I've seen several boats bunched up and fishing the same spot at times. I'm new to crappie fishing so my question is how close should you be to another boat?
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I've seen several boats bunched up and fishing the same spot at times. I'm new to crappie fishing so my question is how close should you be to another boat?
Depends on how many the other boat is catching lol
I try not to crowd people. I would say 50-60 yards.
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If your closer then 2O00 feet of me I ' ll move........
I don't want to be rude to other fisherman, I'm just put to enjoy a day and hopefully catch some dinner.
I've had people to fish my marker. Pole tips within 1 foot or maybe less this past fall. This is absolutely ridiculous and people should know better, but I guess some people can't find their own fish or figure out how to catch them all by themselves.
The year before on the local lake it was real cold with a pretty stiff wind. I was the only boat out and was doing good. Apparently one of the lake residents binoculared me and came plumb across the lake and stopped right in front of me and caught no fish. He then fished down the starboard side with the pole tips nearly touching and caught one. He crossed behind me and I had to stay on the trolling motor to keep the wind from drifting me back into him. He then fished up the port side. 2 Boats on the whole lake and we are never more than a rod length apart until he left.
I think it depends on the body of water your on. Sometimes I been with in water where each boat is about 20" from each other. Then there times 100' is to close. I think of gold creek and I have seen 5 boat trying to fish under bridge and then boat trying to go out in the pool where the other 100 boats are fish a small pool
I believe I would say oops srry I thought I was fly fishing
If a person or another boat is within casting distance of me, then I feel my personal space is being invaded and I immediately go on the defensive. Having said that, I have invited people to fish close enough to me I held their boat with my foot while dragging both Boats around with my trolling motor, but the key word is invited, I invited them to fish close. I won't tolerate a person inviting themselves into my fishing spot.
X2Quote:
Originally Posted by Lkconwayguru
Well Said
I had brush out that I wanted to fish yesterday only to see folks camped out on it before I got there then once they left I idled over to see if it was holding any fish and they kept staring at me....I wanted to say LOOK I PUT THE BRUSH OUT! It's not like your put it there so go on. Unless I know somebody I won't fish where they are. I saw a guy I knew out yesterday and trolled up beside him to talk. I knew he had brush out in the spot but I never picked up my rod....I wasn't invited to so I didn't. It's just the right thing to do. <br>I had words with a guy over in OK while I was bassin here a few years ago. The guy idled his big motor right past me and cut me off. Well then I trolled across the cove to fish the other bank out and once again he kicks his trolling motor on high and gets right back in front of me so I made the comment "Do you always cut people off"?? It was on after that....he gave some bogus excuse that he was fishing faster than me when point was he shouldn't have cut me off and he knew it. I left the area and as I was leaving I commented 12 miles of lake and you gotta fish right on top of somebody else??? I had also asked him if he was fishing in a tournament they were having that day to which he said no are you and I said no but would it have mattered. All in all he invited me to the bank to settle it but ended up trolling back out in deeper water once I said alright! As Woodrow put it, "I hate rude behavior in a man, fact is I won't tolerate it".
Why is it that crappie fisherman are always trying to pick a fight with bassss fisherman, even call their fish trash fish.Is it b/c crappie fisherman are nicer people....lol
I have heard anyone mention anything about bank fishing so I think I'll chime I here on this one. If you stand next to me and have to through over my line, you need to back up. I can't stand them folks throwing over my line or being elbow to elbow on a fishing pier. This is the reason I bought a boat. I don't need one to catch fish, I just got tired of dealing with people shoulder to shoulder.I like talking cutting up, and meeting new folks but I don't like someone just walking up and throwing over my line.
Some great points here. In most cases while in a boat casting distance is to close. I will not hedge in on others and hope for the same respect. Bank fishing is different due to the lack of access. The bottom line should be respect. I ended up fishing side by side with a guy from the back this past weekend from the bank. He was a really nice guy and we ended up swapping tips, methods and even cooking tips due to him being from Minnesota and cooking styles being different.
Each circumstance is different but should still be ruled by curtousy and respect. Unfortunate that some guys don't have either.
