The crazy world I woke up to today

Been crazy busy working 7 days a week for months and finally took some time for myself. Dumped the boat in a local river at 3.30 this morning and was really hyped to watch a sunrise in peace.
Peace….something that I think escaped me today. As I drifted down the river from the launch, i could hear two guys arguing back in the parking lot of the Launch. I about crapped when I heard “I’ll put a F[@#%^@ bullet In your head”. Things went silent and one of the guys launched and motored up river. I assume the other guy left.

It was about 20 minutes later I began drifting through a community hole with a few other guys already drifting through. I made 1 pass and picked up my first eye of the day, a chunky 17″. While myself and a couple other boat were motoring back up, a guy had dropped anchor in the middle of the run.
I was at a complete loss watching people losing their dam minds. The guys drifting by went off the deep end screaming at these two guys. It was a simple comment as the went by. It was explicit, top of the lungs screaming and threats to pull their anchor and get the F out of the way. I drifted by these two guys and could see they were much older guys than myself. 70’s maybe?? They had a very basic 14′ Jonboat and no trolling motor. I passed by close to them, maybe 15′ away. It was a slight wave and continued about my business. The next boat drifting above me was worse than the one below me. They intentionally banged boats and went as far as pulling these old guys’ anchor rope.
From there it just went nuts. Everyone was in a screaming match.

I lost all desire to be on the water and left. There isn’t a walleye worth it. Headed back to the launch to head out. Naturally, at day break there are a lot of guys launching to head out. I tied my boat off out of the way and got in line with my truck. As my turn came up to back my trailer in, a car pulled in behind me and blocked the ramp. I got out to see what was going on, and see two kids unloading kayaks from the top if their car. I politely asked if they could unload a few feet over so we all could continue as we were all in line.
Was told “F=#% off old man….. you don’t the F’N place.”
It took every ounce of energy to keep from sending his peanuts back to the crap hole he was birthed from. Others came over and jumped their asses for cutting off the launch. I saw no value in being involved, as it only would have resulted in a visit from a sherrif. Home now and just scratching my head. What he’ll did I actually wake up to today? Is this what to expect around here anymore? Seems like this is escalating into happening way to frequent. I just don’t get it.

People don’t know how to talk to people.
There is no common sense towards others.
There is no common courtesy towards others.
There is no respect for others
You don’t matter, it’s me, me, me.

One day somebody will get back in their rig and just back right into the kayak pukes.

Randy, as unpopular as this statement is going to be…things declinced once society decided to frown on “self-administered attitude adjustments”. Growing up in the ‘80’s, if I told someone to f-off, it would likely end in me sitting on my backside. Not necessarily a bad lesson in manners and social conduct… I know we’re all too sophisticated for that now, but this is the result.

Completely agree with Dutch. The decency towards others can really suck at times.

Dutchboy wrote:

People don’t know how to talk to people.
There is no common sense towards others.
There is no common courtesy towards others.
There is no respect for others
You don’t matter, it’s me, me, me.

Sad but true. We, as a whole, have gotten to the point that our WANTS, have exceeded our capacity to fulfill those wants. I try to avoid the high traffic areas at all cost. Even when I go shopping, although just the other day, I did have a lady in line in front of me, tell me go ahead, when she saw I only had two items.

Sorry for the ruined day, Randy. You did the right thing by distancing yourself from the drama. Few years back a man was stabbed and killed on the banks of the St croix up here, for nothing. Senseless. Like you said, not worth it.

Sounds like amateur hour. Everyone thinks they’re the next KVD or Al Lindner and all others must get out of their way. Another reason I avoid the water on fishing opener and all other major holidays.

I probably would have packed up as well Randy.

Hey Randy, hummm….sound like the public launch on the rock river. I have given up fishing that river because of the circus and the simple fact that the DNR allow motor trolling on that river now. It was combat fishing 20 years ago in the spring time, now it is just ridiculous

Don’t need the stress of of having to wait 45 minutes to launch and walking a half mile back to that launch as I have been told.

Better days a coming.

D

As I read all this, I kept thinking how hard it is to just let things go…. I hate rude people. It is really hard to let it go – and takes so much energy at times. Even more to let it go when I see anyone being rude or threatening to others.

Randy, you did well. I don’t think rude people can often be calmed down enough to just “let it go” and smile.

As excited as I am to get out fishing… and on the same river you were just at – you’ve reminded me to not go on a weekend, or maybe ever during the run timing. The disappointment you felt as you left shouldn’t be experienced by anyone looking to just enjoy some down time floating on a river. That sucks.

FLIP SIDE…. I was on a lake down by me last weekend, no dock, lake half iced in, only one area of nice weeds standing. There was a dozen boats in one small area floating bobbers for a chance at a crappie or two. Nice thing is it was still peaceful. Guys appreciating just being out and a few kids in the boats having fun in the sun. Everyone talking, enjoying being out. Could have easily been the other way as this big lake is known for rude boaters but they weren’t out yet. I got lucky. Hope you find that the next time you put your boat in the water. Heck, I hope I find it again…..

Well handled.

On top of that you’ve shared the story to maybe, just maybe make a difference.

As I get older my tolerance has gotten much better and I’m much happier as a result. I can only hope to succeeding at teaching my kids how to be tolerant and grateful. The rest will fall into place.

A few people know exactly where I was at. Had a guy point a gun at me already on that river, so I avoid most on there. My old age has taught me not to beat the crap out of people anymore. Dont like the fear of when cops may show up at the house. Its just rediculous that people get that way. Ive fished the wolf river my entire life, and that is the epitome of crowds. Yet, 99% of everyone gets along. Get closer to metro areas and people seem to have $#!^ for brains.

