duck hunters and bass fisherman

[jbjennings]

I would like to know other's opinion on a small problem. I love to duck hunt and the only place I have to hunt is on a public lake near my home in Louisiana. This lake literally has a duck blind every 2 or 3 hundred yards on much of the open area of the lake. Often, particularly in teal season, bass fisherman come right up to my blind while I'm trying to hunt with their big bass rigs and have often actually cast in my decoys. Since we have a warm climate, local bass clubs often schedule their tournaments on opening day of duck season. I understand that people want to fish--I like to bass fish too, but many times these folks are flat out rude and make it clear by things they say and do that they couldn't care less about ruining someone's duck hunt. Duck season only lasts a short time and duck hunters treasure their hunts as much as fishermen treasure their fishing trips. Whereas I realize that they should get to fish anytime they want I'm wondering why some people can't fish in other areas of the lake where the hunters aren't so thick or at least not fire up their 150 hp when they are 30 feet away at daybreak to go 200 yds away. Just a little courtesy is all I ask. Is anyone else having experiences like this or is it just me? I certainly wouldn't want some stupid law where fishermen can't fish during duck season but would like to let others know that scheduling a tournament on opening day of duck season on a lake packed with duck hunters really hurts their feelings just as much as they would be angry with me if I went water skiing across their fishing line. Once again, am I in the wrong for feeling this way or is this annoying others as well? At least if anyone reads this that has no idea about fishermen accidentally ruining someone's hunting maybe they'll think about it and cut me a little slack. In public places we all need to be especially careful in my opinion!

 

[POINTER94]

Re: duck hunters and bass fisherman

I am a fisherman, I enjoy fishing and I would defend fisherman at most turns. But they are also rude, obnoxious and frequently violating some rule of the road or another.

I see them tied up to aids to navigation, anchored in navigatable channels, throwing baits onto peoples swim platforms in harbors, just this morning I was sleeping on my boat when at 3am, a bunch of them showed up to go out fishing. Loud, banging things around, laughing. And I understand, sometimes this is the best time to get out there, but show some respect.

I love it when there are 6 or 8 of them running in front of the breakwater to the harbor with high lines and outriggers.

In my younger days of hanging out with the yachting snobs I used to listen to them make fun of these guys, the problem is many of those guys they were laughing about forgot more about the lake than they knew and loved their boats just as much as the snobs. Most of the fisherman I knew were the best kind of man, the kind that would give you the shirt off their back, but all too frequently, they also engaged in the reverse snobbery I so abhor. Snobbery is snobbery regardless of your point of view. They appoint themselves arbitors of what is right based on their own best interest. Good luck with your duck hunting.... I wouldn't count on a lot of assistance from the fishing crowd.

 

[bassboy1]

Re: duck hunters and bass fisherman

I am a very avid bass angler, and must say, that just ain't right. I try to practice common courtesies, but occasionally, when flipping a dock, or 'toon, I will hit the deck of the dock, or may bounce one off the logs of the 'toon. I do my best, and try not to bother people. But stuff happens.
In your case, that is just flat out rude. If you say that the whole bank is littered with them, there may not be any section of shoreline to fish, but that doesn't mean fish in the decoys. There has to be some way around it, but what they are doing ain't right.

Now, since you say you are duck hunting, doesn't that mean you have guns? When I am fishing, and I have a PWC doing what the bass anglers are doing to you, I usually send them a well placed 1 ounce lead weight 2 or 3 times. usually they get the picture. Couldn't you have a lazy muzzle or something....
No DON'T do that. Illegal and unsafe, but you get the picture. Something to show them you mean business.

