Fish markers...OR...boat magnets

[GlassEyeangler]

ok...i'm a little frustrated here.

i'd like to know everyone's take on fishing around someone's fish marker?

i was out this weekend fishing a small lake. i only had a couple of hours before picking up family from the airport. i tried some of my favorite spots, and no fish. i headed to a rock pile i know of on the other side of the lake. when i got there, a small boat was fishing the same pile of rocks as well. i didn't pay much attention to them, just a friendly wave, with no response. i started out trolling with a snell as i usually do with no luck...then i looked over at the other boat, and noticed the man in front pulling in what appeared to be a nice fish. he netted a nice size walleye. i thought, hmm...this could be good. i also noticed they were jigging instead of trolling, so naturally - i tied on a jig, and worked the same area. not long after changing tackle, they started up the motor and pulled up to their fish marker. (i hadn't noticed before) i watched them pull in four more nice size walleyes within 15 minutes. hmm...they're right on top of them.

i made a comment that they were as fun to watch as the early morning fishing shows, and said good job. no response! so i kept fishing the area around their marker. after about 20 minutes or so, they said - hey...you going to put that marker in your boat? i replied, no - i wouldn't do that! the other two just shook their head and kept cathing fish. i left the area after that.

the spot they were fishing is the only rock pile in the lake. (that i know of...) i have noticed on previous Openers, every boat is centered on that same rock pile. i know what i was doing wasn't ethical, but certianly legal. and, as we all know...when it comes to walleyes, the first task is finding them. it's in the walleyes nature to school together. i don't make it a habit to fish around others markers, but when i see success and only have a couple of hours to fish - what the hell...right?

not sure about everyone else, but if i'm dumb enough to throw out a marker, and expect everyone else to stay away from the hot spot - then it's my fault!

i'd like ot hear everyone's feedback here.

fish marker OR boat magnet???

[cold one sd]

From what I have observed here in SD, if you throw a marker out it is because you like company. There seem to be a lot of Bushnell fish finders used around here. I once heard that there are some markers that look like gulls that work pretty well for fooling the Bushnell fish finder crowd.

[smg04]

thats a pretty good idea, making a marker look like a gull, or you could just use a duck decoy with a long rope, bring a cheap loaf of bread and everynow and then throw a few crumbs near it and everyone within eyesight will just think its a hungry duck hanging around your boat

[harvey lee]

Why not just mark the spot on your gps and work the area. I have seen markers and someone fishing them and I do not work that close as they have found the spot. I try very hard to treat others on the lake as I would want them to also treat me. It does work sometimes but not always.

[blue_healer_guy]

My personnal way of handling this is if it's structure they are fishing, I'll leave them alone and find similar nearby. If it's a flat etc., I'll fish it. In the case you described, I would have left them alone and got there earlier the next time.

[LBSPORTSMEN]

I find it comical to throw out a "Maginet" in a random spot fish it for a few min. Until a couple boats show up. Then head across the lake to the good spot. It is even better with the looks you get when you come back and wind through a bunch of boats to pick-up your marker.

[slipperybob]

Quote:

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I find it comical to throw out a "Maginet" in a random spot fish it for a few min. Until a couple boats show up. Then head across the lake to the good spot. It is even better with the looks you get when you come back and wind through a bunch of boats to pick-up your marker.

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That's just silly...I'd always thought they were decoy spots to lure people...I see something floating in the lake, I go and check it out. LOL's. Always turns out it's nothing, floating pop bottle, lost softball bobber, discarded marker, floating dead fish...LOL's

[Hammer Handle]

Why use a marker on a small lake? You are asking for company.

Line up objects on the shores and learn the spot. If a boat comes and you don't want company and are catching fish...pull up your line for a few minutes.

[Daze Off]

I painted my bouys black so they are not visible from any distance (sometimes even tough up close) but don't attract crowds.

Daze Off

[cold one sd]

I have been known to take a couple of orange or yellow balloons, blow them up a bit and tie them together and tie a 1/2 oz sinker on about a foot of mono and let it drift. It is amazing how far some people will follow the balloons while fishing around them. I have also had a family pull my marker and come over to my boat and give it to me because it was in their way. I had been there for an hour before they got there. I reset the marker and they did the same thing again. I finally had to explain to them that if they fished the marker in the same direction that I was fishing it, they would catch some fish also. After a week of fishing around each other we became friends. It took a lot of chilling to do this though.

[GlassEyeangler]

thanks for the feedback everyone!

i liked the comment about needing a fish marker on a small lake...he he - it was bright orange too!

it's interesting...maybe the guy marked the spot to intentially be an (Contact Us Please) to others - a little reverse psychology...hmm!

well, you wont see make using markers unless i'm out on LOTW. i don't have an issue using shorline landmarks, or a GPS...however, i don't have one of those either - i'm still using my good ole trusty green box, he he

[slick814]

Another way to avoid the boat magnet mentality is to do the film canister marker. They're small enough that someone won't see them from any distance, but you can see it just fine, unless you're working a really big piece of structure, in which case you might need 4 or 5 of them, but you get the idea.

If they can't see your marker buoy, a lot of people will stay away.

And I've done the old "drop a marker, wait for a couple other boats, then leave" deal too.. fun to watch them fish a "nothing" spot, especially if you can see where you left it at. Only thing is, once in a while you'll get someone who will pick up your marker... but that's the chance you take if you leave it out.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Hey Slick, please explain how you make those film canister markers. thx

[Scott K]

I would hate to have one of these small, markers that are put there wrapped in my prop and taking a seal out.

