Fishing Slobs

[Jim in Glenwood]

Last Summer while fishing near Alexandria, MN a couple of guys honed in so close to my drifting/trolling pattern that the Idiot in the front actually hooked my buoy marker. I can understand hooking your own marker but you would think the guy would have enough sense to at least reel in when the boat got too close. He didn't even bother to apologize for the incident. I can't believe what some people will do for a few fillets. What should I have done in that situation? Sorry for the long post but this type of thing is starting to really upset me.

[eyewinder]

At least he didn't throw an anchor overboard and set up shop in the middle of your trolling pattern. I had a guy with a middle school-age boy pull this one on me after they had seen me catch a couple fish. It was doubly tough, because I didn't want to make the guy look stupid in front of his son--I probably should have said something. Instead I fished on down the shoreline.
But you know, years before, I had done something similar and disrupted the drift pattern of a couple of boats. That was when I had just begun to fish from a boat, and I didn't realize (at the moment) that I was being incredibly inconsiderate. I guess some of us are just slow learners.

Good trollin'!
eyewinder

[Toad]

Sometimes, it is indeed disheartening to believe that such normally "good folks" as anglers can act in these ways.

A couple summers ago, while anchored on a short line off a point, along comes a barage of tournament boats. We were happily catching nice bass & pike on jigs when a particular boat approaches to within 20 yards. After repeatedly warning him about hooking our anchor rope, what should he do on his next cast but hook the rope. So we patiently wait for the fella to unhook his lure, without saying a word or chewing him out for ignoring our pleas. Well, instead of carefully freeing his lure, he simply pulls out a knife and cuts my anchor rope, angrily tossing the severed end back into the water.

He must have been surprised later that day at the weigh-in to find that he'd been disqualified.

[Jimjohn]

two years ago I was fishing a tournament when a boat came in full blast over my marker. A lady or lets say a female was driving the boat. She did a circle and set up next to my marker. Couldnt believe my eyes. I wanted to cut through their bobbers when I moved but I didnt. They where not part of the tournament. Thinking back about this and reading the other posts, I'm glade I just went on my way. I have done things in ignorance, etc. too. I was able to sleep real good that night, no resentments in my gut.

Good luck and fish fun!

[Smitty]

While I have had several instances where another boat moves in right beside me and I just move rather than create conflict (I'm out there to relax, not get wound up), I think I'd have to unload in your case with someone actually damaging my property (or at least start casting the biggest daredevil in my box his way :-))).. My hat's off to you for keeping your cool..

Another thing I can't understand is people pulling my markers. I've had one instance (in the Alex area) where I was fishing a small hump, had a marker out, and had to run my wife in for a quick restroom trip. I come back less than 15 minutes later to find my marker gone. A couple other instances where I was just using a marker as a reference point (so not fishing real close to it) and had to yell at someone to leave it there. Thankfully most fisherpeople are not that way, but it sure is frustrating when you get to meet the few that are..

[Phil T.]

It's tough all over. Last year, while fishing the midsection of Sakakawea, I had two boats pull within a quarter mile of me. Ah, the joys of big water in low population states.

[MR.Pike]

Wow! I can't say exactly what I would have done.I know I would have JERKED on the JERK on the end of the rope if I saw a knife though. Let him swim off the extra energy! In that case I think it would be quite O.K. to get alittle wild. We are of course only human. Word of warning, don't touch my anchor rope unless you are in my boat!<;{{{{{<<( Mr.Pike

[Juls_WI]

Oh my gosh that is funny! LOL Thanks for the giggle..;-)

Hope to make it back to that lake someday.

Juls

[aar7]

The worst experience I had was about 4 years ago. I was anchored up fishing for sturgeon and along comes a boat on full plane right over the tops of our fishing lines and sets down right beside me. He then motors over and hits my boat pretty hard. It was the Game Department wanting to check or licenses! After finding out that everything was OK they blasted off right over the tops of our lines again. Nothing like setting a good example.

[Jon'eye']

Early this Spring, before I got my boat out of storage, I was fishing a off shore current break down stream from the Oahe Dam. I had my lines on the bottom about 20 yards out.

This Warrior boat full of guys CRUISES up right on top of my lines. They stop the boat, throw down the trolling motor, start cuss'in, belch'in...I was thinking to myself - HELLOOOO CAN'T YOU IDIOT'S SEE ME STANDING HERE WITH MY LINES IN THE WATER TRYING TO CATCH A FISH.

