Fishing Etiquette

[MeatintheFreezer]

Hello,

I have been reading the posts on this site for a while as a real time fishing report. I finally decided to create an account because I have a burning question / statement I would like your feedback on:

I fish Stockton very regularly in the spring for Crappie. Seems like a few times a year I have someone come plowing in right on top of me and cut me off where I am fishing. I don't think I am invisible, I am in a 20' ranger. I understand the lake is the same size it was 20 years ago and there are 5 times as many boats on the lake now, but that does not give someone the excuse to crowd anyone out imo.

Example: Last spring I was slow trolling down a small bank during pre spawn. Another boat came cruising in past me and pulled in about 30 yards in front of me. I had to immediately turn and go out around him before his boat even came to a stop. On top of that he tossed a home-made concrete anchor over the side of his aluminum boat, making enough noise to wake the dead. He then looked up and asked if we were doing any good. Several thoughts went through my mind on what to say, but I suppressed the urge. I told him they were biting, but seemed to have suddenly stopped.

I have fished many unproductive spots while waiting "my turn" to get on a bank. I will never crowd in on someone. At the very least why wouldn't he pull in BEHIND me and allow me to go on unimpeded?

I am in the wrong here for expecting others to have a little courtesy..... or at least self awareness?

[Dutch]

One thing to remember YOU CAN'T FIX STUPID AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE AN IQ TEST TO BUY A BOAT AND GO FISHING. Just look at the ramps and parking lots when there are lots of people around. You will see stupid and his brother all over the place. So expect them to also be where you fish.

[Mitch f]

The guy that pulled 30 yards in front of you is in the wrong for sure.

Had a guy do that to me at TR once and when I passed by about 10 ft away he said "I'm in a tournament!" . Imagine the look on his face when I trolled between him and the bank.

[MeatintheFreezer]

Mitch,

I once told a guy who pulled in on top of me, " Just let me know if I get in your way". I was hoping the sarcasm would sink in, but it didn't. He replied back, "Naw, you're ok".

Anyway, thanks for the feedback.

[Al Agnew]

Yep, it's just another instance of "center of the universe syndrome". Way too many people think the universe revolves around them, and they aren't going to change no matter how badly you try to shame them.

The last time I felt like committing some kind of crime against somebody, I was fly fishing on the Current below Tan Vat, in a run about waist deep with riffles both upstream and downstream where it was easy to cross the river. There were trout rising all over that little run, and I had waded into it very slowly and carefully, and had a nice fish take on the first cast. I played it in, looking around...nobody is sight in any direction. The fly, however, was torn up and needed to be replaced. I tied another fly on as the fish started rising again, more of them than before. I watched for a bit, seeking one that looked big, and finally pinpointed a nice fish rising close to the opposite bank. I was just getting ready to cast when these two doofuses dressed out of an Orvis catalog walked up to the high bank right above that fish and slid down it into the water, wading right past me and right up the middle of that run. Now, not only did they either not see or totally ignore all those rising fish, but they crashed right into what was obviously the very spot I was fishing.

[Old plug]

Well Mitch some tournament fishermen are very aloft and think your some kind of lower species and your suppose to make way for them. They see these people out fishing in smaller boats with no fancy tackel and such they tend to think they are a lower class of fisherman like the trailor trash of fishing. That attitude cuts both ways.

[Feathers and Fins]

A tournament angler does it to me im reporting him to the officials, most tournaments have rules about respect or courtesy. As to the main question it is getting worse out there kind of surprised to hear about it this time of year though but who knows anymore.

[fishinwrench]

Fly fishermen who fish mostly in a trout park are usually the worst about hole crashing and crowding your space. It's a common and expected practice in the parks and they aren't programmed to act any differently when outside a trout park atmosphere.

As in Al's experience, (above Baptist) you're always gonna be subject to "park dweller" overflow.

On the lake here, thanks to the popularity of new-tech electronics and deep water tactics, I almost always have the areas I want to fish all to myself even on busy weekends. It's great! I don't mind taking their shallow swampy leftovers one bit

[Old plug]

I would not report him to anyone. If he aggregates me enough he would be very surprised at the wrath of a 74 yr old.

[Goggle-Eyed]

Old Plug, I wonder if you should still be living on LOZ, I have lived here my whole life but still can't get or be as negative about it as you??? I grew up fishing main channel out of a 17' Lowe Paddle Jon so trust me, I remember when you could fish any size boat at the lake.... I now live in a Condo because I travel a lot for work and don't need the maintenance associated with a lake house..... I watch your post and you always seem to find the negative of our current situation... I guess I have been lucky since I don't know ANYONE that has had their Gas Tanks drained or Stolen. I left my trolling motor unsecured along with two batteries and a 12 gallon fuel tank, all unsecured on my boat, for the past 12 months.... NO problems... I was being lazy and figured if they got stolen it was "my fault"... having grown up at "the lake" and watching the changes I guess I understand but YOU seem to have the worst luck or know people with the worst luck. I have also had people cut me off but I just laugh and figure they are "city people"... As big as this lake is I don't let 50' of bank piss me off.....

For everyone else, "The Lake" is a great fishing lake and the crime rates are not that bad. Yes it happens, same as anywhere, but be smart and don't let yourself be a target....