Common Sense ....

[nomolites]

I have seen the "right hand rule" in play in a number of different places and it works well if folks are all on the same page; a case in point would be the lower Kenai in AK where you can almost reach out and touch the next boat during the king run, but when a boat is hooked up everyone gives way. Communication seems to be the key.

My observation on my home waters and other MO lakes are that the number of boaters that understand ANY rules is miniscule, especially on a holiday weekend. Boats will be rented/sold to anyone, AND as annoying as it may be, inexperienced folks have a right to be out there.

Everyone needs to operate with their head on a swivel or somebody gets hurt. Even experienced folks can find themselves in trouble if they are not vigilant, especially when conditions are not ideal. Water craft WILL cut across your bow, run right behind you at full speed, and do the unexpected and we simply need to be ready.

I had a close call one late November when I was(I thought) the only boat on the lake; after running about 4 miles on plane I shut down at the mouth of our cove in preparation to idle in and a jet ski pulled up beside me, and I mean RIGHT beside me, after jumping my transom. Nobody was hurt and to be honest I still don't know where that kid came from....but I learned something. I need eyes in the back of my head.

Be safe!

Mike

[Gatorjet]

The closest call I ever had was on Taneycomo. Middle of the day, no fog, and bright skies. Fishing the creek mouth across from Monkey Island I was on the "right" side going down stream, or would have been had there been current. Some guy with one of those big backtroller "Walleye" boats with a 50 hp tiller motor had it about quarter throttle or a little less. Not only a hugh wake, but he couldn't see where he was going. I heard the boat, and when it sounded close, I turned to see him suddenly turn to avoid me about THIRTY FEET away. I knew what was comming fortunatly, and grabbed the post on the front butt seat or I would have surelt been thrown into the lake. No fog, not the speed, just plain STUPIDITY!!!!

The most tempeted I've ever been to fire up the 6.0, hit the up trim, and give some moron a very large bath! But a calmer though prevailed, and I didn't.

[Mr. Ed]

I never saw the point in hailing butt on Tany. It's not that big that it's really required. Slow down and enjoy the ride.

[Gatorjet]

I never saw the point in hailing butt on

Tany. It's not that big that it's really required. Slow down and enjoy the ride.

But keep in mind, as has been pointed out many times, TOO SLOW is as much, or more of a problem, and in some cases danger to other boaters.

By "slow down" do you mean 1/4 throttle, off plane, plowing through the water throwing a three foot wake to rock other boats to death? No, you don't have to run at full throtle all the time, but to be courteous to others run at least fast enough to produce a smaller, more tolerable wake.

[XP 590]

Common sense is unfortunately not all that common.

[ColdWaterFshr]

I don't have a million hours logged, but I'm not sure that the stay to the right guideline is entirely practical on a place as unique as Taney, or the White or Norfolk tailwaters. Maybe its a rule of thumb to strive for, when traffic is light, but it seems like many weekends on the upper end, you really just have an obstacle course. Pick a line and weave through the traffic without much choice of where you can go other than what is open and safe. Fisherman drifting in rentals without trolling motors can't always keep their bow in the direction they would like, or stay out of the middle. Not to mention where the channel may be and generation levels, the many natural hazards that dictate where you have to go. And going fast . . . well, I guess that just depends on visibility. Like over-driving your headlights on a winding road at night, or in white-out blizzard or heavy rain conditions. If you can't see in time to stop what you are going to run over, duh, you're going way too fast. Going fast just so your bow sits low on your 250 HP rig as it gets trimmed out and you can see over the top of it . ... seems like a weak argument. Maybe thats not the right boat to be driving for those conditions and that body of water. The trying not to throw I wake, I can get that, but there is no reason to tear by someone at 40-50 mph on upper Taney either.

[Aggressor1988long]

alot of people just do not have respect for others,like most of us do. Its life, but im the type of fella who tells them about it, its my right, freedom of speech!!!

[dennishoddy]

But keep in mind, as has been pointed out many times, TOO SLOW is as much, or more of a problem, and in some cases danger to other boaters.

By "slow down" do you mean 1/4 throttle, off plane, plowing through the water throwing a three foot wake to rock other boats to death? No, you don't have to run at full throtle all the time, but to be courteous to others run at least fast enough to produce a smaller, more tolerable wake.

I've been fishing Tanneycomo for 26 years. This November will be 27.

Slow to me means no to little wake. We only have a 14' with a 20hp, but shut it down to my definition of slow when going through boaters that are anchored and fishing.

Doing that gets you a wave, and it only takes a few minutes out of a persons day. I certainly respect those that do that for me.

[Seth]

I've been fishing Tanneycomo for 26 years. This November will be 27.

Slow to me means no to little wake. We only have a 14' with a 20hp, but shut it down to my definition of slow when going through boaters that are anchored and fishing.

Doing that gets you a wave, and it only takes a few minutes out of a persons day. I certainly respect those that do that for me.

Since you mentioned being anchored, I'm assuming you are talking about when the water is off. I have no problems slowing down and idling by in those conditions. Idling upstream in heavy generation isn't possible though so what is your suggestion to boaters in those conditions or do you not fish in generation? My personal opinion regarding other boaters is just fly by me and get past me. The waves only last a short time and things go back to normal. I think it is silly to not expect to deal with waves while fishing on a narrow body of water like Taneycomo.

[Aggressor1988long]

dennishoddy has it right, point made.