Boat/kayak show down

A couple times now I have been on some metro area rivers fishing when along comes a two person kayak my direction. Last Fall I was about 20 feet from shore (the river was at least 80 yards wide) and the kayakers came straight up full speed between me and shore without even acknowledging me… just “hup” or “hut” or whatever they say.. Not hello or sorry for cutting off your cast or anything.

Today, same thing I’m pitching close to shore with an enormous space of river behind me and a group of two kayaks comes up the river, cuts in between me and shore, says nothing and give me a dirty look. “Hup, hut hut” or whatever… I had just cast out maybe 5-10 seconds before their arrival which they had to see and still went right through. Luckily they didnt snag my line, which actually might have been interesting.

So, is there a rule that they own the waterway? I understand if I have a trolling motor on that I’m technically under power and they are not so there is some kind of right of way. But it’s not like there was a race going on and they were competing with another group of boaters to take the narrowest route. There was the entire river they could have used and could have easily gone behind me as opposed to in front of me…I doubt it would have added 2 seconds to their trip.

Anyway I just gave them the look like wtf and actually hoped they’d get snagged in my line for being at a minimum inconsiderate if not D-bags.

So what’s the rule and etiquette here, do I need a Suick ready to defend me and the shore line I’m fishing?

Ask them WTF Kyakers find it necessary to keep going between your fishing area and shore when they could easily have gone behind.
They know what they are doing.
Quit being passive about it, confront the situation.
Not doing anything is not going to stop the problem.

My take on this is that they don’t know it’s effecting your fishing.

If it were I, and I saw a yak coming I would simply ask them to go around my boat because I’m casting to fish on the shore side.

I’m the guy that doesn’t believe people get up in the morning and think of ways to P off anglers…or anyone else.

Keep you cool and ask them calmly why the couldn’t have went behind you. Maybe they are just really that DUMB! Feel your pain

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Maybe they are just really that DUMB!

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That would be another way of saying it.

I like the suick idea!

one jet skier up on LOTW so closely found out how much i liked that idea..

he didnt make a third run

They might be a little clue-less or could say they didn’t see me but I really doubt it. They look like some kind of a training or rowing club and are very serious about their “hut, hut”chants and paddling in synch.

They strike me like a group of cyclists that ride in groups and act like they own the road. You know the kind that ride three across the lane at 20 mph and don’t give cars doing 45 mph the room to pass.

Could just watch them go past and resume fishing a few seconds later. Gives a person time to adjust a bait or put a new one on. Move something in the boat or just sit back for the moment and enjoy the morning where you are out there to relax and not let things get under your skin.

For why they do this Im not sure. Somme kayakers seem to think its neat to see how quietly they can come up on someone. I think many others have no clue. Then there are the ones that the canoe or kayak is leading them around and they are just plain happy to still be on the top side of it.

The day those kayaks start throwing huge wakes at me is the day Ill get pissed off at them.

Where you fishing at? There is a rowing club on Raspberry Island downtown st paul. Those folks seem to like early mornings before the river gets to busy. Seem to like flood waters for the same reason.

Ummmm, maybe you need to find another form of relaxation? That 10 to 15 seconds it takes them to clear the area certainly isn’t worth getting worked up about. I see your point, however it’s much ado about nothing in my opinion.

We have been avid kayak fisherman for a few years. The respect boaters show us on most lakes makes hugging the shoreline a necessity.

What more do you guys want? We go out of our way to stay safe. We wear florescent clothing, we use florescent paddles and yet we are always having to watch out for water skiers or fishing boats.

We can’t even come on a fishing forum without getting blasted. It just seems like no matter what you do in the outdoors someone is offended. Pretty sad state of affairs for this to even be a topic.

WS

I hear ya but this was a 2 mile stretch of a no wake zone and I was the only guy on the river in plain sight. There was no one else around to steer clear of. 15-20 feet between me and shore is not much room. High percentage of time they would get tangled in my line. This and the fact that there is 80 yards of open water behind me. Plenty of room for both of us on the river and no fear of them being run down by any power boaters. The fact they would cut me off shows disrespect and arrogance. I wasn’t rude to them, I just gave them a look of misbelief. It bothered me for 20 seconds and I was back to pitchin’ jigs. I would have been more upset if they would have snagged my new St. Croix and pulled it in the river…

Seems on par with the folks playing in traffic on their bicycles. Big demands for respect and little interest in responsibility. Best to let it go, somebody needs to be the adult. I spend more time worrying about drunks in 40 foot tuna boats, they can actually hurt you. Good luck.

This should make everyone realize that when you are out enjoying your hobby, put your best foot forward! One or two people can change other peoples perception of the sport/hobby.

Kayaks draw so little water it would be hard for them to snag your line unless you were topwater. I often fish where conoe and kayaks are and I have very good action when they pass right over the area I fish. The fish are used to the kayaks and disturb them very little.

Jet Skiers on the other hand disturb more.

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The fact they would cut me off shows disrespect and arrogance.

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Go to a yachting or sail boating website sometime and read the rants about fishing boats being in their way.

All depends on a person’s perspective (type of boat they own).

Perspective #1 … I expect approaching traffic to go around the spot where I’m sitting.

Perspective #2 … I expect sitting traffic to move out of the spot which I’m approaching.

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We can’t even come on a fishing forum without getting blasted. It just seems like no matter what you do in the outdoors someone is offended. Pretty sad state of affairs for this to even be a topic.

WS

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If your an individual that shows respect and consideration for others, I can’t imagine why you would take this as a personal attack. I clearly see two groups of EVERY type of boater – regardless if a 300hp tuna boat, or a guy floating with arm blow up floaties. There will always be people that are observant and considerate for others, and other that just don’t pay attention to details and have no clue on the ramifications their actions have on others.

I feel for Kyakers based on my experiences from fishing from a float tube or belly boat. Does it give an individual the right to be rude and inconsiderate – NO. But I also think there is a point where common sense has to weigh in also. If you know your in a vessel in an area of higher boat traffic that is commonly difficult to see, you have a responsibly to make yourself MORE visible. Heck, I love fishing the mouth of the Racine harbor for chinooks out of my float tube….but I know a capt in a 32′ cabin cruiser won’t see me very easily. Does he have more of a right to be there than me? – No, but common sense tells me to keep myself out of harms way. We all have equal rights to the same place, and common sense should prevail. As Brian said, most people don;t get out of bed with the intent to PO someone, they just make a foolish mistake.

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We have been avid kayak fisherman for a few years. The respect boaters show us on most lakes makes hugging the shoreline a necessity

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I’ll agree with this but not the rest of your post. I have a fishing boat and a couple kayaks so I feel I can speak from both angles. Many motor boats do not seem to understand how wakes affect kayaks; even highly stable yaks can take on water or capsize from fairly tame wakes. But it sounds like these guys just wanted to take the shortest path. If the water was calm and they saw you casting to the shore, it would have been a show of respect to go around.

Anyway, not a big deal IMO and just a moment to ponder on the water.