How close is to close

[smcfrln]

This morning the wife and I decided to go out for a few hours. We started fishing the banks of a cove as we were trolling deeper in the cover another guys was fishing the same bank and trolling towards the mouth of the cove. As we got closer I stopped fishin and trolled out of his way and around his boat since he was there first all the while keeping 10-15 feet between us. After I got around him he tells me I might as well get in the boat with him and tells me I have no manners. So Im wondering if I was in the wrong and should have given him more room or was this guy just being a grump. People have done the same thing to me but I've never taken offense to it. So what do you guys think? Was I to close? How much room are you supposed to give a guy?

[catman]

Probably as many answers to this as there is people, if you were just trolling by and not fishing his spot I see no problem but others might. I don't care if you come over and fish right beside me, maybe I'll learn something and meet a new friend. I think the rule in a tournament is 50 ft. but that is just next to another competitors boat.

[keeferfish]

A quick peck on the cheek at first but no tongue! If you went around don’t worry about it but 10 foot seems close since I have rods longer than that.

I’ve checked and it’s not a privately owned lake!!! Ask him for his number and tell him next time you'll take him up on the offer!

[jackb]

I think you did the right thing since he was there first. HOWEVER if it were me, I'd have given him my famous one finger salute and my two favorite words after his comment. You were being courteous, he was not.

["G"]

10 to 15 ft. is pretty close

[slabinator]

I think you passed too close. He was in the cove on that bank before you got there. Should give him at least 50 feet minimum.

[vic n]

I guess a little more room to the side, but you were pulling into water he had finished with, so no need to worry about distance there. Had a guy nearly scrape the front of my boat to get 5' in front of me going down a bank, so I went around and into the cove about a hundred yds.....danged if he didn't come and do it again!!

[beagle man]

screw him,,fish where the heck you want and if no body likes it send them to me, I will explain the finer details of shut your mouth and fish, Oh no did I say that outlout loud,,, you did well, you pulled out, went around, what more could a guy want geeezz looweeze. I like people fishing close to me, but I like to talk and learn and watch to see if I can learn a different way to retrieve a jig or work a tree, or what ever, heck may eaven get a samich or two offered.

[jigflinger]

I was taught that when 2 vessels approach each other bow to bow, that both vessels yield to the right. To me, he should have yielded.

[JD1]

If you had your rods out of the water and were cleared his rods by 10 -15 I'd say you were ok I really wouldn't want anyone any closer for sure. I'd give a little more room personally.