Who's responsible for your wake?

Yes, I realize I'm preaching to the choir but do we always remember?

We have added a new biologist to our district office and that person went out with me yesterday as I made my rounds on the upper end of Barren yesterday morning. I told them that I'd treat them as if they'd never been in a boat before, just so we wouldn't miss anything, and if they saw something I did that was offensive to another boat, say something. YOUR NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN. I told them never to cast off dock lines and take in fenders till the motor has been started, and given a chance to warm. No one wants to wait on you while your trying to start or work on your motor, untie knots, or remove a stain from a life-jacket. It doesn't matter weather your at the dock or at the ramp. Others are wanting to get their hooks wet too. I told them when approaching a boat to interview, always approach head on and shut down the big engine and use the trolling motor to get within speaking distance. Approaching head on sends your wake out to the side and not on them. NEVER wake another boat. The last question on my interview I paraphrase to say: If I could take one statement from you, back to Frankfort, what would you want me to say? I've recently had several people respond, while we bounced around like a "No Wake" buoy, boater etiquette. Weather you fish from the bank or a boat, people go for to the lake for one reason, a good time. Help them find it. My job ends on October 31. My goal is to never hear of a complaint.

I have zero issue with another boat waking me as long as they are courteous and not running 70mph. It's the idiot in his Daddy's tricked out ski boat throwing a 4 foot roller or a tri-toon full of drunk 70Y/Os among other boats that really burns my butt. Try running anywhere on KY or Barkley when the word gets out the crappie bite is on and see how few times you will NOT get waked. I will try to slow to a safe speed and give as wide a clearance to another boat as I can but I'm not going to idle 2 miles from the 68 ramp at Jonathan to the mouth this time of year.

Somebody idling up to my boat to talk, I would expect them to use the big motor.

I use the rule that I will treat folks the way I want to be treated. You want to run past me at plane speed when I'm trolling, I have zero issue. Just don't pull up 20 yards off my stern, among all my lines that are obviously trailing behind the boat, to ask what kind of fishing I'm doing and if we are catching any. That will get you a reply that will probably include some adjectives that you won't care for.

amen

Doug I never expected anyone to leave the Jonathan Creek ramp and idle their boat out to the mouth, but they can at least have the courtesy of going around a group of boats that are fishing. I grow tired of looking at my depth finder and having it look like the toothy side of a two man cross cut, just so they can side view me on their way to his own honey hole. Trolling motor approach? I do that because I have a list of questions to ask and will see how, ie long line, spider rig, as I approach. The job I do is designed to help improve everyone's fishing, not irritate them. I'll also be able to hear your response and not need to ask several times. I also stop where I see groups of boats so I can move from one to another without starting and restarting the big motor and maybe spooking the fish. To be honest, this is the time of year when my boat sees little action. I've never had anyone try an side view my actions while working in my garden. My post was to try and improve, help, not put anyone down.

I always try to minimize it when I can but there are times it's going to happen and there is nothing you can do about it. Personally I'd rather have someone come by me at 70 mph than come by half on plane with the bow sticking up in the air.

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Originally Posted by slabseeker1

Doug I never expected anyone to leave the Jonathan Creek ramp and idle their boat out to the mouth, but they can at least have the courtesy of going around a group of boats that are fishing. I grow tired of looking at my depth finder and having it look like the toothy side of a two man cross cut, just so they can side view me on their way to his own honey hole. Trolling motor approach? I do that because I have a list of questions to ask and will see how, ie long line, spider rig, as I approach. The job I do is designed to help improve everyone's fishing, not irritate them. I'll also be able to hear your response and not need to ask several times. I also stop where I see groups of boats so I can move from one to another without starting and restarting the big motor and maybe spooking the fish. To be honest, this is the time of year when my boat sees little action. I've never had anyone try an side view my actions while working in my garden. My post was to try and improve, help, not put anyone down.

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When I pull cranks and spider rig , I prefer other boats wanting to talk to approach from the rear in my dead water area.

I wasn't taking it as or meant my reply to be putting anybody down, Russ. Treat me like I would treat you and we both will be fine is my on-water motto. I agree with Justin on the speed and wake. My issue is I spend way more time than most trolling channels and after having a dozen KVD wannabees running less than 50 feet away in a channel that is 300 yards wide in 10 minutes does get old. One mistake and they take me and mine out--probably permanently.

