Posted by JPBass on 2002 AM:
Fishing etiquette
Had a bit of an incident
yesterday at Maho. Pulled up to a rocky point in front of a dock. to my right
well over 200 yards away was another fisherman, who I could hardly see as it
was still dark. He was working what I know to be a submerged roadbed with a
nice rocky ledge. Anyway, he starts motoring (trolling motor) over to me and
proceeds to cast within spittin distance of my boat. Never looking for trouble
I say to myself fine, and move around him to work that roadbed, again 200 yards
away. We then proceed to pull up 2 decent largies and a good smallmouth (it's
getting light out now). At that point he starts motoring back over to where I'm
fishing. No words were exchanged but I could tell he felt this entire area was
his. I left.
My question is was I wrong here? How much distance is considered proper fishing
etiquette on a lake as small as Maho? Or on any lake for that matter?
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Posted by Paul at home on 2002 AM:
During darkness you can
come up on any one without knowing it. Did he have any lights on?
If he never spoke to you about it he has no right to feel any kind of"ownership"
to a piece of water and even if he did speak to you there is no real reason
(except it's easier) to agree not to fish the next spot anyhow. It would be
nice if we could all claim "ownership" of entire lake each time we
got out, but this is not Alaska.
Posted by Paladin on 2002 AM:
On a small lake like Mahopac
Four long cast is enough room for me. I think most guys are trying to see what you are throwing rather than edging in on your fish
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Posted by JPBass on 2002 AM:
Yes Paul,
We both had lights. And I did see him. Thought there was plenty of room. But
when it's dark, as I'm sure you know, lights can tend to blend in with the
lights on shore especially from a boat that's not moving.
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Posted by JPBass on 2002 AM:
Re: On a small lake like Mahopac
quote:
Originally
posted by Paladin
Four long cast is enough room for me. I think most guys are trying to see
what you are throwing rather than edging in on your fish
If that was the case he should of asked. I'd gladly of told him.
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Posted by puddlejumper on 2002 AM:
Fishing too close.
Sometimes on a smaller body of water boats do get alittle close. I see this in rivers around the locks sometimes. I never say nothing. I might wave to him. Tip my hat. I know he's looking at what I'm using, I'm looking at what he's using. When I drift pass the area, I make a wide turn and come up on the other side of him, with the trolling motor turned down low. I would not cut off his drift. puddlejumper.
Posted by postcard on 2002 PM:
If I'm working a
shoreline or point and someone comes to within a good casting distance of my
boat, I'll cast a heavy lure 180 degrees around my boat (sternward to open
water to bow) to kind of set my casting perimeter of the area I feel I have
dibs on. In consideration of others, I avoid coming within 40 yds. of another
boat. If someone begins to crowd 'my area', I cast a deep dive crankbait to
within a few feet of that person's cast, to show my displeasure.
Fortunately, 99% of anglers respect each other's space and most won't cut you
off from a shoreline you're working. But to avoid a conflict, I'll move away
(to return later), because the waters I fish have many potential spots. Needless
to say, if a slob needs a tow or cpr, he can whistle Dixie for all I care. 
Posted by Dean on 2002 PM:
200 yards seems like plenty of room to me and probably more than enough to others. You did the right thing going around him and pushing on. Him motoring over to you was out of line. If he wanted to work the road bed he should have stayed there. Another example is when you pull into a spot and start working a certain direction down the shoreline and a guy moves in front of you when it is obvious which direction you are going. Some will even cut you off and then start working back towards you. Doesn't make any sense!
Posted by JOHN G on 2002 PM:
JP, was this early morning or in the evening? Since they don't let other boats on at those times, he must have been fishing the same tourney as you, right? there are VERY few bassboats parked at Maho all the time, Tony and Pat being almost the only ones......what I am getting at is that if it WAS someone from your club, you should discuss it with him......for him to Come BACK to a spot he left after seeing you catch fish there is so trite and childish it is almost beyond discussion. As people pointed out, this is an exception in the clubs, however, it does unfortunately bring out the worst in some people.......... JOHN G
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Posted by paridiseblue on 2002 AM:
yesterday our club fished
lake huntington, we had 9 boats launch, i don't know the acreage but it
is by far the smallest lake we fish. i had my hole to myself for 35 minutes.