I even said hello to them, and they ignored me!

I was just waiting for one of them to snag my line off the bottom...Sure enough, the one guy sets the hook on my line...I was thinking WHAT AN IDIOT, HE THINKS HE HAS A FISH, SUCKER, HE'S GOT MY LINE!

Finally the smarter of the four or five guys says, You dumb #(#*# you pulled right on top of this guys hole! They mumbled some other words and slowly moved down stream.

Boats and shore fisherman deserve some respect!

AMEN!

JON'EYE'

[Wall-nut]

Fishermen are an extremely toerant lot. We yearn for low stress situations like those found on open water with the sun shining in the sky and the promise of hooking the fish of our dreams. Yet, I suppose in a world where bass-fishing tournaments now include "who's-got-the-biggest, fastest-boat" competitions, a day would come where the term "lake-rage" might apply. My suggestion: let's remain low key and try and tolerate the icreased instances of idiocy on the water.

[Ram Man]

"There are a lot of people who go fishing, but very few FISHERPEOPLE"

(That's for you JULS, the fisherpeople part...LOL)
Politically correct.

[John N]

Not to wax philosophical, but there's hot-headedness, intolerance, ignorance, etc. in every walk of life, and fishing is no exception. While it might not be the first instinctive reaction, at the end of the day I've never regretted taking the high road. I have regretted not taking it a time or two. Good luck on the water. John.

[DaveIN]

I have also had markers stolen in the Alex area and I have only been there twice.

[EricCO]

I've had the park ranger at North Sterling Reservoir motor up and do what I consider an act of piracy by boarding my vessel with out consent. He then took one of my life preservers saying that it was too old. After he checked everything he said that even though my fire extinguisher said it was charged, he doubted it and I should get it checked. I bit my lip and said okay. He then took off. The really crappy part was that I was trolling the entire time. He didn't even give me a chance to pull in my lines.

If only I was 6'5" and 300 lbs with a good lawyer..if only..

Don't get me started about water skiers!

[Gunga Din]

I was trolling a shoreline this winter and realized when the ducks didn't fly away that I was coming right up on some duck hunters' spread. I was way too close and felt like crap for encroaching on their space. I said sorry and quickly motored off. They never said a word, though I'm sure they were boiling inside.

It's one thing to make an honest mistake, but quite another when the offending party is belligerent.

[Fin Addict]

Amazing how these idiots can change your behavior. I always try to avoid the crowds and find it amazing that you can be all alone in the middle of Mille Lacs and some idiot has to pull up within 15'. We have changed the way we fish as a result. Never use markers, only GPS and loran to mark a spot. Only use a net when absolutely necessary and even then keep it low, net fast and boat the fish as quickly as possible. We never stand when a fish is hooked and try to keep rods as low and inconspicuous as possible when playing a fish. I swear these guys are like buzzards on carion they rarely miss an opportunity to horn in. A shame when you work so hard to find active fish to have some slob screw it up by motoring right over an active school. Thoughts of pulling out the flare gun have danced through my head but I usually just give a glare and move on.

[Don]

I fish smallmouth more than eyes, but it's the same everywhere. I find that if you toss a marker on a drift of a flat or breakline, it is an open invitation to every freaking boat in the area to give it a whirl. I have had guys catch my marker and not say a word.
The worst one yet was a small structure that I fish. It seems some charter boats love to claim it as their own. I don't achor I hold with the trolling motor. A charter showed up and started backing right in against the structure, right on the small point I had just caught two nice smallies, and he watched. He gave me the ole, hey you MF, I am trying to get anchored. I asked to see his deed on the structure because he obvioulsly felt he was the owner. He cussed me again. I then proceeded to tell him that if I was one of his clients and he spoke that way in front of my kids, I'd be sure to whip him instead of tip him. He shut up then. The ultimate recourse came the next spring at a sport show in which he had a booth,and I recognized him. I am in a business that requires some entertaining of clients, so I was lining up some guys to haul a fair number of clients the next summer. I walked up to his booth knowing he wouldn't recognize me. I presented my business card and proceeded to explain that I'd like to set up a couple of charters for some clients. I asked for all the lodging etc. Got him good and hot. I asked for his brochure. I then read the name of the boat outloud to him. I said, " I remember you." I named the day , the structure and what happend. I then grabbed my card from him and told him, you should be a bit careful on how you talk to others. Everyone is a potential client. I booked the charters with a guy two slips away from him.

