Where has common courtesy gone?

The lack of courtesy on Kentucky Lake seems to get worse each and every year. So much so that it takes most of the fun out of even going for those of us that can only get out on the weekends because of work.

Just yesterday as a case in point:

It appears that the only way people know how to find fish now is to drive up to and fish right on top of another boat. Any time a boat would sit at one general spot more than 20 minutes, an entire flotilla would have it surrounded. Once one boat moved in, it just triggered an avalanche of others to run over and join in not two boats apart from one another. It didn't matter if there were fish being caught or not. All one had to do was hang out in one spot for a few minutes. I went to one area simply because there wasn't a boat there and within 5 minutes had 4 other boats follow me in and start fishing along. rotfl

Given that scenario, I lost count of the number of boats that would come right through the middle of a pack of boats either on plane or just wallowing along. A group of boats is not a slalom course and people generally do not enjoy your massive wake while trying to fish the hole you just ran through the middle of! Your boat will still make forward progress at idle and please learn what that trim switch is used for.

The icing on the cake.... I found a small school of fish in a rather indistinct area and quickly caught 5. We were long lining and the water in that spot was deep so I had to slow the speed down quite a bit to get the jigs to the fish. This made me have to make about a 60-70 yard line to turn back around. The GPS wasn't updating moving while moving so slowly so I had my buddy pitch a marker off to the side of the target zone. We caught a fish on that pass and before I could get turned around, a spider rigging boat was making a beeline for the marker. That's bad enough but he was cut off by two guys in a bass boat on half plane, one standing on the bow pointing at my marker. Those guys drove right up to my marker and actually stopped when they bumped it so that they could scan it and enter a waypoint. I wasn't even 50 yards away heading back toward the marker when they did it!

I see a lot of people come on here looking for advice and some get torqued when they don't publicly receive any. The scenario above describes an almost typical day this time of year for those of us that call Kentucky and Barkley our home waters. Naturally, we get a bit torqued when it happens every day we go fishing. Folks that come in for a day or a week might think this is normal practice and join right in since that is all they see but I can assure you that the rest of the year is far from it. Generosity comes after a little respect to others. There's plenty of fish out there and you might be surprised what the regulars might show you, given a little more common courtesy.....

:twocents

I love this site but when you have around 25 percent member to 75 percent guest (app. number) what do you think the 75 percent are contributing to this site ? I wish Ed would make it member only as I would be willing to pay a yearly fee for use. I have noticed a lot of crappie.com members have quit posting and I understand why. It is hard to help people who are not willing to spend the time on the water to learn. Over the years I have read everything I could find plus have had excellent help in teaching me to become a better fisherman. You people who want join and post and help others are missing a great teaching tool. I spend hours on this site trying to learn as well as help others when knowledge allows. I guess this old world is to fast paced for some to learn. As far as manners go I once was told I GOT GOOD MANNERS JUST DONT WANT TO USE THEM AND WEAR THEM OUT.

I agree with Quackrstackr's assessment of how bad it has gotten. I am a guest on Kentucky Lake although I spend time in Spring and Fall there. If these yahoos can roll up in a 20 foot cutback with a tree down where I am sitting with Bow and Stern both almost touching the bank and get lines tangled with mine because I pulled in a couple Bluegill, it is getting crazy. I try to give everyone a wide berth and like most members here realize there is a lot of water out there holding fish. I have had the members here treat me like friends and family, bought a beautiful dog from MRDUX and had Wiskers feed me and the wife at the fall shindig. I can only add that as bad as it has gotten on KY lake it is worse in Louisville and no doubt any city. I don't envy our next generation of sportsmen and women. Don't know what is worse, the Asian Carp or the Lake Lice.

Common courtesy and common sense are neither very common these days.

I see folks come on here and ask questions on a public forum then get all testy when they don't get folks rushing all over themselves to spill their guts and give out all their knowledge that has taken years to acquire. PMs are your friend. Nobody should feel slighted when their questions go unanswered. Many of us have fallen victim to the "I won't tell your spots" gremlin. When my secret spots or tactics become public knowledge, I tend to clam up. Believe me, I have fallen victim to the internet scouts several times.

