now seem to have more authority as to what goes than the parents and its a real shame. Please don't lump us all in the "bad seeds" bin just because of the generation we happen to fall into, there are still a few "good apples" mixed in among us.

[Jason Essary]

I agree, I have seen some stupid moves by bass fishermen also.

[fishinwrench]

I'll tell ya something that hit a nerve with me the other day..... We have boating accidents on a daily basis here at LO, you hear about it on the local news (paper, radio, scanner) every day.

The part that gets to me is that the type of boat involved in any of these accidents is never disclosed unless it is a "bassboat".

When it involves a cruiser, or a scarab, or a runabout, pontoon, deckboat, or any other type of boat they just say " the watercraft, or the vessel", but when a bassboat is involved they make darn sure that everyone knows that it was a BASS BOAT.

It always sounds like this:

"A BASS BOAT operated by So & So had to be removed from a dock at the something something mile marker when the operator, Mr So & So failed to negotiate a turn. The BASS BOAT, a 2007 dual console pink and green Nitro with 200 Mercury optimax, motorguide trolling motor and Hummingbird electronics SLAMMED into the dock, doing considerable damage to the dock and the two moored boats on it. The operator mr So & So and another occupant, Mr. Hoodehoo were thrown from the BASS BOAT suffering considerable injury. Both occupants of the BASS BOAT are reported in stable condition at this time and Missouri state Water Patrol has indicated that alcohol was involved in this BASS BOAT accident".

(One of them probably had a budwieser T-shirt on...so "alcohol was involved")

Seriously? You never hear all those details about all the other "vessels".... why do they feel the need to hammer that BASS BOAT detail into everyones brain? It's so obviously deliberate that it annoys me.