Ignorant Pontoon Operators

If someone does stupid $hit intentionally, I will send a message. I used to ignore these things since most are unintentional and people just don’t know any better. Then 3 falls ago I was casting on the lock side of P4 and I watched this 80 foot boat closing in on me at a high rate of speed….30-40mph, and killed it just as he approached me. the wave that he pushed dam near knocked me out of my seat so no way that was unintentional. i wasn’t prepared for that so not much i could do. i mean what can you do besides flip the idiot off? i now carry a handful of golf balls in the event this happens again. it’s one thing to run over a bobber but when someone could have intentionally knocked me out of my boat, i will defend myself. he was lucky my daughter was not with at the time.

eyeguy507 wrote:

I watched this 80 foot boat closing in on me at a high rate of speed….30-40mph, and killed it just as he approached me.

Wow! I would like to know what kind of boat that was! Hubbard’s Mimi is 80′ and it might get up to 20 mph. It’s cruising speed is 15 mph.

Either way, what does intrigue me is that every boat operator complains about the “other guy”. Cruisers complain about fishermen, cruisers complain about sail boats, fishermen complain about tuna boats and wake boats, tow operators complain about.. well everyone.

What I find difficult is to talk to someone that did something (unknowingly) without putting them on the defensive.

Just part of the water life I guess.

Brian Klawitter wrote:

Hubbard’s Mimi is 80′ and

I had always wondered how big that girl is!

eyeguy507 wrote:

i mean what can you do besides flip the idiot off? i now carry a handful of golf balls in the event this happens again. it’s one thing to run over a bobber but when someone could have intentionally knocked me out of my boat, i will defend myself.

And what happens when you bring a golf ball to a gun fight? Beyond telling someone some choice words, anything else these days is more dangerous than a wake coming in hot. It sucks, but casting, throwing or doing anything else physical at someone isn’t going to solve the problem, it’s going to escalate it.

BigWerm wrote:

it’s going to escalate it.

I agree. You never know when you’re going to run into a hot head nowadays. I used to be a bit impatient at the public access when someone was waffling forever to load or unload their boat. Now I just keep waiting and say nothing. The last time I offered to help someone they got downright angry at me.

FishBlood&RiverMud wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Brian Klawitter wrote:</div>
Hubbard’s Mimi is 80′ and

I had always wondered how big that girl is!

I stand corrected. She’s 130 feet.

BigWerm wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>eyeguy507 wrote:</div>
i mean what can you do besides flip the idiot off? i now carry a handful of golf balls in the event this happens again. it’s one thing to run over a bobber but when someone could have intentionally knocked me out of my boat, i will defend myself.

And what happens when you bring a golf ball to a gun fight? Beyond telling someone some choice words, anything else these days is more dangerous than a wake coming in hot. It sucks, but casting, throwing or doing anything else physical at someone isn’t going to solve the problem, it’s going to escalate it.

i guess i take my chances? i am not allowed to shoot at the boat last i checked. all i am saying is this guy knew what he was doing and i could see 2 guys laughing as i jumped into my seat to start my motor as not to go into the rocks.

I would have to agree with BK on this one, in my years on pool 4 I’ve had them come in all sizes being dumb & flat out dangerous! A few years ago I had Motor troubles on my deep v 18’ fiberglass fishing boat, was getting towed in from pool 3 through the lock down to 4, and when we got through to the other side I had a 50’er give it gas trying to get on plane by me my boat tipped and scooped up water and I thought I was going down! Bilge ran from lock almost to red wing, water patrol stopped and asked if we were ok and I told them what happened they turned around and chased the guy down and pulled the A hole over! Karma got him as seems he was intoxicated.. and on the other side I had 12’ whaler idle by me and run my kids and mine fishing lines over no more then 10’ from us! Unbelievable really! I have endless stories of these guys!! Not just limited to pontoons!

Ya, it’s not just pontoons.
You haven’t lived until you take your dump trailer to a busy landfill.

Eelpoutguy wrote:

Ya, it’s not just pontoons.
You haven’t lived until you take your dump trailer to a busy landfill.

Try the transfer station off Broadway

iowa_josh wrote:

Must be a Minnesota thing? Pretty peaceful down here but I avoid busy times. Is it all passive aggressive because people own a tiny piece of lakefront and want to make everybody aware of it?

You just quiet down with your 16 lakes down there in Iowa!

rjthehunter wrote:

You just quiet down with your 16 lakes down there in Iowa!

Sixteen??
When did they dig a new one?

gregory wrote:

Karma got him as seems he was intoxicated..

You do know the rule of a tuna boat operator is to have on hand on the wheel and the other on his umbrella drink?

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Pontoons, Jet Skis, Fishing Boats, Tuna Boats, Wake Boats, Tritoons….they all have ignorant operators. I assume nothing about the person coming at me on the river other than that they may be intoxicated or don’t know the first thing about a boat. Driving defensive is the only way to go about things for me, and that won’t change. Years ago I didn’t care and would get all hot headed, fish tight/busy spots, and so on. Now I’ve got too much to risk with a wife and kids who rely on me.

