Proper Water/Boating Etiquette?

[roadrunner]

If I am on Kentucky lake or any lake with designated channels and I'm fishing in the channel or right next to it I do not expect boats to come off plane I do want them to give me as much room as possible and they stay in the channel; if it is to busy for me to fish right I will go some where else. If I'm fishing out of the channel I do not expect a boat to wake me or come very close to me.

[Striper18]

Well, I mainly fish the rivers but here is what I do. When approaching another boat or a boat that is fishing I will slow down to idle speed way before I come upon the person. Same thing for bank fisherman. My dad could never afford a boat and so we tightlined the banks when we were growing up. Nothing was more upsetting then some yahoo running the river wide open and creating waves for 10 minutes after they left. Many times they would do this just outside where our lines were. Just be courteous to others and slow down.

[sglass]

I have a 19 footer and if I am at Stoner I will kill the engine while passing you to see if you are catching anything. If I am at Herrington or other "bigger" lakes I am going to run my boat and not stop until I get to a no wake or my fishing spot. If I am back in a creek or the river I will slow to a crawl to not mess up your fishin and give ya a wave to see if you are catching anything. The thing that gets me red is when someone pulls right in front of you within casting distance. It happens every single time I fish Herrington, tournament or not.

[harryprocraft]

there are many good ideas. i agree with demodan especially in the golden rule plan. but as stated courtesy has gone to the way side. but for everyone "BE SAFE AND HAVE FUN" My grandpa used to tell me to be safe on the water cause if something happens there is way to much water in the lake to drink!

[slobslayer]

A bass boat that is set up and powered properly and has an operator that knows how to properly use his boat will leave very little wake while on plane. If a boat is leaving a large wake while on plane it is not set up and/or being driven properly. A large wake or even a large roostertail while on plane is power that is being wasted and the boat will not acheive what it is capable of doing. More than likely the operators/owners of such boats are inexperienced or they are not ethical fisherman. When I get "washed ashore" by someone I usually tell myself the person that did that is not a skilled boater or a good fisherman. As tempting as it is I will never "return the favor" if I happen to pass by them later on that day. I would be no better than they are if I did that.

[wishniwasfishn]

Had this very thing happen this weekend while fishing down a bank, some idiot in a tracker passed up bye doing about 35, and he passed us close enough that I could tell what kind of spinnerbait he was throwing, pulled 35' in front of us, and started fishing the bank we were fishing, which I thought was a very nice thing for him to do. I was not in my boat or I would of returned the favor, and my ranger would of left a much larger wake than his tracker! I just cant believe that so many people have lost all respect for other people fishing, if I would of done what he had done, and my father would of been with me, he would of smacked me right in the mouth, and made me go apologize to the man for being so rude!!! The day of ethical, and considerate people being on the water is gone fella's, long gone!!!

[mybentrod]

Here's my 2 cents. I might not be the most curtious everytime I am out, but it is only as a result of lack of awareness, not consideration. I am not as rude as some I have read about, and I don't do it because I look over and say...awww forget that other person..I'm doing what I WANT TO...its a matter of what one person thinks is rude, another person might not be aware he or she is offending another person. Nieve of me to think that most fishermen are courteous, or at least want to be, toward each other so I have adopted this practice. If someone speeds by me, yeah I get mad, but I don't let someone ruin my day. Just hang on and go for the ride then go back to trying to catch that elusive trophy. Once I am done fishing if that person is in sight or I see him/her on my way onto the next spot I will, and here's the key, KINDLY slow my boat down and idle over to him or her and tell them that most people on the lake would appreciate if you slowed down to idle past them while the line is wet or hiked high on the seats in front. Its hard to balance while ontop of those pedistal seats. I dont think you did it on purpose, but please be more aware that you are causing danger when you speed past someone as you did me back there. Thank them, wish them luck, then move along. I have read time and time again that people dont think tournament anglers are all like that, TRUE, they are not....I have read that pleasure fisherman are also not all courteous, true, they are not all good people either.....just ask your self....does that person need some kind education. Remember, a reaction sometimes is as a result of your attitude when approaching situations. Come at folks kindly and you might teach a lesson or two on boating etiquette when they understand what they did. After all aren't most Lake people the best people? If not......just trim all the way up...and soak them when you leave their side.
Bent rods,

Jason

[brucehampton]

Maybe you should of said 50' beyond you longest cast. Now that would make more sence. And by the way........hold that tiger......OOOOOOOOOooOO

If someone comes within 50' of me while I'm fishing they will get an ear full. I usually go to get away from people and phones etc............I don't want an inconsiderate person to come up to me especially if they see that I'm on fish. If they would like that spot then they may have it when I am finished fishing it. Don't try and gps "click" it by driving up to me like you want to talk either....that is extremely rude! 75 yards would reasonable........I don't think that's asking too much either.