Slackline
I ust to get pretty rude with folks who got too close but nowadays I take it with a grain of salt and move on. There have been some days i have went to an area to fish and it is too crowded. If I find this going on i just go to a spot that isnt crowded. i cant tell you how many times this has paid off with big stringers and a new bite I just wear out till the word gets out...Most times I am fishing right under the nose of my boat...LOL its kind of hard to root a fellow out when hes fishing right under his boats nose tip.
There have been many a days where I am pulling big slab after big slab and be surrounded by fellow fisherman watching me pull a big limit out, but there was noway for them to horn me out... because i was locked right over a top and all they could do was sit back and watch the CrappiePro Fishing Show. LOL
I have friends over on Kentucky and barkley lakes.They have winter pool and summer pool.In winter the pool is drawn down.The locals put brush,stake beds, anything that will hold fish.They mark these piles with PVC pipe.Drive them in the bottom on each side of the piles.In the spring the water level comes back up and covers the brush.The piles or 50- 100 yards long in every cove up and down the lake.In the spring when the fish move in to the brush piles,stake beds fish shelters the locals will bring party barges,houseboats stay all night and tye onto each other and fish these fish shelters they will be lined up on each side maybe 10-20 barges,flatbottoms anything that will float catching fish left and right.When one boat or party barge pulls out another one pulls in.Its unreal they will invite you over share bait and help you clean your fish.Go to their house right up on the bank and have a big old fish fry unreal.Espically when the big red ears start biting and bedding.if you ever get a chance to go over around april-15 - may the 15 its unreal!!!!
WOW!!!...that sounds funQuote:
Originally Posted by jackie53
I do not encroach on another fisherman's territory, period! If we are trolling and I know you or you motion me over to ask if I'm catching any, I will get close enough for a conversation but when it's time, I will get well out of your territory and let you continue to fish and enjoy your day. I do not cut people off. Now if you are tied up to a bush and not moving, I will go around you, but I will leave unfished water(by me anyways) ahead of you. If it gets crowded where I'm fishing, I leave. All the fish in the lake are not in one particular place and I can find them elsewhere.
These are guidelines I follow with my friends I fish with and even my dad. I follow them twice as good if I don't know you.
I think it's just courtesy.
I don't go fishing to get in a fight over a brush top. I deal with people enough during the week and I like the solitude of fishing. I usually wear my earphones and listen to my iPod while I'm fishing. I don't bother anyone that way.
Well...now that I know you're a bit more tolerable Russ I gonna have to stick by you like fly on stink this spring. :biggrin
you know if you are fishing to close to someone , not to hard to read the body language of other fisherman. 50 yards to me is to close but I like some room , last weekend I was fishing a spot and know one else was there until I had someone idle around me 40 yds and stop then started fishing right in front of me next boat shows up pulls 30 yds behind me stops starts fishing . Now I can't go forward or back up, they circle me like buzzards 20 feet out . I never said anything but finally just reeled all my stuff up and moved. There enden up being 13 boats in that small area but hey if people think thats OK I guess thats their conscience to live with, me personally I will just move on. I have fished long enough to know how to find fish without moving in on someone else.
I keep a little annoying music on my iPod, if you get too close, I break out the speakers and start up the Vanilla Ice, Devo, and New Kids on the block and crank those speakers to the max. You wouldn't beleive the looks you get, and eventually they will move on and I can go back to my good ole country at low levels.
I haven't had this problem since I started pulling my baits.
Coming from Texas and fishing the Chicken Coop regularly, then the pool here in Arkansas, I am accustomed to boats being near me. But, my personal rule while stationary is I try to keep at least casting distance in a crowded situation; unless I find CP or Nimrod. Don't beleave all of that stuff they say about getting near them. They really like it.:Rofl
DP
The fact that you have New Kids On The Block on your i-pod is a little disturbing! Just kidding(not really!)Quote:
Originally Posted by LMBarnett
C.J.
I've seen 20 boats spider rigging in a 100 yard or less stretch during tournaments with the wind blowing 15-20. That's close, and it's hard not to hit another boats pole tips when you're packed in like that using 16' poles. Doesn't matter if you're first on the spot or not, if the bigger fish are holding in a certain area, you better expect company. It is PUBLIC water, so you just have to deal with crowding, or leave the best fish for someone else to weigh in.
Being in a crowd will teach you one of the most important lessons in fishing tho, and that's Boat Control. Seems Boat Control is 90% of catching fish anyway. You MUST learn to control your boat no matter the style of fishing you prefer or the conditions!!!!!
BTW, crank up the music. If I'm catching fish, I won't even hear it. :)
Big River Marine
Bill Burnett
870-635-0202
We sell XPRESS, EXCEL, and ALWELD Boats. Yamaha, Suzuki, Evinrude, Mud Buddy, and Tohatsu/Nissan Engines.
Pro Staff, Southern Pro Tackle and Ozark Rods.
Member, Tri-State Crappie Anglers
X2....People have a lot of courage to walk up or boat up next to me and then not only fish the same area but interfer with me. It is a big big world and there is not fish and no reason to ruin someones day by casting over them or fishing there small area at that time.Quote:
Originally Posted by Conwayslabber
Makes me want to ask them if I could come use there toilet sometime, if you know what I mean :Rofl
You better NEVER go to a spillway and fish when they're running water this time of year. It's wall to wall, elbow to elbow fishermen. Every rock is taken when the fish are biting or they are snagging em. LolQuote:
Originally Posted by Conwayslabber
Big River Marine
Bill Burnett
870-635-0202
We sell XPRESS, EXCEL, and ALWELD Boats. Yamaha, Suzuki, Evinrude, Mud Buddy, and Tohatsu/Nissan Engines.
Pro Staff, Southern Pro Tackle and Ozark Rods.
Member, Tri-State Crappie Anglers
will not ever stop within 40 yds of another boat . I always try to overlook childish behavoir . If you bump my boat there is a strong chance that i may get my butt kicked .nonono
Depends on several factors. If you are fishing a small area that is known for being crowded, then you have to be prepared to be in close quarters with other boats. In those situations, I would say casting distance is too close. No problem as long as they are respectful, unfortunately there is always someone who is not. Dont be expecting to claim a 75 yard stretch of bank. Now In an open area, thats different.
C.J.
For me it all depends on where we are at. If it is the main lake then I want to stay a good distance from you and hope that you will stay a good distance from me, but if we are in gold pond I do not know how you keep a comfortable distance from other folks.
This is great, and I've waiting on a lot of folks to chime in. I'm interested how y'all view this. Good stuff.
I am an old converted bass fisherman. I've found I don't crappie fish like a lot of folks (prolly why I ain't no good).......many times I 'work a bank'. I start somewhere and work the brushpiles/blowdowns/sunken logs up or down a shoreline. The times that blow me away is when someone sees me doing this and pulls up right in front of me and ties up. I know, I know, I'm about to start fishing THEIR spot and they can't stand it. But that one makes me the maddest, I'll admit.
However, in later years, I've found that I like solitude for me and whoever is in boat with me. So if you come up close to me, I just wave, and say something nice, and move on somewhere else. Well, if I happen to be pulling in slab after slab maybe not, but usually I just leave.
Also, as mentioned above, many times I'll see 3 boats together out in some open body, and I know they are on a brushtop, or sunken structure. But probably, they know each other and are just out there visiting. Most big brushtops can handle multiple boats, and all catch fish. So, just because they know each other doesn't mean they invited me in. I NEVER go close to someone else if I can help it at all.
Lastly, I have to keep reminding myself "It's a PUBLIC lake". That means that no matter what I think, or how mad I get, the other guy paid his share of that lake and I just have to live with it. If his Mama didn't instill any upbringin' in him, I can't probably fix him with a few choice words.
But to answer the actual question......I'd say two 'cast lengths' apart. Meaning, if I can cast a reasonable distance of 30 feet, and you can too, then we need to be 60 feet apart. And the lake matters..........I've seen boats so close in the cove at Lake Atkins in September that you could walk from launch ramp to other shore and not get wet. That's cause that's where ALL the fish are, and folks just have to live with the closeness to catch any.
This is a good thread. It's nice to see other points of view. I guess it all depends on the type of fishing you are doing. Me, the only reason I'd pay attention to tournament fishing is to mark it on my calendar to avoid that spot on that day. :) That's just me. I'd probably rather go bream fishing on less crowed, smaller water than feel crowded out by other boats.
I haven't done any real boat fishing just yet. But I have been on Conway, Overcup, and the Big and Little maumelle on the kayak, and all the folks I've come across have been (mostly) respectful. I guess that is one of the benefits of being on a small craft; most boaters give you a wide lane.
I just about have the tin boat geared up, though, so I'll soon see how that goes.
I once took a trip to Nimrod. Don't remember which landing, maybe Carter. There was standing room only and a waiting line at the launch. There must have been about 50 boats within a square football field. Maybe it was one of those tournaments.. I don't know. But I drove on, did some exploring... found the launch for Fourche river, and had me a dandy time on the smaller water. I have been on Conway and seen lots of guys (probably some of you), but I wasn't crappie fishing then, so I wasn't competing for them honey holes :) (I may not have figured out crappies yet, but I can tell you lake Conway has some fine eating catfish in it, and they ain't too hard to catch!)
Fishing for me is one part putting food on the table that isn't pumped full of crap and processed and one part spiritual, just soaking up creation in quiet solitude. I can be neighborly and wave at ya, but I sure wouldn't pull up beside you and throw out a line.
I've enjoyed reading all of these posts, I will do my best to keep a good distance between myself and other boats. If anyone wants to fish next to me that's ok, I'm probly in the wrong spot anyhow.
Attachment 115842
If you dont like crowds dont fish places like this. There were about 10 boats that you cant see in the pic.
C.J.
I think if I was there I might try going up top on the road rotflQuote:
Originally Posted by Cmj
Is that the 89 bridge? That is definitely where I will not be fishing :) Funny pic, though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cmj
If one guy caught a fish, about five would drown.
Yep 89 Bridge. Pulled a lot of nice Crappie out of there this Fall/winter, despite the crowds.
C.J.
True story about that location.
I worked in Little Rock for 22 years. Drove back and forth of course. THIS time of year, every year, I would take my casting rig and those two-tone green plastic worms, and my overalls. I'd stop around there, back when you could park there, on the way back to Conway every day. I'd stand on the..............um..........let's see............NW side of that bridge, on the rocks, and cast as far as I could with that plastic worm, and work it back along the bottom towards me. I had a 5 gallon bucket with me. There'd be nine million humanoids on the banks, in boats, you name it............and some might actually catch a little something. Me? I slayed the bass. I caught nice bass every other cast. Most folks don't really work the bottom, slowly, and that's what I like about worm fishing....learning to tell the difference in pulling over structure and a hit....
One day the bite would stop....lasted maybe 10 days sometime in February.......and I'd bypass stopping there. But boy that was fun, especially the looks I got from everyone. Fish weren't big, but plenty big enough to filet. In a week, I'd have a big ole mess in the freezer.
That was before I got a straw hat and started crappie fishing.
x2Quote:
Originally Posted by cmj
That is the reason I chose to stop fishing Dardanelle for awhile. Too crowded most days and folks moving back and forth over creek ledges in a floatilla. Bad enough trying to find a parking space with the parking lot full. Last trip to Shoal Bay a couple old men pulled in where we were fishing and anchored on our marker buoyo. it was banging against their boat and we went to retrieve it. One said it ain't bothering us you can leave it , we are used to fishing around them.:crazy: I know when fish are suspended and lots boats are out there it's just part of it but how close is too close?
In the past on Nimrod folks have run over my markers while I was fishing them. Had one guy pull up while I was fishing a public brush pile that we helped the Corps rebuild. The guy pulls up tosses out his anchor within 20' of my boat and tells me I'm on his spot? You will see all kinds and some are rude others are just a few bricks shy of a full load. That is the reason on Nimrod I build mostly very small stakebeds or brush piles in open water to try and avoid crowds fishing banks or tree tops that are visable. Try to get along but remember it's public and consider the others fishing. At times wind will rule where folks crowd up but I have fished white caps just to avoid crowded coves.