Etiquette or NOT?

[fishbum]

DO NOT MOVE this is for non Tournament Anglers as well..

Today a couple of good ole boys decided to fish against the tournament fishermen. Came to the ramp curious about what was going on asking about the BFL National Championship out of Louisville.
They then took off ahead of the gentlemen in the tournament and proceeded to fish some water in Harrods Creek. NOW... they themselves were not fishing a tournament.. just fun fishing.
When POLITELY asked to allow one of the tournament anglers to fish a bank they refused and proceeded to put 3 fish in the LIVEWELL and not release them back into the creek. As it ended up the Angler caught fish and did well but the upshot is this..
To me.. this tournament benefits everyone especially the anglers who were in my opinion being rude by continuing to fish water after being asked politely to allow the Amature Angler fishing for $100,000 to fish it. Beyond that is the simple fact that when local anglers are polite it reflects well on the community and helps in bringing tournaments like this to town. This helps provide tax money to Louisville and to Kentucky and the FLW is as I understand it making a nice contribution to the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Am I wrong in believing that a basically rude answer to the request and continued fishing was out of order and unethical especially when the boys were not fishing a tournament and proceeded to put the fish in the livewell.
(They SAID they were not fishing a tournament)
This is for all anglers to chime in...
Bank Anglers in another situation were NOT asked to move, so I can not tell you what that situation would be.. but most bank anglers do not fish for bass.
Jim Dicken

[cumberlandguy1]

Let's see....how would you feel if the tournament angler was fishing the area and the non tournament angler asked them politely to move? I say who ever is there first has the right to fish it. Doesn't matter if you are fishing in a tournament or not. If I'm catching fish, why would I move? The Ohio River is tough enough. Just because you are fishing a tournament doesn't give you any special rights. As a matter of fact, most people here are so soured by the rudeness of the tournament guys, that they wouldn't move even if they were not catching fish.

[MsgMills]

Tournament or not, the Tournament guys should not have asked the non-tournament guys to let them fish the bank in the first place. It doesn't matter, to the non-tournament guy what's at stake, he's out to have fun and part of that fun is catching fish.
The tournament guys should have kept quiet and just followed the guy down the bank and not said a word in my honest opinion.

[redneckshadrap]

Tournament or not, the Tournament guys should not have asked the non-tournament guys to let them fish the bank in the first place. It doesn't matter, to the non-tournament guy what's at stake, he's out to have fun and part of that fun is catching fish.
The tournament guys should have kept quiet and just followed the guy down the bank and not said a word in my honest opinion.

If(when I get a chance) I'm fishing at a lake and I'm on fish, too bad. I will not move either.

Billy

[smljaw]

I have to fully agree with the above opinions as well. It's not an etiquette issue at all. If I'm going to drag out of bed at 4:30AM to be on my spot then I'm going to fish it til I'm done. I think I would have had to laugh at someone asking me to move so they could fish the spot I was on.

Very interesting topic. I'm interested to see what other people on this board think... Anyone?

[buzzking]

See Im just the opposite on this, I go by treat others how you would be like to be treated, when Im pleasure fishing or practicing, as long as the tourney angler is courteous I will give him the first shot at a spot, because at some point in the future I would like someone to return the favor. Personally I think these guys that showed up at the BFL deal are real donkeys, the type with the mentality "let's go check it out and show these boys how to fish" shortly followed by his partner agreeing with a "Get-R-Done". The BFL was generous enough to bring a tourney of this size to louisville and generate publicity and business to the area and the very few limited creeks around L-ville get pounded by some donkeys that wants to show he can catch fish like the pros. Of course, thats just my two copper coins

[RoadToad]

I believe proper etiquette would be that if someone's fishing in a spot you want, you stay back a respectful distance until they're done, or go find somewhere else, tournament or no tournament. Why does someone who might potentially get paid thousands of dollars for a day's fishing have more right to a particular (public) spot than I, who am paying out the yin-yang for the privilege? You know all those "take me fishing" commercials we see on TV? Funny, but I have yet to see one that says, "Take me fishing... so I can make big bucks!" Fishing is all about FAMILIES HAVING FUN, and if anything, the tournament guys should yield to the guy who's out there teaching his kid to fish.

[LarryG]

This ia a make believe question isn't it? Anyone dumb enough to even ask a question like that, isn't smart enough to drive a car, or afford a boat, but it did test out human kindness. but then you never know what to think when you watch some of these tournament anglers.

[fishbum]

This ia a make believe question isn't it? Anyone dumb enough to even ask a question like that, isn't smart enough to drive a car, or afford a boat, but it did test out human kindness. but then you never know what to think when you watch some of these tournament anglers.

