Fisherman are all over my lake. Last night we went out and there was someone riding in the back part of the lake so we jsut went to another basin. As we pull in to the basin there are about 15 fishing boats. All of them on the left hand side. Which is good, gives us glass along the shore line. we make about 3 passes before my rider falls as we are picking him up, the fishermen quickly move two boats right in our line. So now if we want to use the basin we have to drive right in the middel of these boats. D--KS, <BR>Well my buddy ended his ride and I decide we needed to take a stand. My first run we went right past the two boats that moved and sent them some rollers, they gave us the finger and on the next pass they got a boat full of water!!!! <BR> <BR>I called in a favor from my local wave runners! They were so busy watching and yelling at us that they didn't see the jet skis coming and when they did it was to late! So the gap between the fisherman and wakeboarders wasn't help much, but the gap between the Jets skis and wakeboards closed a little! <BR>Anyone eles get trouble from there local fisherman

the fishermen on our lake really like to use the opportunity when its too hot to fish, to pull their dumb little kids around on tubes. <BR> <BR>I don't care for that. That's when we introdude thier kids to loud and vulgar music from 100 feet away. I assume they don't like Eazy-E

Yea, up here its more fishermen than anything else, I just respect them and what they do and give them all the room they need. The type of fishermen I ride arround are doing it for a living, its not an easy thing to do and I wouldn't want to make it more difficult for them. Plus most of them are pretty down to earth. We give them room and they usually cheer us on. Just show some respect. If you're having a hard time sharing the water just approach them and talk to them about it and work something out. That or ride somewhere else. Good luck with it.

I'm just nice to them. Whenever I fall near them, I ask them how the fishing is, etc.. I have also given them props when they pull in a nice fish while we're going by and they appreciate it.

Bess <BR>I agree with you! For the most part we stay out of there way. We were yesturday, but then they moved thre boats right in our line! Just so we had to move! they need to share the lake as much as we do, right?

Used to be an ongoing fued at my lake. Then the state wanted to close the lake last year. Everyone came together with petitions and emailing and flyering. We all realized we love the same thing, being on the water. Since then things have been alot easier out here. <BR> <BR>Becareful what you do when dealing with fishermen because they are usuallly the type that will attend city council meetings and make there voice heard. When you do that you sway rules and regulations to benefit your needs. Most boarders won't be at theose meetings and before you know it you will be regulated out of having fun.

Golden Rule anyone??? <BR>Yes, they took the passive aggressive role by moving their boats in your line and that was wrong. But was swamping their boats really necessary? That could have caused injury or damage to their boats, equipment. <BR>I like Bess's idea of talking to them and working something out. What did you accomplish other than getting one up on them? You still didn't get your good area to ride in. I'm sure they will be there next time and still won't work with you. So it was a loose-loose situtation. Isn't a win-win better for everyone?

Was anyone at don pedro last weekend on saturday and being near the marina at fleming medows? It was fricking crazy like 50 fishing boat just idling around in front of the docks, making it near impossible for me to put the BU on the trailer, i already have a hard time w/o traffic. <BR> <BR>For the fishers vs the wakeboarders, its a public lake, I will try and be polite, but boats do have wakes, and the fishers, you throw wakes too, you also need to be polite going 40+ at 5 in the morrning is not pleasent to me, but hey im camping at a lake, thats what i get. so both parties be nice, golden rule, use it.

Exactly. It's not our water, and we should respect others that want to use it (except for jet-skiers, of course....they're dangerous and should all go to hell). <BR> <BR>And we wonder why wakeboarding and "bladder boats" get a bad reputation... <BR> <BR>Golden rule, people...golden rule.

Hyperlitenerd - yes, I've run into that same problem. DP has bass tournaments all the time. The good thing is they have end times and the fishermen have to have their fish up for counting at a certain time. When you come into the lake, ask the Park Ranger people at the front gate if there are any tournaments the weekend you are there and the start/end times. Then avoid those times at the dock.

Ok, I agree talking can help some things, but have any of you ever tried to talk to a half-drunk fisherman setting up lines and casting. They feel they have the right of way regardless. It is hard sometimes to be cooperative with attitudes. I pride myself in always trying to obey typical boating norms and manners, but there are a good number of fisherman who feel they own the place.

Yes after you have taken the high road and tried to talk it out and work out a win-win situation and they are a bunch of rude @#$@!, then you call in your friends on the PWC and start doing donuts in area they are in. Then after you do that, get on your megaphone and say... "Now, wouldn't it have been better to work with us than against us". Ha, joking... well sort of. Just don't go to the point where people's boat or property can be injured/damaged. Then you can be held liable and have a big nightmare on your hands.

Having my friends swamp the fisherman probley wasnt the best idea, i would have to agree. the other fisherman didn't seem to mind us and we left them alone and they left us alone. A couple of the boats actually stoppped and talked with us for a few mins. I guess the two boats that moved in our way had been pissing off the other fisherman too. So they thought it was pretty funny! So all in all we made some friends and might have made some enimies.

