I guess it depends on what comment is made to you.

I Do know that there are some VERY rude bass fisherman, weather they fish tournaments or not I have no idea. The ones I'm talking about think that the spot you may be fishing is the ONLY spot on the lak that will hold fish. They will flip their tubes right up to your boat, and I do mean UP to your boat. I was out with JD on the chain once and that exact thing happened. A comment of "Are we in your way?" was said and I nearly fell out of the boat laughing. And these guys were clueless to what was said to them as they looked at us like they did nothing wrong.

Maybe your just guilty by association. 5

 

Ed r hit it right on the head. I have had the same thing happen to me too many times to mention. Part of the problem lies with these tournaments being on weekends on waters that already see heavy weekend pressure. Sometimes when guys get in the tournament mode it turns them into an ugly beast. Unfortunately the whole field always gets held accountable by the actions of a few.

 

I would agree. Have had many irritating run in's with tourney guys. They have no problem casting there presentations within inches of your anchored boat, even next to your own bobber or cast. Most of the time they will ignore you as if your not even there or other times they try to make small talk as they move right in on your location and fish it. Very Rude !! I can only imagine there response if someone did that to them. :-?

You also have them cruising through no wake areas as if the rules don't apply to them. Bow in the air, kicking up a 1-2 foot wave. People will yell to them to slow down and they just ignore all and keep going. I hate to say it but it seems they are concerned with themselves only with no regard for other boaters or fisherman. It's not a single or a couple occurances I'm talking about, It's many, MANY!! over 20 + years of meeting them on the water. I think they know very well that their actions are less than appreciated by others. The part that bug's me is that most seem not to care one bit.

It's why I stopped targeting bass, so I would never be confused with one of these guys. :roll:

 

With all that huge amount fame and fortune that comes from winning a tourney gets to some people's heads and they forget common courtesy. Of course everyone's idea of what common fishing courtesy is differs from person to person. I've gotten dirty looks when I've fished 50ft upstream, while other times I've had friendly conversations with boats 5ft away. But in general the perception is that tourney guys have a superiority complex and feel entitled to complete access every square inch of water, and it only takes one or two knuckleheads to re-enforce that perception.

All you can really do is extend the courtesy to other fisherman that you would like extended to yourself and the rest will take care of itself. I would also suggest saying hello to the guy fishing next to you, always a good tension breaker.

 

I would say like to say thankyou to everone that took the time to respond... like i said i am 19 years old and i plan tournament fishing for a while... I love the rush and the extreme competiveness that comes with it.. I see know that bass fisherman are starting to get a bad name.. I going to be determine not to be like this others and be respectful cuz I know that if Bassfishing tournaments arn't always won by being a prick.. I have also notice that many times these guys that are causing the problems are one that are having a bad day on the water, cant get bit, dont have a limit, lost fish, and there thinking about losing ther entry fee and the prize money, this types of things makes a tournament fisherman go nuts, and many time we as tournament fisherman tend to overreact and tend to forget that were arn't at work and this is suppose to be a fun and rolemodel sport not ( a big bad ass with a fanzy bass boat who owns all the water).. I like i said early thanks again for the repleys and I try my best to try and kee[ a positive attuide and always have my comman sense and respect others, with me at all times..
Thanks again

 

Keep up the good work LLP. I fished a tournament in WI with Mops last summer, and everyone there was polite and courteous. I actually noticed that it was the weekend warriors who were being somewhat rude that weekend. My biggest problem in WI is people racing in front of me and anchoring on the edge of a weedline for panfish. Last year I had a boat hop right in front of me 3 times before I said something. This kind of stuff happens all the time, but for whatever reason it becomes magnified when it is a tournament angler.