I'm new to this site I wish I had known about it years ago but i didn't it is a great site. I joined it because it is full of guys and gals thats like me we all have a passion for crappie fishing. With that being said there are people in this world that cares for no one other than themselves I fish 99% of the time with my two sons one is 19 and the other is 16 I have tried to teach them to respect others while on the water (ITS CALLED SPORTSMANSHIP). Just yesterday we was fishing at Nolin and several boats went past us just flying nearly washed us to the bank. they came within 10 ft of us I thought one was going to hit us. As far as jumping on someones fishing hole that is just wrong no matter how you put it I dont mind someone coming up and asking for pointers but fishing on top of me is wrong. If I ask questions on here its because I don't know. Someone one time told me the only stupid question was the one you didn't ask. You never get to old to learn some thing new and when it comes to crappie fishing I have alot to learn. Thanks for all the posts I have learned alot on here. I hope to be able to meet some of you at one of the events this year.

I personally have conceded Jonathon, Blood River and Big Bear to them. I find other places to fish and other than grumbling at a few Green carp racers I am happy with the deal. Last Wednesday I fished all day in a bay by myself no other boats in sight, caught a limit, and it was nice.

When I go I never fish the popular bays and I hammer em every time. Im a loner. Ky lake is too big and plenty of fish for everyone. Im in Illinois and I couldn't agree more. Some of the things I see when im there is crazy!!!!! You guys are spot on with your assessment.

Can't imagine fishing in a area like that. I spent today fishing in a small trib off the Ohio today by myself. There was one other boat in there and we both kept our distance from one another. We finally got close enough to ask each other how the day was going. I do wish the fishing was better here locally but I wouldn't want to deal with the crowds that would come with it.Common courtesy is a lost trait it seems. Boils down to you can't fix stupid.

"Those guys drove right up to my marker and actually stopped when they bumped it so that they could scan it and enter a waypoint."

I throw out markers so I can check my gps and its amazing how many people will go to it thinking its on a bed. Best thing to do is put the two markers 50 feet in a 90degree angle and it throws them off your bed.

Myself I move fast and cover a lot of water so its hard to figure my waypoints.

Good read totally agree. Had it to happen to me in swamp creek a couple years a go I just picked up my marker rolled up my poles started up motor done a couple donuts and left. Guess it happens on all lakes, I fished reelfoot sunday afternoon and when I put in there was a huge gaggle of boats out in the middle of the lake so i headed away from all the traffic, when I stopped to put my poles in the water there was two boats bout 75 to 100 yds away. I caught to fish pretty quick one which i had to stand up to get her in, big mistake in a matter of five to seven minutes i heard a commotion turned around and a guy fishing by himself was catching a fish 15 yards behind my motor and I didnt even have a marker out. He followed me for about fifty yards or so and finally i just sat still for a lil while he ended up trolling around me with our end poles not seven yards apart needless to say I was ticked and i think he knew it so no words were spoken...

Hear this all the time, just glad I can fish during the week and on a good lake that does not have a lot of pressure. I would also like to see site set up where you can only read posts if your a member. At least make them make a effort to read stuff, let them see titles but no content until they join.

Try having a sign on your boat!

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Originally Posted by BIGBADDAD

Try having a sign on your boat!

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Just part of the price of fame.

I'm usually through fishing by the time the madness sets in. This year the winter has been rough and I haven't been out much so I will fish a few more times before turkey season then my boat will put away until late October.

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Originally Posted by BIGBADDAD

Try having a sign on your boat!

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I don't have to have a sign, Rich. They just know. I'm that good. :biggrin

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Originally Posted by Quackrstackr

I don't have to have a sign, Rich. They just know. I'm that good. :biggrin

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Now I know why your ordered your boat without carpet, BS washes out much better.

Try to have Cedar Creek Lake as your home lake........750 acres and 5 million boats.

Try riding around in a PURPLE BOAT!!!!!!:biggrin

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Originally Posted by Grizzly2k1

Try riding around in a PURPLE BOAT!!!!!!:biggrin

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I was going to say that BUT!!!!

Guys I can sympathize with you. I am an out of stater (IL) but come to Ky lake once a year. Sometimes twice. I never crowd anyone and actually quit coming in the spring just for the very reason you posted. I hate all the rude fishermen. I come in the fall and try my best to obey all rules and stay friendly. I have spots that I know a guide uses and if I know he is going out that day I stay OFF of them cause that's his livelihood. I know once its in the water it anybodys for the fishin but I wasn't raised that way. I still try to maintain something called respect and ethics. Unfortunately I think we are a dying breed.

Louisville Yacht Club this past weekend.

PS this is not me

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v...type=2&theater

Now that is just wrong! I like the comments on the page below the video. Priceless!!!!

those comments are hilarious. I think I would've had to beam him up beside his head with that 1/2 once jig.

I used to fish with a guy who kept a huge Zara Spook topwater plug with 3 treble hooks tied on for such occasions. I did see him throw it at a waterskier who decided really quick he needed to be somewhere else.