after that i get the guys who do the huntington 500[ crank laps beating banks]
on larger water i would probably have a different attitude, but on small water
it is expected and understood that you will sometimes be fishing the same spots.COMMUNICATE,
i fish slow[ almost like not moving] most guys fish faster, when i see them
coming i ask them if they are going through or turning around. if they are
going through i will move out for 10 seconds and let them pass on the inside or
they can go around me.
don't throw lures at other peoples boats. twice in 10 years a lure has wound up
in a boat. the first time the guy reached down picked it up and threw it
overboard. the guy in the other boat said thank you! the guy whos boat it wound
up in said" do it again and you'll be short 1 rod and reel.
on the mohawk a few years ago 2 inconsiderate fisherman ran up full throttle on
the spots i was fishing. they ran over my marker bouey. they were already on
their decks before the boat was fully set down and the first cast the guy at
the rear of the boat threw a fat free shad into the bottom of my boat. when he
tried to unsnag it from my carpet i had enough. i dislodged his crankbait with
my ciggarette and HE was mad. i explained the idea of respect to them and they
were angry. it was starting to get heated when i came up with the perfect soulution
. i opened my rod locker and pulled out my paddle and my flare gun and set them
both out on my front seat. conversation ended they both left. two days later i
seen them starnded after they ran up on a rock shoal. they did not try to wave
me in.
on the water i am a polite, quiet guy, i don't want to be loud and angry, but
sometimes it is inevitable. the best soulution is to just treat other boats as
you would want to be treated.
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Posted by postcard on 2002 AM:
The only time I've been dissed
by anglers is when I use my canoe to fish creeks emptying into the Hudson. A bassboat will come up the
creek at just above wake speed, throw some 2' waves and then proceed to cut me
off from the shoreline I'm working down, as if I didn't exist. The only
satisfaction I usually get is to catch fish from his used water and hold my
bass high for him to see. After the 5th bass expo, they usually split. I've
heard these guys come from Albany to
fish the lower Hudson and its creeks in early spring.
The same for lake fishing - bassboat king, canoes or jon boats,crap= no
consideration.
I'm happy to report that, again, 99% of the bassboaters are considerate. It's
just that 1% that makes you wish you had a torpedo.
Posted by Paul Mattie on 2002 AM:
John's right is must have been another tx basser. It couldn't possibly have been some out just fishing beacause only people in tx's act like that or if he wasn't in the tx I'm sure he fishes other tx's.
Posted by Meg on 2002 PM:
JP, you weren't too close, IMHO.
200 yards seems like a very respectable distance, on any body of water, during a tournament. I get so sick of hearing about people moving in on someone's spot-let's face it, on any given body of water, people fish some of the same areas. Granted, how they found the "spot" may be questionable... Unless there is a marker buoy out, I think 200 yards is plenty of space. He was trying to claim ownership of water that no one owned, and you did the respectable act of moving off, when in fact you certainly didn't have too.
Posted by JPBass on 2002 AM:
quote:
Originally
posted by Paul Mattie
John's right is must have been another tx basser. It couldn't possibly have
been some out just fishing beacause only people in tx's act like that or if he
wasn't in the tx I'm sure he fishes other tx's.
It was on older gentleman in a tin boat. Didn't appear to be a tourney guy. Not
from my club anyway.
John, If the ramp is open, it's open. Anyone can launch. Not just the
tournament people.
My club is a small one and we're all good friends. We often share water a lot
closer than that. As a matter of fact if you ever see me on the water feel free
to pull right up to where I'm fishing. Just say hi and if you think it will
help you can tie up to my boat. If you need some baits just ask.
If my club was that cut throat I'd of left a long time ago.
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Posted by Frank Pugliese on 2002 AM:
People stink!
I've always tried to be patient when someone else infringes on my personal
space. You did the right thing by moving away and your concern about what you
did just shows that you are not one of the A-holes out there ruining it for the
rest. This type of problem doesn't just relate to fishing. Have you ever been
standing on a line somewhere and the person behind you is so close they could
probably stand in your underwear! It seems that some, not all, but enough
people think that they are "entitled" to do whatever they want
whenever they want. They should be first for everything from standing on line
in a store to cutting you off while driving. It's a shame and the worst part is
they're probably teaching that to their kids....
Peace.
