Bass Boat discrimination

[grab the net]

Last Saturday, on the opener and again today, I was asked by two boats and two different people fishing from docks if I knew the Bass season was closed. I politely replied I was well aware of this. I could understand the remark if I had an obvious bass fishing instrument in my hands, but in all instances, I had my ultra light with a float and jig in use, picking off crappies in the pencil reeds. One of the dock fisherman mentioned to his wife, "Those (Contact Us Please) bass tournaments will start pretty soon to". Not sure how to intrepret this but I think it had something to do with just the fact I was fishing in a bass boat. Unfair to say the least. I made sure not run over 4,000 rpm when moving about, never even threw a spinnerbait or anything else that may have given the impression that I was fishijng for bass and very gingerly loaded the boat when I left the lake. Next weekend, I cannot wait. Did get a nice limit of crappies each day though

[EYEDEAS]

I have been scolded at too for fishing in bass boat before bass opener though I was clearly walleye fishing. I mean who's fishing for bass with leech lindy rig. Had a boat come right by me and tell me the season is not for a few more weeks. I just laughed at him and said I was going for eyes. Since when is it illegal to fish from bass boat outside of season.

[ikeslayer]

i guess i would assume a guy that is willing to spend 20,000-60,000 on a boat proabably knows when the season is. I would ask that you guys however don't get bitter but keep on smiling to those ignorant.

ike

[Central Bassman]

LOL some people are just stupid. I have had this happen to me befor also, its kinda the same deal with fishing peoples docks durning bass season, they dont own the water so just keep on smiling and catching fish.

[pfluemis]

I think it is generally perceived that there are two types of fishing people....bass fishing people...and everyone else. I don't think most people look at bass fishing people as multifishlingual. On the other hand, most people who buy Bass boats, generally only fish bass.

It's all in the image. Much like the image that comes to peoples minds when you say "Bass fisherman". The image that comes to mind is a circus clown dressed person with a loud "look at me" sparkle boat with an over sized motor. The media and manufacturers have built up this image, and people who buy into the image are grouped into the same catagory. People who see people in bass boats are not in the wrong, or are ignorant to think a person in a bass boat is a bass only fisherperson.

[Muskycrazy]

I agree in part with pfluemis . If I see a guy in a Tuffy Magnum - I tend to think he is a Musky fisherman , If I see a guy in a Gary Roach edition Lund - I tend to think he is after Walleye . And if I see a guy in a Bass tracker ... well I think he is after Bass . People will make assumptions like that for obvious reasons but its how they react when they learn the truth is what should be of concern .

[Juan Grande]

I was out on a lake in Zimmerman last weekend and these two guys were in a bass boat with Fuji Film sponsor stuff all over it. They were casting the shoreline with spinnerbaits.

I'd like to give them the benefit of the doubt and say they were fishing for northerns, but I doubt it. You'd think someone who obviously bass fishes a lot would know better.

[Central Bassman]

yea thats pushing the limit. I'm sure i can name the guy who it was but im not going to. He should know better!!

[st.crioxfishin]

Central.. I think I may know who your thinking also.. ruh roh!

[fishkid]

i know that boat just cause my granparents live on that lake theres alot of bass and northerns in it.

[Daze Off]

I'll take this post in another direction slightly. I am a bass fisherman - almost exclusively. But, my boat is a Lund Explorer which I have set-up as close as is possible for bass fishing - pedestal up front, etc.

I can't tell you how many times guys in "real" bass boats have been discourteous to me because they think I am a pan-fisherman or something. I fish enough as a non-boater out of a bass boat to know that they would never dream of pulling c*** like that if it was another bass boat they encountered. Stuff like dumping down off plane in front of you and starting to fish, moving in too close, casting over you, etc.

I have very nearly had a couple of fist-fights because of it - I always start gentle and calm and most respond in kind but there are always a couple each season.....where is that 1 oz spoon again????

We should not judge fishermen by their boat style.....

Daze Off

[Juan Grande]

Sorry, I guess I should't have mentioned that specific boat. It's possible they were fishing for northerns.

I guess I was just jealous because I would have much rather thrown spinnerbaits than sit in 20' of water with a jig and a shiner.

There's a fine line there because a lot of the tactics you use for bass work on notherns too. I couldn't, in good conscious, fish that way and say I was targeting northerns though. That's just me...

I also fish bass (primarily) out of a Lund Explorer. Can't say that I've had any bad experiences with bass boats though.

[EBass]

I had two bass boats pizz me off this year cutting me off because - well I guess they are better than me or whatever. Complete F'ing (Contact Us Please)'s in there sweet bass boats. I swear it was just like Mille Lacs.

So I leave and go to this other spot and D'oh someone's there. So I go to anther spot. How fricken hard is that?

I'm wondering where (what happened to) the respect for fellow fishermen has gone? I'm serious!

One guy was old with white hair w/grandson (nice impression on grand to keep the a-hole tradition alive) and the other were some dudes in their 20's. So it can't be an age thing. I think it was an income thing sadly to say since I have a lil jon boat they must think I can't fish since I'm poor or something.