 

Sometimes I think we forget what we really like to do and thats fish and at the end see who is top dog. I have been at this for some time and no I do not do very good most of the time. Although I do look good trying. Any way I have seen the good bad and the ugly out there some times. By both tournament guys and pleasure boaters and fishermen. In general I try to stay out of others way but do not find others willing to do the same to either myself or other boats. Both tourny guys and fun fishermen. I just hate the fact that I have a bass boat and right away some think I should not even be there (Lake Geneva) for one. Hell just because my boat is a bass boat, do not think oh here is another one. I try to be polite to others and enjoy my time out there. Remember its a hobby for the most of us. Just enjoy it.

 

Limit 5, your response tells me that your not part of the problem but more the solution. 2

.... and your right, it certainly isn't always a nice bass boat that is creating a problem on the water. I think we have the "non caring" sportsman in just about every group. Heck, I've had walleye guy's come and jig 10 foot from my boat too. However, it seems the respect for the bass boat is almost completely gone. I sold mine back in 1987 because of the dirty looks and unfriendliness when trying to fish. I think its been an issue for a long time. It's not just the bass dudes. I think tournaments in general can bring out the worst is some people who are extremely competitive. It's why I rarely participate is any competition other than a friendly one. It amazes me to see how popular and extravagant these tourneys have become. I think much of the true spirit and enjoyment of fishing is lost when one participates in tournaments. Just my opinion and no offence to you bass guys who are also great sportsman.

 

i love tournament fisherman, they're a great influence and for someone to make comments like they do is just unnessesary, believe it or not i fish okeechobee last weekend and my dad and i stopped at a ramp and we met david dudly (all time highest paid pro. fisherman, 2.3 mil. in just FLW tournaments) he was so nice he offered to take us out just so he can run the motor of his brand new boat his sponsers gave him, and we were with him for atleast an hour and a half and he was such a nice fello, i love tournament fisherman so keep it up and just ignore unnessesary comments :-D

 

.... and the above post is probably the most important reason be a good sportsman. Treat other fisherman as you would want to be treated.

Impressionable minds are counting on you.

 

I'm a bass fisherman(non-tournament) and I've had some problems when catching bass and having a weekend tournament angler move in to either see what I'm throwing or trying to move in and move me out of the way..if ppl would be polite and ask I would have no problem sharing some information or spot..but dont be rude about it...MOST of the weekend tournament fisherman are NOT David Dudly's or Kevin VanDam's so there's no reason to think just because your fishing a tournament doesn't mean you shouldn't respect others rights to be fishing the area..Most of the tournament anglers I know respect others but its the small % (posers)that think they can do what they want..

 

just one name: Iaconelli. He singlehandedly set pro bass fishing back in broad appeal with his obnoxious screaming and hissey-fits. Thankfully, his face time is shrinking. I do not personally know any pro-bass guys, but I especially admire the oldtimers that paved the way for today's guys by being likeable, interesting, honest folk. I have met several guides at Canadian lodges and their overwhelming opinion is that Babe W. is a total raging butt-hole. The Lindner's and all their staff members are supposed to be terrific.

 

I think if we had the chance we would all like to be like IKE. I think he puts on a show for the crowd but as far as Bass fishing goes I think He's one of the best ever on the Bass Masters Trail. I know we all have our own opinion thiss is just. Wait I seem to remember a quarter back from about 21 years ago that played for the Bears that had a personality alot like IKE.

 

I think 10 inch gill hit the nail on the head. Id rather be a dike than be like ike! I have nothing against bass fisherman as long as they are sportsman like. No reason to act like ike.

 

Personally, Ike embarrasses the heck out of me everytime I see him start screaming. Not really my style but it makes me laugh. His talent cannot be disputed though. The guy can flat out fish. His antics have also paved the way for others to be more expressive which I think has helped BASSCAR become more widestream and popular.

 

i'm with 10inchgill and klino,
no doubt that iaconelli can fish,
but imagine if he pulled up next to your boat
and started doing his little screaming and shouting act.
the guy acts worse than those spoiled lincoln park trixies.
no thanks.