Oh well, I’m done with the rock and other crowded places. Ya, it convenient but not worth the stress. I quit guiding and I’m getting out of spring fall goods all together. Just want to enjoy my time while I still can. Plenty of solitude places to be. A couple people know where there is a clam bed I’ll be casting cranks over at 10pm without another soul around. Btw, if anyone figures that spot out, i wont shoot you. Just anchor up where we can both fish it and well get along fine

When I encounter hateful people, I like to leave them with an ancient saying ‘May peace be with you’. Most people don’t get it or know what to say. I usually mean it as a curse, like ‘May you live in interesting times’.

Geez, considering this is a topic about the outdoors I can’t believe the amount of instances I’m reading about involving firearms pulled on and pointed at others in this setting.

A somewhat similar anecdote: About a week ago I was ice fishing a small pond surrounded by a lot of fields and woods. I came upon probably the biggest animal track I’ve ever seen in this area and sent the picture around to a lot of people. Considering what the animal could’ve been, my brother asked me if I was carrying at the time. I was kind of stumped and said no, actually, I wasn’t. He couldn’t believe it because he said I seem to carry “everywhere.” After thinking about it I came to a realization and told him that I guess I carry because I have a healthy fear of people, maybe not so much animals. Doesn’t that sound crazy? It didn’t even dawn on me to bring my handgun when going alone through some woods this time but it’s first on my checklist if going to the cities or Rochester.

Crazy world is right.

Randy,
I feel your pain, went out there the other day to launch for the first time. It made me sick, What I saw going on. I left too, tried another launch on the north side of town. Not any better so I put the boat back in the garage. I’ll wait a couple more weeks till they call it the dead sea. At the spring hearing My vote is to keep walleye season closed till opening day on the river.

Peace

I thank God every day that I can do 90% of my fishing during the week. Most of the vacations I take are during the week also, regardless of destination.

Every time I start to get frustrated with a long hike on the ice, or a longer run between spots in the boat…I think back to all those issues that are common in the community spots.

I was brought up in an environment where we believed most people were “good humans” unless shown otherwise. It’s very hard to think of society the same way today.

In my opinion you very seldom run into a rude or crude person when they are by themselves. They all seem to share the same gene that requires somebody be there to back them up or witness what a a$$hole they are.

Randy Wieland wrote:

“I’ll put a F[@#%^@ bullet In your head”.

Over a fish! I’m speechless.

Eelpoutguy wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Randy Wieland wrote:</div>
“I’ll put a F[@#%^@ bullet In your head”.

Over a fish! I’m speechless.

I would have left also.

There is a reason I don’t get the boat out of the garage to hit up the rock till after open of regular season, and I live 5 minutes from the launch. Its a mess down there. Id love to see them keep it closed till season opens. never had any issues from May till ice up.

The thing I love about fishing is that it is relaxing and peacefully. There is no way I would have wanted to stay around either.

Was @suzuki on the water this morning??

Instant karma comes back to get people like this, Randy. Sorry you experienced this but sounds like you handled it the right way.

Brian Klawitter wrote:

Was @suzuki on the water this morning??

For all you know I am mellowing with age?

I read Randys story yesterday on the way back from Winni and I wanted to kill the kayakers.
There, feel better BK?!

Randy I have a lot of respect for guys like you. I don’t think I would have been able to keep my cool the way you did, especially after the “F=#% off old man” part. You did the exact right thing; on many occasions I didn’t handle it the right way and it wasn’t good. So kudos to you for setting an example of how a gentleman conducts himself.

S.R.

Randy,

The crap some people pull at the expense of others is mind-boggling.

Lots of credit for not running over the yakholes.

Pete

Its the drinking water man!!!!

I think the attitude of a lot of these idiots come from exactly what was said in an earlier reply. There is no “putting people in their place” allowed anymore. I also think these people are the result of those that are on social media fishing and hunting pages and fishing and hunting forums that are the “keyboard warriors”. They sit on these pages, forums, and sites talking like, ” if you did that to me, I would cut your anchor rope”, or ” try getting that close to me and this, that, or the other thing will happen.” There is very little common decency anymore and every year it is getting harder and harder to come by. There are quite a few fishing/hunting pages I follow on social media, and every time I open one up, there is more and more bitching and bickering about who kept what, how close is too close, your gun is a piece of s#$t, ect, ect…. This is all overflowing into the real life situations and it is getting real old real fast. I have found myself fishing more and more small lakes and avoiding crowds in just the past 5 years. It takes the enjoyment right out of the day on the water when you run into the idiots.

I generally fish pool 4 or 5. No such nonsense
down here in the years I’ve been here. I did have an incident at lake pepin (lake city, MN) about 8-10 yrs ago. Some young twenty year old kid and his dad were obviously too drunk to load their boat on the trailer or just too inbred to figure it out. The line was growing and so I offered to help. A genuine offer to help because they appeared to desperately need it. The kid took off his t-shirt and wanted to fight me for implying they could use a hand. My brother and I just laughed at this little turd with his shirt off now. We both push 6’/250# and grew up loving to fight for fun. If there hadn’t been a pile of witnesses there I woulda been happy to show the young punk some manners. Figured it wasn’t worth an assault charge since we both have families, jobs & clean records. But boy was it tempting.

And my friends wonder why the hell I drive up to Rainy or Kab all the time…. Easy to get away from the morons and psychos up there.