Here’s mine … haven’t been fishing since Sunday morning … found a spot of topwater of the west side of Bundrick … There were already a couple of boats working one side so we slid over to the other side of the school in an effort to box the school in and allow everyone the opportunity to enjoy the fishing …
Then a couple of “other” boats ran up into the middle from each side and the (expected result) school scattered all over only surfacing here and there until disappearing completely …
Since not much was happening after that we left …
Looked to be mostly smaller fish (at least from what we could see from the couple that were caught within view of our boat) and they were finicky eaters …
If the wind cooperates, we may try to get out there this afternoon/evening, but not really in the mood to get blown all over the lake …
If we go, I’ll pick up a dozen or so baits from JC’s (closer to my house) to drag around as well …
…Then a couple of “other” boats ran up into the middle from each side and the (expected result) school scattered all over only surfacing here and there until disappearing completely…
Its SO</font id=“size2”> aggravating when these “other boats” do that. Its like they see the fish breaking on top and they go into a panic mode, almost to the point of hyperventilating, then they run wide open up to the school (even if it means running over you) because they think that they will catch more. Then the whole school goes down and nobody catches any. And the “other boats” are over there wondering what happened.
Molon Labe!
Until you have loved a dog, part of your soul remains unawakened. - Anatole France (paraphrased)
RIP my “Puppy Dog” 10/15/2004 - 1/14/2013. Still can’t get him out of my mind. What a special friend he was.
I found a really nice group of fish schooling outside of beaver dam with no boats on it. I got up on them and caught three,next thing I know boats are coming from all directions,and after about 10 minutes there were 9 boats there and the fish never got a good chance to come up again. The 3 fish were all 21+ inch
I guess it’s still too early for the cracker and popcorn tricks…
I’m wondering if these guys are just that inexperienced. It happens a lot. It’s gotten so bad in past winters that I’m almost scared to throw back a small perch anymore. If it doesn’t go down immediately the gulls will start diving trying to pick it up, and then here come the school chasers. It’s pretty frustrating, getting bounced all around, having baits cast almost into my boat… and 95% of the time there’s nothing under me but white perch!
Put in last eve about 6 and went looking for schools with Chip and YakAngler. Never saw any real schooling, but stopped at 2 spots after seeing a single fish break water. They never really came up at either spot, but marked a bunch of fish at 35’/40’ at both.
Wound up with 3 shorts and 3 decent keepers. One on topwater and 5 on spoons.
I don’t know if it’s inexperience, or a lack of consideration of other and being completely self serving. It happened to me three times in one day down at HHI last month. Each time I was anchored and fishing and 3 seperate boats come within 30 feet throwing a wake, staring at me like I am in the wrong (or they wanted to see what I was catching). They also proceeded to run within 10 feet of the nearby docks, throwing the same wake!
Whats worse, is it has happened numerous times while I am in my kayak fishing.
Most people just don’t get it anymore and don’t want to.
Oh, but to add; while out this past Monday in the kayak (in the bad weather), I did have two boats come by, slow down to idle past me, and the picked up speed again.
So all is not lost yet.
No worries, Bowmaster … it was kinda my side point - you know, since I really didn’t have anything to report …
Spoonmaster, you guys are too nice up here … These guys obviously knew what they were doing and they didn’t care … I can tell you this, down south if a boat comes flying in on another boat(s) working a school of Redfish, then the offending boat is likely to get pelted with 4oz pyramid weights … and if they’re lucky that’s all they get pelted with …
Hopefully, they read these posts and realize that if the boats work together to corral the school then everyone can have a good time culling the school for quality fish while containing it … which is preferable to running into the middle of the school only to end up catching the little males and blowing the school up for everyone else … then again, maybe I’M the one with too much faith in my fellow angler …
I know they are TRYING to be courteous, but when someone half throttles by me with the bow up when I’m kayak fishing, and especially canoe fishing, that is MUCH worse than buzzing by on the transom pad.
Some people just don’t get it. Look behind you, Mr. Bassboater. See that 4’ roller? Yea, that’s you! Either idle speed or book on by, half speed ain’t cuttin’ it.
no different that being in the big boat downrodding when that happens … that’s just … well … there’s no other word for it other than ignorance … they “think” they are doing you a favor, but in reality they just killed all your herring by jerking them around in their “idle” wake … [sigh]
It’s a little different: no fear of swamping or losing all your gear in the big boat! But from a fishing standpoint- you’re right, they screwed you just the same!
It’s a little different: no fear of swamping or losing all your gear in the big boat! But from a fishing standpoint- you’re right, they screwed you just the same!
Yep, that’s what I meant … in a yak you gotta worry about dumping all of your gear into the lake … in a big boat you gotta worry about THROWING all your gear at the offending vessel …
Might sound strange but I have caught a lot of fish from the jigging action of a wake. I have never had a wake kill my herring. Maybe because my boat is deeper and heavier, not sure.
