Boating Etiquette and trolling

I'd like some feedback here from the masses. Each year we have an area that is off limits to fishing(waterfowl refuge) until March 1. On that day and in some years it can get crowded. the slough is 3/4 mile long and 1/4 mile wide I have seen as high as 35 boats there. The problem is every year as you are trolling someone( some I know their boats they do it every year) will cut in front of you and you will have to stop or get their lines in your trolling motor. Every year we hear several cuss fights, finger pointing and other things I can't repeat. How or is there a way to handle this other than my friend who is 6'6" 300lbs tells them to take it to the bank and settle it?

Unfortunately, all sportsmen are not sportsmen. Some of it has to do with the "me, myself & I" mentality that has been propagated over the past couple of decades. Not much you, or anyone else, can really be done about that I'm afraid. Threats and/or violence are certainly not the answer. Maybe you should try pulling off at about the same time they do, and try having a logical discussion about the situation. You'd be surprised at what logic can accomplish. Compromise is everything in life.

Right there is one of the founding reasons for CCW legalization. :mad:

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Originally Posted by silverside

Right there is one of the founding reasons for CCW legalization. :mad:

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true, but fighting over a fishing spot isn't worth it.

My opinions on this are varied, mostly on the behavior of the offender. I'm a get what you give guy sometimes. But if you drag your lines into my TM and cause me grief repeatedly, and disassembly to remove line from the shaft, I would be inclined to cut the line and throw it in my boat. Cranks or jigs would become mine. However, an honest mistake by a newbie would receive a gentler response. Personally, I would run less lines than normal and try to keep the static to a minimum, and leave when the stress level got too high.

Or, as I have done, keep a bass rig loaded with a crank bait and start casting!

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Originally Posted by crappiepappa

Or, as I have done, keep a bass rig loaded with a crank bait and start casting!

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With that many boats in that small an area, why would you expect to be able to fish comfortably? Cut down on the number of rods, shorten the distance you're use to covering, and be extra aware of the other people using the same area as you and the many other boats are, or, as I might do, go to another similar area you have saved in your gps and maybe take less fish but have a more peaceful and enjoyable day fishing. There's been many days in the spring here in PA we have an area of one lake that has two to three HUNDRED boats in a three mile area of the lake and everybody's drifting with the wind. I'll join in but when it starts to get a little to hectic, I'll go fish a different area of the lake and still catch fish. I'd never stoop so low as to cast a crankbait to purposely snag someone else's line. Just not worth it.

We deal with similar etiquette issues all the time. Boats coming by doing 50mph when you're trying to fish etc. You can't fix stupid and rude people, they have a different mentality.
If you want a relaxing time fishing, best to avoid those areas, it's just not worth it.

I just go somewhere else RR

There will always be those that have no etiquette. Seems the very small waterway is ripe for competition and conflict. I fish for fun. If it is not fun, or I come across those that are irritants I move on. Not worth it to me. Take the high road... maybe it will "catch" on.

Matthew 6:14 - For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

My mother always said fighting is not the answer. I don't always feel this is true. I used to fight weekly in highschool........I cant think of one person that I fought that I am not friends with to this day. Establishes a pecking order in which everything in nature must have to prevent pure chaos. The only trouble is....back in high school a fight was just a fight.....if you went down and stayed down it was over.....now a days it seems someone always ends up cut, shot, or beat to death. Talking it out is always better because most issues are a lack of communication...but if that dont work Plan B may. Just always remember just because I think I am right...does not make me right, and other point of views should be considered. If ya think like that.....fighting may not be necessary.

It is sad to say but it seems times have changed, someone said it well, it is all about me, me and me. I remember last year fishing some of my open water Crappie Spots and boats would literally pull right up next to you, I'm sure marking the spot. I could jump from my boat their boat practically without touching water, I find it so disrespectful, I don't think you can teach ethics, morals or principals to people like this, they just don't care. Then they act like they are your buddy trying to generate conversation, I don't go on the lake to talk to people, I go to fish and be left alone. So my advice to all you rude obnoxious fisherman, and you know who you are, stay away, I'm not your buddy and I not on the lake to talk and be your friend. I think next time I'm going to poke your eye out if you are in range of a 14 foot trolling rod, lol, or use the 150 Merc as a wake machine. Have fun be safe, cant fix stupid.

tenncrappie your PM box is full

Do unto others as you would have them do to you, doesn't matter what someone else has done. When fishing becomes not fun I'm out, period.

