How do ya'll..

Deal with inconsiderate people while fishing?
This is becoming an issue a bit here lately, I understand the spawning process makes everyone a little tense and most are still transitioning from the winter to spring. In the last couple of weeks I've dealt with being crowded out after someone spotted a fish being caught from my boat (twice in the same day). Then same thing yesterday, but only with a good bit of attitude. Started off fishing a cove one boat in there in the very back when I came in. I visualised a patten I was going to work and started jigging the trees and brush while keeping my distance from the guy in the back. Well I guess two boats in a cove mean that's where the fish are at apparently. So here he comes in outboard wide open sending wakes everywhere. Now I'm a human bobber in a small cove fighting to stay off the bank with the trolling motor. So he just butts right on in front of me. I didn't say a word just trolled across the small cove to the other side. A few minutes pass and I hook my first keeper of the day (one of only two) so here he and his buddy come. This time I didn't move so he starts in with what's water temp, I tell him. He says that's a lie, then asked if I've been having any luck lately. I said some with wading, he makes comments to his buddy about how unfair wading is and how some people rely on electronics to catch there fish. I didn't even comment considering I'm there to fish not debate some idiot with a room temperature IQ. Had a sales rep off mine got so mad last year fishing Enid he slung a crank bait at a guys head from 40 feet away. I don't ever wanna be that guy, but I was pretty riled yesterday, but managed to stay on the higher road. Any suggestions?

those hard plastic boat paddles work good.

Do what I do...skip the spawn.

That's not entirely true. I do fish it some, but not nearly like I do the pre-spawn and post-spawn. When I go out during the spawn, I search for the places where the other folks ain't at. It's reverse logic. Everybody else packs together because they assume that's where the fish are. I go the opposite direction. There are fish in those places too. I'd rather take home less fish and make it home with my head and knuckles intact. I'm too old for fighting, and Jesus don't want me to kill nobody.

When I meet the jerk (most guys ain't that kind), I smile and keep my mouth shut (sometimes seriously biting my tongue). I figure we're all pretty good guys, but when too many good guys get in the same spot, there's bound to be some tensions. Here's my way: Avoid problems with people by avoiding people.

I do exactly the same as you,I dont have the temperment to fish the spawn.I go for the enjoyment of fishing not fight over a fishing or parking spot.

Thats just one reason I dont fish much this time of year. Every year, I cant wait for the spawn to be over and the crowds to thin out. Some days its ridiculous. After the spawn, there will be a little peace and quiet on the lakes, lol, and thats when it is enjoyable to me. Fighting over parking spots, fishing holes, etc. is not what fishing should be about. I have very limited time off from work and when I go, I want to enjoy it....not wish I was working.

I guess it's difficult to break the spawn fishing mentality. Just up unto a few years ago I was dependent on bank fishing 95% of the time. The shallow water spawn can be a bank fisherman's dream. I'm at the point to where I don't keep every legal fish anyway, if it's a big female full of eggs I will often throw her back. I've always tried to be considerate of others in any aspect of life not just fishing. First one like that I've had to deal with, being all lippy and such. Lucky for both us I'm closer to 40 now than I am 30 or he could have got what he was looking for. Should have been a light lunch anyways, he looked to be the type to get winded just getting up out of his seat.. Lol.. Most folks are friendly from my experience, I can always distinguish the ones who aren't chatty and that's there choice, but no need to be a jerk about it..

Went to my backwater cove this morning bank fishing.. caught a few shorts, but got eaten alive by mosquitoes. At least no wise guys, they make bug spray.. wish they made jerk repellent... Lol

First thought...wrist rocket and ball bearings. Like others have said, I too stay away until spawn is over.

