Every pro I fished around was very respectful of the spot you were fishing except one. I have never seen anything as bad in any tournie or even fun fishing.I was parallel to a bank and was within casting distance to it.My co caught a fish and 5 minutes later I catch a fish.A boat that was 50 or 75 yards away and saw this put his TM on high and came towards us.He circled around behind us within 30 feet.I thought he was passing us to go up the bankline a little.That was fine.But as he passed behind us he made a quick move toward the bankline and actully began to cast between us and the bankline at the exact spot we had just caught the fish.I came unglued and began yell at him loud enough for three other boats in the area to turn and look at what was going on.He then quickly moved on.I guess he could tell I was not really a "pro" and wouldn't say anything and he could get away with it.I don't know the guys name but he sure made an arse of himself in front of his fellow pros.

AZZ = there's always one in every crowd!

Glad you called him out Jerry. Some people have no decency on the water.

Sure it wasn't a Pro Staffer and you were in his spot.

Did he have dual power poles?? A pro, 3 boat lengthed, the front of the boat Scottie was in and drop both poles down on the point they were working towards.

Good for you! A Classic Scream Out situation. Made you feel good too,didn't it?

Dont take this the wrong way? Where you fishing a ty also? If not why would you go out there and fish when a major ty is going on there. There are plenty of other places to fun fish.

Yeah,he was in the tournament. Manners is manners,down here,in the Sunny South.

I would have been mad also then. FZ1 you say manners are manners down south but up here my manners are if there is a ty on the lake i just go to a different lake or wait till the ty is over.

Tourney or not, it doesn't matter. There are some real reactionary people in Texas. . .you do this to the wrong person at the wrong place at the wrong time, and you get shot.

Yeah! Didn't they close the entire lake to everyone who wasn't in the tournament?

I'm glad you said something. This made me laugh out loud and get a wired look from my wife.

Texas is a "Right to Fish" State.

Don't take this the wrong way but that is the lamest excuse I have ever heard.

Because it is a public lake as well....hence, it is open to (as Ron White would say) the PUBLIC....

...too bad u didn't have the phone cam rolling, Jerry...would've been some priceless footage...

Only one way to take it. It is a public lake, why should you give up your day on the water just because a tournament going on? Being in a tournament does not give anyone the right of way on the water.

I just want to know one thing. Did you weigh in more than him if so you should have given him a card and let him know about your guide service.

Don't take this the wrong way, but I bet you think you own the lake when you're on it.

sounds like you guys have this all figured out? Yes i know they are all public lakes and you are free to fish them ANYTIME you want. I was brought up bass fishing ty and was taght ethics and respect. There are pleanty of other places to fish when there are ty going on no need to burn fish that may help some one fishing that ty. Sound like some of you guys cant find your own fish so you go out during a big ty and hit way points. I remember just last summer i pulled up to a launch and there was a bunch of bassboat and asked if a ty was going on and seen a coulpe guys i have fished against they said yes so i went to a different lake. I had a few guys come up to me throughout the summer and thanked me for leaving. Guys just remember what goes around comes around.

Has nothing to do with your rights to fish. It's about respect.

Surely you're kidding, I'm trying to adjust my sarcasm meter but getting no reading.

I'll start calling TD's and marinas to make sure there is no tournaments happening that day. I don't want to catch "someone else's fish" or fish "their spot"

We don't fish in ponds down here. Plenty of fish to go around.

No bud, you sound like you have it all figured out.You assumed I was fun fishing and should move over for a pro in a tournie.WRONG on both counts. I was in the tournie and even if I wasn't I am not leaving my spot just because a hot shot like you thinks he deserves to fish the fish I found!! Then you try to cover up your pile of it by changing the subject to finding WPTs.

Go by that rule, and you'll never fish a weekend on Rayburn!

Some people amaze me.

We dont have 10,000 lakes down here... Not all within a reasonable driving distance anyways. I understand the respect thing but instead of "showing" it by going to another lake just show it on THAT lake...

This is exactly the kind of attitude that causes all of the problems with courtesy on the water in the first place. Do you not have public waters in the stat of Mn. or has natural selection lessened your ability to find more than one spot on a lake to fish at any given time?

I want names....

Are there sportsmanship rules about yelling and acting like a child when someone "invades" your space????

