Looking for your opinion on etiquette

[Hoffer]

So, I know I am setting myself up for some potential bashing but I just have to ask

So, this afternoon I decide to head out to do some tipup fishing.

I went to a spot on Tonka that was pretty isolated. I was in my dodge caravan and drove out from the ramp on a little trail that was just a 2 tire track path. The snow wasnt really too deep but I tried going off the main path a little and my tires were spinning and I just felt it safer to stay on the path that was there and then set up my flags a ways off the path. So, anyway a few people had drove by the path and when they got to me they just drove around and kept going. A while later I was tending one of my flags and a big Ford 4x4 truck came up the path and stopped in front of my vehicle. he rolled his window down and was yelling at me that I was parked on the "road". I said very nicely "can you get around? others have driven around with no problem". His answer was " so we all have to go around for you!!". I said again very nicely "well, I have a small van and you have a big truck with 4 wheel drive and like 2 feet of clearance". He then said a few other choice works and proceeded to go go around me in a very simple and easy manuever. Mind you, there were at least 3 or 4 other paths going out in this direction from the access - but i guess I was on the "main path". It wasnt plowed or anything...just a path that looked like it had been traveled on a few more times than the other paths.

So, was I out of line for parking on this path or was this guy having a "moment"??

[Gator Slayer]

Granted, parking on a path is "not cool" especially when its dificult to go around, BUT.. I would have asked if he made the path, if not then why is he more entitled to it than you?

[hoggs222]

If you were on the path, not blocking anyone too bad, you have just as much right to park there as they do to drive on it.

Now if you were drilling holes, different story. People need to lighten up.

[Hoffer]

Nope...I measure out just under 200 feet and drilled my holes that far off the path. I guess the part that bothers me the most is that everyone else could easily go around..and most people just waved nicely and drove around.

Giving the benefit of the doubt - if someone was parked there and i wanted to drive my van further out on the road - i would also have had to go around...and maybe with my van it would have been tougher. But when you are going on the path and have momentum - you can go around easy. I just stayed on path cause i didnt want to chance it I guess. If it was me in my van and someone else was parked in the road and I felt I couldnt get around..I would ask nicely if they could pull off a bit if possible. The biggest issue was that he had a big ford 4x4 and when he wanted to drive around - he drove around like he was pulling out of a driveway in the middle of the Summer.

[toomanyjigs]

probably would have got the auger and put a hole with my stx pro threw the guys radiator and said you were fishin and not to interrupt you again lol that guy was just being an ace

[Jameson]

My opinion...if you have to ask, you were probably in the wrong.

If you are unable to not drive off of the path, than don't go out. Either park on shore and walk out or, what I would do is grab a shovel and make yourself a little parking space next to the path. It wouldn't take but a couple of minutes.

Now the big truck didn't need to lay into you. But what he did, did make you think about your action (or laziness ).

[toomanyjigs]

just because he didnt want to shovel who acres the lake is a lake and its all of ours "tracks" are not "roads" and unless there was a road toll then that guy should have pounded sand im with Hoffer

[wbliceman]

I think that he should have just went around I know i have friends that drive cars out and when they come off those "roads" even with momentum they get stuck. I also know me and my friends have helped a lot of people get un stuck so i guess he must have been having a bad day or something. You have to respect the cars that don't have 4 wheel drive.

[Draven422]

Well, IMO, you were asking about etiquette. Was it proper etiquette? I'd have to see the "paths", but in my first impression, no it wasn't. Was it against the law? Not at all.

I guess I am more of a "worry about the other guys feelings" kind of guy and go a little out of the way to avoid a confrontation. I've found to come out of situations with more friends than enemies. But, that's just me.

[Hoffer]

jameson-

I actually agree with your advice - and even though I dont think I really did anything wrong...I could avoid any future issues. I am going to go out again in the next few days and will have a shovel along with me. Like I said the snow wasnt too deep and I can easily shovel out a spot. The weird thing is my van should really be able to handle the snow that deep. When my tires start to spin out - my engine wont let me get any high RPMs going to get through and grab onto the harder packed snow. I am wondering if it is some kind of "safety system" when the tires spin that doesnt allow me to rev the engine. If I could have done that - i could have easily driven off path a bit.