I longline and pull cranks 90% of my time on the water and there is no "dead water area" behind me.

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Originally Posted by mrdux

I wasn't taking it as or meant my reply to be putting anybody down, Russ. Treat me like I would treat you and we both will be fine is my on-water motto. I agree with Justin on the speed and wake. My issue is I spend way more time than most trolling channels and after having a dozen KVD wannabees running less than 50 feet away in a channel that is 300 yards wide in 10 minutes does get old. One mistake and they take me and mine out--probably permanently.

I longline and pull cranks 90% of my time on the water and there is no "dead water area" behind me.

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I pull from both sides of the boat, so I mean the 10ft area behind my boat that has no lines in it.

Just my opinion: I only cast so can't speak from spider or trolling perspective, I don't mind someone going by me on plane. Some guys trying to be courteous ease by slow and make as big or bigger wake. Just swing wide if you can safely do so.

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Originally Posted by justinp61

I always try to minimize it when I can but there are times it's going to happen and there is nothing you can do about it. Personally I'd rather have someone come by me at 70 mph than come by half on plane with the bow sticking up in the air.

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Crappiehabits and me discuss this every time we are on the water. I know people mean well by drivin by us doin the 5-10 mph bow to the sky routine, but it's the worst. They the ones that make the tips of your spider rig rods go 3 eyes deep. You comin by me, don't let out. Keep as little of that boat in the water as you can. People likely think we are "donkeys" cause we rarely slow down, but like dux said, we are just doin what we would want done to us. Stay in it! No rollers! Taylorsville is bad enough with all the louse and their Mastercraft and Nautique rap music playin, 3ft wave makers. Let's not help them make more!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G750A using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by MrGoodtime

I pull from both sides of the boat, so I mean the 10ft area behind my boat that has no lines in it.

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I crank from a tritoon (Doug I'm not 70 y/o or drunk yet!!). Why do you not have rods off the stern? We catch almost as many as the side rods. My toon must look like a shrimp trawler heading down the lake. 16 ft rods on the sides and 4 seven footers out the back. I prefer to be approached from the side and idled next to me but dang...SPEAK UP...I'm bout half deaf!

If want to be a farmer and run a plow, then plow dirt NOT WATER!

Especially when I am trying to fish regardless of the method.

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Originally Posted by colayn

Just my opinion: I only cast so can't speak from spider or trolling perspective, I don't mind someone going by me on plane. Some guys trying to be courteous ease by slow and make as big or bigger wake. Just swing wide if you can safely do so.

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Yeah if they simply give a last second "courtesy" slow down while it may make them feel better in reality they are only pushing much more water out and I would prefer they didn't bother at that point. The safest and most courteous thing to do is if you must closely pass someone slow down early enough prior to reaching them, and then travel past them at the slower speed before again regaining the previous speed.
Most don't have the patience for that.

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Originally Posted by bandchaser

If want to be a farmer and run a plow, then plow dirt NOT WATER!

Especially when I am trying to fish regardless of the method.

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LOL that was pretty funny

Cedar creek should be idle only :-)

Most of the fast bass boat guys leave a lot less wake
if they go all out when going by, I'd rather they not slow down.
Those guys are not usually the problem, it's the ski boats with the
loud stereos that go half speed and create those large rollers.
They don't seem to mind how close they get to fisherman, don't even try.
I'm surprised we haven't seen more retaliations with them.
Just goes to show, most fishermen are pretty good guys.

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Originally Posted by BIGBADDAD

I crank from a tritoon (Doug I'm not 70 y/o or drunk yet!!). Why do you not have rods off the stern? We catch almost as many as the side rods. My toon must look like a shrimp trawler heading down the lake. 16 ft rods on the sides and 4 seven footers out the back. I prefer to be approached from the side and idled next to me but dang...SPEAK UP...I'm bout half deaf!

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I never have to go to the back unless I'm netting a big fish, I sit up front and pull looking back, plus we can only use 4 poles per person on Grenada .

Please stay on plane. Makes less wake that way.