yep tomg...not a rant at all. I agree with what you're saying. It amazes me how people can be. For those of us who have been life-long fisherman, boat or no boat, it's rather easy to recognize someone with little experience and common sense, courtesy, and knowledge on how to practice being a true outdoorsman. Hopefully we can agree that its a small minority who are problematic and clueless. As with most situations, those few seem to stick out and amplify the problem and negative perception. There have been violent exchanges between fisherman over the past few years that have resulted in senseless tragedies. None of us want that, so it stands to reason to keep your mouth shut and walk away. I, like most of you, come to the lake to avoid conflict and enjoy my little piece of heaven on earth. Stay positive and address these individuals constructively when you can. Leading, by setting a good example for other fisherman, inexperienced boaters, and youngsters is the way to go. C.com is loaded with a bunch of good people who do just that.