Boating Etiquette on the Missouri river

[TFX 186]

Guys,
I think we need to keep in mind why we are out there. To relax and have a good time. We are also showing our kids how to enjoy the outdoors. I sure the heck don't want to show them how to be pissed off at everything out there. I would bet that about 99% of the people out there aren't trying to be asshats. I do allot of boating in the summer and have made mistakes in doing so. I try to be the first one to apologize for making a stupid mistake. Just please remember to treat people the same as you would like to be treated. I also try to remember to talk to fellow fisherman as if they have their wife and kids in the boat or I have the family with me. Try to set the example and most people will follow. Try hard to be decent and you would be surprised at the friendly response coming back at ya!!
Try it out and have a GREAT summer fishing!

Fish On!!

 

[johnr]

I haven't shore fishing in a long time, but feel as though I wouldn't freak about a boat next to me.

- - - Updated - - -

Guys,
I think we need to keep in mind why we are out there. To relax and have a good time. We are also showing our kids how to enjoy the outdoors. I sure the heck don't want to show them how to be pissed off at everything out there. I would bet that about 99% of the people out there aren't trying to be asshats. I do allot of boating in the summer and have made mistakes in doing so. I try to be the first one to apologize for making a stupid mistake. Just please remember to treat people the same as you would like to be treated. I also try to remember to talk to fellow fisherman as if they have their wife and kids in the boat or I have the family with me. Try to set the example and most people will follow. Try hard to be decent and you would be surprised at the friendly response coming back at ya!!
Try it out and have a GREAT summer fishing!

Fish On!!

Excellent post, and I agree bigtime

 

[lunkerslayer]

Then you haven't been by the bridges in devils lake. There could be 15 to 20 boats in front of you as close as 25 feet. You can tell by the shine on the water from the sparkly boats. I am one of those guys that make sure to notify and inform that 100 feet from shore regardless if they are anchored or trolling. I won't hesitate to call if this makes me an asshole so be it

 

[DirtyMike]

I agree tfx! I usually get my canadian hello (sorry) warmed up. Simply apologizing diffuses a lot of tension. I know I get close to shore fisherman in the tailrace a lot. Then their headlamp turns on and it scares the hell out of me. On the same token, I have been trolling shorelines when shore fisherman set up right in front of me. I remind myself that I'm fortunate to be able to run to another part of the lake/river. I'm not completely innocent in that I do get pissed at dumb people eg. pulling cranks while everyone else is drifting/pitching, anchoring while everyone is trolling, the guy with the stratos who only breathes cigar smoke and always find his way upwind of me and those damn jet skis.

 

[Achucker]

What's hard for the shorefisherman to understand is 300,000 acres of water and the guy in the boat has to come by and snag your line.
You have a boat and the fish are everywhere.

90% of fish are in 10% of the water

 

[westwolfone]

90% of fish are in 10% of the water

On a Blue Plater lake with one point yes.

I certainly wasn't covering 30,000 acres (10%) from shore.

 

[JayKay]

It's frustrating to be shore-fishing, and have somebody drive their boat up to you, then catch a fish. But that's fishing. I don't own a boat (wish I did) and shore-fish a lot. Most of the people in boats leave me alone, and I certainly don't run my mouth, trying to antagonize anyone.

I do subscribe to the idea though, that the boats COULD go fish in a lot of other places. Yes, the Missouri River has a lot of accessible shoreline, but a guy in a boat could fish either shore, or neither shore. And a guy in a boat can fish shoreline in front of places that aren't accessible to a shore-fisherman.

All that being said, I can't think of a single time, when a guy in a boat seriously bogarted a spot from me. At least not intentionally.

The tailrace is another animal though. Especially at night. Guys on shore have to know that the guys in boats can't see them unless they have a light on.

 

[Fly Carpin]

So I'm trying to fish my favorite spot in front of the Broken Oar this morning. All of a sudden I'm bombarded by a huge group of sparkly boats. Unbelievable.

Edit: This was a joke you grouchy mutts.

 

[lunkerslayer]

Pictures or it didn't happen;:;popcorn

 

[Wild and Free]

Found the next option for my pontoon. Can't wait to run her up and down the river once its mounted up lol...........

 

[lunkerslayer]

NEAT

 

[Achucker]

That would be awesome pulling kids on tube;:;rofl

 

[JayKay]

So I'm trying to fish my favorite spot in front of the Broken Oar this morning. All of a sudden I'm bombarded by a huge group of sparkly boats. Unbelievable.

Not a complaint, because I knew it was coming, and the fishing was tough anyhow... but here goes.

Saturday morning I was wading Mandan shore, north of town. Knew the Big Muddy was happening, and knew that there'd be a lot of boats roaring by soon.

First 3 or 4 went by the middle of the river, no big deal. Another 10 or so went by a minute later, no big deal. Again, I knew it was coming, and the fishing was tough.

But one guy did drive right up the narrow shallow channel in front of me. Blasted by me easily within one cast. I was wearing a chartreuse sweatshirt, in full sunlight. And the guy blew out the north end of the channel and disappeared out of sight. Does not matter what kind of boat he was driving.

 

[Sub_Elect]

Sorry about that! Lol. ;:;popcorn

 

[DirtyMike]

Holy hell the weigh in process was a shit show. Nothing like trying to slide up to the dock to drop your partners and fish off when a pontoon goes full bore past you and all the other boats. Thanks for the puckered b-hole, bald scheels manager guy.

 

[Sub_Elect]

Holy hell the weigh in process was a shit show. Nothing like trying to slide up to the dock to drop your partners and fish off when a pontoon goes full bore past you and all the other boats. Thanks for the puckered b-hole, bald scheels manager guy.

BUT, was it a sparkly pontoon?

 

[DirtyMike]

does shiny count?

 

[Sub_Elect]

Effin weekend warriors! They think they own the river.

 

[johnr]

Well I blew work off on Friday to hit the south side of McKenzie bay. Was a glorious day, had my boy with me(he blew off school), and we caught 5 nice sized walleye, and one small pike. Fishing and weather was fantastic. The downer on the day was within 100 yards of the boat ramp, prior to putting the boat in the water, I look in the rear view mirror and my damn drivers side windshield is shattered into a thousand pieces.

Worse then the upcoming bill was the little shards of glass all over the entire damn boat.



The boy and I had a blast, and he caught this nice 19 incher on his new Christmas pole, so the day was a total success

 

[DirtyMike]

Juan, don't do anything yet. My dad busted out the passenger side on his lund a few years back. I think he still has the drivers side.