Fishing Etiquette… Guides being childish?

Not much to the story. I was out on Mille lacs fishing with my fiance this evening. Went out to Carl’s flat. Straight east from seguchie point.

There was 1 other boat out there on one side of the flat. I pulled up probably 200 yards away and got rods ready to power cork walleye. Get rigged and started imaging around looking for fish. Casted on a school and caught one. School moved on and I followed them. From across the point, 100 yards or so this boat is coming towards us. Not a big deal. It happens all the time when you start catching fish and the other boat isn’t. Along comes a boat and when they turn they have a decal on the side. Rapid Marine.

I’m passing right along the break scanning for more fish. They start edging in on my and I turn around and go back up the break from a different angle away from this boat. The driver speeds up, turns around and drives right in front of me and stops in talking feet away from the front of my boat is how closely he cut me off. Then drops his bobber and says to his clients “right here” I said you’re kidding right? Flustered, he says he’s been out here all day fishing this spot.

So just a public service announcement. Tony Roach has all the rights to Carl’s flat. No one else is allowed to fish there without getting harassed. Mind you he had 2 adults and 2 kids in the boat. Crazy lack of professionalism and frankly childish behavior.

Needless to say I had to be the bigger person in the situation and move. So I drove to the other end of the flat and continued to power cork these fish. (mind you this was where he was just fishing before he came to try and push me off the spot)

The sense of entitlement to a flat that is a mile and a half long is ridiculous. It’s not like it was a spot on a spot. It was the wind blow side of the flat.

I’d be interested to hear his side of this. If you have a right to that spot doesn’t he?

Goes both ways.

Maybe he was there working that area for a few hours and in his eyes he seen you pull in and cut him off.

This isn’t uncommon on any body of water. As long as no one is physically bumping boats, I’m good. I’ve never been offended if someone comes right up on top of me. It’s just the game. He’ll, I’ve been in the boat when the guy 4 feet away from me is catching all the fish.

Guides, normal every day fishing people it happens to all of us on occasion. Best to move on and find more fish than fighting a crowd. Public lake is open to anyone and all. Anyone that spends a great deal of time on the water has had this happen. Tony is a good guy and without being there is hard to know what really went down.

If it’s true, you don’t go up and cut someone off a few feet away, and least not in my world! DK.

Next time,, circle around them and pick off the fish one by one, the clients will hire you!!

catmando wrote:

If it’s true, you don’t go up and cut someone off a few feet away, and least not in my world! DK.

I don’t know Tony directly. I know guides in the area who know him and everything I’ve heard from him was positive. I wasn’t surprised to have this happen as I’ve seen it and heard of it happening before. But it coming from a professional didn’t sit right.

David Blais wrote:

This isn’t uncommon on any body of water. As long as no one is physically bumping boats, I’m good. I’ve never been offended if someone comes right up on top of me. It’s just the game. He’ll, I’ve been in the boat when the guy 4 feet away from me is catching all the fish.

Certain spots and certain bodies of water yes its normal to be close. But I was 80+ yards away. And it’s a mile and a half flat. I’m not out there taking his spot or following him. I’m fishing where I know there’s fish. There’s a lot more appropriate ways to handle a situation like this if he felt as if I was fishing on top of him.

Matt Moen wrote:

I’d be interested to hear his side of this. If you have a right to that spot doesn’t he?

A lot of your posts seem to call out others and their abuse of fishing etiquette.

Goes both ways.

He drove over to me to basically tell me to F off. I wasn’t mad that he was in a spot I was headed out to fish? I just fished the spot. It’s not my first time fishing it and Definately won’t be my last. But to come at someone like that is pretty low for a guide.

Roach did something similar to me on 3 mile a few years back. Not a fan

Matt Moen wrote:

I’d be interested to hear his side of this. If you have a right to that spot doesn’t he?

A lot of your posts seem to call out others and their abuse of fishing etiquette.

Goes both ways.

Have I ever called out others and their abuse of fishing Etiquette??? I’ve been pretty inactive here as of recently. Not sure where you’re getting that idea from.

I’m not taking a side. Just saying…

I was fishing a little known spot on Mille Lacs today. Had it to myself and got on the fish pretty good. Decided to pack up early and go get my kids. Well kids being kids (and wife) it took longer than it should. About 2 hours later I came back and a boat was literally on my exact spot. I did the proper thing and gave him space, but set up 60-70 yards from where he was (“my spot”)

Point being… I could easily see this guy thinking WTF but I was thinking the same thing

Maybe not the same scenario but…

If you’re going to fish Mille lacs that happens. With all the electronics now, anyone can find fish. I’ve had it happen to me from other guides, not a big deal. Go up during week and you won’t need to deal with any BS

It’s a small lake with a limited number of spots to fish. Whats a guy to do? Next time ask if he wants to tie up along side you so the kids have more room to stretch out.

I love bumper boats. That’s why I run a 99. Bumper boats these days is way more common then it used to be. I would have fished directly next to him

catmando wrote:

If it’s true, you don’t go up and cut someone off a few feet away, and least not in my world! DK.

