How do you deal with boats throwing big wakes?

My boat sets low in the water and some folks cruise along half speed with bow up or folks setting on the bow. They leave a huge wake when they could leave room between us or slow down. It's nothing for some to pass within 50' while there is a mile of open water to pass. Sometimes it's so bad they wet my feet on the bow of my boat! I would rather some stay on plane and go on by. How do you handle this? I know this has been said before but I needed to vent before I explode! Some are just ignorant , some are inconsiderant, while others are both! Thinking about making a sign to hold up but it would'nt help with most.

on the ignorant idiots that do it to be @## i just kuss under my breath and hope they catch a stump with the lower unit..

As much as I hate to be close buzzed at 50+mph I'd rather they stay up than make a halffast pass that leaves wakes a surfer would drool over. I honestly think that some folks believe they're doing you a favor by sort of slowing down. A lot of times that type will throw up a friendly hand just as they pass........ it might do some good to offer them a little education.

Then there's the guys that plow thru a posted no wake zone at half throttle ......... most I've seen have a lot of sparkles in their gel coat and are in a hurry from the time they leave home 'till the time they get back ............. nothing to do but pray for that lot.

As for wake boats and skidoos, that's why they're on the lake in the first place.

Wear waterproof shoes(or go barefoot), make sure your bilge pump is working, hold on to your seat, grit your teeth and remember that there's no honor in winning the biggest a55hole of the day award.

I wouldn't let it bother you. I honestly don't believe most of it is intentional, they just don't know. Over the years I've tried not to let other folks actions make or break my day. I watch some guys come into work all mad because of something someone did on the drive to work. I'm willing to bet 99% of the time the othe guy doesn't even know your alive.

On another thought if you have a boat without much free board, you should use caution where you take it.

Reminds me of my beef with restricted HP lakes. A 14 footer with 3 guys plowing along with a 9.9 throws a bigger wake than a bass boat going by at 50MPH. Forget the HP restriction, and just make the lake NO WAKE! I really believe folks slowing down to half throttle think they are doing you a favor. Kinda hard to wave someone over and explain things to them though.

If I see them coming the second time. I have a 12 foot tuna rod with 300# powerpro and a 16 oz. catfish sinker to use as a reminder.

I normally don't acknowledge their friendly wave. Some don't realize what they're doing as they've never owned a smaller boat. Others know what they do and it's out of spite. I'll normally shake my head in disgust as they go by, and have been known to offer up a one finger salute if the wake is extremely big. I've never had any problems being very nice on the water, OR turning into Mr. Hyde when prompted. The absolute worst boaters are the Sons that get to take their Daddys boat out for the day. Most of them have needed their butts handed to them their entire life and have been raised to not have a clue.

Now Reaper, let's not get hot under the collar over this............................ just mount an M60 on the side of the boat:yikes and when they go by smile REAL big and grin. Maybe ya might pat 'YOUR BUDDY" IF THEY GET TOO CLOSE.:crazy: I bet they won't buzz you again. Just a suggestion......... just trying to help:popcorn

Next time just call ahead and reserve the lake for yourself so yall wont be bothered with us common folk.

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Originally Posted by Jessemae

Next time just call ahead and reserve the lake for yourself so yall wont be bothered with us common folk.

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Years ago I remember one getting an 8 oz lead river weight tossed at a glass boat. He turned around raising heck but was greeted with pea shooter, lol The conversation was short.:yikes Rofl

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Originally Posted by crappiemax

I wouldn't let it bother you. I honestly don't believe most of it is intentional, they just don't know. Over the years I've tried not to let other folks actions make or break my day. I watch some guys come into work all mad because of something someone did on the drive to work. I'm willing to bet 99% of the time the othe guy doesn't even know your alive.

On another thought if you have a boat without much free board, you should use caution where you take it.

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Do you realize how big a wake it takes to wet you feet sitting in a 16' x 48'' boat?

Sunday afternoon I was riding the wakes left and right from all of the pleasure boaters (for them anyways). Most don't care, and unfortunately, where I was fishing was lakefront property for the people that can afford lake front property, so they don't really care about someone in a fishing boat. Bass boats on plane going 50mph make very little wake, so I don't mind them at all compared to the wakeboard boats and runabouts, etc.. One runabout had 9 people on it sunday, looked like a messican van from a distance and could not get on plane. Saw another open bow boat with a 200+lb woman up in the bow and still could not get on plane. LOL

Glad I fish lakes with hp limits. :biggrin

In your case, what about calling the DNR and reporting them.

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Originally Posted by NIMROD

Years ago I remember one getting an 8 oz lead river weight tossed at a glass boat. He turned around raising heck but was greeted with pea shooter, lol The conversation was short.:yikes Rofl

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Cant belive people are going to start pulling guns on folks that are just,fishing and riding in their boats. am I the only one offended with this attitude?

LAs bad ad we all want to get a chainsaw and cut some people we just have to remeber that some dont care.. its just how it is. People are people and that wont change

Won't see me slow down less I where I want to be or water starts getting real shallow--and I try stay as far away from others as possible--and I do wave when i go by when possible:)

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Originally Posted by KDAVID1

Won't see me slow down less I where I want to be or water starts getting real shallow--

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It's the slowing down that creates the wake. Some folks are just too blind to the fact that when they slow down while passing another boat quadruples the amount of wake they're creating. Either leave it wide open and trimmed out, or slow to a no wake before passing someone anchored or tied off. Boats working the bank with their trolling motors can deal with the wake better. If you're anchored, you can get knocked off a dandy spot and have to try and get your rig back where you had it.