2 wrongs don't make a right(or left)

I'm not beyond giving a jerk a piece of my mind if the situation warrants it.

WOW you CANNOT be serious. Since when do tournament fisherman (BTW I am one) have any more rights than a non tournament fisherman. Everyone on the lake has the same rights to fish for any reason they want whether it be for money, food or fun. If I stayed off Rayburn everytime a tourny came to town the only day I could fish would be Christmas. Your way of thinking is what is wrong in the world of fishing and why there are so many jackwagons out there. FYI I am in a tourny on Rayburn in the morning, anyone not fishing it go to Toledo. thanks

I could drop a name, but we had a pro troll around us after i snagged a non-keeper....he trolled right passed us, cut off our casting angles and put down the power poles....elites

What kind of boat was he in

naw...lets leave it at...they pay more money, and pay their bills with it....sometimes they can do that.....plus he only weighed less than 2pounds....so karma came thru!

What has respect got to do with any of it except if someone is fishing a particular spot everyone else should give him/her room to fish it. People fishing a tournament do not deserve any more (or any less) respect than anyone else on the lake. Where do some people get the idea that if someone is fishing a tournament then everyone else on the lake should give them priority on where and when to fish. Sorry it just doesn't work that way for me. I will not intrude on anyone fishing a particular spot and it has nothing to do with whether they are fishing a tournament or not. I expect the same level of respect in return.

In my opinion I don't think any angler should act that way. Doesn't matter if they are a FLW tour pro or an Elite Pro.

I only see one Elite angler that weighed under 2lbs and 3 that blanked.

Yea......What he said! It amazes me how there are fishermen from all across the spectrum who show so much disrespect on the water. I do not interfere with any of you guys, and wont think kindly of it if its done to me. The way I see it is if your on a spot you should have the oppertunity to fish it, period. And when you tear em up, I'll high 5 you at the ramp and slap a cold beer in you hand.

No Doug,there are no BASS rules about yelling out to another angler "Hey,what the hell do you think you are doing? I have never seen aything like that in a tournie." And Doug since you were not there you have no idea of what went down.You are the only one "acting like a child" by following my posts round and sniping at every opportunity.If you have an issue with me come out in the open with it like an adult.Replying to another post I made by asking "Are you drunk,again,old man" only illustrates your immaturity.

Mr. Fresh is getting very PC,here,lately. Lol.

So what you guys are saying is that you only have 1 lake within 100-200 miles of each other?

Not only is that question silly and irrelevant, but you sir lost all credit in this thread by suggesting non tourny fishermen be locked off the lakes.

Yelling at someone on the water is a good solution? Or better yet posting your story on TFF after the fact. Since you chose to make your "story" everyone's business, why act surprised people have opinions. Maybe the proper solution was taking it up with the TD in private. Who knows I am not a "pro".

But it does remind me of fun fishing in your boat at Fork and you wanted to fish a bank in Ray Branch that another guy had been working back and forth for an hour or so and you decided to go to the other end and work towards his boat, when he was clearly doing the same thing he had been doing for an hour. I made it clear it was embarrassing to be "that guy" , or with "that guy" that cuts someone off. Sounds like this was the same type scenario, I guess perhaps it was destiny that you got "cut off".

anyways good luck

Never said non tourny guys should be locked off the lakes. I said i would go to a different lake if there was a tourny on that lake i wanted to fish.

oh man this is getting good. there are like 2 or 3 different story lines working here. keep up the good work fellas...

No doubt! Who needs Reality T.V.?

Yelling,works for FZ1. Make,FZ1,feel,strong,like bull!

So your telling us if you lived on(Falcon, Amistad, Guntersville, Clear Lake, the Delta, etc) and if there was a tournament on it that day, you would go fish another lake? I doubt it. Some of the best waters in the US.

So I take it, you make sure there are absolutely no tournaments on a body of water before heading to the lake? What if you are on the lake and a tournament went out if a different ramp and you didn't know about? Once you learn about that tournament, do you head to your truck, load your boat and head home? Doubt it!

Not sure about where you're from, but lakes here in Texas and Oklahoma have a tournament or 4 on them almost every weekend.

He's a Yankee. All them bass tournaments,up there,are Unionized. That's why he thinks,like that.

