On tournament day I try to get to my starting spot early if possible and anchor and let everything calm down, just like deer hunting. I sit there with my lights on and I feel by all rights its my spot. Sometimes I get the spot sometimes I don't. I wouldn't go in on someone else ....I'd just move on and hope the other fella would do the same

You said arrive at one of my spots. If he put in the effort to get their first it is technically his spot. Anyone is going to get irritated if you get too close to them. Just go fish somewhere else.

+1
Crowding other fisherman is just rude. I would move on. If that is my only spot on the lake, I am in trouble anyways.

Personally....I think that is rude....if I am fishing a tourney that has started ealier than another one and I come to a spot where someone is just sitting I will fish around him...I'm not going to come in off the pad and start fishing right beside him but if I am coming up a bank line or fishing docks who is he to think he can cover a spot up until his start time...now if he is fishing then I am not going to even get close to him...or if we are in the same tourney I would steer clear and if I am not in a tourney I would also pass him by...but I will not be penalized just because the tourney I'm fishing started before his...and no I would not do it if I were on the other side...in fact I never sit on a place I want to fish...I will sit near it but not on it...

...I thought this post was going to be about stalking Ike... : )

- if it's not against the rules, it's not against the rules

I f someone has made the effort to get up early and anchor off on a spot, leave them alone. When I had a house on Fork, we used to get up at 4 during the McDonalds and take coffee to the dock to watch the boats moving around and picking the spots.

It's not about rules at that point its completely about respect. I have had many folks pull up while I was waiting for a tourney to start and they ask me if I was in the tourney And when I said I was they said O OK we will get out of your way. Which I didn't consider them in my way at the time but it was a respect thing. Just my .02.

im a minute away from fork.i try to fish fork ever weekend.but if there is a tournament and the hotels get full i go to lake quitman.as me and my fishing buddy did sat.afternoon i had big bass of the day and the biggest i have caught on quitman.may just of been a solid 5 but it was funny talking smack to my buddy!!give a paying guy respect i say u know u would be mad u were up all night holding your hole!!!!

Had this kinda happen during the kykx tourny...was coming up on a guy trolling my way...he hollars over which way was i gonna go...told him whichever way he went i would go the opposite...usually if you will meet someone halfway and not be arrogant about it things usually go off without a hitch.

I'm with Big Un, if he is not fishing then fish around him no matter if he is in a tourny or not. Now if he is fishing then that is a different ball game, at that point it does come down to respect. Both of your are on the lake for the same thing, he just has money at stake which is his problem not yours. I dont think he should have the right or claim a spot at 0500 in the morning when the tourny doesnt start till 0600. Sorry if i upset anyone this is just my opinion. Maybe they should have lakes for tourny fishing only, then they cant pitch a tent and claim there spot.

No way I move in on a tournament angler or anyone else who is on a spot, never...unless its someone I know personally and they wave me over.

In this instance, to me at least, there is only rule and that is the Golden one.

yes, do unto others before they do unto you.

Its happens, waiting for start time, and someone comes in starts fishing 25yds away. They start pulling fish out as several of us were just watching and waiting. It sucks but its not my water, they are well within there right.

I'm fishing around him . Give him room but tourny or no i'm fishing .

i always move for someone in a tournament. unless they get an attitude and rude about it then line crossing is in order.

if in a tournament and the person won't leave by me mentioning i'm in a tourny, i'll leave or fish around them if a good enough spot.

at fork....don't say anything just move on