Pool 10 tournament?

I have been fishing and boating on pool ten for 35 years, I just experienced my first extremely unpleasant encounter with a tournament fisherman. I was fishing with my wife on a backwater closing dam just above Clayton on Saturday morning. We had been on this little spot for about a half hour and caught a couple of small mouth and three LM, when another bass boat entered the area. They idled right up to where we were fishing and began fishing within casting distance of us. After it was obvious they intended to fish there I asked them if they needed that spot worse than I did? Unfotunately, the conversation on both our parts quickly escalated into a name calling, shouting match. I am not proud of the language I used, but I feel justified in challenging their lack of courtesy to other fisherpersons. The operator of the other boat admitted to being in a tournament, made derogatory remarks about me being from Iowa and fat and any many other remarks and gestures including inviting me to the shore line to settle this his way! I am a stroke survivor and cannot walk very well so that surely would have been a quick way to settle nothing! About a half hour later, he gave up and felt the need to have an additional parting shot. He yelled at me, just out of casting range, and proceeded to expose himself with a moon shot in our direction. Then he left the area. My wife captured the boat numbers and I will be researching the location / name of this owner. I would estimate a grayish 18 foot Triton, with a 150HP and a jerk at the wheel. I know not all tournament fishermen behave in this manner but it doesn’t take many to spoil the perception. I did not say anything during the confrontation but we were fishing a tournament also! I am embarrassed to think there are jerks like that in our ranks. My wife was not very impressed. (with either one of us.)

Chitwood,
Most tournaments have rules about having sportsmanship…If you do find out who it was and what tourney he was fishing….I say report him….We don’t need bad apples like that representing the good people that fish….

Good thing it wasn’t me, I would’ve gladly made the trip to shore

Joe,
Do you know which tournament he was fishing? At the very least I would report this to the Tournament Director.

You go get him buddy!!!!!

I like slop basses way of thinking. I know it isn’t the right thing, but that is probably the way I would have ended it as well.

I’m glad that you don’t think all tournament anglers are that way. Sorry for the hassel they gave you. Like the old saying 1 bad apple can spoil the rest.

I can understand the Iowa cracks, but fat, come on. There has to be line we shouldn’t cross. Just kidding buddy, trying to lighten the moment.

I would have done the same thing you did, and would have gotten the same chewing from Ma as you. It’s unfortunate experiences like this have to happen, not only in the tournament world but just about every weekend I’m sure. I hope you find out what tourney he/she was in and get a chance to report them to the tourney director.