[Down Deep]

I'm a big fan of marking the area I want to fish, and have not really experienced too much of a problem with other boats. I should mention that I do most of my fishing on big northern lakes like LOW and Rainy. However, I experienced something this weekend that has got to take 1st prize in both the boat attracter and the inconsiderate (Contact Us Please) fishing hall of fame.

We were fishing a good bite in a pinch point in Red Gut Bay on Canadian Rainy Lake. The fish were in 26 to 28 feet of water along a 100 yd break line. If you tried less than 26 or more that 28 you were out of the zone and didn’t get a bite.

I marked the trail with two buoys and another boat threw in one more to complete the route. There were 5 other boats fishing this line and everyone was taking their turns and moving the same direction then running back for another pass. Everyone was catching fish and all was well.

About two hours into the parade five boats showed up at the same time. Each had 3 to 4 guys in it and they were all together. At first they drifted through the area along the shoreline well away from our parade. Then one by one each boat anchored, three were on the buoys and the other two were on either end of the 26 foot drift. Then they proceeded to throw out slip bobbers blocking the whole drift zone.

I didn’t have to tell them what I thought of them because the guys in two of the other boats took care of that. I thought I would see my first fight on the water. We decided to head out to another spot and bite was equally as good. But one has to admit that this takes the cake.

[slick814]

DD - Yup.. that's the whole cake... one of the reasons that I try to avoid throwing them anymore, especially during a weekend. If I have the chance to be on the water during the week, it doesn't seem to be as bad, but on a weekend, it's ridiculous.

4Wanderingeyes - I don't leave them on the water... they are to mark a piece of structure as I am fishing it, and are removed when I leave. I've never had an issue with anyone getting close enough to them to get them caught in the prop. I could see how if they would be left overnight or for a few hours where they could cause problems, though, which is why I don't leave markers unattended as a general rule. (Other than the occasional messin' with a few folks)

W-I-W-F -

They're easy enough to make...

Get a few 35mm film canisters. Glue some weight (I prefer hot glue, but super glue does well, too) - just enough to keep it floating - to the inside bottom or to one side, depending on how you want it to float - standing up or on it's side. Then wrap 40-50' (or enough to hit bottom and have some to spare for your fishing applications) of the line of your choice around it (I like 6 lb. Cabela's Proline), with a weight tied to the end of that line as well. I usually use a 1-2 oz. bell or river sinker. Make sure that you glue the top on so it stays sealed, and viola! instant markers.

Heck you can even paint them blaze orange, red, yellow, green, whatever suits your mood, and they're small enough that they look like bobbers floating, rather than markers. I have a tendency to be moving S-L-O-W-L-Y when they're out, so it would look like I'm sitting still or drifting along... adds to the illusion.

[Gordie]

last year on opener on winnie I saw a guy and his wife throw out a marker and it looked like a seagull and not very many guys went any where near it. I was impressed with how realistic it looked and worked now if I can just find one or two. HMMMM wonder if anyone would go buy a mallard or bluebill decoy I got 10 or 12 dozen of those. I like harvey lee idea better just use the GPS.

[Shack]

GPS is the way to go!

I gave up on coventing other peoples markers years ago.

I never got any fish around them. I figure most people will mark structure with them, not fish.

I still keep a couple in boat, but have not used them since getting GPS.

[eyepatrol]

My answer is yes! They are both fish markers and boat magnets.

[sparcebag]

You got it shackbash! I only mark structure,and use marker as a guide of where I am in relation to it! sometimes when others are around I'll mark 20yds South ,North etc.of what I want to fish.

[Gabbro88]

I had a dandy experience Memorial weekend.

Early Sunday morning I was fishing a small river inlet on a northern border lake from shore. I fished all alone for a couple of hours in the rain, slip bobber into current and letting it drift out about 30 yards before repeating. Caught my first fish, a 23" 'eye and before I could get it on the stringer and back in the water a boat flew into the channel to about 15 yards, well within my float range and kerplunk, kerplunk - two anchors down.

As they were dropping anchor I asked how close they intended to get, and on of the two guys yells, "Do you own the whole lake?" The conversation was not friendly.

I suggested they drop back and cast into where I caught my fish from the lakeside or join me on the bank. They moved over a few feet and proceeded to primarily cast OUT toward the lake. They effectively cut off 60% of my bobber drift path and coulda cared less.

After a couple more casts I realized another walleye wasn't worth putting myself through a block of time fishing angry so I bailed.

My personal rule of thumb is to give enough room to another fisherman so I dont interfere with his established fishing pattern. If they are anchored, my cast won't come near encroaching on the radius of his and my drift will be cycled opposite his - I start when he's 1/2 way through his. On shore, If I wouldn't want someone within X feet of me, I'll find another spot.

[mille lacs muskie bum]

yesterday on mille lacs one guy got his line stuck in one of my markers. we went to pick up the other one 100 yards away and it was gone. that did not make me happy. who has the balls to do that?

[cold one sd]

When I am trolling plugs on the Oahe Reservoir I put out a marker to mark trees that I hang a plug up in. It is really funny to watch people come in and backtroll right around the marker. Someetimes there are four people in the boat and they are all yanking and jerking because they are hung up in the tree. At least I get a good laugh out of people that would normally tee me off.

[eyewarrior]

Balls no dought about it with other boats close. What bugs me is guys who throw out mutiple markers hundreds of yards apart and then get [PoorWordUsage]ed if you fish to close to one of their markers. I always pick them up if no boats are within 1/2 mile. I have plenty of markers in my shed that people have lost? on the lake. Nothing worse to be trolling in the middle of nowhere with nobody around and you hook a marker or get one wrapped in your prop. Can you say navigational hazzard.

[sparcebag]

Eye if your out my way I could use a bright orange marker