Threading The Needle Of Ungrateful Fisherfolk

[SkiTundra]

Sunday was a fairly windy day so we camped most of the afternoon. Late in the afternoon the wind died down enough that the west side of the lake was relatively OK for boarding, still a bit choppy but not bad, so we headed across to that side. There were about a half dozen fishing boats on the lake but we had a good 300' straight channel for our runs. Did a couple of laps down and back and then noticed that one of the fishing boats was inching in to our channel. On the third lap he'd closed the gap between he and another fishing boat to maybe 280' and on the fourth to about 250' or a bit less. He then started waving a fist and screaming at us that we had to stay 150' from him.

Because of the fishing boats we hadn't filled any ballast and we're in a 211 without ballast (except for my brother-in-law) so we're not talking much of a wake. I'd also previously told folks 2 laps each to keep the obnoxious quotient down.

Not too happy with the fisherfolk right now.

[Quick VR-4]

I share your sentiment. I am not sure if it is me getting older or things changing, but seems like fishermen have become more invasive. The other day there is a tight opening on my way home, about 40 ft. wide. This is a normal traffic area and a fisherman had parked right in the middle long ways. He had his trolling motor down and made no attempt to move. I had to come off plane and idle past him because I try to be considerate. I should have filled the tanks and thrown some rollers his way.

[Zach@n3]

Fishermen all suck. They are never in a good mood and seem they get their jollies from getting mad. They totally close off our boat ramp parking during tournaments so much that you can't get a truck and boat down to the ramp. If I have a couple guys with me when they pull some crap like that we pick up their trailers and set them sideways at weird angles to make it hard to get out if they couldn't lift them. Kicker is there is a free field to park in within 5 minutes walking for ramp overflow.

You can't even get a hey we're both on the water! wave from most all fishermen. I am not very nice to people who park in my prime ski spots. Most fishermen on our lake do not own property therefore I feel they are "allowed" to be on the lake and should act as if they are guests.

[biggator]

I had an incident recently with a pontoon boat.. a bunch of people just idling along and drinking beer. Wife was pulling me, and they would NOT give right of way - and were basically squeezing us toward an area where the channel narrowed out so we had to cut between them and a dock to get past them. They then proceeded to yell at us for being too close to them (and the docks). Asshats.

[HS]

http://www.boatus.com/foundation/gui...igation_2.html

http://www.boatus.com/foundation/gui...igation_4.html

I was curious about how the rules of the road governed this situation so I looked it up. First, I as I understand them, I see the rules as geared around collision avoidanance. Then there's the part that defines the "pecking order" over who has right of way. Copied below is what I found at boatus.com


"There is a "pecking order" that can be used as a simplified memory aid to determine right of way for vessels
of different types. Get very familiar with this list, as it is important to understand it thoroughly. The lower most
vessel on the list is the give way vessel, and must stay out of the way of vessels that are higher on the list:

Vessels not under command
Vessels restricted in their ability to maneuver
Vessels constrained by draft
Fishing vessels engaged in fishing, with gear deployed [that retricts maneuverability; But does not include a vessel with trollinging lines or other gear that does not restricted maneuverability]
Sailing vessels
Power driven vessels"

I am betting that fisher folk believe they have the right of way once they put lines in the water, except that also overlooks the limited maneuverability of someone towing a person or rider. I didn't find anything that says if you're towing you have the right of way...what I did find was these guidelines which seems to place the burden for safe operation on boat operators that are towing for watersports. This is also taken from the same source http://www.boatus.com/foundation/gui...ivities_6.html

"Do wear a life jacket while operating the boat and while skiing. The skier should wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket that has a high impact rating and is designed for water skiing.
Do have an observer on board whose only job is to watch the skier, receive signals and alert the boat operator if the skier falls.
Do discuss ahead of time how you intend to pick up a downed skier and give instruction how to properly re-board.
Don’t ever leave the boat running while a skier is attempting to re-board and never use the engine or propeller as a step.
Do be familiar with the water skiing area so you can avoid areas of shallow water, submerged obstructions and other dangerous situations. Also, stay clear of beaches and swimming areas, and do not purposely spray other boats or swimmers.
Do go over hand signals with the skier before he or she is in the water.
Do use a tow rope that is at least 75 feet long.
Do give a wide berth to fishermen and slower moving crafts like canoes, kayaks and sailboats.
Don’t ski when it is getting dark or is night. It is hard for the boat operator, skiers and other boats to see.
Don’t use drugs or alcohol while operating the boat or water skiing. The substances impair good judgement and coordination.
Don't ski within 300 feet of another vessel, or 100 feet of the shore, a dock, or swim area."

Bottom line is when he moves into your butter, yeah he's a d#*@, but I am thinking John Law is going to say you can't tow that close and side with the fisherman. Just my two cents.