Please don't schedule any tournaments on Lake Benbrook this year.I like being able to go out on a lake and fish without all the drama associated with tournament fishing.

What does it matter?

Regardless of the distance, I'm not going to drive from one lake to another, just because I find out that one of the 157 tournaments this Saturday in Texas is on my local lake....

Please, stay in Minnesota... Forever.

You sound like a [censored] idiot

I'm not going to just go and fish another lake because there is a tournament on a lake, but when their is a classic spot on the line I will not be on the lake. Why catch a fish that could change someone else's life forever? The bassmaster opens are not just any tournament.
With that being said, I will in absolutely no way fault anyone for deciding to fish during a big tournament because I can see it from both ways.
But I do think those jackasses you see on tv that go fish the pro's water during the classic are complete idiots and an embarrassment to the sport.

I think the thought or intent here was a larger scale tournament. Those do not happen every weekend. I feel the same way, if their is an open or everstart or bass champs, (that calibur) I'll just go to another lake or not go. Yes I have the right to go fish where I want, but I exercise my freedom of choice and make alternative plans. I don't worry as much if it's a 20 boat club tournament but will let some of those guys go around me or leave a given area if there is an entire lake I can leisurely and fish. I dont expect everyone to agree with me, that is just my opinion. I just cannot believe all the negativity on here, someone posts their opinion and others go ballistic on them, or better yet call them derrogatory names and tell them to "go back to where you came from"

It's a tournament....it happens. Part of being in a tournament. Better have that TM ready to roll 100% on 36 volts!

(Oh and I didn't read all 6 pages....too much back and forth! LOL)

In my personal opinion the intent of the OP was to state that if a tournament was being conducted on a lake all not participating anglers should stay off the lake and let the tournament anglers have it to themselves.

I have seen comments posted on here from quite a few people that think tournament fishermen should have priority over other people fishing on the lake. I just do not agree.

I am considerate of other people on the water. I Stay as far away from boats that are fishing when I am moving from one spot to another and try not to create a wake that will disturb their fishing. I do not move in on a area they are fishing. It does not matter if they are other fun fishermen, pros in a tournament or amateurs in a club tournament, they all deserve the same consideration from me and I deserve the same consideration in return.

If you want to fish tournaments or even turn pro, then more power to you and I hope you do well at it. Just do not expect other people to give up their choice of where to fish just to help make sure you fish where you want and when you want.

What difference does it make if the person fishing a spot you want to fish during a tournament is participating in that tournament or not? Would you go ask another tournament angler to leave the spot so you could fish it?

People out fun fishing should not be viewed as interfering with tournament anglers being able to get a check for a tournament or viewed as preventing pros from earning a living.

http://www.bassmaster.com/2012-bassmaster-opens-official-rules

Rule #2. There isn't a rule about being cut off or fishing too close....but there is rules about Angler Code of Conduct.

6. SPORTSMANSHIP:

(ii) Maximum courtesy must be practiced at all times, especially with regard to boating and angling in the vicinity of non-competitors who may be on tournament waters. Any act of a competitor, which reflects unfavorably upon efforts to promote fisheries conservation, clean waters and courtesy, may be reason for disqualification.

Yeah Rule 6 is good for the "post within the post!" LOL!

I thought about posting it too.

Does it really sound like the same scenario Doug? I go to the other end of a bankline almost quarter mile long[check your map] and I pull in behind him,not in front,on the furthest point on that bank sounds like the same scenario?? Thats your issue??

No Doug,I think your issue is I dropped you as a partner.You need to get over it.

I am sorry we have not been able to remain on a better level of friendship.Lets let this go for good.How about it?

I don't turn over for tournaments!!!I have been fishing for 55 yrs ands will reaspect anyone's space,however I expect the same.We all spend our money and time in different ways,No one's spot is their's unless they are on it and noway will I tread on it but I expect the same.

For some reason I'd be willing to bet there will be a rebuttle coming soon!

The entire thread just has some..really? This thread is what is wrong with Bass Fishing and Bass Fishermen.

If you cant see it from the very first post to the last one, then Bass Fishing will continue to be looked upon as it is today. Change starts with you

group hug?

TexansFL, not specically about cutting off or fishing too close but this rule should cover this situation.