[RossT]

I will be out fishing tomorrow... in a bass boat... throwing SPINNERBAITS. Why you might ask, because that's one of the best baits I know of to catch Northerns. Might I catch a bass or two on accident, yup, it's possible. But does that mean what I'm doing is unethical, not in my eyes. It's different if someone is throwing a power worm or tube bait, but a Husky Jerk, Rattle Trap, big Spinnerbait, seems much more reasonable to me.

I think people need to be objective, and look at both sides of the coin before they say this person in the Fuji boat "Should have known better" just for throwing spinnerbaits.

Even Flukes or soft jerkbaits catch walleyes and northerns... just take a look at an In-Fisherman mag, they always mention soft-minnow baits for toothy critters. Heck, now that I think of it, I might throw one of those tomorrow.

[Juan Grande]

Yeah, I acknowledged that they might have been fishing for northerns. I'm just saying that, on this particular lake, I'd catch bass at a 5:1 rate over northerns throwing spinnerbaits, buzzbaits or whatever.

I could tell myself and others I was fishing for northerns even though I know that I'l catch mostly bass. Especially if I'm throwing baits up into 3-4' of water where bass are likely spawning. Personally, I just would't feel right about it.

[Deitz Dittrich]

i think there are just jerks in the world.. some own bass boats, some own walleye boats.. some dont own boats at all... I have a bass boat, and do my best not to cut people off ect... And I too get cut off a lot. I dont htin kit has anything to do with the boat you are in.. just the jerk behind the wheel.

[JP Z]

Heck, this who thing can be taken anyway.....I drive a 1650 Lund Rebel.........The guys in the "big" walleye boats could just consider me a newbie angler since I'm not in the 2010.....But no, generally I'm a bass man or the crappie guy.....It is all the about the angler....not the boat.

[river rat316]

I target Slimers all the time with spinnerbaits, not rattle traps though, them slimy snot rockets aren't getting one of my traps (and no I refuse to use a leader) Juane I am pretty sure I know of the lake your talking about and theres some big pike in there, theres also some big bass in there. I had a follow last year and she had to be close to 40" just about pee'd myself .

It is funny how we all get grouped intogether on this though, just cause your in a bass boat doesn't mean squat, Ive had my boat out on sloppy joes on Mille lacs, I sure wasn't targeting smallies out there

[Cabela10]

To fix this problem/issue, the DNR should bump the Bass Opener to the same weekend as Wisconsin and walleye opener here. Otherwise don't open the Northern season until the Bass season opens since the baits that are used, are the same.

[snowman678]

Bobby, you just said it perfectly; that was the exact conversation I was having with a buddy this weekend as we were fishing.

[LipRipper49]

I'm curious - has anyone ever got written up for "targeting bass" after the walleye/northern opener? Or even heard of anyone getting written up for this? I guess I never have - I think it would be hard to make a case against any bass tactic as they all are legitimate ways to catch northern pike as well. With the exception of casting to a bedded bass, that's the only concrete one I can think of. If anyone has any experience with this I'd like to hear about it.

[bronzeback01]

I don't think it matters when or where you're fishing for bass. People just don't like bass fisherman, likeley because of the small percentage of royal (Contact Us Please) out there. We all know who they are because not only are they rude to others but to fellow bassers as well. Nothing like two boats fishing opposite banks in a cove and having the other guy cut directly in front of you so he can fish the culvert that you were clearly going to make it to first( NO particular tournament on Winneconne being mentioned) LOL!!!

Just two weekends ago in fact I was pounding a school of smallies around some floating docks, not even skipping them or really fishing near anyones pleasure boats just fishing the water in between a set of docks and the rip rap. I had caught 3 or 4 nice fish when one of the boat owners suggestively said " They must be bitting so well because they know season isn't open yet". I wanted to smack the guy but I kindly replied, "No, season is open year round on the river". The guy gave me a funny look and just waddled away!!

Oh, well.

[MattWtech]

sorry i dont think they should bump the opener at all, i think the less burdened the spawning, the better.. because there are people out there ,whether we like it or not, who do keep bass. and thats when there most vunerable and seceptable to the slightest things. i mean their busy enough keeping sunnies off there eggs. i think it would be okay if we were southern more where the spawning period is longer, but up here we gotta be careful on controling it.

just my 2 cents, goodluck this weekend everyone.

[Cabela10]

Quote:

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sorry i dont think they should bump the opener at all, i think the less burdened the spawning, the better.. because there are people out there ,whether we like it or not, who do keep bass. and thats when there most vunerable and seceptable to the slightest things. i mean their busy enough keeping sunnies off there eggs. i think it would be okay if we were southern more where the spawning period is longer, but up here we gotta be careful on controling it.

just my 2 cents, goodluck this weekend everyone.

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Yeah, if that's the case, then the DNR should do the other option and just drop the Northern Pike opener to the same weekend as the bass opener, usually 2 weeks behind the walleye opener. It's that simple, problem fixed.

[primetime49]

If I fish from a kayak do I get targeted,usually just driven way to close to because people are so lacadaisical they just get nosy.