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Posts: 143
Location: La Crosse, WI | I was out fishing on Memorial Day with my Dad and one of my friends on a 250 acre lake. There was a guy throwing a bulldawg on a point and we pulled in about 100 yards down the shoreline to fish it the opposite way he was casting. We put the trolling motor down and he yells over, "Thanks for cutting me off A-holes" I couldn't believe it, so I fired up the outboard and went to the opposite shoreline. He continued to work that point for the next half hour and never even reached the spot where we were going to fish. Then his buddy comes over and they sit there and talk for about 15 min. We were the only three boats on the water musky fishing. Really put a sour taste in my mouth. |
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Posts: 829
Location: Maple Grove, MN | Minnetonka can be bad and I hate to say it, but the Muskies, Inc guys are often the worst ones on the water. The worst cut-offs I've had the past few years were during Muskies, Inc events. I took a father and son out on Minnetonka last September when there was a Muskies, Inc chapter tournament going on and we were cut off on every spot but one and that was the one spot we caught a Muskie. We'd get fish going and then one and sometimes two boats would see us figure-8ng, come right in and start casting around my boat. Being a member of Muskies, Inc, I felt frustrated and embarrassed by those guys. Don't know what chapters all those guys were from, but good grief! How about letting others fish? Do you really have to cast ten feet from my boat? Are you really that desperate to catch a fish? It was a disgusting display of bad sportsmanship and nothing more.
I got cut off many times on the opening weekend and finally had to say something to a guy who moved in on a spot right ahead of me. His excuse was that I was on the outside of the spot while he drove right onto it. He even called me an amateur. Funny how the guy didn't even realize that he drove his boat right onto the spot on the spot and doing so would flush most fish right out of there. One needs stealth to fish shallow areas like that and driving right onto the spot only ensures that one will catch nothing. I suspect he was a Muskies, Inc member too.
Last Saturday was nice though. There were quite a few Muskie fishermen out there, but everyone was giving each other space and a couple of boats kept going when they saw my boat on a spot and I did the same for them. That is the way it should be. On a big lake like Tonka with so many spots to choose from, there just is no reason to cut in right ahead of another boat. I didn't recognize any of those fishermen so I'm suspecting the Muskies, Inc guys were fishing somewhere else on the lake.
I used to be proud of being a Muskies, Inc member, but now I am just plain embarrassed.  |
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Posts: 3157
| Herb
muskies inc guys SHOULD know better then to cut people off no excuses!!!
but
before you become TOO embarrassed with MI consider how many muskies they have bought and stocked in Tonka for everyone to enjoy |
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Posts: 20258
Location: oswego, il | I think Steve Hulbert put it best. People either dont know or dont care. You cant fix stupid and confronting the situation will likley lead to more stupidity. I get cut off most every time on the water. I attract these people for some reason. I just move or motor around.
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Posts: 829
Location: Maple Grove, MN | Hook,
It wasn't you and I know that you never would cut anyone off like that. I also didn't recognize anyone from my own chapter doing that last fall or this year.
But still, not only was it embarrassing to have that happen while I was introducing a Dad and his son to Muskie fishing last fall, I was also contronted at the landing by two boats of non-Muskie fishermen who were upset about the way some of the tourney fishermen were behaving. I just told them that I was a member of Muskies, Inc, but I was not fishing in the tournament and didn't agree with that behavior. What could I say?
I think that its important to keep in mind that, as Muskies, Inc members, we are representing Muskies, Inc every time we are on the water and people notice our behavior. It is especially so if there is a Muskies, Inc tourney or outting. What goes around comes around.
Truth is that I am disgusted with just a few Muskies, Inc members - not all and certainly not the organization. Muskies, Inc does a lot for the Muskie fishery and Minnetonka is just one lake they have helped a great deal. And the people I know in my chapter are all great people.
So, you're right. I shouldn't feel embarrassed about being a Muskies, Inc member.  |
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Posts: 97
Location: Chaska MN. | FAT-SKI - 6/18/2012 10:37 AM
Tonka is hands down one of the worst lakes for jackasses on the water. There seems to be a new one every time you turn around. Sometimes I can't even stand to be on that lake. Drives me bonkers... But I am trying to not take it so seriously, otherwise I would be peed every time I was on the water. I just have to start letting stuff go.
