I'm not talking about the folks who rush to beat you to the ramp only to park right in the middle of the 2 lane ramp while they decide what sandwich meat they want on their sandwiches while all the rest of us have to wait.
I'm talking about the glitter boats who think every square inch of lake bottom belongs to them and everybody else can pound sand. The last 2 weekends, while guiding clients, we have had bass boats run past us at HIGH SPEED, no more than 50 feet from us, one no more than 20 feet. The 20 footer cut across my bow last weekend going at least 70mph. We actually thought he was going to hit us as we trolled at less than 2 mph. We were fishing a ledge at least 300 yards off the shore with at least 3/4 mile of open water on the other side. I'm sure they guy was eager to show off his $80,000 Ranger but we would have much more enjoyed seeing it that close in the parking lot at the ramp. My clients were horrified. I take having clients or guests in my boat as serious business and will do everything possible to see that they are safe in my boat but in the cases the past 2 weekends, I about had come-aparts. One client yesterday said that is the exact reason he carries a pistol in his boat. Luckily, I left mine in the truck even though I wouldn't have had time to get it out of its safe place in the boat. I've had a pistol pulled on me on KY Lake years ago for zero reason and didn't like the way I felt about it.
The guy in the Ranger yesterday flipped me the bird as he went by as I was motioning for him to move over by pushing air with both hands. I guess the middle finger salute would have been just as effective.
I fish a lot of main lake and secondary channel areas and expect boat traffic as just a cost of doing business there. Waves big enough to wash over my bow are a common occurrence from cruisers and houseboats. I also have zero issue with somebody coming by me at high speed as long as they give me a measure of courtesy and some space. KY Lake is about 1 mile wide at most points. Why is it so hard to steer a course that gives another boater the feeling they will live to fish another day?
In cases like I noted, I had zero time to get pics of the boat numbers. Neither were wrapped decal boats. I don't want to be known as a trouble maker or crybaby. I just want to be able to enjoy a day on the water with or without clients without having some idiot take years off my life with his idiotic boat manners.
Anybody else have any ideas?