Ah, and everyone lives happily ever after. <img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/happy.gif" border=0> <BR> <BR>Nah, really Zach I'm glad the day got better after that event and glad to hear your not supporting the swamping of the fisherman on lakes. <BR> <BR>

at my local lake there is a ski/wakeboard club that is in one of the coves. one time a fisherman came in, from what i hear they are allowed to along as they are going slow. Lets just say that it wasnt a good dicision by him. Why would they be dumb anough to do that when they know that people are boarding?

Has anyone heard of getting a ticket or have any issues because their wake was responsible for an occurrence (i.e. canoe tipping, swamping a boat, etc)? <BR> <BR>

Hyperlitenerd: Yes, we were there on Saturday!! How weird! If you saw a white Supra Launch with Silver tower towing a Black and silver Centurion, that was us doing the towing!!! We saw all the fisherman.... there were tons of them:-) They didn't slow down one bit as we were heading towards the 5. Isn't it a law to slow down to 5 mph when in tow? Anyway, we just dumped the Centurion off and headed back to Moccasin Marina where we were staying. Usually that ramp is less crowded and the marina is so much nicer than Flemming IMO. <BR> <BR>

"(except for jet-skiers, of course....they're dangerous and should all go to hell). " <BR> <BR>Is that really necessary?

I live on a bay and there is plenty of room for everyone. I've never had a problem with fishermen in my way.

Naw we didnt see you Stefani, we had the all white 04 wakesetter lsv, with the pollished titan tower. umm i think we saw a supra wake surfing other than that i saw a couple of malibus around the dock. How is the water over at moccasion boat? like is it really shallow? last year we lost 3 props on our 87 fourwinns, so we are being very carefull this year.

Christopher, <BR> <BR>Quoting myself: "(except for jet-skiers, of course....they're dangerous and should all go to hell). " <BR> <BR>Yes, I think it is necessary, for 95% of the jet-skiers out there. If you had a few of the experiences I've had with them, maybe you'd hate them too. Just this past Sunday, one was cruising parrallel to us, and didn't look before making a turn and came right into our path. And later on, the same kid was doing donuts 30 feet from our boat, not thinking about what might happen if he falls off, or were to take his thumb off the throttle as he's facing our boat (Jet-skis have to be moving forward for the steering to work, obviously). <BR> <BR>He got an earful from me... <BR> <BR>I just wish there was some legal requirement for people to take a safety and operational course before being allowed to drive one of those things. <BR> <BR>Plus, I'm sick of them messing up my water, when they can spin circles anywhere on the lake.

We have constant trouble with the fisherman on our lake. They will take turns anchoring right in front of the dock. <BR> <BR>One told me he was going to sue me, I replied that I hadn't done anything wrong and he said he would sue me anyway. What's that about. <BR> <BR>They are just mad because we are there. Some of these guys will fish between the docks while there are kids swimming there and you have no right to tell them to bug off. One even throw his lure toward the dog which thought it was a neat looking toy and went after it. The guy just laughed, meanwhile if the dog has caught it, it would have ripped him mouth up. <BR> <BR>I don't mind them fishing, but does it have to be at my dock? I'm trying so hard this year to have more patience but I shouldn't have to tell the kids to get out of the water because they might end up with a hook in them. What do you do?

hyperlitenerd: We have never had a problem with shallow water over at Moccassin. We are pretty careful about staying away from the shore anyway and we know DP like the back of our hand so we know where the highest points are and so forth. However, chit happens, and sometimes you can't get away from hitting things. We love Moccassin Point... Less crowded, calmer waters most of the time... less shore camping though if you are into that. When we shore camp we launch out of Flemming, otherwise we go to Moccassin. Also, the campgrounds are shaded and beautiful. <BR> <BR>We were surfing quite a bit during the day so maybe that was us. <BR>

Personally, I like the gap between riders and fisherpersons. The wider the better.

Swass great line ,i agree! <img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/rofl.gif" border=0>

Andrea, <BR>I had the same problem with fisherman sitting in front of my dock. I took care it pretty easily - as soon as they showed up I sat with a pair of binoculars on my deck. I was out in the open watching them very closely - it really freaked them out. I don't know if they were doing anything wrong - but soon enough they moved on and never came back. I suppose they thought I was going to report them for something. Might work for you... <BR>-Keith

Andrea - hook up a stereo at your dock, as soon as the fisherman move in, start blasting any kind of demonic thrasher music as loud as you can. <BR> <BR>This method proved extremley effective for us.

I hate, the fisherman that snag my boat covers with the hooks! <BR>First they try to rip it out, if that doesn't work, then the pull up and pull out the hook. IF I am home they jsut cut there lines sometimes! I like that idea of blasting my music. I have JBL 15" tower speakers with two 6.5 speakers and a 2" tweeter. Take that FISHERMAN!

Keith, It does tend to freak people out if they think they're being watched. I'll have to try that. Better yet I'll put the video camera on em. <BR> <BR>rammer, I don't have any kind of great stereo system. It would also defeat my kill 'em with kindness approach I'm trying this year. I've tried the not so kind approach, it's not so helpful.

