The moment they started crowding in on me I would have let them have the 1,000,000 candlepower spotlight right in the face, just to let them know I was there and was concerned about a possible collision.
Then I would have asked exactly what T they were fishing in and if they have a "sportsmanship" rule.

years and years ago i started carrying a life size photo of my mother in law, has worked ever since lol.they dont stick around long after seeing that. last year i got her a new deer hunting outfit, brown fur coat with a hoodie with antlers on it. She actually wears it, just not at the right time of the year.

Not a lot of options when you have paying clients on board. I wouldn't have made a big scene, but I think I would have shook my head, said something like "Some people just don't get it" and then idled off. Once away from the jerks I would apologize to my clients for what just happened (even though it wasn't any of your fault), put on a cheery face and make sure they felt comfortable with the situation. If the jerk moved back in on me again later, wow, I don't know what I'd do.

Had something similar happen to me the same night at fork. We were about 50 yards from the bank on a main lake point when a older man came idleing through about 10 yards, right where we were casting. He must of had a brand new graph because we saw him all night just riding around looking at it but never fishing. There was plenty of things I thought of doing when he came through our fishing hole but you never know what kind of people your dealing with.

Shoulda gone Ike on em. Nobody, I mean NOBODY messes with a crazy man.
Then again you had clients and did the appropriate thing.

Not much you can do anymore... just leave and hope karma takes its toll on them. Its getting worse out there with people rolling up on you and potlicking your area. Its one thing to come back after the original person is gone, but to blatantly jack the spot with the originator sitting on it is totally wrong and disrepectful.

I personally have been in two altercations in my 15 years while fishing and both have been on Fork. I would have NOT hesitated to step over on his deck (3 feet away) and let the [censored] whooping begin. Yes I know I am a hot head but in both cases I gave fair warning that this guy does not play well with others. I personally don't know how anyone can see what the hell a boat is doing at midnight 200 yards away. (night vision)??? But anyway I have been told I don't handle such things in a correct manner.
And again, You handled it a lot better then this guy.
Was it a black and green Skeeter with a black dude?
Look out for this one on Fork.

had a pair do that at fork in march, we are fishing a shore line and by gosh these guys pulled up just outside us within touching distance, and started throwing spinnerbaits ahead of us. Very politely i asked them if the lake had shrunk that much that we all had to be in the same spot. I was informed that "he is a pro and knows what he is doing and they wanted to fish here" So I told him hey, did you know we just caught 9 bed fish just around the corner to the right? he took off like a shot, but i forgot to tell him there was a sand bar between the coves. Last I saw when we headed in for weigh in, he was still trying to get his "pro rigged" boat off the bar,and I know he missed his weigh in lol. like bill says, you cant fix stupid

You always have the right answers Robert, I know its Christ in you that creates these attitudes and responses. Clint every situation has to be dealt with on its individual level. Most likely these were guys fishing a club level event and will hardly if ever be back on the lake at night, so I think you handled it well. Because of the love of Christ that I have in my heart I too might have done the same thing or even what Robert suggested above.

Or? I might have called down fire from heaven and lit em up.LOL

I'm not a guide, but have certainly experienced other fisherman trying to move in on my hot spot. The few times they've come too close I've barked at them...usually asking them "if they just want to get in the freaking boat with me?" That has always got the point across. I've also picked up a C-rig with a one ounce weight and chucked it right next to their boat--that tends to send a quick message too.

But I think I'd have lost it on those guys--very classless.

Aggie.

Very well put. I would have addressed the issue with him at the time, as to deter him from approaching you again. Some people are not taught proper ediquette on the water or might not have any shame. Id suggest helping this person understand the mistake he is making.

WOW. This seems to be a battle that the ethical fisherman are bound to lose. There is not much respect on the water.I guess we will be hearing that the lake belongings to everybody, and it does. As if that somehow makes it ok to act that way.We all own the highways but you cant drive on my side while I am there. As far as what I would have said.It would have been a speech that would have lasted longer than they wanted to hear since they probably would have figured out I was not pleased after the first sentence. BUT, I wish I had the ability to do as Clint did.

You have to remember that Clint had clients with him. Are you really going to act like that when you have paying customers with you? Don't get me wrong, we're probably all thinking the same way, but he handled it professionally. Those guys not only lacked class but integrity too. The funny thing is, they are probably TFF�s and are reading this.

maybe i am missing something, but the paying clients were catching 6 and 7 pounders off a hole, and their guide decides to give in to a couple of guys to avoid a confrontation, and this is the right thing to do??? I haven't seen many, if anybody, ask how the clients felt. I know how i would have felt, to pay money, catch some 6 and 7 pounders first thing, then be run off from the hole we were sitting on!