How close is too close?

[Bait Eating]

My son and I went to Stockton on Sunday. Put in at Roark North of Greenfield. We had never been on that part of the lake. Some friends of mine told me about a point off of Roark Bluff that usually holds crappie. Using my GPS and sonar I located the ledge. We were trolling down the ledge looking for fish. We saw a boat out in the lake, thought they were sitting on the point fishing. We got about 75 yards from them and turned the boat around and started going back up the point. Had just got the boat straightened up and saw some fish on the ledge, tossed out a marker and started getting our poles ready. I looked up and the boat that had been 75 yards from us was trolling in our direction with the tolling motor on high. They got about 30 yards from us and I asked, you boys doing any good. The guy in the front of boat said, well we was, I cannot believe someone would just move in on top of me like that. I said, you were fishing way out there. He said, I had been fishing here, but the wind had blown me out. I said, I didn't know that. I could here him grumble. My son told him that he thought there was enough room on the point for all to fish. If he had had a marker thrown out, I would have never got close to it. Or, if he had come up and not been an a**, I might have apologized and asked if we could all fish there or something, because me and my son just want to fish and have fun and get along with everyone. But, when someone acts like an a**, the funs is over. I will be an a** also. The good part of the story is that me and my son boated 28 nice crappie. My question is, was I in the wrong?

[SUNDROP]

The way I see it is this. If I am not anchored into a spot and I am drifting, anything I have passed is fair game just as I dont expect someone I'm coming up on to move out of the way... NO , you were ok right where you were.... I also will not come within another boats markers or within 50ft of another boat that is actively fishing unless invited.

[drfishjd]

My two cents? I'll bet he had come over the spot and caught a couple, and then ventured out on the point to see how far they went. You guys came in on an empty spot and had the sense enough to stop. You're not in the wrong, in my book. Would I cuss you? I don't know. Would you cuss him in the same situation? I try not to get too upset over some guy muttering - bemoaning his own error, as much as he bomoans your finding "his" spot. If you weren't within 150 feet, I'd say all's fair.

[Pole Bender]

Hey Bait Eating what type of boat do you have? I only saw 2 boats catching fish and I saw a G3 catch several before leaving to go across the lake when another boat came back into the area and in on them. Before anyone gets excited I did not say anything and swung around them close to the bank. I was not the one. I was in the white and gold pro craft that came into the area around 4:00. Way to go on the fish Sunday was tough for most of us.

[Bait Eating]

Pole Bender,

Me and my son was the 2 guys in the green G3, 60 hp Yamaha. The guy in the big Triton boat that came back is the one that got mad earlier and left. After me and my son left the point, we went across the lake and picked up a few more.

[Pole Bender]

It looked like they new you and I thought it was strange when you left. They were too close under this situation. I hope you didn't think I was too close. I tried to see what you were using for bait but never could tell. I fish that part of the lake a lot come on over and say hi if you see me again.

[ship]

Pole Bender, I watched you pull up, I was at Chicken Rock thinking about going over there myself when the first boat left. He was way to close to Bait Eating. I think (know) that I would have said a lot. I thought they were all Buds and were having a party. I assume this is where you found the 40 deg. water. Way to go Guys, nobody else found the fish. Later, Ship

[KCBALLER]

his loss,i would not have been so nice !! ya every seen two guys going at it in 40 deg. water ?? some of theses aholes get me fired up !!

[C N]

We've had that same experience at Truman several times. Anchored and fishing, minding our own business when somebody that we do not know pulls almost on top of my cork and sets up to go fishing as they've seen us CATCHING! (I love to use corks - sorry) Or someone is trolling down a bank a mile away when we set up and they continue to troll right on top of us and act like we are the ones in the way and troll right over top of where we are fishing!

So is the approved distance 150 feet? That's what it was when we fished catfish tournaments.

All I can know is that experiences like that with rude folks can put a damper on an otherwise fine day - no matter if you are catching or not!

[Kit Papermouth]

Whether you were in the wrong is based on the individual. Some people need to feel they have dominion over an area they are fishing. If a person doesn't have a bouy out and aren't within earshot of their bouy, then it's fair game (my opinion).

Beagle has a good story about getting mad at someone for weaseling in on a spot, got pissed and then found a nugget of wisdom from his father.
It's a good campfire story and I think it's appropriate. I'll have to let Beagle tell it. I can't do it justice in this box.

I say don't be an A$$ back to them. Be the bigger dude. Be polite, but don't move if you feel you are in the right. Getting mad only makes yourself worse.

Just don't get in my way if I'm long line trolling. Sometimes I lose track of which way I'm going when I'm reelin' in the fish. I might be in your boat before I see ya.

G.