By Jake Freeman
In this age of bass fishing, we are faced with more anglers and the same amount of water we had 20 years ago.
With endless financing, we also now have high-end bass boats being operated by anglers with little to no experience, and thanks to social media, everyone wants to be a KVD...without having to earn it like he did.
Admittedly, we have all made mistakes on the water. Maybe we weren't paying attention, or didn't see someone fishing the bank up ahead of us, or maybe we came around a point a little too close to a boat whose occupants were fishing. I've made my fair share of goofs, as well, but I usually stop and apologize with a "sorry, my bad, didn't see you," then continue on my way. Accidents happen, and how you respond to those really tell what kind of person and angler you are.
In today's fishing, however, there is a very small group of anglers who feel like they are above all the rest. Was it their raising? Did their mother not pay enough attention to them? Did they eat paint chips as a child? Who knows, but it's becoming more rampant than ever, and something needs to be done about it.
I live very close to Lake Guntersville, which has to be one of the worst lakes in the country for either rude or simply uneducated bass anglers. I essentially have stopped going to the lake out of fear I will lose my cool. Rather than bet against my temper, I simply stay away. Following are a few typical angler types one can expect to find on the water, along with some ideas about how to deal with them.
Pot-lickers or bent-pole fishermen. For those who don't know, these are anglers not good enough to find their own fish, so when they drive by and see you set the hook, they immediately stop, turn around, and start fishing directly on top of you. Best-case scenario: A pot-licker will slow down, hit his waypoint button, and come back and fish your spot later. Either way, these people have no confidence in their ability to locate and catch fish on their own.
The angler with a deed. You also have people who believe they own a certain spot on the lake. You're fishing, minding your own business, when a guy comes up and says, "You're fishing my hole." I immediately look around and say, "I don't see anything on the water or my mapping software that states you own this part of the water." These people are under some kind of false belief that, since they caught a 6-pounder there last year, they can come back and fish that same spot any time they like. If you happen to be there, you're just supposed to move. They believe they actually own that spot...weirdest thing I've ever seen.
The guide. I have friends that are guides and are the greatest people on earth and love them dearly, but there are a a few who will request that you move off a spot because they have clients with them. I was under the assumption that a guide had more than one spot on which he can catch fish. I actually have witnessed a guide cast over another angler's line after that angler was there first and refused to leave. This action is super unprofessional, and if I were a client, it instantly would turn me off.
The next KVD. This angler generally possesses all the previous qualities and will let you know he is privileged because he's fishing a BFL, open or church tournament and has been on some "good ones." Ya gotta love those who do wrong in the name of a church tournament--LOL. And I have seen it firsthand. Anyway, this angler will cut you off, cast over you, go between you and the bank, drive 10 feet from you at 65 mph while you are fishing, waypoint your spots, and do it all because they are on the road to the "big time." In no way am I saying KVD ever pulled such a stunt, but I'm using his name because people want to be him but don't want to earn it.
Mr. Sneaky. This guy is a new one, but he's crafty. He starts out a long ways from you, sees you catch a few, and then makes his way over to you, all the while creating conversation to become "your buddy," and before you know it, he's casting on top of you. But wait...it's OK because you and he talked about college football or some other vague topic. Anglers in this category are the used-car salesmen of the world. I have nothing against used-car salesmen, but you know what I mean.
Here's how to deal with all these people:
* It's hard to do, but just pull up your trolling motor and move on, especially if you have kids with you. Set an example by being the bigger angler.
* Politely point out what they are doing, and ask them to please give you your space.
* If they start encroaching, then start a conversation with them. Ask if they are fishing a tournament. If they say yes, ask which one. This will give you information about whom to report their behavior.
* Video them. No one wants to be the big talk of social media all over the world.
* If things start to get out of hand, immediately pull up your trolling motor and leave, but try to get their boat number, and contact the authorities.
There are several other options, but the last one you want to do is get into a screaming match with someone over a fishing spot. When both parties are mad, there's a good chance an altercation or worse will occur at some point. The idea of two adults screaming and cussing in the middle of a lake does nothing to legitimize our sport. The reason it makes no sense to argue is because neither is going to change the other's behavior. You're just basically going to be mad the rest of the day and lose all your focus on fishing.
So, in closing, if you find yourself standing there, with hands held high, looking at your partner and asking, "What the heck is that guy doing?" just remember you can't control his actions...only your own.
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