Etiquette On Fishing During A Tournament

[Chief Grey Bear]

Sorry officer but I didn't realize those ducks were decoys.... Citations and suspensions? That's a long shot and a waste of your weekend. Only in a perfect world. Life's to short. Sorry, but old farts are just as capable of being disrespectful as newer generations and somehow you think your problems will be solved if they only had the belt. You're dreamin!

If you can't decoys from real ducks, you probably shouldn't be operating a boat.

[Chief Grey Bear]

I should have kept up with this one. That was pretty dang funny Ness. Some of the best work you have done in a while.

[ness]

Every once in a while you toss your lure out there and there's an immediate, ferocious strike. I just love it when that happens.

[Sam]

Tournament or recreational fishermen, we all need to get along and treat each other right. I don't fish tournaments, but I have absolutely no problem with those who do.

A couple of years ago I was crappie fishing on Tablerock and I had a couple of orange markers out along a bank, slow-trolling swimmin' minnows in between. One of the big bass tournaments was going on and I was watching the glitter boats run and catching some wakes, but nothing close enough to bother. Then two fishermen in a tournament boat running down the lake saw me and turned in toward the bank for a word. They were some serious bass fisherman, a real fancy Illinois boat with product logos and all that.

"Are you crappie fishing?"

"Yessir."

"Well, we just left the line of trees by that point over there (points up the lake and across to the other side) and the slab crappie wouldn't leave our lures alone. I wish we could fish for them, but we're in a bass tournament."

"Hey, thanks! Good luck in your tournament."

"Thanks. Have fun!" And off they went. I went across to where they told me, and I caught a limit of slabs pretty quick. With the money they had invested and the level of competition they were in, I think it was real nice of those guys to take time during a tournament to tell me.

[Chief Grey Bear]

Tournament or recreational fishermen, we all need to get along and treat each other right. I don't fish tournaments, but I have absolutely no problem with those who do.

A couple of years ago I was crappie fishing on Tablerock and I had a couple of orange markers out along a bank, slow-trolling swimmin' minnows in between. One of the big bass tournaments was going on and I was watching the glitter boats run and catching some wakes, but nothing close enough to bother. Then two fishermen in a tournament boat running down the lake saw me and turned in toward the bank for a word. They were some serious bass fisherman, a real fancy Illinois boat with product logos and all that.

"Are you crappie fishing?"

"Yessir."

"Well, we just left the line of trees by that point over there (points up the lake and across to the other side) and the slab crappie wouldn't leave our lures alone. I wish we could fish for them, but we're in a bass tournament."

"Hey, thanks! Good luck in your tournament."

"Thanks. Have fun!" And off they went. I went across to where they told me, and I caught a limit of slabs pretty quick. With the money they had invested and the level of competition they were in, I think it was real nice of those guys to take time during a tournament to tell me.

Hey that is pretty cool. I was figuring it was a trick to get you to move so they could fish that spot. I guess it did work in a way.

[Sam]

Hey that is pretty cool. I was figuring it was a trick to get you to move so they could fish that spot. I guess it did work in a way.

Hehe. You've got a suspicious mind.

I guess I do too, because after I moved I watched that bank I'd left and they didn't come back to fish it. Also, the crappie were where they said they were - big 'uns.

[Champ188]

Funny how every time we think humanity has gone down the crapper for good, someone comes along and does something like sharing the crappie hole to restore our faith. Neat story, Sam. And you hit the nail on the head with your opening remark about all of us getting along regardless of our particular interest in fishing. Let's save our live ammo for the numbnutz recreational boaters and jet skiers instead of wasting it on each other.

[Quillback]

Funny how every time we think humanity has gone down the crapper for good, someone comes along and does something like sharing the crappie hole to restore our faith. Neat story, Sam. And you hit the nail on the head with your opening remark about all of us getting along regardless of our particular interest in fishing. Let's save our live ammo for the numbnutz recreational boaters and jet skiers instead of wasting it on each other.

AMEN!

[Feathers and Fins]

NOW NOW CHAMP, Its winter and the numbnutz have all hidden their boats for winter. BTW shad in Monte Ne and bass busting them tonight looked like good size bass so go get them.

[Champ188]

Thanks F&F, will keep that in mind.