A friend of mine was fishing a week or so ago and had this happen. He and a buddy drove 8 hours to a well known trophy walleye fishery. They are Canadians and were fishing in Canada at the time of the incident. They were drifting a section with lindy rigs where there were American fellas pulling crankbaits. Neither party seemed in each other's way at the time as this fishery offers alot of room with fishable spots everywhere, however the American fellas very arrogantly suggested they move on to a different part of the river and get out of their way. My friend is not a person that looks for trouble so he and buddy moved on but before they did so they politely asked the American fellas "Are you guys for real? You are guests in our country!", to which he received a response unfit for this forum.

Later on the same guys tried to confront them at the launch. He ignored them and left. He was very disappointed with this and now has a very different view of Americans than he did before.

My question is this. What are we to think when incidents like this happen, or do buffoons like this represent a very small portion of the American public? I have also heard many more situations like this and was just wondering what the heck is going on? Thanks!

There are jerks everywhere.


Dusty

Nicely put, Eyez! Have that with "out of staters" too!!!

Small minority.

I agree, there are jerks everywhere. I would add that if your friend "now has a very different view of Americans than he did before" based on one unfortunate encounter with a couple jerks in a fishing boat, my advice would be to enroll in a sociology class. We'd all be in a lot of trouble in this world if everyone made judgments on entire countries, races, religions, etc. based on interactions with just a couple representatives.

I've had similar encounters with other anglers or boaters and I have always thought of them simply as jerks, not ambassadors.

Jerks are jerks, period. I've found German jerks, British jerks, Wisconsin jerks, Illinois jerks, Minnesota jerks, French jerks, driving jerks, fishing jerks, hunting jerks, business jerks, I could go on...... I hope your friends realize it's not just an "American" thing to be a jerk. They come from all parts of society. I think the majority of us try and show respect to others, but... the bad apples seem to stick in our minds more often.

In regards to the confrontation on the lake, I'm not surprised. I can understand when boats get in each others ways on crowded lakes, especially here in Wisconsin. Yeah... you try to ignore it, maybe give the other guy the benefit of the doubt. There are only so many good spots on any given lake, and if half of them have wave runners or skiers over them, what are you going to do? But in Canada, I've been on 3,500+ square acre lakes, undeveloped shoreline, complete wilderness with only one other boat on the whole lake. And where does he wander over? Yep, within 30 feet of me, so I can smell his BO. Literally hundreds of reefs, points, bars, humps, etc., and they have to fish right next to me. Why????? Because they're jerks. Sorry, time to get off my soapbox and get back to work. Needed to vent a little..lol

If that's the worst thing that happened to him that week, or month for that matter, he is still ahead of the game. I wouldn't lose any sleep over it, although it sounds that he has. Tell him to get over it.

There was a time when that would have been the story of the summer, but unfortunately, we hear stories like that all the time. I can't count how many times a summer when I'm fishing Lake Erie that I hear a boat trying to hail another boat on the radio to get out of their way. It usually ends up with two idiots wasting their time yelling at each other and publically making asses out of themselves, sometimes in front of hundreds of boats.

I, myself, have dozens of stories just like your buddies. I've lost count of how many times I've been trolling my favorite inland lake for walleyes with my net spending more time in the water than in its holder. The next thing you know, the jig fishermen will move right over your (my) spot and drop anchor. On my next pass, I'll get close to them, and someone will yell "hey, do you mind, we're trying to fish here", to which I usually reply with a childish answer laden with expletives.

Jerks are everywhere I have had unpleasant run ins in candada while visiting don't typecast us nor should we do it do you.

Just move on. You can't reason with, nor does any intelligent person need or benefit from dealing with morons. My only exception to that would be if the idiot physically touches me. In that case, I'll stomp his guts out and let the chips fall where they may. Still, I don't enjoy violence and prefer to avoid conflict.

Your friends shouldn't judge 300 million Americans by 1 casual encounter like that. I think the French are generally miserable, spineless and useless, but have met individual Frenchmen who were quite pleasant and okay.

Sounds like he's a whiner just like you...and all Canadian's for that matter!

With one quick swipe of the paint brush I just labeled all Canadian's whiner's because of your post. Hmm, could this be somehow incorrect?

Now, depending on your answer, I could then label all Canadian's stupid -- but I won't cause I know you get my drift.

Have a nice weekend.

Unfortunately the rude and inconsiderate people make a bigger impression than the opposite. As everyone has stated they are every where, but if he had a favorable impression of American's up to that point, why have one small sample set the standard.

Being considerate is not rare in America quite the opposite, but sometimes those with the money and time to travel are not the best representation for our country, but I would hope those people in other countries know that people are basically the same everywhere and the nice, considerate ones out number the inconsiderate jerks.

karpbuster

What would I have done? Not move my boat for one thing, they were under power and your friend was drifting, he had the right of way.

