How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

[rwidman]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

You can't shoot a shotgun at them and pointing one at them may result in a visit by the cops (looking for you, not the fishermen). You can't shoot chum at them and can't use a remote controlled boat to damage their boats.<br /><br />You can only protect your boat (netting, chicken wire, etc.), deal with the organizers, hold the fishermen responsible for damage (witnesses, video tape, etc.), or make the area undesireable to fish in (submerged crab pots, debris to snag their tackle, etc.) , or find a way to scare the fish away (underwater recordings of predator fish or other sounds).

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

I didn't say shoot at them, just tote it around. Hell, come out looking like Rambo with a bad attitude. First impressions make big statements.

 

[skeeterboy]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

Heres the reality check. How about you all stop whinning about how YOUR boat is getting nicks in it. you park the boat on public water as with parking your car in a parking lot. You still do it knowing that some moron might hit it or scratch it. Do you put a barrier around your cars, no I didnt think so . So if you really want to dont build a gaudy boat dock and keep your boat on the water for the mishaps to happen then thats fine. Having a gun thats just white trash period and extremly ignorant, more so than hittin a dock or boat with a lure. Dont want to be a jerk or anything just had to let it out. As ive said before its not fun to repair anything on the boat that someone was not considerate about in the 1st, but when the boats are parked out in the open something is bound to happen.

 

[voodoo]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

I have a problem with idiots too.<br />Me and my friends spend a weekend every year camping on an island in Georgian bay.<br />Many groups of 10+ boats will anchor and tie together a couple hundred feet of shore, then get really upset when we drive thru to the island and their boats all bang together.<br />Here's a tip, don't tie togeter.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

Skeeter, it sort of sounds like you are excusing the lure bouncers, that would earn you some interesting end results in my neck of the woods. Yes, people take risks when they moor their boats. These risks are things such as bad weather banging the boat against the dock, birds pooing all over it, the boat sinking due to not covering it and it raining a lot. When a bass fisherman makes the choice to deliberatly do something that causes damage, that is not a reasonable risk. That is just plain ignorance driven inconsideration.<br /><br />I have usually not cared if they fish near my dock, they are not going to get anything anyway because I have fished the living snot out of it, and they all have done what I feel is the very best to not intrude into my space. If I walk down to the dock, they always say hi and motor on. Very respectful. <br /><br />Nature has solved this potential problem for me this year, as I have a thick mat of floating weeds all the way around my dock. If I want out, I have to fire up my kicker, and use the prop wash to blow a hole so I can back out. No one fishes anywhere near my dock with all that junk floating there....

 

[skeeterboy]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

Im not excusing them, because its not right period. I dont do it neither should they. Just making another point from a totally different view.

 

[AJ168]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

One thing bass fisherman really hate - spectators that are too close and fish their holes. If a guy comes by, take your boat out and follow them around the lake, getting rediculously close, leave your motor running, and cast into the same spots that they are. I'm a bass fisherman myself, but I'd feel no pity for these guys after you did something to them. The netting is a good idea, just a piece hung across the transom should work. You can buy a seine net and that would work well or places like the sportsmansguide.com has military surplus stuff and has some nets.

 

[bomar76]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

My buddies and I have considered entering a few of the bass tourneys and having some fun with the idiots....deep sea poles, 5 lb coffee cans filled with concrete for sinkers, a dozen huge treble hooks, stereos blaring, thru hull exhaust thumping away, fishing dead next to them, circling their boats casting away, etc.

 

[rwidman]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

Originally posted by voodoo:<br /> I have a problem with idiots too.<br />Me and my friends spend a weekend every year camping on an island in Georgian bay.<br />Many groups of 10+ boats will anchor and tie together a couple hundred feet of shore, then get really upset when we drive thru to the island and their boats all bang together.<br />Here's a tip, don't tie togeter.

I don't know why they would be upset since you certainly know enough about boating to give them a wide berth and pass at a no-wake speed. <br /><br />BTW: It's called "rafting" and it's great way for friends to boat together.

 

[marv plotzka]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

Ok, I tried a small piece of net (4’x4’) hung off the rear most upper cross bar of my boat hoist canopy. This seemed to work. We only had about 30 or 40 Bass boats on the water and poor weather but, only one fisherman took a chance with the net. When they went to retrieve there lure, I had to explain the net was private property, with a little help from my Nextel and an offer to talk to the sheriff! They cut there line and left. Having gotten some satisfaction, I told them they could pick up there lure at 3:00 PM (weigh in time for most of the contests on the lake) and I would leave it on the end dock post. They didn’t get back until about 4:00PM. They seemed pleasant enough and here happy to have there lure back. I guess I would have been happy too, there must have been $10 worth of stuff tied to the end of the line! <br />A farmer overheard a conversation I was having with my wife at the restaurant Friday night about looking for netting. He offered up this piece of net he had in the toolbox of his pickup. Sometimes life is good to ya! Now all I need is a 10’x6’ piece<br /><br />Skeeterboy, I don’t understand your “Totally Different View”. My boat sits out of the water on my boat hoist. Which sits on my deeded property (the lake bottom) which I pay taxes on. The state of Michigan’s water runs over my property. Again, I do not understand your view, but it seems you’re saying that if someone wants the fish between my property and my boat, I should expect them to damage my personal property during that act. Again, I don’t understand your view, but if I go throw rocks at a parking space at the public boat launch and there happened to be a tow vehicle for a Bass boat in that very same space, it OK to bounce rocks off there windshield and paint finish, they should expect it. Again, I don’t understand your view, But it’s wrong. That is not how normal lake loving boaters, fisherman, skiers, etc. treat each other or there property. Most of us have worked to hard and to lone to have what little we have to have it damaged by what you call “white trash”. And yes, I had to get that off my chest, because it only takes a few with that “Totally Different View” to screw it up for the test of us!<br />Have a nice day!