That's why I haven't fished that lake in at least ten years
last time on tonka I was fishing a can outside one of the channels and had a big cruiser come out of the channel and he opened up the motor it sending a HUGE wake at me and my bass boat.
At that point I told my partner to hang on and when it was all done I had taken on about fifty gallons of water over the bow. Too many other good lakes to explore to waist my time out on that lake. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | in Wisconsin there are no big fish and everyone eats what they catch but there are enough lakes that you can find a place to fish in a pretty peaceful situation ... even on busy weekends if you know your way around. |
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Posts: 32934
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | 1 other boat on the little WI lake I was fishing last night. Moved a couple very nice fish and lost a real good one at boatside, too.
I guess how upset one needs to get depends on what gets cut off by another muskie fisherman. |
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Posts: 633
Location: Madison, WI | I have had the same boat cut me off 3 times in two weeks now, close enough to land my dawg right next to the big motor and they just ignore me. Oh well they must think i know what im doing! Also on the madison chain last year i was casting a weedy shoreline and had the madison row team come so close to me, the one side of the crew had to stop rowing and hold their oars up in the air to not hit the side of my boat! But in their defense there was only 3000 acres of lake on the other side of me! |
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Posts: 78
| Had a guy cut me off once so I made a cast towards his boat. The bait landed about 10 feet from his boat & on my third jerk of my retrieve I stuck a beauty! It was awesome! He just stood there and watched and then motored away, disgusted I hope! |
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Posts: 20
| I have been cut off many times, now I try to fish really early or late to cut down on that. I even got cut off at the company pinic last week. Apparently they didn't like the fact that I worked midnight to 8am and wanted a few drinks after work...now that is BS! |
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Posts: 32934
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Excuse me, what? |
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Posts: 581
Location: deephaven mn | they are rude and wrong, respect the other fishermen if some one is there before you let them fish the spot. on tonka there are numerous spots no need to cut someone off. some guys just do get it, they put there blinders on. that being said it probably dose not matter the fish come and go one boat see's nothing the next one nothing the next catch's one. don't let it get to you, they are wrong. keep fishing, keep the karma, it will payoff |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Ya,.... It's all about respect and Common Courtesy.....
Don't get angry or heated to the point of RAGE,... or else your worse than the cut off man...
There's plenty of water out there. |
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| We were running around after the guys doing the So. MN regional HS Muskie Tournament last Wed night and made a few casts at the end of the night adjacent to where the kids were fishing on French; when outta the blue these two guys come running alongside us and cut right in front of me and start casting. I really dont even care anymore, if that's my biggest problem its a good day.
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Posts: 2691
Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin | Personaly I would rather push a guy than have him push me through a spot. If another boat cuts you off and you just can't handle it-Just work through that spot faster than they are. You will be casting at the back of their boat very soon and they will work that spot faster than they wanted to. Once you get them moved past your sweet spot just turn around and work it like you normally would.
If I had the choice I would rather take my time behind someone rather than having that boat push me through the spot faster than I would have fished it. Having a boat casting up your rear end can make you fish it faster and more careless than usual.
Personaly now days I just fish every spot like I normaly would because other boats just don't bother me like they used too years ago.
A few high 5's and some yelling will let them know they missed out on a fish after they cut you off and you fished it behind them. Nothing better than sticking a fish behind a jerk who cut you off. I usually laugh and say "you missed one" as they turn around to see what all the yelling and high 5's are about.
Realy people, you just need to not let it bother you that much. Now if it happens more than a few times from the same jerk I usually will make a point to let them know how it feels.
I had a boat cut me off twice in a half day trip. The second time I explained to my clients what I was going to do. They said they would have the first time he cut us off. After the second time this jerk cut me off I just fired up my big motor, left the trolling motor down and drove rite up past him on the outside of his boat, I got about the same distance he was when he cut me off and I had my clients start casting away. He yelled and peeed and moaned about me getting too close to him and cutting him off. I just smiled and said" You came up and set up this far in front of me, I just gave you the same treatment, sucks don't it". He packed up his stuff and left. I went back to the start of the run and my clients stuck two muskies.
