IS IT WRONG ????????

[A.O.G]

Reading the post fishing slobs got me thinking of argument I had with a buddy. We were talking about fishing Mille Lacs lake Oct. night bite. I told him we got out on the lake late in the after noon found a nice reef and ancored in 10-12ft at this time we were the only ones their.we were hitting one here and one their nite fall came and we were hammering them on slip bobbers. By this time lots of boats were pulling cranks around us some of them were getting pretty close it diden,t seem like any one was yarding them in so of course we kept doing what was working.After I told him this story he said, OH your one of those types
he went on to tell me how I was in the way of the trolling route and how if he was their he would have run over my lines. It got very heated after that and he and I had to be seperated. so Please tell me was I doing anything wrong or is he full of it.


sorry this is so long "KEEP THEM FLYING"

[TBO/MN]

I am a troller, and not a bobber guy (not often anyway). I believe in sportsmanship. I figure everyone has a right to fish the water, and in whatever method they choose,if it is legal. Yes, it is a pain in the butt to have a boat pull in and anchor, but as long as everyone is behaving in an appropriate manner, and doing their oun thing, I have no problem with the situation. I just troll around them, at a reasonable distance. I figure, don't get uptight, be happy, we fish for fun.

The Big One

[crash]

Obviously your "friend" is one of those who thinks he owns the water. You were there first right? so its up to him to avoid you. Why should you have to give up a spot because he wants to pull a plug through it. I've heard of boating lanes and skiing lanes but never desinated trolling lanes. Maybee he didn't understand that you were on the spot first.

[Fishnwiz]

This is a hot topic indeed!!! I am a troller at heart and find that it is foolish to think that if you feel its your right to make 2-3 hundred yard passes on a breakline...that you are bound to get into some sort of heated arguement with somebody! I am always aware of others around me and also have become upset with others whom have ancored in my trolling pass! I understand that in todays world of GPS its not always easy to tell when someone is working a breakline with a 2-3 hundred yard pass! (NO MARKERS) I DO NOT FAULT these people at all but I do draw the line at running anothers marker or worse yet..pulling anothers marker out of the water!!!! I have had to resort to writing...DO NOT TOUCH THIS FISHING MARKER on my equipment in order to keep unknown persons from pulling my markers out of the water!If you do alot of trolling....keep the distance of your passes...down to a reasonable distance and you should NOT have any problems! Wiz

[Neal/CO]

I agree with Crash. Why should you have to move from your anchored position,you were there first.
I use to have a fishing partner who thought since he could afford a nice boat that gave him license to do whatever he felt like doing. He would troll right over bank fishermens lines, use bait in artificials only areas and disregard most posted rules. You see that attitude alot with yuppy flyfisherman. They think they are superior anglers because of their gear and the way they fish. Alot of them look down at nymph fisherman because in their eyes it is glorified bait fishing. They will wade right into a hole you are fishing and usually scare every living thing for 100 yards. There are jerks in all sports, so just ignore them if you can and have "fun".

[Schwartzy]

Like most I wonder what makes people the way they are. Common courtesy has gone by the wayside and you see this on the highways daily. I thought yield meant that but it really means speed up as fast as you can go and see how close you can come to the traffic before they yield to your presence.
Same problems on water. Courteous behavior seems to be the issue. Yes I have been in the boat with others who have pulled right into a hole that bank fishermen were working. I don't fish with them much now.

[Mike]

...ignorant slobs like that have never practiced catch and release?

They probably leave their catch to slowly suffocate on the floor of the boat while they get a good laugh out of watching its' death contortions.

Ignorant hunters. Ignorant fishermen. Ignorant campers. Geee......I guess it doesn't matter who or what we're talking about here, doesi t?

IGNORANT seems to be the operative word!

[eatereyes]

I too am a troller but I would never for even one minute think that I could lay claim to a 200-300yd. stretch of water as my "spot" that nobody should motor up and anchor and start fishing. I feel that your "spot" is that area where your bait is at (at that moment) and a reasonable buffer zone around it. Having said that, if I want to anchor and fish I look for trollers in the area and watch where they are trolling and anchor out of their way, provided they are not making 1/4 or 1/2 mi. runs. If I am making a 200-300 troll and someone motors in and anchors I think common courtesy dictates that I troll around them or shorten my runs, but I wouldn't expect someone not to anchor and fish because I am going to be back through "that" spot in a couple minutes little for only a few seconds. Granted I am dissapointed if someone anchors in a area I am trolling but hey thats life I don't think I have any reason to be mad....."It doesn't take all kinds to make the world go around, but we have all kinds".

[sdwalleye]

I've had this happen a few times. I am a troller and when someone anchors in my way I just troll around them. I feel everyone has the same rights when on the water. I only hope I receive the same treatment I give to others.