 

LLP. As most have stated not all BASS TOURNAMENT FISHERMAN are jerks. Remeber your little gift I gave you. That is the way that I treat people both on and off the water. Yes there are the guys out there who get to close and are not polite but being a tournament fisherman myself communication is key. You would be surprised how many people will let you fish the water that they are fishing if you tell them what you are doing and treat them with respect before fishing their water ( because they were there first. Isn't that why we buy boats that run 70+mph to get there first. What comes around goes around.) and make sure to thank them when you leave.

Instead of picking on our own kind (FISHERMEN) your question should have been why are pleasure boaters such jerks!!!! AEvery fisherman out there can relate to this. They runn around and tell you that they own the water. Placing there own private property and no wake signs and so on and so forth. They say we are messing up their water when in fact its the sportsman of America through the Pittman Act who are paying for the up keep and preservation off the water ways.

I can keep going on and on but I'll stop just remeber treat people the way you would want to be treated and things would be ok!

 

Furnfish
You are right on.
I live on a small lake and when I see someone fishing my dock I ask how are you doing? Where as I have fished some docks and have gotten the responce to keep moving on. I try not to argue with them. I know we have all gotten snaged at one time or another but please it is like living on a golf course and complaning that balls end up in your yard. We all use the lakes for what we find is our enjoyment, but I have never ran my boat at a water skier, jet skier or a kid on there perents lab driving a boat. That is another can of worms that should not be opened. Again for most it is our hobby and not a way of making a living. Hell who could on our lakes up here any way LOL.

 

True Very True. as someone once said "Can't we all just get along"! LOL

 

I also had bad experiences with tournie guys.They think they own the lake or point,or weedline your fishing and do whatever they want majority of the time.VERY RUDE!!!! I wish I saw this thread sooner.

 

Why all the hate? I dont see any post's about non-tournament guy's, or shore fishermen, or the bucket sloths I see keeping everything they can catch or snag. I do fish tournaments and have never disrespected any one on the water, and I have never been in the boat with a guy that acted that way. If a guy is in a nice looking boat does that automatically make him a tourney guy? Next time write down his numbers off the side of his boat, go to the ramp, and get him D"Q'ed. There is a sportsmanship clause on every entry form and the tournament director will take care of the problem. One bad apple should'nt spoil the whole bunch.

 

Its not everytime someone see's a "nice" boat they think someones a tournament fisherman..See that is the mentality I'm talking about..It's look I"ve spent $40,000 on a boat so I can do what I want..I've had the new Ranger but sold it to buy a smaller boat to fish lesser pressured lakes to get away from the idioits.Its not just tournament fisherman but the rudeness of others I have no tolerance for.

 

I have read this post for a while now. Over my last 15 years of fishing in a variety of boats from a 14'er to a $30K bassboat I have seen a lot. There is no doubt that too many bass tournament fishermen are arrogant and elitist. There is a thought that if you are not fishing a tournament, you don't matter. You're an inconvenience to them and they'll pretty much pretend you're not there. Granted, this is not the majority but that thought is prevelent. Even working at a fishing store for a couple years, I picked up on that.

Now don't get me wrong, there are some very nice guys that fish bass tournaments and I say strongly that the majority are. However, the bad ones give them all a bad rap. Good fishing. Paul

 

My point was how do you know if a guy is in a tournament, or just fishing? You dont know most of the time. So therefore maybe some of these people you are complaining about are just everyday weekend anglers who happen to be rude, or maybe you dont like to fish around anyone and want the lake to yourself. You people are posting message's on a Bass Fishing message board. Alot of Bass Fisherman like to fish tournaments, 95% are good guy's. Why whine and cry about the other 5%.

 

In my experience they were watching me catch bass and asked if I was in the tournie.And then moved in and were real arsh wipes after that.Now that was once and was a while ago,but I'll never forget it.I also had one more time in wisc. while on a musky trip and there was a bass tournie and just the actions and arrogance was unbelievable.I'm sure not ALL tournie guys are like that but its people like that give all a bad perception of them to all.And from reading the thread I'm not the only one to see this happen.