Those that are inconsiderate of others on the water are more than likely to be the same off the water.

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Originally Posted by Crappie Reaper

It's the slowing down that creates the wake. Some folks are just too blind to the fact that when they slow down while passing another boat quadruples the amount of wake they're creating. Either leave it wide open and trimmed out, or slow to a no wake before passing someone anchored or tied off. Boats working the bank with their trolling motors can deal with the wake better. If you're anchored, you can get knocked off a dandy spot and have to try and get your rig back where you had it.

Those that are inconsiderate of others on the water are more than likely to be the same off the water.

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yep 100% agree.

Can't fix stupid.banghead

"those that are inconsiderate of others on the water are more than likely to be the same off the water."

no other way to say it .......... truth is the truth

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Originally Posted by Jessemae

Next time just call ahead and reserve the lake for yourself so yall wont be bothered with us common folk.

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RoflRoflRofl I was thinking the same thing!!!

I've had a small swampable jon boat and I simply stayed out of areas that I knew were prone to large wakes. Pretty simple solution. Then when the circumstances were right I upgraded and bought a bigger jon boat with more freeboard. Now I don't worry about it.

I feel almost the same about kayak'ers. They have all the right to be on the water as I do and as everyone else does. But if they decide to be an idiot and paddle across the middle of a known ski lake and get hit, swamped, or killed...to bad! A little common sense go a long ways.

So I guess if your feet are getting wet because of large a wake then wear boots, move to another location on the lake, fish smaller lakes, change your fishing time, or get a bigger boat. Plenty of solutions to choose from.

Jessemae, I don't have a problem with, as you say, common folk. Heck, I are one. But when common folk don't exercise a little common sense, they have earned my disrespect and the right to be called stupid. So sorry if this offends anyone.

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Originally Posted by jigflinger

But when common folk don't exercise a little common sense, they have earned my disrespect and the right to be called stupid.

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X2 - and don't forget common decency

Funny thing about "common sense", its a learned thing. Nobody is born with common sense. You have to learn it! Everybody knows if you stick your hand in a fire you will get burned. However, you dont have that common sense until you learn that lesson, and in most cases that lesson is learned the hard way. Unfortunately, if tehy never rode in a small boat, tehy will never learn that lesson. So a little common sense means you should take the time to politely educate them. :crazy:

I personally could care less if you slow down, or buzz me at top speed. Its not always about me! When I see the wake coming I enjoy the ride. And if you see me stand up and yell YEEEEHAWWWW at the top of my lungs hit me again.......:Hands Clapping

You're funny.

I changed my fishing days to during the week trying to avoid most of those fools. And the ones I do see I just dont let it bother me because of their stupidity.:rolleyes: They wave and I just stare and shake my head. I guess that came with age because it'd made me mad enough to run somebody down back in my younger years. 'Course things were different back in those days too. Nobody tried washing you out of the water back then. Everybody came off plane and idled by you back then...except for the few that just didnt care. It aint worth messing up a fun time on the water fishing by letting things get under your skin messing your day of leisure up. If it bothers you that bad you can always fish behind the timber or go to the shallows to avoid those idiots....and fish ARE in those areas too.Thumbs Up

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Originally Posted by jigflinger

You're funny.

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x2--I'd like to see that--YEHAW:)

Personally, most unrestricted horsepower lakes are subject to various levels of safety, experience and curteosy (and on occasion sobriety) "challenged" boat `operating`individuals whom may or may not be aware of and/ or have much regard for the respective rights of others and may or maynot have the empathy or concern of your average late WW 2 Imperial Japanese `kamikaze` pilot with even less hrs of operation under their belt while still proudly displaying the same Bushido code disregard for their own or( unfortuneately) the lives of others; boldly attempting stunts straight out of Ian Fleming`s "Live and Let Die"; James Bond would move rationally quickly away in fear at what`s coming. Am sure at least a couple were Al Quadia martyer "rejects" who were simply deemed too dangerous or inept, quickly becoming voted as suicide vest candidates, out enjoying 1 last wkend with the wife and in-laws before going back to work Monday...

The suggestion about switching to weekday outings is one that I use up here to avoid fishing pressure. There are a couple of lakes around here where summer recreational pleasure boats make weekend fishing difficult and often dangerous. It only makes common sense to avoid such places if you can.

If you are on the water, and get buzzed or waked, get the boat registration numbers and turn them in to your local water patrol or conservation officer. Wakes in a no-wake zone are a violation that the officers should be willing to handle for you.

As far as guns go, don't be stupid. In most states threatening someone with one is felonious assault, unless you have solid reason to act against prior direct threat or an actual attack, which heavy wakes are not. If you threaten someone like that, they may well have the right to stand their own ground and you end up with a prison sentence. This isn't a joking matter. There are far too many confused and gray areas that end up in tragedy for one or both sides, if you are not very careful about what you do with what you are allowed to carry.

With all due respect, those who joke about armed response to what is at most discourtesy or relatively innocent ignorance make me wonder if they shouldn't take some sort of psychological test about their fitness to carry in public. Your rights to self protection only extend to actual need not to annoyance and include no right to even threaten just because of discourtesy or somebody else's stupidity.