A friend of mine, myself and 8 kids fishing on a pontoon catching crappies. The kids are having a ball. 4 guys come across the lake about as fast as their boat can go and park right next to us on the side the kids were fishing off of. After a few words and no more fish for us we did a double loop around them dropped the kids off and went back and told them our real thoughts. If I see kids in the boat and they are catching fish I stay away.let the kids have some fun.

It's a me-me-me world out there and it's showing up on the lakes. Let's just hope we don't start hearing about people pulling firearms. I've heard about it and I'm sure that it happens even more than we all know.

Even though I'm not a believer in karma, when some a-hole does something to make me mad I turn away and assume that bad things will catch up with him. As I leave, picturing those "unfortunate" events usually makes me feel better (mental retribution I guess).

I was fishing docks on Tonka one day in my "rusty but trusty" old Lund with an old 8 horse on it. I had caught a few fish and sure enough a guy in a decked out bass boat that cost more than my house pulls up 2 docks in front of me and starts fishing. I made mention of something like "sorry, I didn't know you had to be a country club member to fish this spot" to which he replied with an erect middle finger! I didn't say anything in response.

Funny thing was I followed him from dock to dock. There were 8 docks left in this line and I outfished him 7-2! Every time I got one I made sure to let him know he "missed one under there".

It was great fun!

Well, I think electric motors and boats can indeed scare fish away.. I do a lot of sight fishing, even with a troller, when a boat approaches, fishes scramble away...

It's hard to say whether this situation was right or not, going in between the boat and shore, cause I wasnt there to see it.. However, I dont think I would have done that myself and go between them and shore.

Fishing, in a way, is similar to duck and deer hunting, you gotta know to keep your distant as well.

My personal opinion is to never go between a boat and shore unless there is obviously enough room. I've been crowded too many times to ever want to be that guy. Yes electric motors and boats moving through will scare fish away ecspecially if its only in 8 feet of water.

So Im glad to hear that everyone has these same issues!

To my defense I was in ~3 feet of water when I crossed and about 10 yards from the dropoff to 8ft. I still dont think the electric scared any fish, not that they dont, just not in the situation.

And related to the shore fisherman vs. bass boat fisherman comment!!! I live in a dump and pinch pennies because I have been shore fishing all my life and have always dreamed of having my own bass boat so I finelly bought one. Dont assume that the guy is in the yacht club! Although he did sound like a big a~~. The truth is, there are a ton of bass under the dock! You dont need a boat to catch um, the boat only makes it a little more fun, and alot easier. There are standard hard working guys, who love to fish, that may just own a nice bass boat.

I definintly think this has been a great lesson about fishing etiquette.

(1) NEVER pass a boat between the boat and shore unless he is more than 50 yards off shore or he is your friend. You just never know, he could jump you with a gun at the dock!

(2) Respect a shorefisherman who is fishing a dock (thats his dock!) and he cant fish all of them because hes trying to save money for that sweet boat.

(3) If anyone EVER makes you mad, think of a joking polite way to get them off your back, offer them a beer, and try your best to get along. We are all out here to enjoy life and the outdoors... and we can do better than this