Dealing with Pleasure boaters and other simpletons...

Given the recent "organizing" I am sure this will get moved but I am at my wits end. I would like to know what you all think we can collectively do to help resolve the issue of other boaters lacking boating etiquette and abiding by the rules. I am talking about pleasure boaters and PWC owners as well as other fishermen. I am so tired of dealing with stupid people on the water! All I want to do is pull up over a brush pile and fish or possibly troll the banks in a cove. I am forever bombarded with the V.I.P. types that have a $40,000 boat and absolutely no common sense! I can hear the boat from across the lake (because they think it is cool to have a 454 with open exhaust) and when they come by me sitting on a brush pile the do so at half throttle pulling a moron on a set of ski's and think I am impressed. I am not impressed, I am pissed!! Take your pleasure crap out in the middle of the lake! Who would want to ski or tube next to the bank where it is shallow?! I guess the shallow minded.........
Sorry for the rant but damn I am getting tired of the morons on the water! Most of the time it is the "pleasure boaters" but recently I have had several run-ins with other fishermen. We have spent 15 days of the last 3 weeks at the melvern and out of those 21 days on the water I have probably had 7-8 encounters with inconsiderate people. No one seems to understand the whole concept of "right of way". I have been trolling for crappie and had someone pull in front of me from my left to where I had to stop, I have had 4 different skiers pull in front of me from my left and either stop in front of me or stop to my left and then take off again pulling right in front of me to where I had to come off plane and wait for them to move by. I know I am rambling but damn I am getting tired of inconsiderate people! This rant does not even touch on the boat ramp issues!!!

My question to all of you is what should/can we do about all of this? I am normally a reserved sort of guy when I am on the water but I am about to lose my cool! It is getting out of hand. What can we do to help educate the other boaters out there? Is there any hope? What happened to common sense and respect for others?

Keith

It has nothing to do with being in a ski boat, Jet Ski, bass boat…. Inconsiderate people are just inconsiderate. There is nothing you can do but go about your own business and don’t let other people ruin your good time. Hell I ride a Harley and it’s darn loud which I’m sure would also annoy you but I like it and I don’t care. I’m sure there are plenty of inconsiderate crappie fishermen too but so what. Just because you don’t like something don’t make it wrong. I guess I’ve lightened up a bit and quit letting it get to me. I actually just laugh at them now. I do feel your pain trying to fish brush piles especially when skiers are around but guess what you don’t own the lake and if they are not breaking the law by getting too close too bad. Just enjoy your time on the water, I know I do.

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Originally Posted by wheels70

Given the recent "organizing" I am sure this will get moved but I am at my wits end. Keith

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Yep!Thumbs Up <*)}}}><

This past Sunday at Marion we got to see someone who thought he was the only person on the lake, or should I say boat ramp. Its a 2 lane boat ramp with a little curb running down the middle. This guy pulled out and of course only pulled up about 10 feet from the water. He started to put everything away and wipe his boat down. Another guy backed down next to him and there were 2 boats waiting for him to get done. He got everything put away and wiped his boat down then he was ready to leave. What can you do? After seeing this for years at all lakes, by fisherman and boaters, I just shake my head and go on about my business. Its sure not worth getting upset over it. The good thing is, the wipers and short walleye are really biting at Marion.

I can relate to the 454 loud engine...I am camphosting on Bluestem point at Eldo lake...I hear them till 2 or 3 in the morning on weekends .They like to sit around the Old Blue Dam and play there rap music as loud as the volume can be turned up.

Ahh, propwash. The people on the boat ramps, go ahead and remind them of the parking lot, if you don't they will become a bad example to others. Be "polite" at first, of course I'm a big-boy so next being assertive can be intimidating because I'm "short" with them then. My favs are the ones who state "you don't own the lake", so I get 'em thinking with "Do you even know who I am?", try it, then watch when the lightbulb goes off. After a bit, you'll kinda enjoy watching, it's the same reaction every time, you can really sell it with a flip of the cell-phone too.

I think its all about the energy we're willing to spend, especially on something we not apt to change. Jet skis jump my wake, people ski in all the worst places (especially with kids) and fishermen get a lil close sometimes but dammed if I'll let it wreck my time on the water. Lake time is in short supply so treat em like a gnat. Brush them away and forget about em.