__________________
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Posted by Bigredfishing on 2002 AM:
when it comes to
inconsiderate fisherman, one cannot pigeon hole tx anglers. Even at rental
places, people can be really really really inconsiderate. the last 2 times i
have been to lake lonely - in a rental rowboat, i have had 4 boats cut between
me and the weededge i was fishing, and i was less than 30 feet from the weededge
each time!!!. All of the boats were piloted by adult fisherman who also had
rented their boat, who really should have known better. As for the people in the
bass boats, they are usually the most considerate guys out there! When in my
boat, i have been cut off before by bassboats, but also by canoes, kayaks,
rowboats, and one gentlemen that felt he could somehow fish from a jetski. My 2
cents
Lance
PS: If you really want to see bad boat ediquette, head up the the troy dam on
the hudson in mid-may for the shad. it is a
zoo, with 50+ boats crowding into about about the size of 2 football fields.
There is one gentlemen in a 19' center consoul, who really likes to go full
plane, through all of the boats, cutting off lines ect., till he gets to his
spot. (that was 2 years ago, it was too crazy for me this year)
Posted by earthworm77 on 2002 AM:
Touche' Paul. Truth is people suck and I hate them all...I hate them all equally though. I am a stickler for ettiquette out on the water. I do not like being encroached and I will let people know it. If they fail to heed my warnig, I will get my boat as close as possible and shadow them until they are forced to leave. Even on a small water, there is no reason to come right up on someone.
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Posted by theole34 on 2002 AM:
i pushed in front of dean
and northbass the other day and realized the direction of travel and backed
out. i wanted to hit a stretch of shore that they had hit already, but approched
from the wrong side.
it can be rough when you have soooo many boats in the water.
maho on a weekday though. plenty of water. that was just plain rude, or
ignorant.
robbie
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We're talking about "Spring" fishing...... right?
Posted by Paul Mattie on 2002 AM:
My immeadiate reaction was that it was not a fellow club member. If it was it would have been resolved by JP and the other boater or at the very least remained w/in the club.
Posted by theole34 on 2002 AM:
john,
i am actually proud to say that when guys in EEBA get a little close they ask
each other.. am i in your way, or let me know if i am too close, or which way
are you moving? when the guys in our club start to hit on a pattern they are
more than happy to share a little knowledge. not every detail but point other
guys in the right direction. if i am onto something i have no problem sharing. the
point you made is why we are trying to change the face of local club fishing. i
have seen a few clubs go under from the petty games. i have also learned a
great deal from paul about clubs, and from a few others on nybass.
we have to make an effort to make it work!!!!
robbie
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We're talking about "Spring" fishing...... right?
Posted by earthworm77 on 2002 AM:
John, I'll be the first guy to blast tournament anglers when they are wrong but......there are a ton of great, morally sound guys out there. I doubt if the guy was in JP's event....I'm sure if he was, it wouldn't have happened or would have been resolved quickly
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Posted by Dean on 2002 AM:
Noticed something else Rob.....
I noticed something else on Sunday too: You had no problem holding up that 4lber for everyone to see! LOL! Nice job man. Didn't even notice you cut us off.
Posted by Scott C on 2002 PM:
Dean....thats how he does it. He's slick like that.
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Posted by JPBass on 2002 PM:
quote:
Originally
posted by theole34
john,
i am actually proud to say that when guys in EEBA get a little close they ask
each other.. am i in your way, or let me know if i am too close, or which way
are you moving? when the guys in our club start to hit on a pattern they are
more than happy to share a little knowledge. not every detail but point other
guys in the right direction. if i am onto something i have no problem sharing. the
point you made is why we are trying to change the face of local club fishing. i
have seen a few clubs go under from the petty games. i have also learned a
great deal from paul about clubs, and from a few others on nybass.
we have to make an effort to make it work!!!!
robbie
And so it should be!! It's all about having fun and learning a few new tecniques
in the process. I'm happy to say my club operates in much the same manner.
Besides if you're fishing at a club level and have intentions of turning a
profit you're in for a rude awakining at the end of the year when you do the
math.
What
with boat and travel expenses not to mention tackle and gear, it's not likely
you'll end up in the black.
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Posted by JPBass on 2002 PM:
quote:
Originally
posted by Paul Mattie
My immeadiate reaction was that it was not a fellow club member. If it was
it would have been resolved by JP and the other boater or at the very least
remained w/in the club.