 

[skeeterboy]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

ah haha ok ill say it once again "Having a gun thats just white trash period and extremly ignorant." Want to read it again, "Having a gun thats just white trash period and extremly ignorant!" didnt say white trash was the cause, only if your sittin at the end of your dock sucking down some beer and sittin with a 12 gauge, that would be "white trash and ignorant." There have a nice day!

 

[KilroyJC]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

A couple years ago, in the middle of the night, i heard someone in my alleyway trying to lift a piece of galvanized tubing up through the gate. It had no value as scrap, but I guess the knucklehead couldn't tell.<br /><br />ANYWAY. . .<br /><br />I got my unloaded shotgun out of the closet, took off the lock, went to the window, and still unloaded, racked it.<br /><br />All I heard was footsteps rapidly receding into the night.<br /><br />Sometimes all that's needed is the perception of what MAY happen to alter a person's outlook on things.

 

[Stumpys]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

Our problem here is when we tie up at the bridge to crappie fish, and here come the bass boats in the morining. These guys will drive fast in a "NO WAKE" zone, troll around you while you fishing catching you line on their boats, and just plain rude. <br /><br />We went to the bait shop and complained, got thier boat numbers, and complained to water patrol. Hate to be like that, but it has worked for that last two weeks.<br /><br />Also, once we were done fishing, we drove around and found one *** that was driving to fast and kept driving back and forth until he finally gave up and left.

 

[noydb]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

Just an observation, remember, most of these tournaments involve money. And money seems to bring out the worst in some people.<br /><br />If you pick up any fishing magazine today, there is an article about "How to fish docks". Docks and boathouses attract fish, which then atract fishermen. Since it's going to happen, why not string a tarp across the rear of the boat lift and protect the boat. It's the ones trying to cast up alongside the boat between it and the dock that are missing and hitting the boat. <br /><br />Of course we could ALL arm ourselves and shoot whatever annoys us, The sailboats can shoot at the power boaters, the fishermen at the skiers and we ALL can shoot PWCs (I'm kinda serious about that last one). And put rams on the front of our boats, no one is going to get in our way! <br /><br />A minefield around the dock would solve all those problems.

 

[Ron G]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

all basssfisherman arent like that theres always some idiots out there,nomatter what your enjoing,ive seen runabouts go between me and the bank,wave runners buzzing boats and just rude fishermen of all sorts!but if you want to stop it the netting is good ideal ive seen boat houses with wooden slates nailed horizontial about a 1/4 inch apart so no lures could through.sorry everbody has a negative attiude toward the bassfisherman just because of a few!

 

[tomatolord]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

Kilroy - most lakes are public property so the boaters have every right to be on the lake. Remember that even though you are on your dock you are on public property where gun laws would apply more strictly then anywhere else.<br /><br />some states are pretty strict about where guns are allowed on state property,even unloaded ones<br /><br />The only other thing I can think of is a float tube around your dock from the end to the shore - if allowed - sort of the thing you see around the swimming areas - they are usually yellow - I doubt a fisherman would cast into that area as it would snag their lures on the retrive.<br /><br />Although in the Bassmasters rules<br /><br />"Any act of a competitor which reflects unfavorably upon efforts to promote fisheries conservation, clean waters and courtesy, shall be reason for disqualification"<br /><br />I would try going after the rules committee to get them to enforce their own rules - take some pictures and or videotape. If the sponsors of the tournament can make an announcement that any damage to local property will result in disqualification then you will have a better chance of keeping these guys away.<br /><br />I would then get the other lot owners to chip in and get a real attorney to sue 1 of the tournaments in order to set a precedence, suing individuals will not get the job done.

 

[Twidget]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

Take video and turn it into the local TV stations. One of the young up n coming reporters will follow up. That will get the tournament people's attention. <br /><br />You are right SB, you didnt say white trash was the cause, you should have though.

 

[bomar76]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

I am 100% in favor of banning those ridiculous tourneys. The flagrant disregard a large numer of the participants show for rules, laws, and common sense is apalling.<br />Some members here have shown by their attitudes that they are also part of the problem.

 

[dakotashooter2]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

marv "As many of my neighbors and I have been reminded at board meetings, we are “city residents from down state” and don’t vote there or have a say in local business." I would remind them that while you may not have voting rights you do pay taxes (I assume you do) which the Township gets a share of (and usually need desperately). Maybe several owners withholding taxes for a couple of years will get their attention, though it may cost you a few extra bucks.The problem with underwater obstructions is that they may attract MORE fish. Netting or chain link wrapped around the boat, dock and/or lift below water level will probably discourage some. Judicious use of a diving flag (on tournament days) may get them into legal trouble if they gey too close. You might also consult with your wildlife agency.They generally have some jurisdiction on state waters and in some states they require permits for tournaments.

 

[codfather II]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

I kinda like Bomars first response. Entering these tournaments with huge rods and dead bait. I'm thinking along the lines of 130 lb. class bent butt tuna rods, m-80's, loud heavy metal music, a couple of ladies with no teeth, and a case of beer. B.A.S.S., get ready for the new age of white trash competition!!! The R.C. boat wasn't a bad idea either.