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Posts: 119
| Hello,
Looking for advice on dealing with knucklehead who insists on crowding other anglers.
Last week a friend and I traveled a long way to a good spot to find another angler on it. Disappointed, we did a 3 miles low-probability trolling run to kill time. Upon return, he was heading off the spot, going uplake, and was about 1/4 to 1/3 miles off the spot. We setup up on it and started casting. He immediately turned his boat around and headed directly at us. He trolled within 20 ft of my boat right where I was casting. I tossed a cast in front of his boat (about 20 ft off the bow) to show that we are working the spot. He barked something at us that neither of us could understand. Trying to avoid a conflict, I just left without replying or making any more casts.
A couple days later, my buddy was kayak fishing the same spot and the knucklehead pulled up close behind him and said "don't back up".
(This is on an lightly fished lake where people don't crowd each other. The day he crowded us we were the only two boats in sight!)
I am sure that many of you will say I should have a conversation with the guy, telling him how his behavior is unsportsmanlike and inappropriate. However, I don't think that will work. This guy is in his late-50's to early 60's and has been a hard-core fisherman for a long time in the area. Surely he knows his behavior is inappropriate. I think he is simply a grouchy, mean, old bastard that enjoys pushing others around. I think he has gotten away with it for a long time.
I don't want to get into an argument with him, raise my blood pressure, and have a heart attack. I don't want to battle him on the water. I also don't want to be constantly pushed off the spot, it is one of the top two spots in the entire lake.
What should I do?
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Location: Northern Wisconsin | Ignore him and fish. If it escalates be ready to call law enforcement. You could also pull out your phone and start recording. |
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Posts: 1425
Location: St. Lawrence River | Fish another lake. |
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Posts: 119
| Ignore him - he is placing his boat where I am casting.
fish another lake - it is my home lake, near my house, next lake is about 20X further away. |
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Posts: 119
| So I suppose I need to talk to him, eh? However, he won't change, I'll now have an "enemy", and every time I see him my BP will go up. Plus, if anything happens to his car/trailer while I'm fishing (like a flat), he would probably think I did it and retaliate.
I guess I just need to suck it up like a buttercup and let him have his way? |
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Location: On the O | Kill him with kindness, keep doing what you're doing. If he pulls up close again it would be good morning, beautiful day, don't you love being out here. Make him go down your road, don't go down his. Eventually he might see he's being the problem, if not at least your BP isn't spiking. You might be the only "action" he's getting all day, don't take the bait.
Edited by BigC 6/6/2017 8:09 AM
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| Unfortunately, you "can't fix stupid". Ignorance can be changed through education and experience. If he was young and didn't know better you would have a chance but he is "stupid".
I do like the idea of using your phone to record him and then put on social media. He may not be a user but people he knows will be and public humiliation is a powerful tool. No one, of any age, likes being a fool for everyone to see.
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| Get a jet-ski and circle the jerk |
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Posts: 7036
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | Well, you won't ignore him, you don't see any use in talking to him, and you won't go to another lake... |
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Posts: 444
| Take your pants off every time you see him. |
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Posts: 1516
| Go down the lake but where he can still see u fish about then go into a figure 8 and whoop & holler like it's the biggest fish you have ever seen. Give a couple more casts then move off like u are letting the fish alone for awhile.
See if he takes the bait |
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Posts: 548
Location: MN | Recording him is not for social media.
It's for law enforcement.
If he is doing something stupid especially when ur in a kayak.
Law enforcement may know him already. |
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Posts: 119
| Slamr, I said I will suck it up like a buttercup as the fourth, and only option. (e.g. yield the spot to him when he crowds me). I can't ignore him b/c he places his boat where I am casting and thus might injure him.
Edited by curdmudgeon 6/6/2017 10:16 AM
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Posts: 323
Location: Elk River, MN | Crank up the tunes when he's around, something obnoxious and ridiculous. |
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Posts: 470
Location: Blaine, MN | In my world, I confront him... But a lesson I learned later in life (Admittedly later than I probably should have) there is a big difference between confronting a situation aggressively and confronting a situation confidently. Gotta still be respectful, but be confident, and prepared for a good "back and forth". |
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| You really need a big johnson topwater lure |
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Posts: 7036
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | curdmudgeon - 6/6/2017 9:40 AM
Slamr, I said I will suck it up like a buttercup as the fourth, and only option. (e.g. yield the spot to him when he crowds me). I can't ignore him b/c he places his boat where I am casting and thus might injure him.
Ok, so I was a little blunt...but I feel your angst. I had a fishing guy drive at about 6 mph just off my bow on Sunday and I swear to god he wasnt more then 10' away. I'm up front casting and say "aren't you a LITTLE close?". He just gave me a dirty look, I smiled and called it mission accomplished. Yeah, I was 75 yards off shore, no channel situation, no crowds, he just is a.... |
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Posts: 20211
Location: oswego, il | Take your pants off and moon him or just take a leak in front of him. Say, hello sparklepuss, nice day out today? Make him not want to be around you. Pull out a camera and just take his picture, dont ask, be obvious and yell say cheese! I take pics of boats all the time on lake michigan that get close, i make sure they see me do it. Dont be ignorant, be weird and confusing to them. Let them be the one that gets mad.