On another note, there are times that I know I am well within my rights to fish an area (and that it likely has fish), but I opt not to solely due to my own safety or the conflict I may create. Just because something is legal doesn’t always mean its right or safe. I fish to get away from people first and foremost. When we take the tritoon out it’s usually with the intention of getting away from people too.

Brian Klawitter wrote:

Sixteen??
When did they dig a new one?

LOL its probably just a flooded portion of the river.

Brian Klawitter wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>gregory wrote:</div>
Karma got him as seems he was intoxicated..

You do know the rule of a tuna boat operator is to have on hand on the wheel and the other on his umbrella drink?

Is that a tiny can in that guy’s hand or does he just appear to have massive catchers mitts?

luttes wrote:

Is that a tiny can in that guy’s hand or does he just appear to have massive catchers mitts?

Lol I noticed that too. He must be a man beast!

A holes are everywhere. Don’t kid yourself and think you can get away from them.

John Rasmussen wrote:

Lol I noticed that too. He must be a man beast!

Two hats that day… was a cold one!
How did I know that photo would haunt me some day

Been umbrella free since lol

Brian Klawitter wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>eyeguy507 wrote:</div>
I watched this 80 foot boat closing in on me at a high rate of speed….30-40mph, and killed it just as he approached me.

Wow! I would like to know what kind of boat that was! Hubbard’s Mimi is 80′ and it might get up to 20 mph. It’s cruising speed is 15 mph.

Either way, what does intrigue me is that every boat operator complains about the “other guy”. Cruisers complain about fishermen, cruisers complain about sail boats, fishermen complain about tuna boats and wake boats, tow operators complain about.. well everyone.

What I find difficult is to talk to someone that did something (unknowingly) without putting them on the defensive.

Just part of the water life I guess.

My boat is a little white 18′ tin boat. This thing was at least 4 times bigger so maybe it was 72′? Hard to tell as I was trying not to die.
Not trying to be a tough guy but this was a blatant and dangerous act IMO. I thought about pulling up to him and getting his registration number but can anything even be done about it?

eyeguy507 wrote:

I thought about pulling up to him and getting his registration number but can anything even be done about it?

Kinda what I thought, too. I feel the same way about the updated speed limit/distance from shore regs they just announced on Tonka. Now 5MPH up to 300ft from shore.

Those who obey will obey and those who wont, wont. And unless the Sherriff or maybe a warden is there to witness it, nothing can be done. Who’s to say exactly what 300 ft is? It would have to be a pretty obvious and flagrant violation. You can report a reg. number but it’s your word against the other guy if there’s no one else around. Maybe a video, but I can’t see the authorities wanting to deal with a bunch of that, either. Unless someone was hurt as a result of the violation.

after cooling down, my exact thoughts. my word against his and probably a slap on the wrist vs. a knuckle sandwich. I have family in law enforcement so pretty sure i could find the owner if it is not public record. either way i have learned to keep my head on a swivel.

eyeguy507 wrote:

I thought about pulling up to him and getting his registration number but can anything even be done about it?

Not much beside having the water patrol talk to them.

buck-slayer wrote:

Yes there are to many dumbass’s on our lake too. That’s why you don’t carry a gun in the boat.

Absolutely right.

Jon Jordan wrote:

Take an old beater rod/reel and tie on a 1 oz jig. Keep it handy. A well placed cast bouncing that jig off the side of the boat will send the needed message.

-J.

Even better, a magnum sized Zara Spook.

Sylvanboat wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>buck-slayer wrote:</div>
Yes there are to many dumbass’s on our lake too. That’s why you don’t carry a gun in the boat.

Absolutely right.

No, if you have that much of a temper you just don’t carry.

Keep an Ugly Stik in the boat that has a 4 3/4 inch Eppinger Red Eye with all hooks removed tied on the end. When a fool heads toward your grab it, cast high and well in front of them. The flash of the Red Eye is very attractive to the eye. The fool should get the message without you having to bounce the lure off of the pontoons. With no hooks, a little casting accuracy you have a great deterrent that won’t injure anyone.

Brad Dimond wrote:

With no hooks, a little casting accuracy you have a great deterrent that won’t injure anyone.

4 3/4 inch Eppinger Red Eye
Weight: 2 1/2 oz. Length: 4 3/4″ The original Red Eye Wiggler has been a staple in every fisherman’s tackle box since its invention in 1929.

Doing as you suggest makes you the aggressor by intimidation. A 2 1/2 ounce chunk of steel flung with a fishing pole, can be and is, considered a deadly object. Yes your intentions were to intimidate the pontoon driver and cause him to change his course.

Your choice, a brief interruption of your day or a day in court trying to explain your actions. Like I said, entirely your choice, you don’t get to blame the pontoon guy for your choices.

I need to move further North or get rid of the internet.