Kayak And Bass Boat Conflict

[Coach CaL]

I was fishing a kayak tournament on Beaver this weekend and headed up to Indian creek. I found some smallies stacked in an area about the size of a basketball court. They were about about 5 to 14 foot deep, and i was working the whole area. A bass boat came right into the area. I told him that i felt like he was crowding me. No response. I also said that normally I wouldnt have a problem but im fishing in a tournament right now. No response. Then he casted about 10 feet in front of me and pulled out a fish, and made another cast about the same area. I told him no disrespect but what is the deal. He said that he was trying to work behind me but I turned around so moved to the other bank and cut him off that way. I was working the whole area not just the bank.

Am I the one out of line here? Would he move in on me like that if I was in the bass boat? Any advice on how to handle this if I'm that situation again?

Had a great day on the water, but that situation definitely got me in a funk.

Here are some of the smallies

[J-Doc]

Sounds like a real jerk to me. Nice smallies!!!

I always try to respect the guys in kayaks and canoes whether they are fishing for just out for a ride. I try not to wake them or disturb their form of entertsinment. I remember being in a narrow 10ft Jon and it was not the most stable and the wake boats using the slalom in Van Winkle with no regards to me trying to fish the back of Van Winkle. From then on, I've hated wakers and always respect the little guy. I see lots of kayakers out early for a nice stroll across the lake. I try to give them plenty of space and as little wake as possible.

That guy was obviously trying to chase you out of what he felt was his spot. Nothing short of being pure a-hole. You can't do anything really and he knows that. Kayak or not, there really wasn't anything you could do short of something that would not put you in jail. :-)

[Greasy B]

No you were not out of line, you were there first and that's all there is to it. If you want to justify it further the dude in the bass boat was much more mobile than you he should have moved out of your area just for that reason. You just ran across a rude inconsiderate idiot.

Nice fish.

[crkoester]

The guy in the bassboat was being an arse. No, he would not have moved in on another bassboat like that, because he knows he'd have soon either had a boarding party or a 3/4 oz RatLTrap headed his way. I guess kayakers aren't as intimidating as a good ole boy in a 21' Ranger?

It's obvious you found a really good spot, because he knew how good it was and decided it was worth showing his arse.

I always give kayakers the right of way when I'm fishing from my bassboat.... it's a much bigger challenge in a kayak to get to a good place to fish, maintain your position, actually fish, etc. In my bassboat I can run and fish literally anywhere in the lake. A guy in a kayak has to break a sweat just to get across the creek. I figure if you expended the effort to get your kayak to that spot, it's yours for as long as you want it.

Those are some dandy smallies... 18" is a fine fish anywhere around here.

[Old plug]

I do not know what is reason was but I know all he had to do was throw a big wake on you and. it could have dumped. you. In missouri he would have got off stark free for doing it because boaters are not responsible for there wake up here.

[1969Larson]

Nice smallies!... Oh, and trolling motors don't like monofilament. Try that next time.

[moguy1973]

I would have launched a big crankbait across his bow and snagged a few of his rods and dragged them into the water...and said, "OOPS! that one got away from me, shouldn't have been so close to me"...

but hey, that's just me...

[Old plug]

Moguy------ That would have not worked. The best you could have hoped for would have been to get arrested and forced to pay for all his lost tackle. It could have escalated into something a lot worse.

I think coach did the right thing.

[bluebasser86]

Arrested for what? Maybe CDP I guess? Would have been really hard to prove that it was anything more than an accident and most likely the boater would have to take you to civil court if he wanted to recover any losses and even then it would be hard to prove anything. Not condoning doing anything like that, but sometimes jerks get what's coming to them.

I've had the same problem even now in my little aluminum bass boat. Just a couple weeks ago I got cut off 3 times by tournament guys in the same day. I really make a point to fish hard behind those guys and make sure they know when I catch a fish. We had 3 boats do better than anyone in their club, including my wife and I It sucks that he was being a jerk like that, but he's not breaking any laws so there isn't much you can do like it I'm afraid.

[Feathers and Fins]

Coach he was being a complete butt simple as that. I see it a lot with Kayaks becoming more popular in fishing now. But I have to wonder if he hasn't had a few yakers cause him issues also.

I will say this if your in a club to fish tournaments you might want to bring it to the attention on your members that when they see bass boats working the shore or anyone for that matter, running the shore toward them and pulling out or paddling over at the last minute is only going to increase the conflicts and a 20+ foot bass boat will win that conflict every time, I am seeing that almost every weekend now from Yaks. I had one come paddling right between my crappie markers a few days ago no call for it at all and I can promise you it pissed me off and I wont forget that rudeness.