Etiquette on the water

[gatoloco]

That is why i quit tourney fishing. after 28 yrs of watching the lack of tact and professionalism and how some of these guys speak to you and act. I had enough. as stated before it is all around you not just on the water. At the ramp I seen a gentleman having an issue just backing in his boat and 3 guys making fun of him not even trying to help. I went asked if I can help him. I showed him a few things and he got it. I was just amazed how people are.

I try to see the good in everyone but sometimes it gets harder and harder.

["D"]

Had a guy drop anchor between my boat and the bank I was casting to. I normally would have just left, but since my partner and I had heat, I decided to troll 2 circles around the guy. He never said a word. Just pulled up and left. That was in the marsh near New Orleans. Brash people as a rule. Also have had a few people stop within 50 foot of where I'm fishing in the direction I'm trolling here in Tn.
I don't get it. I would never do that. I frequently slow down and talk to people as I pass, but I don't even mark their spots out of courtesy.

[deltarat]

Had a guy drop anchor between my boat and the bank I was casting to. I normally would have just left, but since my partner and I had heat, I decided to troll 2 circles around the guy. He never said a word. Just pulled up and left. That was in the marsh near New Orleans. Brash people as a rule. Also have had a few people stop within 50 foot of where I'm fishing in the direction I'm trolling here in Tn.
I don't get it. I would never do that. I frequently slow down and talk to people as I pass, but I don't even mark their spots out of courtesy.

That's the key word "D" COURTESY. It is a lost art.

[wolfhnd]

That's the key word "D" COURTESY. It is a lost art.

As I said earlier how do the Japanese on their crowded little island deal with such things? Population density tends to erase individuality. We are probably in the process of inventing a whole new culture to deal with a new reality where sharing public spaces is unavoidable. The answer cannot be more laws we are already drowning in frivolous laws. We have demonized shame as a virtue so we may have to back that up a bit. We also have a low opinion of hypocrisy but their is a bit of that in the necessary shallowness of ritualized decorum. It is going to be painful to replace the rugged individual with the necessary respect for humility and discipline required to live on top of each other.

[Ketchn]

I try to avoid conflict and don’t worry much about others manners .....my daddy taught me the the very best manners are in your abilities to endure others bad manners .....
That said I see folks breaking safe boating laws and common sense things all the time and to be sure sometimes I am tempted to comment on them and or want to call local law enforcement,but alas most always I do my best to ignore it and pay attention to what I am doing on the water .....

[wolfhnd]

I wonder if filming them with your cell phone would have a positive effect. Is it even legal to film people without their permission?

[vfourmax]

I have gotten to where I fish smaller or less popular waters where the glitter boats and recreational boaters are not an issue, also being retired I fish during the week and on these small waters if and when you see someone else it is usually another older retired type and manners never seem to be an issue .

I cannot really remember the last time I have fished on a weekend or holiday period, even before I retired I would work weekends to have the weekdays off to be able to fish on the weekdays. Sure is nice to many times having the water to yourself or possibly just 2 or 3 other boats.

Whether on the ramp or the water the fewer people around the less chance of having issues with others stupidity or rudeness.

[wicklundrh]

I will throw a few things out there before I give my take on the subject. First, everyone talks about "glitter boats".

Whether they know and or understand it, many of these people that are described as such believe that coming by you on plane is not nearly as bad as slowing down and throwing a wake. When I first started river fishing for walleyes, I was floored at the amount of people that would come flying by you on the drift. It was only after listening to several of them comment on the fact that they would much rather have someone go by at a high rate of speed then slow and have them throw a larger wake. To some degree it is true. Same can be said for bass fisherman in tournaments. Many of them with lower deck boats would much rather have a boat gy by on plane as opposed to someone going by and kicking a large wake (not on plane). I'm not saying that their level of thinking is right or wrong, I'm just mearly stating the reason why some of them do it.

As far as people encroaching in on me: Several years ago I got pretty well known for being able to catch fish out of a local lake. To a point where I was followed everywhere I went. Soon, all of my honey holes were constantly being fished by other people. So, what did I do? I went and found another spot, and then another one. And then another lake. What I realized is that I was good enough to find the fish and catch the fish. I didn't need one spot to do it, there were thousands just like it on the lake!

Fastforward to today: I avoid locations that are crowded or bad on the weekends. I seek out other locations. I avoid people like the plague. If someone rudely comes in on me, I move. No, I shouldn't have to but, they are just fish afterall. I know my talents and I know I'm good enough to catch fish anywhere. They can have the spot. They don't know what color I am using, how fast I am going, what depth I am running my baits, setbacks, and so on. I'll catch them someplace else.

If ever you see a crowd of boats out on a body of water and they are catching a few fish, look WAY off in the distance. You will see a lone boat all by themselves. That would be me slaughtering the fish. If someone catches on, no big deal, I'm headed for the dock with my limit! I have better things to do with my time than deal with idiots. Fishing is for me to relax an unwind. If ever I find myself in a situation that starts to boil me, it is time to leave and find some other thing to do.

[spartannation]

Rich, I've seen those same "bow it the air" guys down on the Detroit River throwing a 3' wake and screwing up my drift. I've also had the "up on plane" guys blast past me and they're no better. I ALWAYS drop down to no wake speed if I pass someone that is fishing and don't hop back on plane until​I'm well past them.

[catchNgrease]

Rich, I've seen those same "bow it the air" guys down on the Detroit River throwing a 3' wake and screwing up my drift. I've also had the "up on plane" guys blast past me and they're no better. I ALWAYS drop down to no wake speed if I pass someone that is fishing and don't hop back on plane until​I'm well past them.

I am curious as to how open this water is. Are they within 50 ft or 50yds.

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