[LOTWSvirgin]

Its called traction control my car has it and it SUCKS but I got a button I can push to shut it off. Yah you should of got off the path but you did what you had to do and I would of done the same if I had to its not like you were blocking the main path its a public lake

[SpitnArgueDuckClub*]

This has got me wondering if the guy in a Big Ford Truck will expect me to move when he is in his Big Red Lund this summer and is taking the same path when I am anchored on the "road"?

[jimmyjames76]

You were fine. Public access points with no plowed roads usually have several "roads" that stray off in every direction from the access. Go out to any popular lakes in the twin cities and it's hard to find a fishable spot that a few people haven't driven on. If the guy had any difficulty getting around you that would be different, but it sounds like this guy likes to complain and bully other fisherman for little or no reason. His etiquette is what should be called into question, not yours.

[Hoffer]

Calvin-

that is so weird!

I was thinking of the same analogy.

I was thinking in the Summer I do alot of slip bobber fishing off

of certain structure. If I was to get to my favorite structure first and then anchored - would I be wrong if I was "in the way" if someone else wanted to troll by?

Anyway..i dont want to beat a dead horse..I guess the whole thing ticked me off. The biggest thing was making a stink out of it when he had a 4x4 with high clearance that made it easy to simply go around.

Regarding the traction control...I wonder if I have a button to shut that off too? I havent even checked that...it DOES suck!

[JimBuck]

Hoffer, Just chalk it up as a lesson learned. Not a bad idea to bring a shovel out to shovel a spot for your car and in case you get stuck. Some people just love to complain about anything.

It's a public access and it's not like the road is plowed or maintained. No big deal. Some people just love to complain about anything.

[castmaster]

Any vehicle with traction control should have a button to turn it off. They are usually marked "TC" or "T/C". I have seen them on the dash(both by the heater controls and by the steering wheel/instrument cluster) and by the shifter in a console shift car.

[herefish101]

nobody ownes the lake, it's your to park where you want. First come first serv. Even if it's a plowed road, nobody ownes it. People need to back off on this, "I plowed it it's mine, i drove here first it's mine" Share and share alike. It's all public property.

[gunmunky]

PUBLIC lake. Enough said. Park where ever you like.

[RumRiverRat]

Park where ever you want it is ice on a PUBLIC lake.

[DTro]

Well, I guess if it was me, I would have made any effort I could have to get off a clearly driven route. A lot of years there will be main routes that people will follow. Especially when the snow gets deeper like it is now.

The guy had no reason to tear into you, he could have politely suggested that you move off the beaten path as maybe someone without 4 wheel drive might want to go pass by.

Just remember, it was someone in one of those “big trucks” that initially broke that path for you.

[Surface Tension]

Sounds like you were parked on the main track.

The track is like a plowed road, with out it you weren't going anywhere.

What if you were following that track and a guy was parked on it and you couldn't get around? Tell me what would be going through your mind. While the guy in the truck might not have handled the situation in a nice way, you shouldn't have been parked there.

[hcmpls1]

I'm not busting your seeds but heres my two cents... Follow the golden rule. Do to others what you would want done to you... Would you like it if a minivan was parked in your way? The guy in the truck was wrong for overreacting but what if that guy was in a minivan and couldnt get around you. They'd be stuck behind you. They came out to have a good time and catch some fish just like you. No one owns the lake but it is common courtesy to not park on a well traveled path. Plowed or not.

[jentz]

I'd NEVER block a trail,road or any access of any type.Just thinking maybe someone will want to go on it further than myself!

I had some of my favorite forest trails blocked by unknowing people,Thay didnt know that trail was a 4 mile loop out to a gravel upkept road. They just pull in a couple blocks and park right on the trail!!THEN I WOULD HAVE TO BACK OUT! Irritating at the least.At least make a effort to leave the trail/road clear so someone can get around your vechile.

I was taught this at a young age by my father.

[Northlander]

I agree dont park on trails, roads etc. if it means blocking others from using it. Thats just good etiquette.

The guy shouldnt have shot his mouth off the way he did but he has a valid point.

You cant compare a frozen snow filled lake to a soft water lake.

[Iron Cowboy]

Yea, another vote for not blocking the path here. Common courtesy. personally if all I had was a two wheel drive vehicle I would walk out or stay home...your actually lucky all he did was bark at you, I have seen it before where a guy did this and the truck that had to go around went on the side of the tip-ups and ran them over. Not saying its right but it happens more than you'd think on the busy lakes/roads and most guys know better than to set up like that...If nothing else consider it a lesson learned and make sure to tell all your friend's so they know too