What I feel is an alarming trend

[pointer]

Wow! Eight pages! Is this not slightly a topic of some significance? I have a couple of questions about this topic.
What platform does everyone think would be able to reach the masses, to affect how people think about how they conduct themselves with respect to how they affect other folks on the water? How many times do fishing clubs and other tournament organizations actually talk about, or encourage proper etiquette on the water, or at the ramp for that matter? How many times do, what I consider the leaders in freshwater fishing, Bassmasters or FLW step up and actually discuss courtesy? I agree that there are folks who make foolish, inconsiderate and even reckless decisions, while on the water, or at the ramp. Folks from all walks of life. These folks may be new to the sport, ignorant of etiquette or so wrapped up in winning, that they just push other folk's (wrong) buttons. I love the sport and hate regulation. I sure would like to see some leadership, at all levels, from organized fishing to take some serious steps to relieve several of the pressure points mentioned in this thread. Otherwise, I think things are going to boil over into something that none of us want. We can all blame, fuss, cuss, deflect, etc., but somewhere, somebody needs to accept that things aren't as they should be, and demonstrate some real leadership for improvement.

Mike

[kstonich]

I moved from the west coast a while back and its the same discussions on the fishing sites out there. It started with wave runners then the high powered fishing rigs. Now there are jerks in every phase of water craft operators.
When I was taught to operate a boat I was taught safety and respect for others on the waters were key to keeping waterways safe and enjoyable for everyone it wasn't about me it was to be considerate of everyone on the water
Society is turning into a me-me mindset, its all about me what I'm doing. There is no us anymore.Its not just on the water. I dread parking my truck ear anyone as I know someone s going to not care about others and ding my truck.
Regulations won't do anything
I sees to be that we as a society are on downward spiral of poor character.
Remember when being of good character was important. I still do

[DJD]

Wow! Eight pages! Is this not slightly a topic of some significance? I have a couple of questions about this topic.
What platform does everyone think would be able to reach the masses, to affect how people think about how they conduct themselves with respect to how they affect other folks on the water? How many times do fishing clubs and other tournament organizations actually talk about, or encourage proper etiquette on the water, or at the ramp for that matter? How many times do, what I consider the leaders in freshwater fishing, Bassmasters or FLW step up and actually discuss courtesy? I agree that there are folks who make foolish, inconsiderate and even reckless decisions, while on the water, or at the ramp. Folks from all walks of life. These folks may be new to the sport, ignorant of etiquette or so wrapped up in winning, that they just push other folk's (wrong) buttons. I love the sport and hate regulation. I sure would like to see some leadership, at all levels, from organized fishing to take some serious steps to relieve several of the pressure points mentioned in this thread. Otherwise, I think things are going to boil over into something that none of us want. We can all blame, fuss, cuss, deflect, etc., but somewhere, somebody needs to accept that things aren't as they should be, and demonstrate some real leadership for improvement.

Mike

Yeah that would help some people understand there are rules to live by but others won't care. The days of a polite, considerate, compassionate and helpful society is on it's last leg. Seems like professional bass fishing has copied more than marketing/uniforms from NASCAR. They have adopted the me first, go fast and to each his own attitude as well. That stuff bleeds down to the young folks and they think it's cool so when they get in a situation on the water they can try and be like "ike" or "ish". Do I think the guys on the pro trail are responsible for how it is now on the water? No, I don't, but I think a pro-active approach to how things should be handled is a move in the right direction. If the pro organizations don't get pro-active then they will have nothing but problems in the future.

Lakes are more crowded, people are more stressed, instant media feeds cloud peoples judgement and make them want to be noticed and on and on. In a nutshell it comes down to the "Golden Rule" Treat others as you wish to be treated. It's tough to do but it's the only way we can change things.

I choose not to fish tournaments anymore so I cut a big part of my stress on the water out and I enjoy myself more...that works for me. Now it's fun fishing with buddies, kids or family. Time on the water that way is more enjoyable to me now.

[Dave Stewart]

This morning was a prime example of this kind of discourtesy.

