fishing etiquette ?????

[bjoyce66]

That happens all over as long as hes not so close that hes cutting you off or tangling into your lines I wouldnt worry about it too much. Sometimes its funny to see them get frustrated just because they are near you doesnt mean they will catch your fish.

[Dogrockit]

That happens all over as long as hes not so close that hes cutting you off or tangling into your lines I wouldnt worry about it too much. Sometimes its funny to see them get frustrated just because they are near you doesnt mean they will catch your fish.

No doubt,I bank fish 60 % of the time.......Dont even bother fishing on the weekends.......It even happens more to Bank fisherman; 4 or 5 boats around you(Keeping space)not having any luck,then you catch a fish,Its a trolling motor race to where I caught the fish.....I say "Dont you have a fish-finder on that rig?"They look at me like Im crazy or something...So if it happens,I just be as nice as possible.....It just kills me that Someone that calls themselves Fisherman Do that,Look back at the guy on the Bank like hes such a better Angler while hes hooking fish.

[beagle man]

I like company, any time on the water, I however have found a lot dont, they don't like to visit, I understand and wont stay and bother them. enough room for all

[rushcreekoutdoor]

LOL! But really, lots of people get mad when someone gets "too" close, but if we are honest, we all watch whats going on around us.

Look at it this way, when you are out there pounding them, and the boats come trolling in, don't you get just a little puffed up in the chest. I remember once fishing on Reelfoot about 5 years ago with my wife's grumpy grandad. He was a retired game warden and complained that in his whole life, he never caught anything on Reelfoot. I asked and asked and finally just got him a license and showed up to take him. We WHACKED them. It was one of those days that we just couldn't go anywhere without catching fish. As the day drew on, the boats just kept getting closer and closer. Finally, he poked me in the shoulder and told me to look back at the boats. About 20 feet behind us about 8-10 boats were lined up like a giant snake 30 feet apart! The closest one was about 20 feet from us. We all caught fish and enjoyed God's gift of creation.

And now on the other hand. . . . .

Yesterday, I took out 2 kids and their father fishing on Reelfoot after lunch. There were about 12 boats out there and it looked like everyone was having a good time. Perfect conditions, and the fish were biting. After we were there about an hour, someone in a boat about 250 yards from us let loose with a string of foul, vile obscenities. He appeared to be either cursing someone who "came too close" or drove by in a boat. I really couldn't tell for all of the obscenities. I was embarrassed b/c I love our area and most sportsmen have more respect than that. That was actually the second incident like that in about an hour. I really think that the Lord was showing me just how bad of an witness that I have been in my life. I still struggle with my language and find that it can go downhill in the wrong circumstance. I challenge all of you who profess to know Jesus to give control of your tongue to the Lord and to speak the truth when you face things like this.

Anyone who is looking for a blessing tonight and tommorrow night is invited to our last two Revival services at Mt. Carmel on Hwy. 94 just outside of Fulton tonight and tommorrow night at 7. Tomm. we will also have a community dinner at 6. The speaker is Eric Hixson with M.U.D. ministries. You may have seen him hunting on TV with Brock Ray's World of Outdoors. If you are going through turmoil, if you are suffering, or if you just know that you are lost alone, I strongly urge you to come and hear the message of the Gospel that he brings. It is compelling. Call me at 27-627-0184 if you want directions or just have questions.
God Bless
RCO

[Wannabe...]

I think the difference is in the way each of us fish. Me, I never hunker down on cover for too long, so even if somebody horned in on me, I'd be moving on in 5 mins or less. I'm fishing an area, not a spot more often than not. So, it might get under my skin if I had a top I was working over and somebody moved in on the exact same top. Then again, I most likely wouldn't let it get to me.

Now, the way I envision some of ya'll fishing, pulling up anchoring down and fishing one piece of cover for an hour or more, yeah, that'd prolly get to me.

I fish the Old River Run below Grenada a good bit early each year and when it's on in there, it's not uncommon to have 50 boats in about a 150 yard stretch that's 30 yards wide. Down there, everybody is constantly moving around very slowly and often 1 is coming 1 way and the other from the opposite direction. I normally am the first to ease out and let 'em pass, then start fishing right at their prop as they pass slowly fishing by. I've seen folks get ticked at me for doing that, but from my point of view, I interrupted my fishing line for them and I don't see the harm.

Folks is weird though. Some get all hacked about all the boats, some get plumb conversational. I try to stay in the middle and be courteous. I'll talk if ya want and leave you alone if ya want. Works for me, cause I'm rarely hacked off about anything even in a crowd.

Then again, some of you gewbers is plumb ignernt. LOL.

Wannabe...

[Radioactive]

I don't mind as long as they don't get in the way of where I'm casting or dragging a line. Heck, if I'm catching anything I will gladly share the info and if they are really nice, maybe even give them a lure if they don't have the right color
I would never pull up next to another boat fishing a brushpile, even if I put it there. There are too many others in the lake and guess what? Almost all of them hold just as many and just as big of a fish. You can bet if you put brush there, others had the same idea, so use the locator and find another one in the general area and enjoy your day in spite of the change in plans:p

We moved away from here and spent several years in California and got fed up with the "ME FIRST" syndrome! We moved back here last year and are so happy to be back among folks who wave at you on the road (instead of the one finger salute)! and go out of their way to be friendly or help when they can, so I try to be nice until someone makes an @$$ of them selves.

Gee, I didn't mean to write a novel here, but my point is you really don't think much about how folks act until you move away and suffer culture shock, then the minor things don't seem worth making a big fuss over:D

[brushnjigs]

Dont get me wrong, if I am not in a tourney I really could care less if someone comes in on me. I'm not there that long. Im not after numbers, just like to locate and make a few bite and I am off again.

[bigbob]

Try fishing Weiss for the next month or so, it will test your nerves. It is follow the leader
all day long and most of the time within spitting distance in some of the coves up river.

[mrm1775]

thanks for the responses. Alot have really given me a new outlook.

[GCD]

There is a certain etiquette that some folks have either forgotten or don't know about... it's called manners, and I have mixed feelings about this question.

I fish big dammed reserviors, huge lakes! I don't like to fish around other people as a rule because of some of the jerkwads that you run into. I pride myself in finding fish where other people don't or won't fish. I usually like peace and quiet when I fish. It's a big lake and fish are all over the place, you should be able to find your own fish without having to encroack on someone elses space. Having said that...

This is the etiquette part.
If I'm bailing fish in a certain spot and someone sees me and wants to fish that spot with me, they should ask before coming in on top of me... something like "excuse me, but do you mind if I fish here too?"... my reply will be "Heck no Bubba, come on in there's plenty of fish for both of us!"
.. but for someone to just horn their way in without saying anything is just plain rude in my book!

If a spot is already crowded, you may not have to say anything... but it never hurts to ask.... if someone is fishing a spot by themselves, ask first. 9 times out of 10, if you are friendly and polite the other person will be too... but if he's a cranky old fart, you didn't really want to fish next to someone like that anyway... did you?