The fisherman at our lake moved a tournament to another weekend so someone could throw a lame wakeboard event. ( Not that wakeboarding is lame, just the event was underpromoted) So they are for the most part pretty good. What I have a hard time with is the punk kid in daddys Mastercraft that feels like it's ok to "tailgate" me while I'm riding. What happened to falling into the rotation? Most people are pretty good, and there was another boat of "oldtimers" like myself (I'm 32 BTW) who will sit and watch until a space opens. Courtesy goes a long way, but my patience is wearing way thin...and it isn't even June yet! <BR> <BR>ERic

There is just no dealing with the fishers. The ones that are pissed off are gonna be pissed off weather your a mile away or 50 feet away. If they want to park in your path then stay the leagal limited distance away and let them deal with the rollers. If they act like a poophole then treat them like a poophole. (poop wasn't my first choice of words) <BR> <BR>I found that they get really angry if you politely wave to them right after they flip you off. Pretty fun to push the buttons.

I once seen a pic on Wakeworld of a Black X-Star with two people fishing of the back deck. <BR> <BR>Does anyone know where that pic can be found? <BR> <BR>If so, Can you repost it?

This weekend, you can find me and my boat drifting near the banks of Lake Pateros...with wakeboards in the board racks, a PBR in my right hand, and a fishing pole in my left. Feel free to bring some worms and join me. I'll have an extra rod for you...it will be strapped to my tower. <BR> <BR>We can yell at the jet-skiers when our fishing line get tangled in their impellers, and wave to the fishermen as their electric motors scoot them on by.

thats funny seeing people on ski or wakeboard boats fishing, my dad wont even let my like bro bring his fishign pole on our boat, he dont want a hook in the interior of his expensive boat.

I see it this way. There are places you fish and there are places you board. Occasionally the two intermix, but for the most part, let's keep the two activities separate. <BR> <BR>I love to fish, but in the appropriate place (i.e. in Alaska, in the Pacific Ocean, in the San Juan Islands and the smaller mountain lakes where my wakeboarding boat is too big to go). <BR> <BR>Fisherman probably would disagree completely. But why would they want to deal with my wake or for that fact a recreational boat's wake if they are fishing? I certainly don't like to deal with that while I am fishing, even if it is good fishing. <BR> <BR>I totally agree about the jet-skiers though. They are very dangerous. Really it is the Seadoos. The jet-skier (that stand up) are actually quite skilled and don't bother messing around with boat wakes. The bigger the sport (Seadoos) get the worse they behave and this year seems to be worse than last year already.

There should be a law against tubes. There should be a law agains a huge G turn when you bro falls and there's not another boat within a mile. And fisherman-woman should go to the hundreds of lakes that were not allowed to wakeboard on and go fish there. When I see Fishpersons , I keep safe distance , add more weight, and turn up the 3000Watts I got on my boat.

F@#* fishermen, and the same to wave runners. If you want to fish then go to a 5mph lake or pond where it is surely glass all day, or go yank on your rods in the shallow brush where the fish live. I'm with Zach, if they get in the way on purpose, then soak em. If they give you the finger or try to yell, pull up next to them and ask if they would like to go to shore and handle the problem there. So far no takers, I have a feeling that it would only take one to set an example. Possibly creating a war between the old drunk fishergrandpes and the young wakeboards....gee who would win? That brins me to my final question that I can't answer. If you had to choose what is the worst 1) fisherman 2) wave runners 3) 1974 tri-hulls pulling tubes which just have to pull infront of you and then change speeds. Til then F@#* em all and go big or go home.

Matt, <BR>I honestly hope that you are being facetious with your comments. If that is seriously how you handle yourself, I am embarrassed for you.

No doubt, whatever happened to kill 'em with kindness.. <BR> <BR>lot of angry people out there with blinders on shouting "my way or the highway!!!" Not how wakeboarding should be represented.

Why are you embarrassed Keith? Are you shy? I think you are missing the point, that being the issue of other boats/waverunners cutting in front of boats towing wakeboarders. First off it is extremely rude and second it is very dangerous for everyone involved. you may not know this but hey guess what...boats don't have brakes. I have personally had many experiences where fisherman, tubers and especially wave runners have cut right in front of me. And yes I was just going in a straight line at 23mph.. Do you suppose that if I were to crash into one of these idiots that they would be KIND ENOUGH to pay for my boat and the people that they hurt? I suppose that you also like it when your driving your car and someone cuts you off. Do you pull up to them at the next stop light and thank them for nearly causing an accident and offer to buy them supper? Because hey, that would be the kind thing to do. My point is this, just respect other peoples space and property. From my years at the lake wakeboarders and slolom skiers are the only people who usually do this. just my .02

Matt - I agree that not everybody is safe on the lake. And lord knows not near as safe as you with all of your years, but I hate to tell you this I have wakeboards, kneeboards, skis, and TUBES. I have children that enjoy the water and I know and use the laws and common sense safety no matter what device we are using. I think we all agree that the seadoo people are the least respected or safe but as for eveyone else, every sport has idiots out there. Let's just keep it simple and fun.