[erik]

I don't think you were in the wrong. Last year I was fishing a shorline for bass on a small lake that has a no wake before noon regulation. This guy comes by me within a cast length at about 1/3 throttle with the biggest wake possible and pulls in right in front of me and starts working the shoreline. Maybe its because he was in a Nitro and I was in a Walleye boat he thought he had more right to the water than me. I got so digusted I asked if he saw the "No Wake" sign and also told him I hope he had good luck on the shoreline I was working. He responded with a flurry of profanity and I got so wound up I ended up leaving the lake early. For me it wasn't worth the argument. I would have been better off keeping my frustration to myself. I think you were in the right, and common courtesy is something we all need to show each other. Sorry for the long post, but its irritating seeing that idiots can spoil a good time.

[Juls_WI]

Your friend was wrong. You were there first. As much as I like to troll, I would never think of moving in on an anchored boat.
I also like slip bobbering (and that usually means anchoring)...got to respect everyone out on the water. Even if they don't respect you. Always take the high road...you sleep better, and you won't get ulsers!! ;-)

Juls

[fishin_fool]

If someone is anchored first then everyone should yeild to them. If someone is making small drifts or trolling over a spot people should not move in and drop anchor in the way. I think that is rude!

[twogun]

You are Captain of your own boat right? Then whatever you say goes. In October on Mille Lacs, was there any other boats anchored?, I would think not. 99.9% of the late fall, even 1st, 2nd week of November is trolling the reefs and shore lines.(east side alot) Your buddy wanted to troll, every body else was trolling, why not troll? I hope you were not anchored there at night!, even with lights. But it was your choice to hold there on the reef, and I would not mind that at all. It's a Big lake. Summer time is good at night with a lighted slip. Full moon on Mille Lacs in October is hard to beat, but I troll. You were there first, but they'll go right by ya, I would move.

[Floater (MN) KL]

I must say that I am very impressed with the responses from the folks here. To say that the person who is ancored is in the right is, in my opinion, a very gracious response. Many of the trollers that I have encountered have been wonderful when I've been going slower or been stationary. In reality, those who are not moving are in the right when encountered by a moving boat. This is true in all cases according to the law.

"First Come-First Served" Or "First Come has the rights to the area" seem to fit this quite well. I feel you were in the right. Your friend was not only wrong, he was one that gives fishermen a bad image.

[SUPERTROLLER]

We have a similar situation on my favorite lake. A lot of boats like to jig 3/4 or 1 oz. Spoons on a deep channel break. At these times we have to adjust our trolling runs to avoid a very key area. They're not anchored and use their trolling motors to hold position. I don't expect them to move to the side so I can troll through. At another deep hole we keep making passes until where they anchor cuts us off access to our turn. We don't crowd them even though they are fishing straight beneath the boat. Even if you come later, THE ANCHORED BOAT HAS THAT SPOT!! Just like when two boats are trolling toward each other-- Someone has to give an inch if you're on the same break. (And it isn't always the smallest boat! )

[Dan]

The coast guard would say the anchored vessel has the right of way, unless in a shipping lane. So common sense would say the anchored vessel has the right of way as the vessels under power can steer around it.

[ETT]

As a troller, I surely see their side, but noone owns the water, and it is a matter of first come first servred. If the trollers were working the area first, then I'd say you MIGHT be in the wrong, but with no one there when you arrived you were obviously in the right. Until they make "Trolling Only" areas (and I hope they never do) we are going to all have to get along. Good luck.

[A.O.G]

If you read the post you would have known it was on mille lacs at night in late oct. you ask me why not troll because 99.9 % are trolling I would have to answer that with a quote from your post "I am the captin of the ship". you also asked why would I ancor at night my answer to you
is why not. with the proper lights it's not a problem. Their was one other boat ancored. Your post makes no sense what so ever one min. your saying it's ok the next your saying it's not " JOE ARE YOU JERKING MY CHAIN AGAIN"

[noguns]

Ignore him, three quarters of his posts do not make sense. You were doing what you wanted to do, you were there first to me it is a no brainer, you were in the right.

[Bob]

Quick story that renewed my faith in fellow anglers.

My buddy and I were fishing steelhead in Racine last week..had been there five minutes when another guy pulled up, unloaded and asked if he could fish right next to us (there were a lot of fish "working" the area) I told him to help himself as I didn't own the river. After a while he pulls in a 12 1/2 pound fish (my buddy and I didn't have a bite) We pulled our lines out of the water while he fought the thing for 15 min. and then netted his fish. To make a long story short...He gave us the fish, showed us what rig had been working for him that week, had to leave early and gave us some jig heads and grubs to fish with.

We commented on what a nice guy he was and my buddy said that he had been fishing there two years ago and had helped some kids that were having trouble catching fish in a similar way.

The lesson is: What goes around...comes around.

