fishing etiquette

Hi to all. Thought I would quit browsing and finally join so here is my first post. My question is this. I am bit familiar with fishing on pool 4 , I had not been up there in quite a few years until last spring. Wow! have things changed in 15 years. The number of boats was unreal from the dam down to the lake. Most people were vertical jigging above the resort but I noticed quite a number of people casting points , wingdams , and flats. My question is , are there any special rules of fishing etiquette that one should follow while fishing around all these boats.
I am an old bass fisherman and don’t want to upset anyone when I come up there fishing this spring. I would assume that when vertical jigging around others there would be no real boat distance issue, but what about those that are fishing points , flats , or wing dams? Would I be allowed to fish in the “area” or should I just move on.

Welcome to IDO olbasser

big G

Olbasser, I stay away from the crowds down here on the river, so I can’t help you. However, I did want to tell you that I’m glad you decided to start posting! Welcome!!

1st WELCOME to IDO thanks for joining up with us

2nd I just use common curtisy when fishing around others ,if they were there before I arrived I give them thier space and move in when they leave if I want to fish where they were. Give and take sorta thing ,just treat them as you want to be treated on the water . Oh sure you have those people who try to crowd you out but for the most pool 4 guys/gals are good about respecting your zone .

Welcome to IDO

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2nd I just use common curtisy when fishing around others ,if they were there before I arrived I give them thier space and move in when they leave if I want to fish where they were. Give and take sorta thing ,just treat them as you want to be treated on the water . Oh sure you have those people who try to crowd you out but for the most pool 4 guys/gays are good about respecting your zone .

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This is very well put for all the pools I have fished. Just remember there are always those that are going to get ticked for no good reason….just like in the Bass world

And you are right….vertical can be bumper boats but not bad if everyone keeps there patience.
Pitching, casting or trolling, give the guy who beat you to the spot his room.

Shrug off the idiot’s and don’t let it ruin your day on the water

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2nd I just use common curtisy when fishing around others ,if they were there before I arrived I give them thier space and move in when they leave if I want to fish where they were. Give and take sorta thing ,just treat them as you want to be treated on the water . Oh sure you have those people who try to crowd you out but for the most pool 4 guys/gals are good about respecting your zone .

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I agree most people are very respectable. Just watch out when there’s a tournament. In my experiences all etiquette seems to go right out the window come tournament day. Very sad to see people acting that way. Put on your bumpers

I know nothing about fishing next to others.

However, in listening to wallabie fisherman, one thing that I never considered until someone was complaining was to watch out for the guy casting to shore…don’t go between him and the shore. Sounds pretty common sense…but until it was brought to my attention….

The other thing was not to crowd someone when they are trolling. I know…most of you are saying what a dizzle. But that’s ok, there are many people that want to try fishing the river but don’t because of this same question…what’s right and what’s wrong.

The one common piece I’ve found is when someone does something that is what I think, really stupid they most of the time didn’t realize it. Once brought to their attention in a courteous manner…they don’t do it again.

PS Welcome to IDO!!

In general,the most common complaints are someone that anchors in the middle of someones drift.And someone that puts their boat in front of an area that someone is casting to.Mostly common sense,but most problems are just folks excited to be on the water and just not in tune with what they are doing.Remember that there is a bunch of water to fish on all of the pools,and I have been told you can catch fish away from the damn areas.

welcoem to ido olbasser

Welcome olbasser
Not much to add, just be courteous and give guys their space When motoring back to restart a drift try not to throw a wake at the crowd or get too close. This is a fool proof way to get the ol stinkeye

My biggest pet peeve is boats running too fast through the crowd. If you choose to fish the “bumper boat bite” from the “Y” up to the dam, don’t run-n-gun to start a new drift. Just take it easy. Nothing scarier than looking at a boat coming straight at you not knowing if you are seen. Or have a boat on plane less than 10 feet off your side.

Edit:

I see Jeff and I posted at the same time. I’d rather have a wake from a boat being careful and slow than the tired excuse “I don’t toss a wake a 25 MPH…..” Boats don’t have brakes!

Edit Edit !! LOL

Another Welcome to IDO Fishing olbasser. Things have definately changed. But this is a great place to keep up with what is going on.

-J.

I agree with Jon and am annoyed by people driving to fast through the crowd. Another thing if you are away from the crowd and catching fish do not use your dipnet unless you have to, it works like a calling card and draws a bunch of people to your area. Good luck fishing.

Mikey…that’s what they make trout nets for.

Not that I would know.

Welcome Olbasser, I agree with Jon. If you are heading up river to make another drift pass, for God’s sake go out into the center of the channel and come in slowly instead of running through the pack of boats and between people pitching toward shore…..Thank you for allowing me to vent.

Hey guys, Thanks for all the great tips. See you on the water soon. By the way . What’s the report on pool 4?

First off welcome to IDO.
Second off the bite is ok for most. It is still on the early side for it to be a fool proof bite but there is a fair amount of fish being caught.
As for your question, me being one of the people that cast’s/pitches most all the time, the biggest thing for me is to not come between me and the shore im pitching to or right over top of the area im fishing. If there is a ton of boats around and there is no other way through, thats a differnt story. otherwise like others have mentioned, take it slow while going through crowds, Drain your boat trailer before you pull all the way up the ramp if its cold out. have your boat ready to go before you back down the ramp, and also pull out of everybodys way after loading to pack things away. Pretty much common sense things but a friendly reminder to everybody including myself is needed every now and again.
Good luck and let us know how it goes when you make it out.

welcome to ido olbasser make sure to stop and launch at everts,dean and the guys will fill you in!!!

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and I have been told you can catch fish away from the damn areas.

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now where did you ever hear any nonsense like that…

Welcome to IDO Olbasser!

OK, here is a for instance I run into occasionally. You are running the back channel on pool 4 and you come up on some one who is fishing right in middle of one of the necked down areas with little more than 10 feet of navigable water or less on either side. If you slow down and try to pass a decent distance, you take the chance of running aground. If you buzz by at this same distance, you are an a-hole. What do you do?

Per WI DNR

● It is unlawful to operate a motorboat at a speed that is greater than

reasonable and prudent under the existing conditions. The speed

shall be so controlled as to avoid colliding with any object, person

or conveyance lawfully in or on the water.

Per MN DNR

 To operate a watercraft in a careless or reckless

manner.

 To operate a watercraft so that its wash or

wake endangers, harasses, or interferes with

any person or property.

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Drain your boat trailer before you pull all the way up the ramp if its cold out.

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Although I dont fish the pools, I do fish alot in the winter and very early spring. That probably is my biggest pet peeve, is people coming when its 15-25 degrees out, backing in, unloading, and the broadcasting water all the way up the ramp like a manure spreader. I realize, that we should have been trained to get in, and get out as soon as possible, but this is one case, where a few extra seconds at the bottom of a ramp is warranted.

You can usually tell those who dont know enough to drain their trailer, because they are giving you the tough guy look as you pull up the ramp, not knowing that you just did them a favor.

Welcome to IDO Olbasser.