I'm not one to provoke confrontations but I won't be pushed around either, you want my boat moved? step over here and try to move it yourself Bub.

Bill W. (BFN)

>Unfortunately the rude and inconsiderate people make a bigger
>impression than the opposite. As everyone has stated they are
>every where, but if he had a favorable impression of
>American's up to that point, why have one small sample set the
>standard.
>
>Being considerate is not rare in America quite the opposite,
>but sometimes those with the money and time to travel are not
>the best representation for our country, but I would hope
>those people in other countries know that people are basically
>the same everywhere and the nice, considerate ones out number
>the inconsiderate jerks.
>
>karpbuster

As mentioned, there are jerks everywhere and most of the average Joes are not able to travel all over the world. If this were the case, I think people from other countries would have a better impression of Americans.

I've had to travel many places around the world, but not for vacation and I am always working there. I'm a middle class kind of guy and try to behave politely -- especially when in another country, but I have also experienced the negativism that others feel toward Americans. I agree with you that, unfortunately, many of the people you describe in the second paragraph help contribute to a bad impression for Americans. Some of these people, because of their "high financial status" feel they deserve to be treated specially wherever they go.

So, I hope that your friends will make more trips down here to see what the majority of Americans are really like.

I hope he can put it behind him that it's not a typical American trait, and he just ran into a few jerks. We all have them, no matter what color, religion or nationality. Maybe your buddy should have called the game protector and told him you suspected them of fishing over the limits. Let the game protector bust their chops some and then they may never go back to Canada. Chances are creeps like that are violating some regulation.

The answer is simple! No! All Americans are not like that just Packer fans. They shouldn't even be allowed to leave Wisconsin.



LOL

Long ago when God was creating horses, he couldn't keep up with the demand and had to build a second factory. He soon discoverd that it was more effiecient to produce the front half in one plant and the rear half in the other plant.

When production run was complete and nature reproduction was keeping up with demand, he shut the plants down. Unfortunatly the plant producing the rear half didn't get the word and continued to produce for a period of time.

You can still find some of these horses a$$es running today.

The Americans had better watch out, with no hockey this year the Candians have a real short fuse. (just kidding)

Wheeze canucks t'ain't dumb 'cause:

Huked on foniks werkd fer my!!!

an' don't swipe my to herd whit dat der paint brush....it jus' may hurt, I rekin.

now wheerd I put my beer.....

Ha HA!

Roger Mayer.

i would ask them their political persuasions...if they say they are left wing maggot infested democratic liberals...they deserve any abuse you can give them...if on the other hand they relate that they are logical, intellectual, well-meaning, conservatives (and you see a book with an author called bjorn on their boat),....chaulk it up to the fact they were probably pulling your leg and just having fun trying to impress you northern neighbors with their guile and humor...steve

There are "interesting people" everywhere you go. Everyone has to develop tactics to deal with them. I had an experience a few years back with a small lake and a borrowed American boat with the registration on the boat from MN. I am Canadian and the abuse that was hurled upon me because of that registration was brutal. This was done in front of a child of about 8. I set the guy straight but the old saying "the apple never falls far from the tree" is very true.

[font color=green size=3][b]The trolls are starting early this fall, ;-) they usually start with: A friend of mine........

You forget to mention something....were they French Canadians? If so, to heck w/ them. French Canadians are always in the wrong. PERIOD.

I think they should quit fishing and donate their boat to the Royal Navy. From what I hear they don't have anything that floats.

Put your country first Man, where's your civic pride?



;-)

Well Let me ask you this. Several weeks ago the World Cup of Hockey was held at the Excel Energy Center. I bought a season ticket package for my family. I attended every game russia, Czech republic, Finland, as well as a couple others. Not once was I disappointed in the fans from any of thses nations. It was a priviledge to witness the level of respect and enjoyment they get from the game.
Hearing European chants was enjoyable, seeing flags from every country, had some great conversations with people from all over. These people spent huge $'s to travel to Minnesota to see a game.
THe last game I attened however was a Semifinal between USA and Finalnd. This game was heavily attended by our friends to the North. I respect Canadians, I honor their anthem as if it were my own. I respenct the fact that they invented a game I have spent my whole life playing. To be honest the group of people that attended that game nearly wiped out all of the positives expereinces I had over the duration of the tournament. There was not a sober canadian in the crowd, I am talking falling down drunk. Two words could not be strung together without using the F word I took my kids to the game as did thousand sof other parents. There were kids everywhere. I didnt put up with it for long. I first ask politley in respect of my kids to watch the language. I asked again. When it didnt stop I took matters into my own hands and politely carried one up the stairs and tossed him on the floor. Probably not a surprise to any one that knows me. The question is why do people have to be this way? Short answer, "THey have never been held responsible for their actions, I am more than happy to teach anyone about responsibility when my kids are involved!" Bottom line is there are people like this everywhere, do I blame all Canadians? No. Should you? NO.