I know this isn't about trolling but it is about being nice to the other anglers with which we share the water. Remember we're not competing against each other..just the fish.

[Gunga Din]

Reminds me of last fall when I was jigging a point. Some ******* with a dog in his boat comes roaring up right next to me, 20-30', and beaches his boat so his dog can jump out and pee. He's got the entire lake and he has to pull up right next to me--and not even to fish! I can only figure that he'd seen me take several nice fish from the spot and wanted to interrupt my success.

I left and went to fish another spot, but came back several hours later to see him fishing the point. However, I didn't act as responsibly and maturely as Erik. I fount a good line and ripped between him and the point at 2/3 throttle.

[Gunga Din]

Great post!

[John N]

Seems remarkable to me that two people talking about fishing become so heated that they have to be separated. Can't think I'm the only one to notice this. Perhaps the same mentality that gave rise to the blustery "If I was there I'd run over the lines" comment is responsible for the discussion becoming so heated. Don't know, I wasn't there. But it doesn't sound like there are a lot of Phi Beta Kappa keys weighing anybody's neck down on this one. John.

[A.O.G]

Well you seem alittle full of yourself. Your saying anyone with out a college degree is what not up to your standards or is not on the same level of thinking. Yes, it did get heated when someone makes a threat I tend to get alittle defensive. By the way I do have a 4 year degree
and the next time you fly think of me I may be the "moron" keeping it in the air :(

[slick2526]

You shouldnt have to pull up your anchor because some a$$hole wants to troll where you have your lines. You didn't do any thing wrong its the other person who did something wrong they should respect where your fishing and go around or dont fish there at all. :)

[eyeshole]

Two Gun cracks me up. If someone posted the water was Wet that day, he'd undoubtedly want to argue the Dry side.

[John N]

Relax, we do this for fun, not for confrontation. You need a good laugh. Go look at www.bumperdumper.com. John.

[twogun]

I said you were there first, you have the right of way! Why not troll, makes your buddy happy, and the guys trolling happy. You would have caught fish trolling and you would still have a buddy. Myself would haved moved to a different spot to troll.

[allgun]

Has for eyeshole, his name sounds like something he uses toliet paper on. He's all wet, no doubt about it.

[CJHughes]

1OZ egg sinkers at night as hard as you can wing them if that doesn`t work stainless steel 357 will do the job.I really don`t have much of a problem with walleye guys,now bass *** guys are just about always trouble,and they never seem to catch anything.They can only throw to a bank two to three times then gas down as hard as it can go,jump up cast three more times.What fun!Bas Boats and jet ski`s should be outlawed from any body of water that has saugers or walleye.Dig them a big hole some place and let them go around and around until they all throw up,or die.

[Fritz]

I believe you are 100% right. You were there first. What if some jet skiier always ran the breakline - should they have priority? I doubt if anybody on this board would believe they should.

[jackj]

AOG,
Could that be AOG as in USAFA?? If it is, pretty cool to see another 'eye grad!!
Jack

[minneman]

wrist rockets work good for those pesky varmints

[minneman]

i meant they Would work good, havent actually tryed it, but have had many opps.

[beachfish 7]

Until people have written and legal water rights, FISH ON BUDDY!!!!!!

[DR.Lund]

Is it wrong?..YES..I know these people very well,,,They are the same one's who don't have any respect for anybody,Not only do they think they own the lake and your just a guest, they also are the one's that own the public landing,We all know the rule's,Though they arent written anywhere,it's common sence,Last year i had my own run in with these guy's at a public landing,after waiting my turn to load not one but four guy's in four boats took it upon themselfs to but in and be the first one's out,after the last one nearly hit my trailer while i was backing up to get his boat out i lost my patiance,a confrontation began,I kindly asked the one who almost hit my trailer who do i pay? he looked at me and said quite rudely,WHAT DO YOU MEAN,i said well i thought that you owned the landing and i need to pay to get my boat out..No flying fists but guy's like this need to learn how to respect others,were grown men and women,lets not act like spoiled children...being safe and having fun is what it's about,,,,GOOD FISHING.....

[Jeff reed]

I troll all over Michigan,Canada, and Ohio. My rule of thumb is the other guy boat has an imaginary 100 foot circle around his boat when still fishing. For trolling in a pack, I keep a sharp eye out and give 100 feet from the farthest planer board out and 200 feet back. When approaching a pack of trollers I keep my boat "off plane" and troll on the edge of the pack trying not to interfere with the bite. Yup, I have cut some guys line and have had my lines cut, but these guys that troll with more than 200 feet of line out running shallow baits are being rude to everyone. A sharp eye to where you are going is a must since some trollers only start course correcting when it much too late. I NEVER make 90 degree turns in a pack. This is pretty much the rule in all major walleye tournaments too. Now and then you will have the occasional dink, by design or ignorance, will push the envelope but I handle that on a case by case basis.