Your thoughts on fishing etiqutte..

I would like your thoughts on this...

My wife and i were fishing a tournament this past week down south.We pre-fished for 2 days prior and i marked a few spots.On the 2nd day of the tournament we went to a spot i marked and i threw out 2 markers about 20-30 yards apart and we started spider-rigging back and forth around my markers.We started catching fish and within 5 minutes not 1,not 2 but 3 boats pulled up and started fishing my markers with bobbers.I had to pull up my markers and move because i had no room to fish around my markers...These boats were NOT tournament entrants...
What are your thoughts on this and what would you have done?

That's the southern hospitality you hear about. That's why I prefer not to use marker bouys if at all possible. I would have packed up and moved.

I have purposely thrown marker bouys out in areas that were not productive just to keep people out of areas that I wanted to fish alone. I have also painted marker bouys black so they do not draw as much attention. That would have upset me, and I probably would have left the area. really do not like it when people do that, and I can't blame you for being mad.

That's when I like to throw a line across there's and make there day very non productive

You were in a no win situation there. Not much else you could really do unless you wanted to be as disrespectful as they were. I hate hearing stories like that.

Sadly this is the world we live in today. I have went home before when an area has got too crowded. The profanity, littering, rudeness, etc. just kills it for me. I was wade fishing in the river once and had been there since dawn, only guy there for a few hours till the "crowd" got up and out. I was doing well and a younger couple who just knew everything about fishing kept casting closer and closer to me. He says to another guy " that f'ing guy is in everyone's way" ( with 300 yds of river and bank) , tells his wife just cast at me and hit me , I'll move. I took the high road and left, was about done anyway. The older I have become the more I find myself avoiding people and these types of situations

people are just not nice too much anymore. they need to slow down and stop...and smell the roses...and enjoy being out...be nice! be happy! just fish! there is always another day. My fav. Vietnam saying is "life is too short to be a bioche!" I live by it. But...I also tho,,,can be hard headed..and just sometimes won't move...time to throw back at them when I get that way. :Rofl and when I do,,you will see me smiling as I do. :)

that is pretty bad i had people steal mine at Kentucky lake I used to troll a course about a mile long with buoys out to guide me and after a couple passes I ended up at the point I started and the first buoy was gone people are to lazy to find their own spots

Set out decoy markers. People will be attracted to them if no one is using them at the time. If that don't work pick up all markers with big motor running and take your time

Since this is a family oriented site I can't say what I think!!! However you did the right thing by not confronting them and maybe escalating the matter. Consideration of the other person is a thing of the past.

i feel for you, we all been there. its bs total bs. its the way our society is headed, to the toilet!!!!!!!!! also weather they are in the tourney or not is irrelevant. everyone gets treated the same no matter what. while im on the tourney subject i have seen a lot of disrespectful d-bags doing that too. i have had them pull up and think they own a spot just because they are in a tourney. i wont run away i stay and badger and insult them. they started it i finish it. lol anyone that disagrees with me is more than welcome to step into my castle/boat. if you whimper away they win and it will just get worse.

you can always drop anchor and pound the crap out of the cover to run the fish off too. :biggrin

I think I would have snagged a line, pulled it up, cut it, took there tackle got my markers up spun my boat around and trimmed the motor up and roughed up the water a bit so they couldn't fish it.

Might not have said anything but my look would have said it for me. No sense in being like that. Stupid people doing stupid things.

My problem is that I am too nice. I like seeing people catch fish. If I am on a hot spot I have invited people over to enjoy it with me thinking that people are as respectful as I am. The next thing you know they are there every day until it is fished out. My grandpa always told me not to give out my fishing spots. This stuff must have been an issue back in his day also. There just wasn't as many people on the water.

It's tough to swallow, that's for sure. I've found that if you expect anyone to act cordial, you're just setting yourself up for disappointment. When I use a marker buoy, I make sure it's only a reference point, not actually marking something. Also, paint them black, it will help.

I still carry 4 marker bouys, but never use them. I totally rely on the gps to keep me where I want to be and works for me. Even trolling and long lining,,gps is my go to item as its dead on for tracking and marking spots. Last week,,long lined a total of 9.9 miles on batteries from data gps provides me with over 8 hrs of fishing.

River Scum said "while im on the tourney subject i have seen a lot of disrespectful d-bags doing that too. i have had them pull up and think they own a spot just because they are in a tourney. i wont run away i stay and badger and insult them. "

That's been my experience too. I've had my little hot spot run over with bassers tourney fishing. They act like they own the lakes and ramps.

Most guys who are just fishing for fun seem pretty polite and respectful...except for my buddies in my boat. If I get a fish, they will cast right where I'm fishing...:fish

Lots of real first class jerks out there. Now for the other side. Big motor wouldn't start while on the lake Friday and trolling batteries died while trying to get it. Waved to a man and his young son and they came over and towed us in. If you are on here thanks again.
Got the motor problem fixed and new batteries so good to go again.

One day I'll retire and fish only on weekdays

Been retired 6 years and try to only go weekdays, Went to Monroe yesterday and from cutrite to crooked creek only saw 3 other boats 2 mushroon hunters and one crappie fishing.Talk about nice, Days like that doesnt matter if you catch a limit or zero just nice being on water...

What a shame that happened to you. Maybe something better will be in store for you. Karma works in mysterious ways.