Edited by ToddM 6/6/2017 11:51 AM
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Posts: 1405
Location: Detroit River | If he continues to do it I'd blast some rap music or Justin Beaver. |
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Posts: 1144
Location: Minnesota. | That's a b!tch to deal with and I empathize with you man. It would drive me crazy and pizz me off to no end too but this clown is beyond reckoning with. He knows what he's doing...
Best I can say is to ignore him initially and if he persists then maybe ask him what his game is. Don't get anymore confrontational than this at any cost, just isn't worth your time. Then let it go, he knows he's pizzed you off which is what he intended.
You can't fix these types. Move off and return later but don't get into it with him. I learned this lesson in the service and it cost me teeth! Ain't worth the trouble. He'll eventually get his due just don't let it be you to chance it!
Best to you, you did well with this already. |
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Location: Grand Rapids, MI | Most states have laws in place for angler/hunter harassment. Get a photo/video call the conservation officer/warden and let them handle it, it's their job. |
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Posts: 8772
| Law enforcement usually doesn't tolerate that sort of behavior once someone complains about it. They don't want to be bothered with the calls, many of them are sportsmen themselves, and they likely hate the behavior as much as you do. This guy isn't going to learn on his own, but I'd bet after a few tickets he'll start keeping his distance. Confrontations usually end badly, and then if someone else gets fed up and does something to him or his boat, it's YOU who gets blamed. |
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Posts: 325
Location: Otsego, MN | Never know the mental status of people these days and if they are carrying a weapon. Best to not be overly confrontational but yet hold your ground. The lake is public water and you have as much right as anyone to enjoy it. If he gets violent or threatening the authority is available 24/7 and a video along with a phone call sounds like the best options. Try and get his boat registration info on the video or read them aloud.
I had a boat being a prick on the water come cut me off. I tried being the bigger man and attempted to leave and they followed me to another spot and tried fishing 20' in front of me. I asked if they were having any luck today and all I got was a F-off response. I whipped out my phone and recorded a short dialogue and tried to turn my boat 180 degrees and go the other direction when they again proceeded to cut me off. I got their information and the incident on video. Started my motor and called the DNR. They payed this individual a visit and he was forced to issue an apology to me.
Much easier doing this then having to take matters in my own hands putting my life on the line and dealing with someone who may have been crazy, on drugs, concealing a weapon, etc. |
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| Zib - 6/6/2017 11:14 AM If he continues to do it I'd blast some rap music or Justin Beaver. Add in the Barbie Girl song too. Play that over and over and blast it as loud as possible. That would have to drive him absolutely crazy.
Edited by Baby Mallard 6/6/2017 12:43 PM
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Posts: 1516
| That, "Hey John Gillespie" by Brian Schram on a loop might get a reaction especially if you did the little dance with it |
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Posts: 4269
Location: Ashland WI | Muskers - 6/6/2017 12:23 PM
Never know the mental status of people these days and if they are carrying a weapon. Best to not be overly confrontational but yet hold your ground. The lake is public water and you have as much right as anyone to enjoy it. If he gets violent or threatening the authority is available 24/7 and a video along with a phone call sounds like the best options. Try and get his boat registration info on the video or read them aloud.
I had a boat being a prick on the water come cut me off. I tried being the bigger man and attempted to leave and they followed me to another spot and tried fishing 20' in front of me. I asked if they were having any luck today and all I got was a F-off response. I whipped out my phone and recorded a short dialogue and tried to turn my boat 180 degrees and go the other direction when they again proceeded to cut me off. I got their information and the incident on video. Started my motor and called the DNR. They payed this individual a visit and he was forced to issue an apology to me.
Much easier doing this then having to take matters in my own hands putting my life on the line and dealing with someone who may have been crazy, on drugs, concealing a weapon, etc.
This is very true. You just never know what the other person may be capable of doing. Not worth it. |
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Posts: 239
Location: Madison, WI | easy one... wear a romper and every time he comes around ask him if he likes the way it fits you |
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Posts: 2024
| ^^^^ This! Or cast a line with some mono and a bobber in front of him to try to avoid. Give him something to practice his boat driving skills with. |
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Posts: 8772
| Easier than that. Bring a kid with you. Give him a Weagle, pretend to be teaching him how to cast and have him try his best to hit the guy and everything in his boat. If the guy says anything just say "Sorry! We got this group of kids from our church we're teaching how to fish, and this little guy is going to be a champion caster if he ever learns to aim! If I were you, I'd either put on a helmet or give him a wide berth!" |
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Posts: 119
| Thanks all for the advice.
I called my State DNR Police to inquire. Told them I knew it was low priority as poaching and pollution are much more important. They said "we deal with conflicts all the time" and that they would check the regs and get back to me.
Seems the best would be to get all the other anglers he cheeses off together to have an *INTERVENTION*, but that would be almost impossible to coordinate.
Edited by curdmudgeon 6/6/2017 2:50 PM
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