I need some advice on how I should have handled a situation that really angered me last Monday. I have bass fished on Lake Whitney for the last 25 years. Some of you old timers may remember my Whitney Lake Online website.

Anyway, last Monday morning The Boss and I got up early and went to the lake, launching about 6:30 am. One of our favorite spots is over by Katy Bridge in the back of the big cove on the west side of the bridge. There is one small spot there that most always produce a fish on top water for me.

There was a boat on the shoreline on the other side of the cove, some 300 or 400 yards from where my spot is on the opposite side of the cove. I went to my spot and we started fishing. First thing, I let a small bass get off. We didn't move from this spot, we only fish the one 20' spot. We circle back to fish it again and I noticed that the boat that had been across the cove is speedily making its way toward us. Shortly it arrived and the guy in it began casting into the same location we were. Then he proceeded to troll right across where we were fishing

I asked him if I was in his way. He responded that he fished “this old road bed every morning” and that I had “cut him off.” We had some more words and he challenged me to “come on over here.” Well after some encouragement from The Boss, I pulled up the trolling motor and we left... It appeared to us he was either an idiot or just not in his right mind.

BUT, it was obvious he was a YANKEE. He was in one of those small aluminum Lund or Lowe deep V fishing boats... no deck but did have chairs with a half dozen or so rods poked up in back. He had his little floppy hat cinched up under his chin. His accent was definitely YANKEE, maybe Wisconsin, Michigan or the like. I don't know specifically what lure he was using, but it appeared to be a Little George or similar lure. At any rate, not your typical southern bass fisherman.

I don't know, this man was a ¼ mile or so from us when stopped and we didn't move from our spot over the 5 to 10 minutes or so that we were there. When we first saw him, he could have been fishing in the one spot or moved in either direction along the shore line. It never occurred to me that I could possibly be “cutting him off” as we were across the cove from him. In my 25 years of fishing on Lake Whitney, I have never encountered this man before... and hopefully will never again.

As the days have passed, I have wondered how I should have handled this. I just hate it when people run over me, especially rude people from up North.

What would you have done? How would you have handled this situation?

I hate that for you as it always sucks to run into a D-bag on the water (or anywhere for that matter). Honestly if I were fishing with my wife, I would've just picked up the troller and moved on while giving the guy a bit of what I thought of him. When I am out with my wife on the water, it is only to enjoy the day with her and I can do that on any part of the lake. By myself or with a buddy I might've entertained his offer depending on my mood for the day. You did the right thing by moving on with your wife with you.

Tough call, especially because you know they just do things differently. Lately, I see others as trying to steal my joy so any way out of the situation that doesn't end in gunshots is the way I lean. I think you did right but the 25 year old in me would want to go grab him by his tiny hat and shake him.

Pat yourself on the back for taking the high road and chalk it up to a difference of who had dibs on the water.

J

If its truly as you say , I would have not left and told the dude to go eff him self.

In today's current world you did the correct thing and left with no real incident and something serious happening to either person. I would have had a hard time not taking him up on his offer of "Come on Over". My concern with this story is your judgement on "Northern" people. I am originally from Wisconsin and would not act the way he did. In fact i have never personally seen that in all the years of fishing in Wisconsin. I have however seen it pretty regular since I have moved here and started fishing. Cant imagine everyone that has gotten "BUTTHURT" I was in their spot was from the "North". There are dead beats all over that just don't know how to enjoy the freedom and privileges we have to be able to fish or any other activities. On to another day. Happy fishing to you "Southern Bass fisherman"

Not trying to sound like a tough guy, but if he cut me off within casting distance, I’d hit the side of his boat with the lure. If he was far enough away not to hit, then meh, it’s just the new normal.

Leave and enjoy the day. No tournament and your day was better than had you made some kind of challenge to him.

He will learn one day that he was lucky today.

Lakes are big, sucks when this happens, moving on was the correct course of action. Is a spot worth a fist fight? When I was 16, you better believe it but now at 50, not so much.

Sounds like a potlicker seen you were catching fish and wanted to comeover to catch some too... sounds like you should've meet him at the boat ramp... so many dumb people on the water that are tough guys till they get to the boat ramp...

I think you handled it great, but it got me curious about the northern fishing vs. southern bass fishing as well. I was born in Nebraska and grew up fishing for walleye. I've been up on trips up to South Dakota a couple of times for walleye and what not and fishing around other people depending on spots and locations is a somewhat common practice depending on the lake. Whenever you go out to lake Texoma and go striper fishing there are tonsssss of people fishing on top of each other, and up and down that bank.

I'm not yet at the point financially to have a boat, but wouldn't necessarily have a problem with someone who came in behind me, or was around me if I was off shore on structure if they were quiet and respectful. With that being said, whenever out with others on their boats we are always courteous and stay clear of others if they beat us to a spot. Just wondering, for future reference so I don't unintentionally break an unwritten rule in bass fishing, what is acceptable when being around others and when is it not acceptable to be around another bass fisherman?

Not trying to jack your thread Armadilla, but I know someday I'm likely to be labeled a yankee when I'm in my Lund Pro-V bass boat and want to make sure I'm doing right by everyone. haha I think you handled yourself great for the situation and from the sounds of it the guy was just being a tool.

I would have left but I may have forgotten to trim my big motor down if ya know what I mean.

Heck in the winter us Northern Wisconsin people would drive out on the ice and drill a bunch of holes with our shacks right on top of each other to catch fish. We got along great. We drank Beer and asked the guy with the radio what the score of the football game. Of course the Packers always had more than the Cowgirls. Lakes are WAY bigger down here so plenty of other spots to go try finding a new Honey Hole.

I’ve had rude “GOOD OL’ SOUTHERN BOYS” roll up on me and cast to where I was fishing. Happened just last week in fact. North or south, there’s jackasses everywhere. I moved off and kept catching bass on jigs while they kept hauling water with their drop shot rigs. Judging people based on an accent is pretty stupid. But if what you describe happened as you describe it, the guys sounds like an obnoxious clown.

You handled it better than I would have.

call gw, give boat # and file a harassment report.

then leave.