I just try to pay attention to the situation and then fish accordingly. I have been in a popular winter spot on Ross Barnett with 50 boats in an area just several acres in size but we all were spider rigging around each other and it was very civil. Granted, when rigging you have a bit better control and no line trailing behind you. However one fellow rolled up and decided to longline the area. I did not feel on iota of sympathy for him when he started tangling up. It just wasn't the proper technique or very sportsman like for the area given the conditions. On the other side, if I had come to the same spot and several boats were already long lining, then it wouldn't have been right to park in their way and start rigging. There are always fish somewhere else. Be careful with those tempers though, let it get outa hand and the law won't be on your side.


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Unfortunately there's no answer for this one. I just try to be understanding because I've made mistakes as well. That being said sometimes that redneck blood comes out and I get angry to but if you Hunting or fish public land or water is just part of it . I think most of the time people just don't know they have made a mistake so I try to be nice to begin with

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So much to say....so many wasted words......

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Trolling may not be the best technique on such days. Are there no other ways to catch fish in this area?

I have been fishing lakes catching fish and 4 boats come driving down and fish 10 feet from me but I never get mad.its a free country and getting mad and catching people line .Fishing is not worth it.crappie.com is not the place for this kind of talk.always be a kind fisherman

some people don't know any better and some just don't care. You are going to deal with that on a lake that is very popular. If someone does a T.V. show on your lake look out. We deal with this issue on a regular basis on Weiss. Just be patient and maybe as already suggested find an area that is less suggested. Most of all if you find an area with fish and no pressure KEEP QUIET ABOUT IT.

On a big lake I don't mind fishing in a crowd, as long as everyone is respectful and if I have the choice to move and go off somewhere by myself. The worse for me on a crowded lake is at the ramp usually and not on the water. Especially when the water is low and there is only ONE to use. But patience and cooperation is the key, no use to turn a fishing trip into an all out death match, that's what finding a parking space in a crowded lot is for :Rofl

[QUOTE=footballcoach;3380957] Most of all if you find an area with fish and no pressure KEEP QUIET ABOUT IT.[/QUOTE]

:hesaid:hesaid:hesaid OH !! did I mention :hesaid !!!!:biggrin

I try to avoid those situations and go somewhere else. That's one reason I fish is to get away from crowds. But I do realize that sometimes these situations can't be avoided. I look at it the same way I do on the interstate, just let the jerks go. I have enough stress day to day don't need any while fishing.


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Some areas are horrible like the OP posted catch a fish and get crowded out of your own area been there done that to many times.

I have learned over the years when in an area that is close to a community area ( within eyesight) when I have a fish on I will not raise my rod up when a fish is on. I will reel up keeping my rod low and drag them over the transom unless it is a very large fish I will not get a net out ever.

I know the spot you are talking about.

Lots of it is ignorance combined with multiple styles of trolling.

For that area, when it gets crowded, I shorten my longlines to about half back of normal. I also will troll straight lines more less parallel to 58 rather than follow the creek channels. I also leave room to veer left and right around someone who jumps in front of me, although I would probably catch more fish when hugging tight.

Something that might work is to use hi-vis line, and when they get close I then stand up with rod straight up. This "shows" the line and how far back it is running. (it does work down reservoir when pulling cranks in the summertime).

If it gets real bad, I just run down to moon or hit another area above the bridge.

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Originally Posted by chaunc

With that many boats in that small an area, why would you expect to be able to fish comfortably? Cut down on the number of rods, shorten the distance you're use to covering, and be extra aware of the other people using the same area as you and the many other boats are, or, as I might do, go to another similar area you have saved in your gps and maybe take less fish but have a more peaceful and enjoyable day fishing. There's been many days in the spring here in PA we have an area of one lake that has two to three HUNDRED boats in a three mile area of the lake and everybody's drifting with the wind. I'll join in but when it starts to get a little to hectic, I'll go fish a different area of the lake and still catch fish. I'd never stoop so low as to cast a crankbait to purposely snag someone else's line. Just not worth it.

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Exactly. This is why you and I went where we did. If I remember correctly, we talked about this same subject. You and I only had a couple of poles out and caught good fish. If we had stayed out, we would probably both limited. I had a great time and we had the area to ourselves. Helps to know where to go I guess.

Pretty simple......go fish somewhere else.
More boats in one location leaves many others with few to none.
Problem solved!

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Things like that and people racing in to cut in front of you along a bank you are already fishing are infuriating, I hate it.

But then when looking at the big picture I am out on the water to enjoy Gods creation and the peace and I get from the act of fishing itself and just being on the water. Because of that I honestly would rather catch less fish in an area where I can be mostly alone than be on top of other people vying for the "best" spots. And can any spot really be the best if it is overcrowded in the first place?

Life it too short, and while I am not always successful in doing so at this stage in my life I try and just let the jerks I encounter in life (water, road, stores, wherever) not bother me. I now prefer to simply let them go on by and not allow them to negatively affect my day. People like that are usually the ones more angry and frustrated and the real losers in the situations even if they don't realize it.