6. SPORTSMANSHIP:

Competitors in B.A.S.S. tournaments are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation. Any infraction of these fundamental sporting principles may be deemed cause for disqualification.

Dam, I missed a golden opportunity. I never thought in this manner, but I could have filled up on weigh points for this lake!!! Instead of zeroing in a tourney at Waco yesterday!! What a way to think. It sounds like you hold these Pros’ to a higher admiration than a person getting on the water to fish for fun?? The waters are open (YES THERE ARE ETHICS THAT MUST BE MAINTAINED FOR ALL) but the lake is in use for all to enjoy and NO ONE should take a presidency over the other. I am sure that most all tournament anglers would have NO problem with either another pro or EVERYDAY angler fishing around them as long as they keep a respective distance and hold to the angling ethics we all should be using. This guy that cut in on them was NOT using the common ethics required and deserved more than a tongue lashing!!!

Just mt 2 cents worth.

I was simply posting about your admitted response when somebody "encroached" on your water. Is the proper response "yelling" and acting like a fool?? Basically acting like a classless child.

Not sure why you changed it to "you dropped me", actually that was a blessing from God.

Do what you want, continue to yell and scream, you know if you read the BASS rules, I think if someone saw and/or heard you acting like a fool, that violates some if not all of their conduct rules. But oh well, once again "Nervous Nancy" knows best..

good luck and see ya on the water ,"PRO".

Will there be another thread like this in 2 weeks ? Or will this one last for 2 more?

I think the tongue lashing was what it took t move the other guy on. Otherwise you'da got your lines tangled (panties in a wad )

Yall got way off topic on this one. Jerry was in the tournament. He was fishing for the same money that the other "Pros" were. I would have had some words to say whether it was KVD or any of you if that had happened to me. And no, you don't need to go to another lake if there is a tournament there, and I tournament fish. But I think there should be some sort of ecception for a big tournament that has a lot of money up for grabs. When I am fishing a tournament I don't get pissed if someone is fun fishing. I get pissed when some jerk flies by me on a jet ski.

I realize he was in the tournament and he did the right thing. Big money TX or not, if they want priority then BASS would have been forced to go through proper channels to get it. This is a slippery slope.

It's threads like this that make people find another place to talk about fishing. This is starting to look like my daughters FaceBook page....

This is now personal conversations that should be dealt with in a PM or through another means in my opinion.

Show courtesy and respect to those you are on the water with(or the TFF) and everything will be fine.

And lastly Mr Shipe , perhaps you should have took it up with your fellow competitor or even perhaps the officials of BASS, like a man, instead of getting on the net and crying like a b***** ...


good day "pro"

If you enjoy tournament fishing, fishing shows, new lures and equipment you need to think very carefully about even the mere suggestion that lakes be restricted in any way towards limiting access to the general public when a tournament takes place.

Why? What would be the big deal if they limited the lake only to anglers, no pleasure boaters for the day? Of even shut down the lake to all traffic except the competitive fishermen?

Follow the money, our sport requires millions if not billions to continue to innovate, produce jobs, media and everything else we love about it. The HUGE majority of this funding does NOT come from tournament anglers. It's from the folks who do it for fun and food, if a select group like tournament fishermen were given preferential access to a public resource, can you imagine the backlash from the majority who support our sport? It could literally be the end of tournament fishing as it is now, and definitely would do nothing to further our sport.

Back to basics. If someone cuts you off,you have the right to "Yell,Hey,Don't Cut Me Off! Nuthin' wrong with that,is there? Who disagrees with my statement? Jerry was right to Yell at some guy who,encroached,him. I don't even know Jerry,but Jerry was right. Hat's off to Jerry for being man,enough,to speak up!

Completely agree. If the situation occurred like Jerry said (and I have no reason to doubt what he said)he should have said something/yelled at the guy for doing it. If you sit quietly and say nothing till you get to weigh in, then its too late to do anything about the impact it may have on the fish at that spot. If someone is encroaching and interrupting your fishing then it needs to be rectified then. Waiting to report to the TD and MAYBE getting the guy DQd does not help replace the fish you may have lost or due to his encroachment. His actions could prevent you from getting a check.

I also think it needs to be reported on places like this forum so other people are aware as well. It is called passing on information.

This^.... I completely agree. And it has happened to me in tournaments and when I was just "fishing". Thanks Jerry for saying what a lot of anglers would like to say to the jerks who don't respect anglers who were on a spot "first".

