Fishing ethics

[fatboy55]

While fishing tournys at caverun lake the last 2 friday nights im having trouble with the other fisherman getting way to close to our boat like 15 to 20 foot in open water,this has happened for 2 straight weeks and im not sure how to handle this.Any help would be appreciated.

[HURRICANEBOB]

Do you mean while running, or fishing on a spot?

While runing, I just veer away and avoid the possible accident.

Whn fishing a spot....I just start a conversation and keep talking louder and louder. Most times the folks get bored with me and leave

[DJD]

If your gonna fish tournaments get used to it. There are rules about how close you can fish to other anglers under certain conditions. 15-20 feet is too close to get to someone who is fishing. I guess you could ask the guy or try and explain that you can't even cast in that direction since he is all up in your space?

[numbuts]

i saw and old fishing show once and roland martin had the same problem he grabed a carolina rig and would cast at the intruder they got the message

[redrockerbassnutt]

go to ky lake,i've never seen anything like it.people will shut down behind you,start fishing away from you then you set the hook and they whip a u-turn and fish right to your boat(i could have flipped a jig in his gatorade bottle and i'm not that good of a flipper).then dil-hoes idle across the top of the ledge your fishing,they had navi-chips so they knew what was there,you holler @ them to get off the ledge and throw their arms in the air like whats your problem.my friend just moved down there and i told him to get the water checked because something's in it that make people stupid or butt-holes,and it's not just locals,tags on the boats from everywhere.

[redfishman]

Lake Barkley is bad too, I was in a tourney there back in May and was fishing a bank, I was 10 ft away from rounding a point and a boat of guys motored up and tried cutting me off on the point. I just put my trolling motor on 5 stayed on the path I was going, I missed my there boat by no more then 3 ft. They were like "what the hell you doing buddy?" I just kept fishing and acted like they weren't even there........If someone is going to try to screw your fishing up, just make sure that they aren't going to catch fish on that spot either.

[Mean Morone]

I wish the rules were clear. One guy thinks he is in the right and the other guy thinks he is in the right. We wont fish Tuesday nights anymore. We were fishing for hybrid stripers and casting toward shore where the hybrids were clearly busting shad on the surface. Had a guy run right over the school just to get to the ramp. We were only a hundred yards from the ramp and it was a mad house. Put the fish down and we only caught one fish after that. Another Tuesday a couple of my buddies were fishing and saw some shad flip next to the bank. He starts fishing the spot, not fishing down the bank. He see's a boat coming down the bank pretty fast and making rapid casts. Next thing he knows, this guy casts over his line, then continues to within a few feet of my buddy's boat. My buddy could have easily stepped over to the other boat to see if that guy could swim. The guy only said "you should have seen me coming down this bank". That bank is a big horse shoe which is 5 or 6 hundred yards(probably more). How much bank belongs to that guy? In both instances these guys could have easily gone around but chose not to. Are we supposed to get off the lake when a tourney is going on? Dont have to tell me twice, I will gladly wait for another day. They can have it. I just want to relax and catch a few fish with my buddies. I'm not interested in trying to decide who owns the bank. I'm all for touney's. Nothing wrong with a little competition, but do it with respect for others. We were nearly founding memebers of a bass club last year but weren't able to get it done. If it gets to the point where the competition turns you into a crazy person then you are missing the point of fishing in the first place. Stay safe and have fun.

[kygorski]

Hey did they ask you tourny fish?"Its been happening for years. Money does that to people.Try fishing Rend lake or shelbyville,where they have four or five going at the same time.Since I dont fish tournys any more, if I like a spot andm get there first, which is usually the case, I anchor, and move a few feet away,its funny looking at guys who throw a 7 buck bait and get hung on the rope,In most cases I'll tell them to wait a few miutes and I'll lift anchor.

[Col Forbin]

20-30 feet is way too close, and I would have had told them about it. However, here on Ky lake it seems there is some different ettiquette while fishing ledges and points. On points, I often have to get defensive to keep a boat from cutting me off on a point, and often I have come around a point to see a boat fishing the other direction (both of us could not see each other) - I will usually back off and allow them to fish through and I will jump back in. On a ledge, I think it seems that all is fair, as long as a boat does not pull in front of you and fish the same direction (fishing where your boat is headed). But I think it is all fair if a boat comes in behind you and fishes either direction. I guess it all depends on the layout of the ledge you are fishing. If it is a small hump (just like a point) I think it should be yours if you are on it. If it is a long bend in a channel, then I think is unfair to claim it all yourself, and as long as no one is cutting you off, it is OK - as many boats as there are on Ky lake that actually know how to fish productive ledges, sometimes if feels like you are waiting in line for an amusement ride to get to the sweet spot of the ledge.

Everyone says there is an abundance of water on Ky and Barkley - and there is, however there are probably less than 100 quality ledges that stand out on a map, and probably less than that, that are actually holding quality fish at any given time. Combine that with a couple hundred guys that know the same thing, and some of these ledges are going to be stacked up.

Fishing is popular now, and so are tournaments. That is why I prefer going out early or late during the week.

[bassman_ky]

A big crankbait is not only an awesome bait to catch bigguns but it also is a great deterant. When Barren was crazy busy last weekend my brother and I would fire the big cranks with our 7'11" rods at boats fishing our way. Usually they would get the message and turn around. That can usually buy you 50 yards or so. Its sad you have to resort to that kind of tactics. I have a lot more respect for my fellow fisherman than to move in on his/her spot like that.

[Dave Clark]

Don't get me started on this,I get people see me on fish all the time and head straight over and either cut me off or move in behind and catch my lines and all I can think is a sure sign of someone who does not know how to fish is someone who can't find their own fish!!!!!!There is also a thing called etiquette.Learn it,these are the same people who would be bass fishing and see you catch a nice one on a bank and would race over,stop between you and the bank and start casting in the same spot.Slack Dave

[ss]

If you can hit them with a paintball gun, they're too close.