My clients and I were out early this morning and pulled into one of the largest bays on North Kentucky. Not a sole in the bay but us. We sat up on a point where I was catching fish yesterday and started fishing. Here comes a tin V bottom into the bay and where does he go to set up...you guessed it....he pulled up right in front of us, between us and the point we are throwing at and commenced to dropping pan fish lines in the water. I asked him if I was in his way (being sarcastic of course) and his reply was "no, I am just going to fish for some bluegill here, why am I in your way...do you want me to move?"

Now this was a senior citizen and he did not appear in anyway to be a newby angler. I just shook my head and he finally got the message and moved on....but my point is.....why would you come into a bay as big a some of the state lakes here in Kentucky and go to the only point in the bay with a boat on it.....does not make sense to me.

[DJD]

This morning was a prime example of this kind of discourtesy.

My clients and I were out early this morning and pulled into one of the largest bays on North Kentucky. Not a sole in the bay but us. We sat up on a point where I was catching fish yesterday and started fishing. Here comes a tin V bottom into the bay and where does he go to set up...you guessed it....he pulled up right in front of us, between us and the point we are throwing at and commenced to dropping pan fish lines in the water. I asked him if I was in his way (being sarcastic of course) and his reply was "no, I am just going to fish for some bluegill here, why am I in your way...do you want me to move?"

Now this was a senior citizen and he did not appear in anyway to be a newby angler. I just shook my head and he finally got the message and moved on....but my point is.....why would you come into a bay as big a some of the state lakes here in Kentucky and go to the only point in the bay with a boat on it.....does not make sense to me.

This senior is probably the guy who drives 30 mph in a posted 55 mph area....in the left lane. Zero consideration as a younger man and has become worse as he aged. He more than likely takes 20 min to launch a boat while blocking others and doesn't care.

[dmase]

I have fished my entire life and have seen all kinds of bad players. I wear big boy pants so nothing really gets to me because I have been around a long time and know what to expect especially on weekends on any lake. I only have problems with fish mortality at tournaments and the blind eye that some tournament organizers/directors tend to have toward dead fish.I have seen tourney weigh- ins with beds of pickups lined with tarps with ice for the sole purpose of collecting dead fish.No live tanks or any provision for the long wait to the scale,just a pickup at the far end to place the dead ones.I have seen this more than once with large 100 plus boat tourneys and I always ask what is up with this crap. Fish fry is always the answer. I eat fish,not Bass though. I like panfish and walleye much better. Just sayin,things need to change drastically at the weigh ins and /or a different system of weigh in all together.I do think any lake can sustain a certain harvest per acre per year but are the powers that determine this really looking at fish mortality at tournaments and the impact on fish populations? With the increase in tourny's and other fishing pressure has KDFW looked at the big picture and made any sound regulations that will insure good numbers and size of our bass populations all over the State.I really do not think so,at least not lately.

[fishincreek]

Wow! Eight pages! Is this not slightly a topic of some significance? I have a couple of questions about this topic.
What platform does everyone think would be able to reach the masses, to affect how people think about how they conduct themselves with respect to how they affect other folks on the water? How many times do fishing clubs and other tournament organizations actually talk about, or encourage proper etiquette on the water, or at the ramp for that matter? How many times do, what I consider the leaders in freshwater fishing, Bassmasters or FLW step up and actually discuss courtesy? I agree that there are folks who make foolish, inconsiderate and even reckless decisions, while on the water, or at the ramp. Folks from all walks of life. These folks may be new to the sport, ignorant of etiquette or so wrapped up in winning, that they just push other folk's (wrong) buttons. I love the sport and hate regulation. I sure would like to see some leadership, at all levels, from organized fishing to take some serious steps to relieve several of the pressure points mentioned in this thread. Otherwise, I think things are going to boil over into something that none of us want. We can all blame, fuss, cuss, deflect, etc., but somewhere, somebody needs to accept that things aren't as they should be, and demonstrate some real leadership for improvement.

Mike

Good post. I'd love to see some major sponsors step up and comment. How about making major tourney fishermen signing an agreement concerning stated subject. Not saying it is all tourney fishermen, but it would be a step in the right direction in hopes of the local knuckleheads to follow suit.