Bass tournament guy's, and non Tournament guys

[Rich196]

I felt like I needed to say something from a post that I just read about the BASS guy's being butt-holes. . As many as you know, me and my wife tournament fish for bass. I have been around this site for 5-6 years, and help when I can, and also get some GREAT advice from some of the guy's. After reading this post I could not help but agree with the fact that a lot of "BASS" guys are complete butt-holes.(But not all of us) I just hope when I post here that you guy's didnt think of me in that fashion. We are the MOST courteous boat out there all the time no matter where we are fishing. Just recently, me and my wife were fishing a tournament, and made a long run to get to this spot that I knew would produce fish for us, problem is, I know it's a small area, and we are def. taking a chance that somebody might be in it. Well sure enough when I got there there was 2 guy's fishing off shore and basically no more room. My wife knows, I could care less that we are in a tournament, the guy's on shore have just as much right to fish where I want to also,plus they were there first, and I highly respect that. Well as soon as we pulled in the two guy's just shot me a bad look, like here we go this bass guy, I turned to both of them and said, listen, I'm not that guy, you guy's were here first, I'm not gonna get in your way, me and my wife will sit just outside of the spot and fish there. Well the guy's were together, and the one guy turns to us and says, we really appreciate how you didnt push your way in like you own the water like most guy's. This is a true story, they both reeled up there lines, and said, were gonna take a break and eat lunch, you and your wife have at it, we know your fishing a tournament, so do what you have to do. Me and the wife fished it until they were all done, once they were done we picked up, and thanked them and headed to our next spot. And yes, it paid off for both of us, we both caught good fish. Sorry, I just wanted to share that with you guy's cause I just dont want you to think of me as "THAT" b******* guy.

[catfishonthelake]

Guys can be jagoffs regardless of what they're fishing for. I do my absolute best to be courteous. If I have to ask myself if I'm invading someone's space or too close, the answer to me is yes.

Thought I'd use this to put my one pet peeve with tourney guys. Nothing is worse than showing up to a 50 acre electric only lake to see 15 guys with $40,000 boats and 250hp outboards having a tournament, therefore ensuring no one can fish there outside of your dumb little tournament.

I've seen the same lake with a 30-deep kayak tournament. I'm sorry but if you have that many boats, choose a bigger body of water so you don't completely take over and screw every other angler who wants to fish there.

Anyone with me on this or am I in left field here?

[AndyS]

I think it's the old saying, a few bad people ruin it for everyone.

Trust me it's not just bass guys. Many years ago I fished Round Valley during the big brown trout heyday. In the end I avoided going to RV on tournament days days because the entire place was out of control, these are TROUT guys.
I would normally fish up in a quiet cove in my canoe, during tournaments I had people flying all around me " taking readings" and blasting off for the other side of the lake. Gawd forbid you hooked a nice fish during a tournament, the guys would wagon-train around me with their down riggers. Nothing against the club or the members, it's just the whole "tournament" atmosphere I don't like.

[Rich196]

Originally Posted by catfishonthelake

Guys can be jagoffs regardless of what they're fishing for. I do my absolute best to be courteous. If I have to ask myself if I'm invading someone's space or too close, the answer to me is yes.

Thought I'd use this to put my one pet peeve with tourney guys. Nothing is worse than showing up to a 50 acre electric only lake to see 15 guys with $40,000 boats and 250hp outboards having a tournament, therefore ensuring no one can fish there outside of your dumb little tournament.

I've seen the same lake with a 30-deep kayak tournament. I'm sorry but if you have that many boats, choose a bigger body of water so you don't completely take over and screw every other angler who wants to fish there.

Anyone with me on this or am I in left field here?

Our club (Five Alive Bassmasters) has now grown to be the biggest club on the east coast with just over a 100 members, we never anticipated this many people this year, and with that said, we had our schedule out and made in December, pretty much we had to do our best but we had our opener on Mirror lake in browns mills, not all 100 guys ever show up at once, but with Non boaters we had 68 guy's, we are already going over the schedule for next year, and just like you said, we have become way to big for these electric only lakes, and will adjust accordingly. Besides Manasquan, and Merrill creek we are on all big lakes for the rest of the season, but you can rest assure, you wont see us on those lakes in the near future. Tight lines guys.

[icebadger]

rich196 thanks for posting and thank you for being courteous to other fishermen on the water, the post that you are referring to is a all to common example of what goes on during tournaments on that body of water. you are not one of those people that does not "play nice with others" you have respect for others. thank you and tight lines to you and your wife. the fact that you fish with your wife in tournaments is priceless god bless you both

[NJSquatch]

People do stupid sh*t when money is involved. That is why I don't fish tournaments.

I have run into both types of tournament guys on the lake. I had a guy get pissed at me for leapfrogging him after he cut in front of me when I was clearly working a bank. We had words and he left in a huff.

Like Andy said a few bad apples set the stereotype.

[Lard Almighty]

I think it's important to realize that bass tournaments didn't turn these people into a-holes. They would be a-holes no matter what they decided to do with their lives. It just so happens that they chose to apply their douchebaggery to the world of sport fishing, and as always, the polite, reasonable folks are the ones who have to put up with it. You can't reason with them, you can't convince them to change, and you sure as hell can't get away from them. Best to just ignore them and let them be the a-holes they were born to be. It WILL catch up with them sooner or later.

[RWole]

Thanks Rich great post and story. I agree with others when money is involved people do stupid stuff. I would also have to agree with the overcrowding tournaments cause. If anyone here fishes the watersheds they know parking is limited to begin with(why they never cleared more space ???) but any way try going there on the weekend of a tournament, try launching, finding a place to park after launch, spot to fish, than try to get back in when they are weighing in. A total mess.

[Rickhem]

Good for you Rich, and I'm glad the karma gods smiled on you for your having been respectful. And hopefully those shore guys had a good day for their act of sharing as well.
Sometimes just a simple act of kindness can be paid forward many times over, or at least I like to think so. Until you meet another practitioner of "douchbaggery" that is.

Lard......I'm definitely going to be using that term again!

[Rich196]

Originally Posted by RWole

Thanks Rich great post and story. I agree with others when money is involved people do stupid stuff. I would also have to agree with the overcrowding tournaments cause. If anyone here fishes the watersheds they know parking is limited to begin with(why they never cleared more space ???) but any way try going there on the weekend of a tournament, try launching, finding a place to park after launch, spot to fish, than try to get back in when they are weighing in. A total mess.

I fish the water sheds even though it's like a 2 hour drive, but man do I LOVE them. Even when there is only like 2 boast parked, its a bitch big time.