Don't get mad, just fish. If you have to make a point, do it calm and the same way they just did it too you. Also another good idea is too take a picture of the boat as you get close enough and they will wonder why. Tell them it's to share with all your friends and other guides. |
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Posts: 3157
| Like others have stated,,its Tonka,,,Muskie guys should know better but some lakes seem to bring out the bad in people,,,Tonka crowding,,Vermilion no lights at night,North end of Mile Lacs a game of chicken one boat working the break one way,,the other coming the other way whos gonna swerve.
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | Herb, how do you know these are Muskies Inc guys? You said you don't know them, but you do KNOW they're in MI. Even at the tournament only about 1/4 of the participants are in MI from any chapter. I think you're making some pretty broad assumptions. |
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Posts: 1150
Location: Minnesota. | FAT-SKI - 6/18/2012 10:37 AM
When I am on Tonka I get cut off on a regular basis. I am not sure if it is the fact I am in a smaller boat, or people are just dingholes.
On Sunday morning I was fishing a point and moved a fish around 10am. I kept casting at it in hopes she would come back. As I look to my left there is a GIANT party boat with about 100 people on it heading in to drive between me and shore. There is another guy in a little boat crappie fishing not 60ft from me. This giant boat almost killed him, and of course I did not see that fish for the rest of the day. I really wasn't that far from the point and the fact that the boat came that close to the other guy really, really peeed me off. The captain of the boat even looked over at me and shrugged his shoulders. Said he had no room on the other side of me... as I looked back. if was a good couple hundred yards of empty space.
Tonka is hands down one of the worst lakes for jackasses on the water. There seems to be a new one every time you turn around. Sometimes I can't even stand to be on that lake. Drives me bonkers... But I am trying to not take it so seriously, otherwise I would be peeed every time I was on the water. I just have to start letting stuff go.
Ski,
I've only fished Tonka a few times last summer for this very reason. I live in the northern burbs and typically go anyway but south. I'd love to fish it more and might do so since I'm retired and can time the trips accordingly but still I don't like hearing this stuff.
Some of these posts...unreal. Sworral's post has my admiration, I'm trying to be more like that. My gutt tells me there's no excuse for rudeness and it's hard to tolerate. You can't fix stupid but many of these examples are simply plain arse rude.
Still, as Steve's example says, it's better to look the other way and not let it mess up your day but man, I have trouble doing that.
I'm a little guy and have lost a few teeth in my early years from speaking my mind so maybe it's time to just leave an ignoramus to his own devices - maybe I need to work on that. Still, it pees me off to no end, likely b/c I've never done that and have taught two boys to be really, really respectful on the water as well as on the road...
I think I'll use this post to remind myself when it happens. I need the trainin'...!!
Meantime, seems 'Tonka's a good a place as any to learn patience. I need to fish it more.
Good bunch of posts here.
Jeremy.
Edited by Jeremy 6/19/2012 9:06 AM
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | Mikes Extreme - 6/19/2012 1:49 AM
I had a boat cut me off twice in a half day trip. The second time I explained to my clients what I was going to do. They said they would have the first time he cut us off. After the second time this jerk cut me off I just fired up my big motor, left the trolling motor down and drove rite up past him on the outside of his boat, I got about the same distance he was when he cut me off and I had my clients start casting away. He yelled and peeed and moaned about me getting too close to him and cutting him off. I just smiled and said" You came up and set up this far in front of me, I just gave you the same treatment, sucks don't it". He packed up his stuff and left. I went back to the start of the run and my clients stuck two muskies.
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I have adopted the above strategy this year in my boat, seems to work well. Simply fire up the big engine and return the favor and start casting away! |
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Posts: 676
Location: Twin Cities, MN | Getting cut off is never fun.
I was up on Mille Lacs walleye fishing 2 weekends ago, and the same walleye pro cut us off 4 times over 2 days (evidently it was the only spot on the flats) The 4th time, his partner felt so bad, he tried to talk to us as they went by our bow by about 1 boat length.
I was surprised, but my fishing buddies said par for the course on Mille Lacs.
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Posts: 1188
Location: Iowa | I had 2 people cut me off within 10 feet of my boat in the clear lake tournament a couple weeks ago. We were first out fishing a spot and they each cut inside and outside of me while fishing the spot. Nobody caught a fish but it was all I could do to not say something. I think that close is pretty rediculous! |
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Posts: 265
Location: McGuire AFB, NJ | I love sticking fish right in front of folks fishing ahead of my boat. There's no greater satisfaction!!!!
