Observation: Hillsdale Fishing Etiquette

[LBM]

Monday while fishing Hillsdale I observed a boat weaving in and out as he fished by several boats working their previously established spots. He wasn’t trolling by heading to a spot but fishing his jigs almost in the same spots the established fishermen were working. As he was working by he asked how the fishing was and agreed with their responses that the fishing was sure slow. I didn’t think much about that situation as he fished by us. I watched him fish very closely by another boat and as he fished by the second boat passed my position it all became clear about this marvelous fish finding technique. While fishing close by that second boat they catch a fish and plop goes a buoy into the water up wind from the established fisherman’s position working his previously established area without a buoy. Then he proceeds to fish his buoy marker as his boat’s ass end swings around into the area the other fisherman was working.
That fellow fishing out of a shiny new blue deep V Tracker with a walk through windshield must have been a saint since there was no immediate outburst on his part and a little later on I did hear some casual conversation between the two boats. My response would have been much different and just seeing it happen to another just chapped the hell out of me seeing that kind of behavior towards another fisherman.
Well folks those of you wanting to learn how and where to fish on Hillsdale from some real crappie fishing masters just look for a larger white Procraft boat (not sure if it’s MO or KS) and follow them around and observe their finely honed fishing techniques and you too can fill your fish baskets. Probably want to keep your distance because I’ll just bet their response to another fisherman intruding into their fishing area would be more like my response which would be “Just What The Hell Are You Doing”

[jyhwker]

I am glad to see your post about this. I wasn't sure if this was just something that was ok while crappie fishing since I have spent most of my life bass fishing. We used to always joke about how if that boat got any closer, he would have a deep diving crankbait coming awfuly close to his boat. While we were out at HD on Saturday, we had found a nice school of fish and all of a sudden we looked behind us and sure enough....another boat is motoring over to us and ties up close enough that I could have spit a sunflower seed at him. As he approached, he saw us catch a couple nice slabs and still has the nerve to ask if we've caught anything. As hard as it was, we kept our mouths shut and just kept fishing without budging an inch. Sorry if this post was inapproiate or comes off as if I'm a complainer. That's not it at all. There we just lots of boats out there and everyone was finding their fish and keeping their distance. Well at least most of us.
Ok I feel better now. Thanks!

[huntcapn]

I'm still very new to this crappie fishing thing, but I'd like to share my thoughts on this subject....I have been in situations where I was fishing with a group and to my surprise was invited to come right up and fish someone elses area, or mark or whatever it was that they were fishing....I found this to be shockingly nice and would always want to reciprocate that with those I'm familiar with....but, in the 3 yrs I've been involved with crappie fishing, more times than not I've been shocked at how rude people in boats can be while on the water....I get out to relax and have fun and maybe catch a few fish....but when I 'carve' out my little piece of 'mother nature' for the day, I'd like my space respected....I've been an avid outdoorsman all my life, and until crappie fishing infected my life I haven't seen near the numbers of people that show absolute disrespect for other's space....part of the fun should be in 'developing' one's own spots...not just butting in where all the other boats are.....respectfully yours...."Huntcapn"

[Kansasoutdoorsman]

I'm sorry Lee... I just only have one spot on that lake I can catch fish and you were on it... Thanks for letting me know the bite was slow and not hitting me in the back of the head with a sinker (like you did last time). I don't have any fish in the freezer and my wife might starve to death/beat me if I don't bring home a least 20 fillets for dinner.

Besides, fishing is about making new friends right? I was just trying to get to know you guys a little better.

[kingfish387]

Now that's funny right there.

[AntiochBA]

Oh Nick.....lol
So you met some of HD's famous frienly fishers it appears, Lee. I witnessed this many times there.

[wheels70]

I have not fished Hillsdale but I would say from your description that this inconsiderate behavior is not limited to Hillsdale or crappie fishing either one. Try fishing for walleye once they move onto the flats in the spring. I have never been so mad in my life. Had it not been for my wife and son in the boat my response would be much different. I run into this type of behavior at melvern all the time in the spring time.

[jyhwker]

I should have added that this wasn't the worst that has happened to me. I was bass fishing at lake of the ozarks and had a seadoo come between the boat and the bank. Note that we were within casting distance to the bank. The whole time we kept saying...surely he isn't going between us...no way..he must be coming to ask us direction. Wrong!

[wheels70]

I should have added that this wasn't the worst that has happened to me. I was bass fishing at lake of the ozarks and had a seadoo come between the boat and the bank. Note that we were within casting distance to the bank. The whole time we kept saying...surely he isn't going between us...no way..he must be coming to ask us direction. Wrong!

I actually cant name the worst that has happened to me, there have been so many...... It seems I am a magnet for idiots that have no idea how to operate the watercraft they are supposed to be in control of. I have had no less than 3 idiots (just last summer at Melvern) pull a skier or a bunch of kids on tubes right in front of me while I am wide open going down the center of the lake. It is not like I am invisible, I am cooking down the lake in plain sight and it seems they just cant see me.

Jet Ski's are a whole different story! I really want to hurt those inconsiderate wanna-be's!!

[kingfish387]

It's funny now, but about 15 years ago my late father-in-law(God bless him) and I were fishing a brushpile at HD and a jetski got so close to us it got him wet at the front of the boat.He pulled up the tm and after him we went.Thankfully by the time we caught up to the guy at the dam his anger was somewhat under control and the guy just got a royal butt chewing!That was a scary moment.Anybody that knew Larry B. can only imagine what I thought was going to happen.