This actually happened today on the river. The Angler was very polite, asked nicely explaining the situation and the Angler was basically rude.. ACCORDING to the Camera Boat Driver who witnessed it. What upset me was that the boys made a POINT to take the fish out of the creek when they did this. Putting the fish in the live well. Why do this when you are pleasure fishing..?????
NOW IF YOU Are the person in the Stratos who did this reply here please.. I would like to hear both sides.. HOWEVER, my feeling is that if someone is polite and asks nicely and I am fishing for pleasure not money, I would give the spot up, and sit back and watch.. hoping to learn something.. OR At least release the fish so other anglers had a CHANCE to catch them.!!!
DO NOT get me wrong. The water belongs to whomever is there first. Still what is better for the Sport or for the Community of anglers?
Being polite in an effort to show hospitality and gratitude for the tournament? OR Catching a fish one day.
Points to ponder:
More tournaments in Louisville means more anglers get to fish locally giving them an edge.. including the guy in the Stratos who apparently is a Tournament fisherman at times.
I have back seated ( Observed) In 5 ot 6 tournaments over the years including the WFL tourney in 2000 on Taylorsville. In that tournament people got out of the way so PRO's could fish. Why not help another Amature who is fishing for MORE money than the Pro's were fishing for.
At a KBF tourney on Ky. Lake guys would ask if the angler was fishing the tournament and would give way to him... because he was fishing for a spot on the BASS Masters Classic Team. I even saw a boy fishing a tournament for money give up a spot so a KBF guy could fish it.. without asking.. just moved... after asking if the boy was fishing the KBF.
Why is the Ohio River Different and why is it that the manners on the river are different from the tournaments I have worked in the past?
Jim Dicken

[MsgMills]

Big time example of total rudeness and helping give the Professional / Semi Tournament Anglers a bad name.

My partner and I were fishing Lake X last weekend. were fishing in a cove not more than say 30 yards wide at the widest spot. Were not 50 yards from the rear of the cove and it is covered with stumps galore in the back as we can see.
All of a sudden a big Champion boat with a 200 Mariner on the tail comes in past us not 10 yards from our boat up on plane in the cove. As the Champion gets just past us they stop the big motor and drop the trolling motor and start fishing towards the stumps in the back of the cove were in. These two fishermen in the Champion can plainly see that I'm headed towards the stumps and will be able to fish them with in the next 5 minutes or so. Doesn't matter, they continue to fish the stumps as I enter the area as well. Neither guy in the Champion catches a fish in the stumps, as we meet about half way into the stump area. No one says a word and as soon as the guy in the front of the Champion boat gets past my boat. He raises the trolling motor and starts up his big motor and away he goes full blast, like I wasn't even in the cove.

Total disrespect for others fishing I must say and didn't even say a word as if maybe...Say hey friend I'm fishing in a big tournament would you mind if I went ahead of your boat and hit the stumps ahead of you...

[VMAXX]

Big time example of total rudeness and helping give the Professional / Semi Tournament Anglers a bad name.

My partner and I were fishing Lake X last weekend. were fishing in a cove not more than say 30 yards wide at the widest spot. Were not 50 yards from the rear of the cove and it is covered with stumps galore in the back as we can see.
All of a sudden a big Champion boat with a 200 Mariner on the tail comes in past us not 10 yards from our boat up on plane in the cove. As the Champion gets just past us they stop the big motor and drop the trolling motor and start fishing towards the stumps in the back of the cove were in. These two fishermen in the Champion can plainly see that I'm headed towards the stumps and will be able to fish them with in the next 5 minutes or so. Doesn't matter, they continue to fish the stumps as I enter the area as well. Neither guy in the Champion catches a fish in the stumps, as we meet about half way into the stump area. No one says a word and as soon as the guy in the front of the Champion boat gets past my boat. He raises the trolling motor and starts up his big motor and away he goes full blast, like I wasn't even in the cove.

Total disrespect for others fishing I must say and didn't even say a word as if maybe...Say hey friend I'm fishing in a big tournament would you mind if I went ahead of your boat and hit the stumps ahead of you...

Since no one said a word what made you think he was a tourney angler? Just curious, however coming within 10yds of you wasnt rude it was stupid. It just seems people see a bigger boat and engine zoom past them and say"tourney angler"....not always so.

[Cobra190]

Reading through the post and replys, it is easy to see that alot of views are coming from personal encounters and how we have each been treated on the water at one time or another. Myself, I am a small tourney fisherman that a win will basically pay for your trip given there are enough boats fishing that day. I veiw it as whether I am fishing a tourney or for pleasure, it has alot to do with the ATTITUDE of the other fisherman. If I am fishing and approached by another fisherman who shows enough courtesy and appears polite in how he approaches my boat and the spot I am fishing and shows an interest in the spot I am on, I will back off and let him fish through but not give him the spot itself (answering Jim's question) if I am already on it. I have no problem being polite and courteous with others if given back the same. But on the other hand if I am fishing and get totally run over top of by another for the sake of a dollar, or out of pure ignorence I will and have (forgive me) try to bounce a 3/4 carolina sinker off his boat. IMO - It's all about the ATTITUDE shown toward each other!