Unfortunately, if theyre not breaking the law there's not much you can do about it other than letting it ruin your trip. The pleasur eboater are gonna have their fun during the warm months and if it's getting to ya that bad then I recommend you either take up river fishing or night fishing.:o (I've done both to get away from them.)

When we are all on the same water its bound to happen. I recently purchased a jet boat so I could get away from all the boat traffic. I was at Fall River recently, far above the lake but still in the legal area. Had a bank fisherman throw a rock at us, I had my wife and 5 year old daughter in the boat. When I asked his dumba-- what the heck? He responded with this area never has boats and I ruined his fishing when I went by. Looking back at it I might have ruined his day by doing something perfectly legal. I was just trying to avoid people like he was doingAttachment 63519. If he would have hit someone or my boat with that rock I would probably be in jail right now.

Being both a wake-boarder and a fisherman, I tell you the reason they don't ski in the middle of the lake is because the conditions are generally too rough. The best skiing is on smooth water which is generally found next to the dam or in a quiet cove. You're right though. It is inconsiderate and I see it all the time.

I don't mind pleasure boaters or jet skiis when they come cruising by, not a huge deal. In general people are considerate and atleast slow down or stay 100 yards or so away from the bank so they don't get in my lines. The ones that generally get on my nerves are the jet skiis that come 20 yards from the bank and do a dog and pony show over my bait. I don't think you're cool nor am I impressed; drives me insane.

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Originally Posted by keeferfish

It has nothing to do with being in a ski boat, Jet Ski, bass boat…. Inconsiderate people are just inconsiderate. There is nothing you can do but go about your own business and don’t let other people ruin your good time. Hell I ride a Harley and it’s darn loud which I’m sure would also annoy you but I like it and I don’t care. I’m sure there are plenty of inconsiderate crappie fishermen too but so what. Just because you don’t like something don’t make it wrong. I guess I’ve lightened up a bit and quit letting it get to me. I actually just laugh at them now. I do feel your pain trying to fish brush piles especially when skiers are around but guess what you don’t own the lake and if they are not breaking the law by getting too close too bad. Just enjoy your time on the water, I know I do.

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You are correct in that it does not make an act "wrong" simply because I (or anyone else) dislikes that particular act. I am talking about common courtesy, or more important, a genuine concern for others. It is not illegal or against the rules for me to stroll by your table while you are having a nice meal and fart as I go by but it IS seriously lacking in courtesy for others! It is not illegal or "breaking the law" for me to cut in front of you in a checkout line but it is inconsiderate of me to do so! It is not "illegal" or "breaking the law" for me to pull my boat 12 feet out of the water on the boat ramp and commence to unload it and give it a quick wax job but it is inconsiderate! It is not always about what is "legal" and what is "breaking the law". What happened to giving a sh!t about the other guy? I see it all the time on the lake and more often on the road.
( Hell I ride a Harley and it’s darn loud which I’m sure would also annoy you but I like it and I don’t care.) That is the attitude I am referring to! This comment says you do not have any reservations against disturbing others so long as you are happy. "It's all about ME" is the attitude I am seeing! ( I should know, I have a masters in Counseling) That is a piss poor attitude if you ask me!
I don't give three squats if you ride a Harley or not. I have no problem with that until you start wrapping it up in the late hours or just keep at it during the day. Keep it civil and I have no issue with it what-so-ever. I used to ride a Harley in my younger days and yes I pulled some bone-headed stunts with it. I have since matured.

Why should I change my course or come off of plane to wait and some idiot who pulled in front of me? Why should I have to fire up the big motor and haul ass away from the shore because some simpleton just came by me at half throttle thinking he was cool and the wake overpowered my trolling motor?

I am all for getting along but for crying out loud, lets all be on the same page. I am forever thinking about how my actions will effect someone else whether it be driving down the road or out on the water. Is it really that arduous? I am just a simple guy from a small town who does not like to cause other people problems and I expect the same from others, what is wrong with that?

It is not about what is "legal" or "breaking the law" it is about common courtesy which unfortunately is not all that common today and sadly is very closely correlated to common sense.

Keith