By the way I don't think badly of all charter boats, just this one. I make sure to spread the word of his good name. lol

[fordnut]

Good job Don. It`s like that old saying "what goes around comes around". Maybe he`ll think twice next time.

[Juls_WI]

Hehehehe Thanks Ram Man! But, I think the politically correct term would be "Anglers"...:-)

Not that it makes a difference to me...having three brothers to grow up with..I know how to be just "one of the guys"! Fisherman, Fisherwoman, Fisherpeople, Anglers, it's all the same to me. WE FISH! :7


Juls

[DUTCHMAN]

We've all been guilty of being the offender at some point in time. My pet peave are the anglers that won't tighten up their planer board spread when they get into traffic. Never fails somebody will pick one up, or have to move away from the offenders spread. This can cause some hard feelings especially toward tournament anglers that do this.

[Juls_WI]

Hhhmmmm wonder if your the fella that got my board in his prop a few weekends ago down at Spring Valley?

My lure caught a bouy, and when we got turned around to retrieve the board, I saw it moving towards a boat that had gone by....needless to say the line was tangled in the prop. Sorry about that to whoever that was. It was not intentional...just a messy situation. Thaks for keeping your heads, and being the professionals that you are..;-) I learned alot in those few minutes.

Juls

[JimmyJ]

I started Night fishing a few years ago and found the best part of it all is that there might be a few die hards on the lake with me but I have yet to have someone move in on me. Usually have the lake pretty much to myself. Jim

[chaunc]

in w.pa. you never throw a bouy out. every boat in the area comes runnin! what i do is use a dummy bouy. throw it out thirty or forty yards from my spot just to see how much attention it gets. you'd be surprised how many boats pull up on it! good fishin! chummin chaunc

[Redeye]

erico; Try fishing in erie bay on a sat.or sunday. Jet skis well kill you and there is nothing we cando.ther to fast to get there numbers and the fish commission is to busy harrassing the law abiding angler. what do we do?

[Kevin B]

I agree that it is necessary to display a level of functioning greater than that of the "intruder." I often let people fish alongside me. They never stay long. I've even offered them a coke. No reason for the two of us to be fools.
For some reason, guys fishing too close to me doesn't upset me. But guys setting up decoys 15 yards away from mine in the middle of duck season, I lose my poise!!!- Kevin B

[Mark One]

Chaunc - I've built many a duck blind that I never once hunted out of. Lots of other people used them though, but they didn't get any shots.

[Scott in KC]

You should have opened the cooler and had him inspect the lunch meat on your sandwich. "Uh, son, this here ham has a rainbow, I'm gonna have to take this too. And the born-on date on those cans of Bud are old as well. I otta run you in just for having an Anhieser Busch product in the state of Colorado!"

[Floater (MN)]

It used to be that we could assume that most fishermen were "nice guys", that they would help you out if you needed something, that you could count on them to be courtious or helpful. I am finding this is not the case these days. Seems that I've seen more of the same attitude on the water as I have seen on the roadways in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul). It's a cut throat attitude that is focused only on the self. Not on the sport or the other fishermen out there.

Sad to say but there is more scumm out there than what you'll find on the surface of the water. Much of it is found in the boats too.

[dumbob]

I get a charge out of the guys who practically set up camp, open a beer, eat a sandwich and jig in the fast lane where everyone else is cutting 100 foot wide swaths with their planer boards. It irritates the **** out of the high tech hotshots and it's fun to see them scramble when they have to pull in their lines! Another good trick is to troll into the wind when everyone else is drifting with the wind. The drifters will hate you- especially when you are the one catching the fish!

[Consideration]

I've got a father-in-law in the Rainy Lake area that likes to find the fisherpeople and not the fish. I've been out with him a couple of times and he says, 'the lake is too big to try and find the fish, find the boat that's catching fish and save time." I've been really embarassed by him several times. It has caused quite a stir in our marriage-trying to keep the peace. Anyway, just know that these people are this way in their personnal lives and eventually they get what they give out. I've seen this man eat crow several times. Unfortuately, he hasn't learned his lesson and probably never will. Your words probably won't make a hill of beans, stupids is as stupid does. It does come back to haunt them in a huge way!

[Backwater Eddy]

So JimJohn--shooting her bobbers with a pellet gun would have been too much ?????? HAAAAAAA!!! (: