Trolling Etiquette,is there any rules ?

By now you guys know where and how the wife and I are fishing. Somethings are just a given and not much probably can be done about it.

Jetskis ripping it up all around your troll.

Pontoon boats that stop out from of timber and swimmers jump out.

Bass boats throwing wake across your freeboard, almost.

These people don't probably have a clue as to our activity trolling 6 rods 100+ feet back of the boat. You certainly can't make too much adjustment quickly doing this type of fishing.

It's the other crappie fisherman that probably know we are trolling multiple rods that get me most perturbed.

We were on our first troll yesterday between the channel and timber. Caught 3 in 10 minutes. We had been on this troll for 1/4 of a mile when here comes this boat and sets up a troll at a right angle to us. Then he turns and begins trolling towards us. We were hemmed in with the timber on our left and they were not leaving much room. Trying to judge speed and quess others intentions is not a science as much as, "I'll do what I can do to avoid this mess". This boat just pinched us to the point that our rod tips almost touched. We passed without a tangle but does it have to be like that ?

I don't expect to be the only boat in the area but it seems like there is much need for some rules or atleast common sense actions on the water. When I see another boat and I may share close space I try and figure out if he is trolling, wind drifting or just setting up. I try and make the boldest move I can without fowling my lines. Trying to signal my direction and intentions. Sometimes it works often times I can't even tell what the other boat is doing and if he even knows I exist.

So; maybe I'm the one who needs clued in. Please let me know what I can do to lessen these incidents. I have already thought of a wrist rocket and various wts if splitshot. Probably not the way to go. ds

Pretty frustrating, I find that if you that if you raise your voice pretty good and tell you fishing partner "Looks like my arse is going back to jail, here comes anothe idiot" that your proble goes away.
This guy was very lucking he had all them kids with him today or I would have turned ole Chilly loose on him!!!!!:banghead Passed within 50 yards in front of us!!!!
http://i1298.photobucket.com/albums/...ps420b75e8.jpg

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Originally Posted by Rees Guide

Pretty frustrating, I find that if you that if you raise your voice pretty good and tell you fishing partner "Looks like my arse is going back to jail, here comes anothe idiot" that your proble goes away.
This guy was very lucking he had all them kids with him today or I would have turned ole Chilly loose on him!!!!!:banghead Passed within 50 yards in front of us!!!!
http://i1298.photobucket.com/albums/...ps420b75e8.jpg

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Yep, no need for that. These coe lakes are big enough for a skier not to get that close at all.

What is this "ole chilly" you speak of ? lol

i think the do it on porpose

Looks like a whole lot of empty lake in front of that boat...no reason he couldn't have cut you some more room. There is a general lack of respect for others on the water...doesn't matter what type of boat...I've seen it from everyone.

That's about the time I pull out my 6' tuna rod with the Penn 395, spooled with Power Pro 300 and a 16 oz. bank sinker.

JADA over here too. They do it out of spite and because they think its cool. They wave sometimes, but I wave back with just one finger. They still think they are #1.

It's very frustrating...one reason I don't pull cranks I guess.Soon all the jet fleas and pleasure stuff will be put away...plus hunting season will take some of the fisherman up a tree!! My favorite time to fish is just around the corner.

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What is this "ole chilly" you speak of ? lol[/QUOTE]
Ole Chilly was who I was fishing with yesterday
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/08/05/e6ena2a9.jpg

I was at Sardis one day and it was getting late. The wind had come up to about 15mph. and I had a long ride all the way back across the lake.There were 3 foot rollers coming across and I had to crank the big motor just to keep the nose into the wind. I was trying to get all my rods stored and my boat ready for the trip.I was in the mouth of Clear Creek when 3 large ski boats came blasting out of that creek wide open. They never slowed down while going by and I could have surfed off the wake that came crashing into my boat from 2 directions.The waves were so violent and I had to turn that boat so quick for the next wave that I snapped off 1 weight and crank from 1 rod and almost broke the tip off my new Ozark trolling rod as it slammed up and down against the front of my boat.Good thing they outlawed guns on COE cause I would have popped a bunch of holes in the hulls of those boats and watched them scamper like ants on a hot sidewalk.I was so PST"D that i could have bit a railroad spike in half!After the ride back across the lake with the nose trimmed up to avoid the large waves coming over the front, I was exhausted!Maybe we should report and record on camera these events and the lake patrol might step up their patrols and ticket some of these rude and unsafe boating habits.That pic you posted is a good example and maybe we should contact the rangers by phone to report some of these events. That is all I know to do! My:twocents

I'm buying one of these for my boat and taking a bucket full of rocks. I'm sure it will work great.

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South i believe in staying the course.If i was there before them guess we are gonna play chicken and i aint got much to lose.But most people are nice about it tho.

Paintball gun loaded with frozen paintballs

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Originally Posted by Big H trucking

Paintball gun loaded with frozen paintballs

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1911 colt loaded with 240 grain hardball

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Originally Posted by Gomer Snerd

1911 colt loaded with 240 grain hardball

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I keep 230 grain Gold Dots in my 1911, but since I'm not allowed to even possess it on the COE lakes I leave it at home. As far as etiquette to other trollers, I do my best not to go near anyone else. That's probably why I don't catch the amount that others do, but I'd rather just keep to myself. I have a hard enough time keeping my own lines from getting acquainted, I don't need other folks' lines getting tangled in mine too. The fishermen that tick me off more than anything are some of the bass fishermen. I never realized how flat-out rude they can be. Some guys will blast right across your bow going 40 and not think a thing of it. What must etiquette be like in a bass tournament? :dono Now before anybody gets mad at me notice that I didn't say ALL bass fishermen. It's the selfish ones that stand out in a crowd.

Now the jet skiers and ski boat jerks are another matter. Here again not all are that way but on a Saturday afternoon you're likely to get a good dose of the bad ones. I think alcohol and a little too much testosterone come into play there. Some guys get a couple of pretty girls on a boat, add alcohol, and they feel the need to try to impress the young ladies. That's the main reason I don't go near the lake on Saturday afternoons, which is bad for me because I miss some times when the weather is just right for catching fish, or just being on the water.

Had a fellow pulling cranks troll from way behind me, pulling beside two boat lengths to my side, pulls in front of me and moves on. I know his cranks were under my boat cause i could see em on the df. I slowed down a little but he never gave an inch. Very frustrated at them with a whole darn lake to troll up from behind me to beside me then right in front me. Arrgggghhh

Just doesnt make sense, had an older gentleman in front of me. He was pushing some jigs running from shallow to deep and I was paralelling the contour lines, as I approached him I just turned behind him and kept going. Could have gone in from of him but it would have been close so I went behind, no need to be ass-a-nine!!!
When MO and I were at Enid the other day I werent paying attention and ran up on some fellows, they speeded up and got their lines out of our way. Werent there fault it was mine, I waved and appologised and they waved back and said no prob. Things happen from time to time but most of this crap is uncalled for.