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Originally Posted by BIGBADDAD

Try having a sign on your boat!

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Where you been.....I would like to follow you around some:Rofl

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Originally Posted by BIGBADDAD

Try having a sign on your boat!

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Or a Purple boat!:Rofl

I hear you Quackrstackr and that courtesy doesn't just end at the lakes. Went grocery shopping with the wife last week. So many people would block the aisle with their carts and act as if they are the only person in the store. Parking is another issue so many would take up two parking spots...probably didn't have time to put the cell phone down to straighten the car out. It seems to be easier and easier to find selfish and rude people in this world.

Problem is that most of those ___hole fishermen don't think they're doing anything wrong! I always say something to the fishermen who cut me off or crowd me, and they act like I'm out of my mind. Maybe I am! :dono

Just spent Monday and Tuesday on Jonathan with a good friend and the fishing, weather, and fellowship was just awesome! The only draw back was the rude boat traffic and the magnetic affect it seemed to have when you used a landing net. Unfortunately this practice seems to be spreading. It seems fishing a Barren has gotten nearly as bad as one day I packed it in when I could no longer turn. Yes I said turn! Do we need to have etiquette classes that one must pass before you can get your boat licensed each year? Enough negativity. (I might get censored) I cannot say enough great things about "Fin N Feather". Very hospitable, clean, with a fish cleaning area, and freezer to put them in. Even when I had first called to make reservations and gave them my credit card number, they said it would not be run as the weather my get bad and we my want to cancel or move the date. Try an top that! No minimum stay! I would also like to say THANKS to Buffalo13 as he set us on an area that made our trip a success. 33 on Monday and 34 on Tuesday, everyone of them a MONSTAH. In the end, the THUMP wins out over the rudeness.

LYC's comment on the YouTube video

Louisville Yacht Club
4 hours ago
We do not condone the actions of this resident and he has been dealt with. His actions were his alone and not respresentative of the membership of LYC. We are aware of the public waterway statute and his violations of it and have made it quite clear to him that this action will not be tolerated. We have also had a very good suggestion by one of your fellow anglers regarding rewording the sign at the mouth of the marina. We are reviewing this and will make appropriate changes. We did not remove the message on FB and quite frankly we are glad that this was brought to our attention via FB so that a dialog could occur and hope that we can all get back to enjoying the water and her bounties, now if we could just get some of the fishermen to share some of those Bass!
We apologize to the fishermen involved in this video and look forward to something like this NOT occurring again!

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Originally Posted by kentuckylab

Louisville Yacht Club this past weekend.

PS this is not me

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v...type=2&theater

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What this guy did is against the law.

(Ky. Rev. State. Ann. § 150.710 (Baldwin 1996))

KENTUCKY REVISED STATUTES ANNOTATED
TITLE XII. CONSERVATION AND STATE DEVELOPMENT
CHAPTER 150. FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES
150.710 Intentional obstruction of lawful taking of wildlife.
(1) No person shall intentionally obstruct or disrupt the right of a person to lawfully take wildlife by hunting, trapping, or fishing.

(2) The Attorney General or any person directly affected may bring an action to restrain conduct unlawful under this section and may bring an action to recover damages.

(3) The officers of the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, or any other peace officer, police officer, state police officer, or sheriff may enforce this section.

(4) This section shall not apply to incidental interference with the taking of wildlife by hunting, trapping, or fishing caused by lawful activities including, but not limited to, farming, mining, or recreation.

(Enacts. Acts 1988, ch 81, § 1(1)-(4), effective July 15, 1988.)

I'm a pretty hard headed fell and I guarantee you I woulda waited till he ran outta gas then he'da had a PO'd fat boy with a boat pedestal in his hand in the boat with him. 1 of us woulda left that boat skinned up BAD!!!

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Originally Posted by Wiskers

What this guy did is against the law.

(Ky. Rev. State. Ann. § 150.710 (Baldwin 1996))
(4) This section shall not apply to incidental interference with the taking of wildlife by hunting, trapping, or fishing caused by lawful activities including, but not limited to, farming, mining, or recreation.

(Enacts. Acts 1988, ch 81, § 1(1)-(4), effective July 15, 1988.)

I'm a pretty hard headed fell and I guarantee you I woulda waited till he ran outta gas then he'da had a PO'd fat boy with a boat pedestal in his hand in the boat with him. 1 of us woulda left that boat skinned up BAD!!!

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hey whiskers-- he wasn't breaking the law( see #4 )he was just enjoying a little recreation :puke :Rofl