 

[kmk_7110]

Re: duck hunters and bass fisherman

I'd get a duck hunting attack dog.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: duck hunters and bass fisherman

I duck hunt and fish for bass. As far as the tournament, I believe the local authorities have to approve any tournaments well in advance. There is an application process. Check it out, maybe you can at least get them to avoid Tourneys on opening day. Here in Pa. there is no hunting on Sunday, so most tourneys are scheduled for Sunday. As far as rude bass fisherman, It seems there are more rude ones then courteous ones these days. Especially the tourney guys. I find a good deal of the tourney guys have huge ego's, and catching those bass and weighing them in is a huge boost to there ego. Lots of them are in it just to show off there boats and how fast they can get to the hole, Hell most of them are not even that good of anglers. They will do what they want, when they want, without a care about anyone else. I have had them come up on me while I am fishing and move right in on me, like they own the place. ****'s me right off.

If they were to cast into my decoys I would figure I would have nothing to lose by taking a couple shots up in the air pretending to shot at ducks, they wont know there was no ducks, and it surely would get there attention, and hopefully move them on. Also to throw a stick or retrieving dummy in the water for the dog when they move in too close will probably make enough commotion to move them on.

 

[roscoe]

Re: duck hunters and bass fisherman

Carry a cell phone, call the DNR warden, or whatever they are called in La.
Report them for willfully disturbing a legal hunt, just as you would if they were animal rights activists making noise to scare the ducks away.

In most states, this is a serious offense. A few tickets and the word will spread quickly.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: duck hunters and bass fisherman

Heck, pack you a rod and reel with ya and when they cast, you cast, over them.

 

[JRJ]

Re: duck hunters and bass fisherman

I hang out with duck hunting bass fisherman and we haven't run into problems. I'm surprised to hear this happens in Louisiana. I would think of all places, the duck hunters and bass fisherman in your state would have respect for each others space.
So much for my perception of Southern manners.

 

[JB]

Re: duck hunters and bass fisherman

I don't understand why people who love to fish and people who love to hunt ducks go to places where the population density requires them to compete for space and annoy the heck out of one another. That simply cannot be part of what they love about fishing or hunting.

Get rid of the idea that you have no choice. You have choices. You may have to drive several hours to enjoy your pastime the way it is supposed to be, but I, for one, would drive many hours rather than put up with a crowd with no manners. . . or even a crowd with manners for that matter.

 

[tommays]

Re: duck hunters and bass fisherman

Jb exactly

Boating at the ramp close to my house makes me hate boating


I drive 80 miles round trip to enjoy what boating should be to ME


Tommays

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: duck hunters and bass fisherman

Put some rap music on the boom box and turn it up to 11.

 

[JRJ]

Re: duck hunters and bass fisherman

Put some rap music on the boom box and turn it up to 11.

lol Does that attract ducks or bass?

 

[darrklim2]

Re: duck hunters and bass fisherman

Now, since you say you are duck hunting, doesn't that mean you have guns? When I am fishing, and I have a PWC doing what the bass anglers are doing to you, I usually send them a well placed 1 ounce lead weight 2 or 3 times. usually they get the picture. Couldn't you have a lazy muzzle or something....
No DON'T do that. Illegal and unsafe, but you get the picture. Something to show them you mean business.

We don't want to start looking like Cheney.... do we?

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: duck hunters and bass fisherman

Seems to me, such downtime leaves opportunity for dog training. If the hunt is interrupted, toss out a few sticks and send out the dogs.

 

[dhath]

Re: duck hunters and bass fisherman

lol Does that attract ducks or bass?

LOLOLOL

 

[bassboy1]

Re: duck hunters and bass fisherman

I don't understand why people who love to fish and people who love to hunt ducks go to places where the population density requires them to compete for space and annoy the heck out of one another. That simply cannot be part of what they love about fishing or hunting.

Get rid of the idea that you have no choice. You have choices. You may have to drive several hours to enjoy your pastime the way it is supposed to be, but I, for one, would drive many hours rather than put up with a crowd with no manners. . . or even a crowd with manners for that matter.

Some of us don't have any choice. I can't drive, and have to rely on parents to take me. I have been on seven fishing excursions this year. I don't have the choice of where the heck I go. I sure wish I could get rid of the idea that I have no choice, but if I do forgo a trip to my local jetflea infiltrated lake, in hopes of a better chance, I have just forgone my chance at dropping a line this month.