Right you are Paul,
I've found when fishing in a bass boat a little EXTRA courtesy is required, as
you'll find many people don't like you before they even meet you.
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Posted by Paul at home on 2002 PM:
Sometimes no matter
whether you are running chest waders, a tin boat, 37' offshore boat or a bass
boat there will be times when a basically good guy will be having a bad day and
do something stupid. It's those times we've got to suck it up and understand
and just move on.
I personally have been 60 miles offshore mid week and have an idiot (60' Sea
Ray- 'nuff said) come w/in 300 yds of us(31 Bertram, Flybridge) in broad
daylight on a clear calm day.
Anything can happen on 500 acre Maho.
Posted by postcard on 2002 PM:
You're right Frank P.
Some people (like some drivers) feel they must show others that they are
'special' and require priority on the water or road.
Best to avoid them if possible and have a nice day, anyway. I've know some very
good anglers who were also top-rate jerks, with 'me, me, me!' tatooed on their
foreheads. I'm glad they left my club, because they were an embarrassment to
the club and no one wanted to be partners with them.
Jerks come in all forms, especially on private lakes. In fact the boats who
joy-ride around and around, on my small, local lake, (we call them circle
jerks), seem to enjoy coming within 30 yds. of the area a fishing boat is
anchored or that has stopped to fish. They have the whole lake to cruise
around, but yet they go out of their way to send a wake every 10 minutes. Jet
skiers have come between me and shore, where I was only a casting distance
away. The only thing you can do is stare as they go by.
Better yet, night fish.
(May the 'fish' be with you. ) 
Posted by puddlejumper on 2002 PM:
Postcard.
I've been dissed the same way by the bass boats. I just have a old duck hunters special, and I love to hold up a nice bass to $ 20,000 Ranger that just almost run over me. puddlejumper.
Posted by postcard on 2002 AM:
Heck puddlejumper, I make
like Bill Dance and fight that 1 1/2 lb bass like it weighed 8 lbs. , saying
the same crap he does for 2 min. I then boat the fish with my back to the
'trespasser' and then quickly release it. After a few of these 'monsters' have
been caught in his used water, he'll usually take off either because he doesn't
like Bill Dance antics or is pissed at being outfished by a canoer. (Little
does he know that I also own a Ranger and know how to slowly sift water versus
machine-gun casting.)
Posted by paridiseblue on 2002 PM:
postcard....lmao
do you throw you bait into a hornets nest and fall out of the boat too? or run
your shin into the trailer hitch? drive your atv into a pond. lol bill dance
has allways been one of my favorites. i don't know if he means it, but i laugh
my @ss off watching bill dance on a regular basis.
i know people hate him, i hate him too sometimes. he overplays most fish, toots
his sponsors horn repeatedly, fishes water that i would cut off a finger to get
on. but the man allways find hawgs. i am starting to thing they are C.G.I.
fish. last show i watched, his top 5 went easily over 30 pounds.
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Posted by puddlejumper on 2002 PM:
Bill Dance
Yeah, I watch his show. I'm sure he's a great fisherman, but some of those places look kinda "staged" to me. Like they are stocked ponds or something. puddlejumper.
Posted by bobn on 2002 PM:
you would be amazed at what editing and modern technology can do---bobn
Posted by Paul Mattie on 2002 AM:
Bill Dance and many
others fish FL private pits such as Bienville Plantation and others like it.
Instead of going to a new lake Bill just uses a different boat.
As far as making a show I would chose his locations, but I prefer to watch
shows from public water.
Posted by Cityboy on 2002 PM:
I have always used common
sense, regarding fair distance from other boats... How fast are they working
the shore? Which way are they headed? Is there a natural break, point or
setback that could be used as a dividing line?
If I want to work the exact same shoreline that another boat is on, I will come
up behind them, (close enough to wave hello, but far enough so we could never
cast to each other's water) and work the water they have already fished.
Hell, I would rather pull fish out of water a guy has just worked than cut him
off anyway...
I was fishing a tx earlier this year, and motored up to a point. As I came
around it I saw another member of my club working towards the point from the
other side. I felt like I would be stealing his water if I stayed there, so I
motored further down the shore to give him time to work the point before I got
there.
I think a little courtesy, and common sense is all that's needed.
Noam
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