I don't agree completely with any group not having a monopoly on rudeness. While there are bad apples in any barrell and while pleasure boats with skiers and jet skis can be as rude as it gets I have fished all my days and it is so easy to see fishermen who are fishing a tournament and they are usually (as a group) the rudest of the bunch. This time of year when the fish are back in the creeks here they come wide open flying by everyone washing them on the banks in the "quiet waters" racing to their spots. Same thing when they leave. I usually idle past boats and out of the quiet waters before I take off. These are also the same guys who will pull 100 feet up the bank in front of you because their mission is more important than yours. I know some non-tourney fishermen are rude also but when tournament time is going on the rudeness factor goes up 10 fold so it is not rocket science to understand which group is bringing it on.

That is one of the things that has made fishing in general much worst over the last 10 to 20 years is the unprecendented growth in tournament fishing. I guess everybody's got to be a pro.

kc