Hi. I'm pretty new to fishing with a boat and I would like to be considerate as possible ,I was the guy in the white Lowe that dropped anchor to stay away from everybody at Hybrid point on Sunday .I feel like I'm trying heard cats when the wind is blowing me around a group of boats . I understand about not using the big engine to slip in among other boats fishing a spot , and the same rule when leaving . But I made some mistakes and want to avoid them . On Sunday there were several boats there including the big pontoon boat with the fishing guide . Everyone was catching fish and moving around . when I approached I got a few good hard looks and I'm not sure if its cause I didn't give right of passage or something else maybe . How do you know when to give right of passage when the boats are moving so slowly and randomly , I can tell the obvious stuff like I don't move into the path of a boat that's under power , but I think I started to cut a guy off in a white pontoon by the look I got but he was moving so slow it took me a second to catch on so I could clear out . Anyway thanks for any pointers .

http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbt..._o#Post11604352
Try reading this.

Come within 50 yards of me you will get an ugly look. Within 30 yards and you will probably eat a rattle trap or at least hear some words

To me, it depends on the size of the lake. If your on a large lake, like Conroe, you can easily give someone a wide berth. If you're on a lake like Bastrop, things get much tighter. Also, tournaments make things even harder. I've been on Bastrop when there were six "little" club tournaments and a large kayak tournament where giving every boat 50 yards was impossible.

No matter the size of the lake, try to think of it as "if it would aggravate you, it would probably aggravate the other guy".

watch out for this guy, he means buisiness......that being said, if you're new to the lake, and you think you're too close for comfort, you probably are. Talk to the other boaters, just ask if you are getting too close, most people will tell you.

Bass tournament fishermen are the worst by far. In case you don't know the lake belongs to them during or before a tournament and you shouldn't even be there especially if you are in a small boat anchored or tied.
The places I fish are usually far out of the way and too many trees and obstacles for them to come by me wide open and try to swamp me and too shallow for them to do a hole shot 30 feet from me. It's getting to the spots and getting back to the ramp that's dangerous. Personally I don't want to be within 150 or 200 yards from another boat that's fishing and farther if I can.

Depends. Are you under power (big motor)? Using the electric trolling motor? Drifting?

If you are close enough to see their facial expressions then you are too close.
That is about 200 foot. I think that with stripers and sand bass it is a little different as everyone is chasing a school. But you you need to make sure not to cut in front of someone.

I don't have problems with people come real close to me. In fact I'll start a conversation with them. Fishing is supposed to be relaxing and enjoying the outdoor. But again that is just me. Darrell Simpson let me know when the next time you go out there. I'll be glad and happy to swing by and say hi.

^^^^ need more of this on the water, Ill toss you a beer

FWIW bad manners don't just happen from a boat. I have had a guy come up next to me bank fishing and cast right over the top of my lines and get us all tangled up. Then there are those that fish from a boat ramp courtesy dock and think you should not bring your boat up to the dock. Fishing is supposed to be fun and relaxing but there are some real knot heads out there that don't know the meaning or purpose of etiquette so you just have to stay clear of them as much as you can.

^^ let me know what time those beers will be cold and I'll be right over!!

The fishermen at the boat ramp thing can be a real problem. At the Lake Bastrop North Shore ramp, there are many times when there are people fishing on the courtesy docks and on the bulkhead. So now you have a gauntlet of fishing lines to navigate around. I know people who don't have a boat want to fish but a boat ramp is exactly that. A BOAT RAMP.

The only way to stop that is to report it to the authority that oversees the boat ramp and keep making complaints until the problem is fixed.

This ^^^