Try Barnett with guys like that and a 60-80 boat bass tourney every Saturday. They'll come by you at 75 mph. I still want to take a page out of Satdocs book. Frozen paint balls lol

Lol.. counts me out DD then on tourney fishing in the near future.. I deal with enough stress at work, no need to involve it in my down time.. I don't catch a whole bunch and try to stay away from the crowd. The ones I do catch every now and then are well earned and usually fatter than a mud fence :-)

Fished out of Hurricane on Sardis yesterday!! 130 boats plus in early day dinks biting a little saw 3 fish caught and released. Did meet some good folks had a good time fishing!!

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Originally Posted by Snubbys

I guess it's difficult to break the spawn fishing mentality. Just up unto a few years ago I was dependent on bank fishing 95% of the time. The shallow water spawn can be a bank fisherman's dream. I'm at the point to where I don't keep every legal fish anyway, if it's a big female full of eggs I will often throw her back. I've always tried to be considerate of others in any aspect of life not just fishing. First one like that I've had to deal with, being all lippy and such. Lucky for both us I'm closer to 40 now than I am 30 or he could have got what he was looking for. Should have been a light lunch anyways, he looked to be the type to get winded just getting up out of his seat.. Lol.. Most folks are friendly from my experience, I can always distinguish the ones who aren't chatty and that's there choice, but no need to be a jerk about it..

Went to my backwater cove this morning bank fishing.. caught a few shorts, but got eaten alive by mosquitoes. At least no wise guys, they make bug spray.. wish they made jerk repellent... Lol

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x25

With my schedule working offshore, I try to fish during the weeks as much as possible. Mainly myself and the retired fleet out there with some people fishing on vacation. Seems to be a much easier crowd. But I do know what you mean being a young fella, I really have to bite my tongue sometimes. Luckily my brain is faster than my fist.

On the other side, I was fishing a ledge a few weeks back with two other boats, guys looked to be in there 60's who have fished together, albeit in different boats, for 40+ years. I was on the spot first, but they rolled in (very courteously) just after I got set up. They asked if they could fish the area with me and of course I said sure. We lined up like a train and just made passes down the ledge up one side of the canal and down the other passing pole tip to pole tip in the narrow sections. We laughed, told jokes, they told stories of the area before the Rez was flooded for six hours, it was a grand time. They treated me like a long lost friend it felt like. And we all caught a limit.

It's like strawberries everyone is eatable just sometimes it's just Dang Sweet!!!

Best thing to do is "don't catch fish" you won't be bothered. If you do catch fish get ready for company. I don't stay put long. I bump and run. Pull 1 or 2 fish out then move.

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Originally Posted by MidMsAngler

With my schedule working offshore, I try to fish during the weeks as much as possible. Mainly myself and the retired fleet out there with some people fishing on vacation. Seems to be a much easier crowd. But I do know what you mean being a young fella, I really have to bite my tongue sometimes. Luckily my brain is faster than my fist.

On the other side, I was fishing a ledge a few weeks back with two other boats, guys looked to be in there 60's who have fished together, albeit in different boats, for 40+ years. I was on the spot first, but they rolled in (very courteously) just after I got set up. They asked if they could fish the area with me and of course I said sure. We lined up like a train and just made passes down the ledge up one side of the canal and down the other passing pole tip to pole tip in the narrow sections. We laughed, told jokes, they told stories of the area before the Rez was flooded for six hours, it was a grand time. They treated me like a long lost friend it felt like. And we all caught a limit.

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Thats the way its supposed to be.......thanks for posting that

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Originally Posted by "G"

Thats the way its supposed to be.......thanks for posting that

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My pleasure

i use to go fishing with my neighbor on Ross Barnett Rez all the time and he use to hate when inconsiderate people would come by zooming at seems like 100 mph and of course it was usually bass fisherman lol but I never saw him get rowdy with any of them..I'm a bank fisherman and I hate it when a boat zooms by creating a massive wake it's the most irritating thing in the world most of the time if they are in hearing distance I wanna say something but I don't

One of the best ways that I have found to avoid huge crowds is to fish late afternoon/evening. Often, the lake will start clearing out around 5 and by sunset you just about have the lake to yourself! The evening crappie bite is underrated in my opinion as well and less pressure.