Did I screw up, I don't think so??

[25thmustang]

Re: Did I screw up, I don't think so??

Maybe I'm wrong, but fishing, or skiing, or tubing in the middle of a channel seems very discourteous to other boaters.

I am so glad and thankful we have the Chesapeake bay to enjoy, not many of these issues there.

I agree, and it is. Where I boat the channel can get very very narrow and outside of the channel is gets very shallow. Being a mid size boat, I'm more or less stuck running up the channel without a lot of room to go left or right. A lot of people, boat, fish and enjoy the water out of the channel, and thats what it's there for. It's those that park themselves right in the middle that usually cause the most "issues".

It's tough, as I want to be courteous and nice on the water, but it can be frustrating to have to slow to an idle every 3 minutes, because someone is fishing right in the channel, or tubing, or eating lunch etc...

 

[Beefer]

Re: Did I screw up, I don't think so??

If you're fishing in the channel, that's your problem, IMO. It's a lane for TRAFFIC, not for fishing. I'll give you room, but I won't slow down. In the ICW around here, I hardly ever see people fishing in the channel. There is no structure down below, so what are you hoping to catch, other than wakes? There are some narrow points where if you're fishing on the edge of the channel, I'll slow down 90% of the time for you, but alot depends on the boat you're in.

 

[Beefer]

Re: Did I screw up, I don't think so??

Oh, and to the OP's question, I would have tucked in behind the boat I was running with, but what you did wasn't 'wrong' per se, just not as courteous as you could have been.

 

[The Hammer]

Re: Did I screw up, I don't think so??

Well I fish all the time out on the lake, boats pass by me all the time at speed. My little boat just bops up and down with the waves and doesn't bother me at all I just make sure my pop doesn't spill. No need to be upset what do I expect on a lake with alot of boats. 150' is 4 tractor trailer lengths which is enough room as long as I know you see me.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Did I screw up, I don't think so??

If you're fishing in the channel, that's your problem, IMO. It's a lane for TRAFFIC, not for fishing. I'll give you room, but I won't slow down. In the ICW around here, I hardly ever see people fishing in the channel. There is no structure down below, so what are you hoping to catch, other than wakes? There are some narrow points where if you're fishing on the edge of the channel, I'll slow down 90% of the time for you, but alot depends on the boat you're in.

The "channel" I fish in is 1/4 mile wide. That's where the fish are in this neck of the woods. Many people fish there, as do Kayakers and water skiiers. We don't expect you to slow down for us, or limit your wake, we just want you to stay the heck away. There is plenty of room for us all. You don't need to pass us at the 100 foot legal limit when there is another 1000 feet of unused river.

Everybody seems to be fixated on no-wake speed and slowing down and the "moron" who shouldn't be in the middle of the lake. Its his lake too, maybe the 30 footer shouldn't be there....who owns the lake anyway?

The crux of the whole discussion here lies in the numbers - 1.5 miles, 150 feet and 38 mph.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Did I screw up, I don't think so??

Jim,

This is true and I agree with you 100%. With a ton of water and many options to pass at safe and far distances, the guy cutting it close is far more of a "moron" than the guy fishing a certain area. My gripe is the guy who is parked in a channel that is extremely narrow.

I have had this situation arise (it was a 30'er not a small boat) where I passed as safe as I could away and river patrol came up and mentioned the 100' rule to me (I actually would have said I was more tha 100', but in the end nothing came from it).

Why this gentleman felt the need to anchor in the channel, the narrowest stretch of channel, causing all boats to have to slow down is beyond me. This happens quite often around where I boat.

I'm not a lake boater, so I'm unfamiliar with that. If I had miles, to pass, I'm sure it would never come up.

 

[livendive]

Re: Did I screw up, I don't think so??

150 feet is a half sand wedge and 300 feet is a 9 iron.

I was thinking half a football field vs the whole thing.