Thread: Boating tip

Originally Posted by Cmj

I don't see flying at full speed past someone who is trying to fish as being courteous. I fish out of a flat-bottom most of the time and I can assure you, you are still producing a wake. My grandfather taught me to slow to a fast idle when passing ANYONE, even a bank fisherman. I can see where it produces less of a wake, so if you pass me like that, i'll just give you a one-handed wave instead of using both so you will be less offended. Sound fair?


C.J.

X2,
Why such a hurry?
I idle past, say hello, any luck? and ease on by. Sometimes shut it down and talk a while.
Never had anyone be short or rude with me!

You can't offend me...... I'm too ugly.

I said that I always slow down, and I do try to. I agree that rocking my boat is not courteous. But I've sat hooked to the shore on the Fourche and had bass boats run hair-on-fire past me......and while I don't think it's courteous, and while I don't think it's what I'd do, I do realize that it creates less wake than the guy going half speed. And that's all I meant to say.......My REAL point is that guys that go half speed are trying to be courteous, actually.........they DID slow down, after all. I just don't think they realize that half speed is the worst for wake. That's all I was trying to say.

Sometimes I get my tongue tangled around my eye teeth and I can't see what I'm saying very well.

I have seen time and time again in the middle of the lake no boat lanes guys pass by at 50-60 yds after coming a quarter mile or beyond across the lake. It is like your boat is a magnet. They just cant help it i guess. Please come by me at full pad, you aren't breaking the law at that distance and my boat will settle much quicker. This is just me in the big red boat. Try fishing Dardanelle piney and see for yourself. They aren't breaking the law passing on one side of you but man they generate some wakes at half throttle or with the nose in the air. Just my opinion and every one is open to have one.

Guys watch the finger pointing cause thats a good way to get banned and a locked thread. Please be civil in your statements. There is a time and a place to idle by people but you have to be mindful of that and obey the 50ft law.

I think this is a problem on most lakes. Reelfoot is terrible with it. I did a video on Reelfoot for a monthly safety meeting that I presented at work. I had several different scenarios.
In one I was fishing in some trees and videoed the first boat that came by and he never slowed.
The second, I was fishing some pads about 10-15 yards off of a marked boat run. The first boat by had a 150 on the boat and he came by at over 45 mph!! If he had hit a stump and lost control, it could have been bad.
I found out at the safety meeting that folks didn't understand they should slow down and be courteous. It makes me wonder what they were taught from their mentors.