He does "the right" to yell , and that may be the right thing to do when your fun fishing or fishing a smaller tourney.

But, when organizations have conduct rules in place its to protect the integrity and reputation of the organization as a whole. Its not about the "PROS" , its about BASS not wanting the people that are member of their organizations making the ORGANIZATION look foolish.

If these so-called "Pro"s were REALLY Pro, then they would respect another man's spot. BASS let a man continue to compete after he "tried" to buy his co-anglers fish a few months ago in a tourney. BASS looked pretty foolish in the way they handled that situation.

BASS is about money and money only. Just like most "Pro's".

Bass anglers are always portrayed as "friendly" guys. Pull in on one who's catching fish and you'll find out how "friendly" we are.

Lake rage is just a real as road rage.

it is always a good idea if someone encroaches beyond the sportsmanship rules of the tournament or commonsense to let them know that they are too close instead of getting on here an whining about it saturday night or sunday if an point is made at the time the guy might think twice about doing it to the next guy or make a protest at the end of the tournament most trails have a provision for this but it needs to be done then instead waiting an whining about it to everyone if more of this was done there would be less people do it because nobody likes to be called out when know thier wrong .

Has anyone ever fished Falcon with a lake fork guide throwing nothing but a-rigs?

It sure is....and I embrace it! Lol.

i haven't met any of the posters in this thread, but i can sure tell who i'd like to go fishing with...and who i wouldn't...
i drive about 30 miles to wrk and back mon-fri...the drive home is an hour or more thru downtown austin...i don't carry a firearm in my truck cuz i figure i'd be using it by thursday! so many a-holes, so little space...

its not about YOU , its about the ORGANIZATION, you completely don't get it.

and as far as "butt hurt" goes , all I have to do is laugh.

are you the "pros" fan club prez or just got a little of him running down your chin ???

I see a Jerry vs Doug E Fresh on the water battle! One on one!

I propose a Jerry vs Doug tournament at Ray Hubbard!

lets do it

is the entry fee going to be $402 a pound of fish?

is this really necessary.
WOS ...... a long way from greatness just my O

as necessary as that was sir

from bad to worse...c'mon fellas...

And IBTL on this thread.....

Sorry,I never thought of Bass Fishing as a Black Tie,White gloved,Affair.

well I was 3 in 1972, but I still wouldn't "yell" in a BASS Open tourney, loud enough to draw the attention of other anglers or post it on TFF . I have never fished a BASS event, but I am certain there are rules and procedures in place ,as in every large organization, to settle grievances , and I am also certain none of them are posting a thread on TFF.

If you go back to my first comment it was that in my opinion, yelling might or posting it here might not be the proper way to handle that situation. Yes we have all done a bit of yelling, but it has its place and I am sure BASS doesn't consider their venue is where it belongs. IMHO

Mr Shipe, you and a couple others made it "personal" , I just told a story of how Jerry "cut off" a guy at Fork while I was in his boat, honestly one of the more embarrassing things I have ever been involved with on the water. And how ironic it happened to him.

I am not a pro never claimed to be and never will be. I bought a Cat and I am proud to own one. Thus the Sig
But make it as personal as you'd like sir, I have rather thick skin!

Well that's just tasteless, I'm getting a better picture of who you are.

Obviously thick skin and class don't go together in this case.

Doug,
Good luck. This thread ain't worth getting butt hurt over. I don't know Jerry or you. The TFF is best utilized for things other than personal attacks against other anglers.

This entire thread needs to disappear...imo

I understand how this could turn harmful to BASS. I get that.I believe the OP was careful not to cross that line, (IMO). On the water ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Speaking on this forum in the manner it was posted was not an issue, where it has digressed to is. Ya can't really unspeak.

This thing for hijacked worse than some of my posts in the OT!!!

-alton

Lol. I think,somebody,just had his "19th Nervous Breakdown",online.

Shut it, Alton!

Getting good go get them Doug

i do not post here very often MR FRESH,but the last part of your post is in bad taste,and should not be tolerated on this forum.you should make an apology to the forum for your crude statement.as one who started bass fishing before most on here were born i think you should man up ,and make this right mr. fresh ....this is to address the post with the chin remark!!