Short report and fishing etiquette question

[bobby b.]

Fished darn area 4/30/16 in the afternoon for a couple hours.  WT 66-67, color still nasty, visibility about one foot.  Caught a few shorts but only one keeper SM (see pic).  Fish found in about 10 fow.  

Was fishing a 50 yard deep pocket and had another boat pull into the pocket so I motored around the point to an adjacent pocket but a few minutes later here he comes again.  

So, what is the proper distance to stay from another fisherman and what is the proper response for a guy that gets too close.

Here are my ideas:

1) Wait until the boats nearly touch each other then jump into his boat and punch his lights out.  (Probably a bad idea as (a) he may punch my lights out or (b) I might get arrested.)

2) Scream and curse at him . (May not be good for reason 1(a) above.)

3) Leave the area but create big time wake by doing donuts around his boat as I leave.  (May not be good as the space was too small and I might damage my lower unit on rocks or stumps).

4) Ask him if his mother ever taught him any manners. (Probably no good as his mother probably abandoned him on the Church steps.)

5) Take photo of his boat and post on OAF.  

6) Politely discuss proper etiquette with him.  (Again may end up with 1 (a) above.)

7) Leave the area for a different part of the lake.(Which is what I did)

8)  Other ideas - please specify.  

Bobby

Bobby

 

[eyedabassman]

Just bring out a 57 Mag and wave that around? You won't have to say a thing to him!

[Hammer time]

I've always heard that a football field is correct etiquette, you did the right thing to just leave.

Once I was fishing a point with surfacing fish and a boat motoring by seen the action, turned around and came off pad less than 30 yards from me dropped trolling motor and started fishing right next to me. I just shook me head in disbelief and moved to another spot. Cooler heads prevail!!!

[Murv]

seriously, 357 mag?, that's gonna cause bigger problems than it will solve. That's all I'm sayin on that!

it's a shame people act the way they do on the water, I have people root me out of spots a lot, I vowed this year I wasn't

lashing out in anger anymore, cause I ought to be a good enough fisherman, that I can move and still catch fish.

Good job on how you handled it.

 

[Deadstream]

Serenity now, serenity now, serenity now...         I fish for the relaxation and the beauty of my surroundings. 

I really TRY to not let inconsiderate simpletons bother me.  Work in progress but I'm getting there. Maybe yoga?

[bluebasser86]

I got talked to in a tournament recently by a guy who thought I cut him off. He decided to say something on the water and then again at the ramp too. Decided to check on Google, we'd started approximately 739 feet in front of him, over 2 football fields. We fished towards him, not down the bank, so there was still lots of new water behind us. This is on a 2,600 acre lake with an 18 boat tournament plus recreational fisherman, we were boat 16 so it was pretty crowded by the time we got out there. Thought I was being very generous, apparently I was wrong. I think he was just really butthurt because I caught a keeper right in front of him. 

In in the end, it all that mattered was we won the thing.

If someone cuts me off really close, I usually just go elsewhere. I can catch them other places, not going to let someone else ruin my time on the water. 

 

[m&m]

Bobby, you did the right thing. I met ketchup for the first time in the OAF tourney in March as we were coming to a point from different directions. We both gave way, introduced ourselves, talked for a bit and then continued on. Same thing happened the first time I met Quillback on the water. Unfortunately not every person you meet on the water is considerate. I am gonna keep doing what I am doing and not let others ruin my day. My time on this earth is too precious. IMO

Mike

 

[Quillback]

5 hours ago, Deadstream said:

Serenity now, serenity now, serenity now...       

This is what I tell myself also.  ^^

I try to only get annoyed at the people who pull in front of me, almost within casting distance, and then fish down the bank going the same way I'm going.  I don't mind if someone comes in behind me and fishes behind me, or if they are fishing faster than I am, I'm OK with them going around me if they ask and are polite about it.  If a guy is throwing squarebills and moving down the bank fast, I'm fine with him passing me and getting in front if I'm fishing slow, bottom contact stuff.

And if I get mad, what am I going to do?  Best thing to do, as others mentioned, is to pull up the TM and go somewhere else.

[eyedabassman]

9 hours ago, eyedabassman said:

Just bring out a 57 Mag and wave that around? You won't have to say a thing to him!

I was more or less just kidding! Sorry if anyone took my post the wrong way! I would NEVER to that to another fishermen we are all trying to enjoy the same things by being on the water.

 I was fishing a tournament up in Wisconsin a few years back and some guy was trolling ( he was not in the tournament ) and yelling at the boats that where in his way, saying can't you see I am trolling here get out of my way! 

[big c]

If you guys/gals see a red skeeter around Indian Point area, please stop and say hi. Little C, wife and i will stay out of the way!!!! Glad to see those on this post think the way i do on being friendly/edicate issue. Take care-Chris.