Mine either.

On Mille Lacs I pass other boats and they pass me pretty close while fishing the edge of a flat. Usually chat with them while going by. The dicks are the ones that go close or cut you off while they are looking for fish.
When I’m graphing a spot, I usually look around and mark individual or pods of fish and then fish through the waypoints. A few years ago on a Mille Lacs flat a guide came by, marked the pod that I had marked, stopped and started fishing them right away. He was about 100 feet away so not close. He kept going back and forth over them with his clients, caught 2, then went on his way. I was a little irked but I gave up those fish to fish the way I usually do. I learned something that day. Now I’ll stop on a pod and work them right away.

I wouldn’t expect anything different from what you are saying about a Lake like that. You can insert all the major walleye lakes in that category. It is what it is and it has been like that forever.

I get it’s unfortunately common amongst normal or weekend anglers. I fish near anglers. Lots of spots are public and well known. So it happens. Garrison reef yesterday. Loaded with boats. Everyone was civil. If I was fishing with a guide and he did something like that I’d question him. Why would you intentionally chase someone off a 1.5 mile flat?

To have that occur on a large flat is simply ridiculous. I wasn’t there so I don’t know what happened but with such a large area to fish it’s not difficult to maintain at least some distance. I hate it when other boats crowd me. If I can cast to you, you’re too close.

With most people now using their electric motor and spot lock, very few people are actually throwing out manual anchors anymore. If you really want to stake out a spot, a manual anchor is probably the surest way to do it these days. Just don’t show up to a group of boats Lindy rigging or trolling and plop it down in the middle.

Just because something is commonplace doesn’t mean it has to be considered acceptable. Sounds like a grown man acting like a child to me

The guy who runs/owns the fishing float in lynxville Wisconsin came within about a foot of our boat while we were fishing at least 300 yards south of his float. He had what I believe were 2 customers in his boat he was ferrying over to his float. We were the only boat there in the morning. The wake from his 20 ft or so flat bottom crested over the back of my Lund. Drove right at us, could see his face the whole time and he veered off at the last second. Always stay well away from the fishing float out of respect. Guess he wanted the whole width of the Mississippi that day.

crappie55369 wrote:

Just because something is commonplace doesn’t mean it has to be considered acceptable. Sounds like a grown man acting like a child to me

Sounds like a couple of them.

We let a boat budge us because he was “in a tournament” Later I thought wait I’m ‘in my precious weekend!” Money decals or something sewn on your hat or shirt does not make your time more valuable than mine.

Doesn’t matter who you are or what you do for a living or how big/expensive your boat is moving in on someone on a lake as BIG as ML is not necessary. That is just being rude. JMO

To cut you off that close,not FN right.
Stuart know who your talking about,he is a dick.

I suspect that if the guide wasn’t as well known there’d be far less sticking up for those antics. Especially on such a small lake.

Dink buster wrote:

The guy who runs/owns the fishing float in lynxville Wisconsin came within about a foot of our boat while we were fishing at least 300 yards south of his float. He had what I believe were 2 customers in his boat he was ferrying over to his float. We were the only boat there in the morning. The wake from his 20 ft or so flat bottom crested over the back of my Lund. Drove right at us, could see his face the whole time and he veered off at the last second. Always stay well away from the fishing float out of respect. Guess he wanted the whole width of the Mississippi that day.

The guy is a jackwagon and thinks he owns the river. Was up there in the fall one year. He and one other guy were on the north end of the float working on something. Zero customers on the float. I and 2 other boats pulled up below the float about 40 yards and started fishing. Shortly after that “jackwagon” picked up a rod, walked to the south end of the float and started chucking a large jig in between our boats. It was obvious he was doing it to be a jerk.

ranger680t wrote:

I suspect that if the guide wasn’t as well known there’d be far less sticking up for those antics. Especially on such a small lake.

Yep. I knew I’d be the bad guy in some people’s eyes instantly because they have a pre-conceived notion that this person they’ve heard about might be a great guy. Not in this instance. John thelen on the other hand. Great guy.

Ripjiggen wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>crappie55369 wrote:</div>
Just because something is commonplace doesn’t mean it has to be considered acceptable. Sounds like a grown man acting like a child to me

Sounds like a couple of them.

Just the on guy acted childish. His clients definately didn’t want to be in that situation. They looked embarrassed. I know you’re referring to me acting childish in your response but get his clients version of the story. I’d bet you 100$ it matches my story.

Try fishing Lake Geneva after dark in the summer, especially near Fontana. I moved 365 miles away 30+ years ago & never fished there again. Besides, 9# walleyes taste like the bottom of the lake.

Jim in Wisconsin wrote:

Try fishing Lake Geneva after dark in the summer, especially near Fontana. I moved 365 miles away 30+ years ago & never fished there again. Besides, 9# walleyes taste like the bottom of the lake.

Move further and quit eating them.
Sorry if you didn’t realize, but it is that easy 🙃
Most walleyes being 3lbs to 12lbs taste like the batter you fry them in any ways.