[scott resick]

Ive had a fisherman cast at my skier once. After his run I cirlced back to cuss him out but my wife pulled the reigns. Fishermen are like golfers, same guys are always out there being miserable. If your not happy doing it then why are you you doing it!!!

[SkiTundra]

Don't ski within 300 feet of another vessel, or 100 feet of the shore, a dock, or swim area.

I believe in MN (and most states?), it's within 150' of another vessel. Someone once told me that this isn't even regulatory, but strongly recommended.

[SkiTundra]

Ive had a fisherman cast at my skier once. After his run I cirlced back to cuss him out but my wife pulled the reigns. Fishermen are like golfers, same guys are always out there being miserable. If you're not happy doing it then why are you you doing it!!!

I fish and golf. Very different mindset from skiing or boarding but all are enjoyable. I'm pretty low key about things when I'm fishing, just relaxing and enjoying the day, but I can get rather focused when golfing.

My wife reigns me in on occasion and there've been a couple of times I wish she'd been around to reign me in. :-)

[DanielC]

This is a fact of life, and it is only going to get worse. I have been skiing since 1978, and many
areas I used to ski in are not closed to all towed water sports, or a 5 MPH zone.

Wakeboarding accelerated this trend, and Wakesurfing hit the turbo on closures happening.

I know surfing is easy, and fun, and so is wakeboarding. I also know boat manufactures like these sports, because it enables them to constantly create a market for larger and bigger boats, with more accessories, and more profit margin.

But I see a time coming when you cannot even launch your G-xx and in the process, have all other towed watersports banned from many more bodies of water

[xrichard]

https://vimeo.com/45271516

[JamesHawk101]

I have only had one encounter with fishermen. Around where we live there is only one spot to ride in a trench that was excavated for a bridge, so thats where we have to ride. Fishermen seem to think they can anchor right in our line while were riding and then have a reason to get mad at us.
Another time I had a problem with a guy in his 30 cabin cuddy boat. He was anchored right in the middle of our line so we decided to stay far away from him but still close enough so we had enough water to surf. He wasn't having any of it and decided the best thing to do was come straight at me on plane, cutting me off, while I'm towing my friend. My friend falls so I raced over to the guy that was now a lil bit away and started honking at him. He again thought the best plan of action was to drive straight at my friend who was sitting in the water. I whipped around in my boat and cut the guy off before he could run him over. The times he cut me off and almost ran over my friend he was within 75 feet of us. So instead of talking he drove radically around us about running over my friend. Oh did I mention he was butt naked the whole time?

[Quinner]

This is a fact of life, and it is only going to get worse. I have been skiing since 1978, and many
areas I used to ski in are not closed to all towed water sports, or a 5 MPH zone.

Wakeboarding accelerated this trend, and Wakesurfing hit the turbo on closures happening.

I know surfing is easy, and fun, and so is wakeboarding. I also know boat manufactures like these sports, because it enables them to constantly create a market for larger and bigger boats, with more accessories, and more profit margin.

But I see a time coming when you cannot even launch your G-xx and in the process, have all other towed watersports banned from many more bodies of water

Amen Brother!!

Unfortunately when people are out there with this kind of attitude (quote from this site):

"My name is ____ and I am unapoligetically a curteous ____ owner that adds weight, surfs huge waves and has a tube on board"

All of watersports may ultimately suffer

[scottb7]

Property owner or not, I think we all are guests on the lake. I don't feel being a lakefront property owner gives me any special rights. As discussed in a different thread it just gives me some right to put dock and lift in without a permit, and trampoline with a permit.

I just try to stay as far away from everyone as possible. This includes everyone else on the lake and shorelines. Sometimes this is pretty tough. Even when tough I am still more then 150 feet away, I am sure. That being said, no matter how many times I tell my wife she tends to get somewhat closer to me. Then when I go by I give the sorry woman driver look. So far I have had no flip offs or tough conversations.

[AirTool]

I don't think its necessarily fishermen or golfers. Its just a fact that some people are respectful and some people are jackasses.

I've had problems even with some jackasses and idiots on my own private ski lake. Some people just think they are the center of the universe.

[5bison]

I don't think its necessarily fishermen or golfers. Its just a fact that some people are respectful and some people are jackasses.

I've had problems even with some jackasses and idiots on my own private ski lake. Some people just think they are the center of the universe.

Ding Ding Ding!!!
This past weekend I had a Supra full of wakeborders sit at the public access and watch us wakeboard up and down the same path for at least an hour… Then as I was pulling my nine year old son on his seconded run, they proceeded to pull out of the access and onto the lake and drive right towards me and completely BLOW UP his run!!! I just don’t get it!