[demodan]

Had this very thing happen this weekend while fishing down a bank, some idiot in a tracker passed up bye doing about 35, and he passed us close enough that I could tell what kind of spinnerbait he was throwing, pulled 35' in front of us, and started fishing the bank we were fishing, which I thought was a very nice thing for him to do. I was not in my boat or I would of returned the favor, and my ranger would of left a much larger wake than his tracker! I just cant believe that so many people have lost all respect for other people fishing, if I would of done what he had done, and my father would of been with me, he would of smacked me right in the mouth, and made me go apologize to the man for being so rude!!! The day of ethical, and considerate people being on the water is gone fella's, long gone!!!

Yea...you know, tournament anglers...seem to me...they get a bad rap about boating etiquette?? But from my observations in the past few years...they seem to be the ones now...that do keep an eye out for others...and do demenstrate good sportsmanship on the water. Yea...they might bust out of a cove to head to another local, and just maybe wake a few hear and there...but many will idle out a ways before putting the hammer down... All in all...they are the ones that will repect other fishermen and their space, be it on land or water..And being sure to keep "safety first" as a rule. They diffently arn't the ones drinking and running at plow speeds around others fishing and throwing their empty long necks bottles out in the water. There was a time guys...when I loved to go skiing...and I would love to take my daughters skiing sometime ...like in Little River on Barkley..and other areas that are great for skiing. But now a days...Im not sure that I want my 12 year old daughter bobbing in the water...while I turn the boat around to bring her the rope again...that is how bad it is now a days....I've had to many instances where I've had big pleasure boats, and large ski boats...where many were drinking...and whatever...not even paying attention to what is in front of them for crying out loud....I've came close to loosing my life twice on Willimastown Lake!!! Once out on Ky. River, outside Frankfort..(had to jump out of the boat on that one)..of course, I called the Law out on that...they never showed up...waited for an hour at the ramp (I kept the tiger on the chain),...pracrtice my own anger management big time that evening. I've had my ski rope ran over twice in Little River...while the skier was climbing back in the boat!!!...I take nothing for granted anymore fellas...either out on the water fishing...or in the woods hunting...or just driving to church. My dad told me that the world is it out to get-ya...so drive like it....live like it....I've made it to 46 so far!!!

[slobslayer]

Well said DEMODAN, I've heard multitudes of pleasure boaters complain about the Water Patrol just sitting around waiting to write someone up for drinking a beer while cruising down the lake. I like a cold one myself once in awhile but gee whiz how can someone justify drinking while they operate a boat. I'm 46 too and I have been a fisherman and a boater myself since 1969 when GRL was first impounded and I have never heard a legitimate fisherman complain about it being unlawful to drink and operate a boat, especially tournament fisherman. After all, how long would someone live if they drank and operated a 22 foot long boat with 250 HP clamped on the back of it and going down a winding lake at 70 MPH? BASSFISHING, I love it!!!

[demodan]

Get up slobslayer...your dead on. What gets me sometimes to...is these big boat dudes get real upset if we fish their marinas (oh please don't scratch my boat with your spinnerbait, ...please don't get hung-up in my rope)...but they have no problem plowing down a shallow bay area were people are tied up crappie fishing and bass anglers being quite, fishing for the fish of a life time;...while these folks are throwing a 5 feet sweels, and really not getting anywhere any faster, then if they just slow it down just a little bit...don't get me started; I know things go both ways at times...but gee wizz...have some consideration for the us small boat guys...like me. During the summer time on Ky. Lake, it's just unreal how they just plow right through everyone like it's nothing. I just shake my head now a days, and hold on to my bass seat....try not let it get under my skin....stay focused. But after about 7 or 8 of them in a row...sometimes i just have to laugh about it.

[artcarney_agr]

I think the biggest thing to do out there is know how to operate your boat according to the "rules of the road"

I swear, it never ceases to amaze me at how many people do not understand what to do when meeting another vessel head on!

http://fw.ky.gov/pdf/2010fishguideboatingindex.pdf