I have been fishing the Horseshoe chain for years. Most of the time everybody respects one another and tries to work with each other. Now we have everybody coming here to fish and alot of them don't respect other fisherman and try to monopolize a spot or hole all to them selves. What I'm talking about is these people that anchor in the middle of the river channel, and basically hog the whole area (hole/flat/reef) all to them self. Then when you come by the give the "evil eye" like they own the spot. We have been doing it for years here, you get in line and EVERYBODY gets to work the spot. If someone is snagged-up or catches a fish the others respect the other fisherman and wait your turn. When they are done then the next boat goes through. That way everybody can fish a spot not just one boat. And when they anchor in the river channel their anchor rope is back 70 feet from there boat basically cutting off all other boats & shore fisherman from that spot. This has only been happening the last 2 years as word has got out about the fishing on the river in the spring. Just had to say something about this as these people have really ruined my experience the last couple of nights. Years past we had no problem and everybody was happy and catching fish, not just one boat. Does anybody else notice the lack of respect that some people have? Thanks

Sorry to hear that, I have also noticed a lack of respect other times, but luckily fishing in the fishing the chain twice since the opener, people have been really good about taking turns and allowing people to all fish one spot.

It's been a gradual thing in the spots I fish on the chain. I've seen the anchoring up and clogging up narrows for 15 years on the river sections of the chain especially the first few weekends. Later in the summer the recreational traffic makes it very difficult to work the tight spots as well as navigate the narrow river channel. So it's not just those fishing. It's a busy chunk of water and not all the folks know or care what others are thinking is correct. So I usually fish it early morning or late evening and during the week when possible.

No offense to anyone... But I fish all over the state of MN and that whole area, locals and newbie transplants are some of the most discurteous boaters I run into during the course of my angling year.

I was just up shore fishing on the chain last night... Guys running on plane within' 5 feet of other people's boats... Guys with perfectly good electric trolling motors on the bows of their boats, trolling in traffic in 5-7 feet of water, banging their 2 strokes spooking the fishing of everyone else who's in stealth mode. Guys pulling in Fish and then someone casting right over into their spot.

In the winter time of all the ice fishing areas I fish the Chain is the Second worst for angler littering...

And I'm pretty sure almost everyone I saw doing this last night was locals... Because Most of them showed up after 5:00 pm... And let's face it... The Cities-Kitties aren't shooting up to the chain on a random Wednesday night.

I've been fishing the chain on and off for 10 years now... And while this behavior has indeed gotten worse in the last 3 years... It's been present for the full decade...

In my book, as a guy who sees it all through the course of the year... There's a giant blanket of Poor Ettiquete to be cast in that region over the anglers (Local and Newbie) who frequent that chain.

*I apologize if that came out too harsh... But that whole area is so bad I won't even launch my boat there!

Last night (Wed) there was a fishing league based out of the Hwy22 access.And none of those boats were locals. So I would'nt assume that all the things you witnessed were from locals. As far as littering goes that is a shame and there is no excuse for that other than just plain laziness. I don't think you can just throw a blanket around the anglers in this region like you said. And say were all bad, thats not fair is it? Most if not all the local people I run into on the chain respect the resource, and respect other fisherman as long as that respect is returned. I will admit some of the locals because they think they no the river well do need to SLOW down abit. But like I said last night it was a ZOO there had to be over 40 trucks parked at the access and along Hwy22. Does anybody know what league that was fishing last night, and how they did?

Ok enough finger pointing guys. Lets agree that it can be a challenge at times when the traffic is heavy. Doesn't really matter who it is or isn't.

What gets me is I fish off of shore and boats will anchor in the middle under the bridge and cast to shore right in front of me.They got the whole chain just cause I catch a fish in that spot doesn't mean ever fish on the chain is there.Be repectful and cast some were else other than a foot in front of me.

This is an issue on the Mississippi as well, obviously. I think the best thing to do, at least on the Miss, is to find spots that are a little harder to get to. In some of the spots around here, you are going to run into people who litter and "move in" on you; that's just part of the experience. It's the problem with river fishing in general; it doesn't take a good fisherman to see where the fish are going to be, so everyone and their mom piles up on the spots that are obviously going to hold fish. I just try to fish them mid-week, after dark, or I try to find spots that require a little work to get to. Then, I have it all to myself.

WAS ON THE CHAIN AT 5:30 AM FISHED FOR TWO HOURS AND COULDN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE. FIRST PASS CAUGHT ONE FISH HAD TWO BOATS MOVE IN. MOVED TO ANOTHER SPOT 2 LAKES OVER CAUGHT ANOTHER FISH. HAD A GUY WHO WAS OVER 300 YARDS AWAY PULL IS ANCHOR AND MOVE TO WHERE I WAS. MOVE AGAIN CAUGHT ANOTHER HAD A GUY WITH A 200HP AND 3 GUYS TROLLING WITHIN HAND SHAKE DISTANCE HE HAD A NICE 9.9 KICKER ON THE BACK. I HAVE FISHED THE CHAIN FOR OVER 30 YEARS I HAVE SPOTS THAT NOT ALOT OF PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT I CAN'T EVEN FISH THEM BECAUSE OF ALL THE NET WATCHERS. I KNOW IT WAS ON SUNDAY MORNING BUT IT WAS THE SAME ON TUESDAY MORNING. WERE HAS THE ETIQUETTE GONE?

Here is what you do. A decoy net. When your a little ways from others that you know are watching, pick up the net and kinda wave it around then dip it in the water. Do this in a bad spot to attract others then move to a better spot. lol

I think somebody once said..."not all jerk-baits are at the end of the line."

Fishing from a kayak would enable you to hit the hard to reach places that any schmo with an HP boat cant reach.

One person told me if your fishing toss out a marker but make sure the weight doesnt go to the bottom or make sure the weight is light enough so the waves or current if your near a river will float it away and watch the boats flock to it as it floats away. Said it works like a charm

Just as an FYI when you type in ALL CAPS on the internet it is considered SHOUTING.

We've done the floating marker buoy on Mille Lacs a few times, and it really does work. It's funny to see how it'll originally attract a few guys, and eventually more are attracted just because there are boats out there. Eventually, of course, they figure out the buoy is drifting, but it's funny until they do.