Well got to the lake around 5 yesterday first spot the fish were there every drop was a keeper sandy.. For about an hour and a half we were catching fish .. Between the sandies and the small hybrid man you couldn't ask for any better .. There were a few boats around us and everyone was catching fish.. Then as it is so many times on Ray Hubbard some jack**** with no trolling motor decides to come full throttle right into the middle of the all the boats well as you guys know that screwed everything up but thank god the fish came right back after a few min. An then about that time the same dumb**** figured out that he was getting to close to the shore starts his motor and runs right back threw the group of us fishing about this time I had to say something and guess what all he did was smile and kept going .. So please if you don't have a Trolling motor on your boat don't try and get in the middle of people in a circle tryin to fish . Just common respect and just common since ...

Amen Brother!

Do you have a tip on how to courteously fish near a group without a trolling motor?

For example, how pissed would you be at someone drifting through the group. Of course, controlling the drift would be tough so others would have to dodge that person.

Ya first find out which way the wind is blowing go out away from every body about 50 yards let your boat drift in a little bit drop anchor .. Or better yet go find someplace else to fish ..

If I see someone without a trolling motor, I am fine with them just drifting through. Just try to make sure your drift is not in line with anyone who is anchored up (or on I Pilot spot lock) or drift through the water they are fishing. Please keep in mind that we shouldn't have to "Dodge" you if we were there first and are anchored on a small school. Soon the schools will be fairly large so should be fish for everyone. In this instance, I don't mind working around you. Also make sure you are well out of the school before you fire up the motor and don't drive back through the school. Go around and start another drift. Just try to be courteous and all is good.

Last piece of advice, get you an I Pilot. They are the bomb.

USE OARS!

suggestion... use ski for a PADDLE

get in the water behind the boat and start KICKING!

Get used to it brutha!

I don't have a trolling motor on my toon yet and I simply avoided the areas where I saw others catching fish so as not to cause this very issue.

What I did was to find the fish in another location, motor around them upwind, and then simply drift through. A little bit after i started catching fish at the first spot 3 boats came in and I left after drifting out of range.

Charlie

Yup. That's a cue to find a new spot to fish

It is what it is. It is just like driving on public streets and look at how maddening that is. I couldn't see fishing without one but for some reason people will spend alot of money on a boat and leave off one of the most important pieces.

I'm sorry! I do have a trolling motor but I read this post anyways! Am I in trouble?

You now must surrender your troller to the next person you see without one on thier boat.

Brutal!