In fact I did it this weekend…nailed a 7.6 lrg mouth after a guy stopped about 75 yards in front of my rig on a 500,000 acres body of water. Paid no attention to him and just kept fishing. Of course, after watching the entire sequence of events, he blasted out in short order.
As a tourney angler this is something you just have to get over. Have confidence in your bait choice and presentation. The only person on the water that you can control…..is yourself.
Chris
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Location: Illinois | AFchris - 6/19/2012 11:10 AM Have confidence in your bait choice and presentation. The only person on the water that you can control…..is yourself. Chris God, grant me the serenity... If someone acts like a jerk on the water, returning the favor only diminishes your focus IMO. Stay cool and collected out there, and do the right thing by other boats. Do not let others bad behavior convince you YOU have to stoop to their level to succeed! I don't believe in karma. I act right because it's right, not for the upcoming cosmic reward!
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| did you ask the veteran in the back of your boat if getting cut off was really important enough to get upset about?
fishing tonka during the day still beats getting shot at in the middle of the desert.
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Posts: 829
Location: Maple Grove, MN | Treats, I asked a few of them and they said they were members. I suppose maybe not all were members, but the worst ones sure were and they were fishing that Muskies, Inc tourney. Don't know where they were all from though. At any rate, some of those guys took that tourney way to seriously. Cutting right in on us within a half-cast length and then casting right up to my boat after we had a follow? That is way over the top in my book.
I suppose it could have been worse. They could have been mooning people. |
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Posts: 1753
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | Let me first say that I have sat idle and monitored this thread closely. It is very irritating for my wife and I to be out fishing, whether for bass or muskies, to have to deal with the idiots on the lake. Cross my path and you will hear from me. My wife has limited fishing abilities so I do get majorly offended when you swamp my boat and you will hear from me either on the lake or at the dock. Don't try to pull up and cast the same school of fish that we are clearly fishing. Don't anchor on the same point as me and get within a quarter of a cast length from another boat and expect to not hear from someone. Manners go both ways and while whats fair for one is not fair for all, I will put you in your place. You don't like it when you get cut off, so don't do it to others.
I warn some of you that "push" people off spots because some of the people I have met on the water are flat crazy. Especially when people fish and drink on the water. We have had people pull guns on us, in lakes where concealed carry is not allowed. We have seen people try to fight over fishing spots. We have even seen guys run figure 8's around the boat just because they got irritated. While some of us will not stoop to that level, there are many others that will without hesitation.
Use the manners our parents taught us and give someone else some space on the lake. Do unto others as you would have done unto you. I will not push you off a spot and I will not cut you off, but if you do those things to me, you will for sure hear about it.
Edited by RyanJoz 6/19/2012 1:20 PM
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Posts: 32934
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | muskellunged,
Bullseye. |
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Posts: 321
| muskellunged - 6/19/2012 12:37 PM
AFchris - 6/19/2012 11:10 AM Have confidence in your bait choice and presentation. The only person on the water that you can control…..is yourself. Chris God, grant me the serenity... If someone acts like a jerk on the water, returning the favor only diminishes your focus IMO. Stay cool and collected out there, and do the right thing by other boats. Do not let others bad behavior convince you YOU have to stoop to their level to succeed! I don't believe in karma. I act right because it's right, not for the upcoming cosmic reward!
You should apply this to your internet behavior;) |
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Posts: 726
Location: Eau Claire, WI | So what do you guys think about the sub behaviors?
Two that I love in particular were probably pioneered in MN. LOL
I call the first one the "MN 180" - this is a situation where you try to do the right thing by coming in behind a boat but as soon as you get going, the boat ahead of you does a 180 on the line and comes back at you. A direct product of fishing a weedline vs. fishing a spot on spot section of a weedline. You don't know what a boat's intention is when you set down a couple hundred yards behind them and start casting what you thought was now your spot to fish.
The other I call the "MN Shoulder" - this one starts the same as above but only this time they don't do a 180, they just move the boat in reverse. As you approach they position the boat so that you are pushed out from the structure or have to go in. Either way their intention is to keep you out.
I just fish around them no problem but a few guys that I've interacted with have acted like it was me in the wrong for showing up at all. Am I wrong? If they turn around am I supposed to leave?
Jono
Edited by Jono 6/19/2012 3:48 PM
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