WBL, High entertainment value last night

[JRedig]

So I had quite the run in with a pontooner and the law last night, thought you guys would appreciate this.

Myself and a friend were throwing for ski's on WBL last night. (total bust btw) Long about sundown we were off the southeast end of Manitou out in about 30 feet of water putting around throwing 'dawgs and the like. It's fairly windy/wavey too, not big water but steady wind.

Several boats out, pleasure and otherwise. A pontoon is running around to the south and going in circles and getting really close with decent speed to quite a few boats out there. After about 20 minutes, he seems to make a b-line for us. We're watching him loosely, but it becomes quickly apparent that he's coming DIRECTLY for us. He slows down about 20 yards away and motors up right within about 5 feet of our boat, right where I was casting.

I politely ask "is there anything we can help you with?"

Him: "No"

Me: "Well do you mind giving us some space, we were fishing right here/where you are. Thanks."

Him: "yes a F*#king mind, you got a F*****ng problem with that, huh do ya?!"

Me: "Yeah I do have a problem with that, what are you drunk?!"

Him: "Yeah i'm F$*($ing loaded, whatz it too ya?! you think your a big man? i'll kick your A$$ punk, get over here" <turns his pontoon and comes at us>

So at this point the rods were away and more words were exchanged. His speech was extremely slurred and he wasn't making hardly any sense. 3 times he pointed his boat at ours and floored it, turning at the last second.

We picked up and ran a distance away and had been talking about heading in for the night anyways. He followed/chased for about 15 minutes and then seemed to veer off towards another boat and get really close to them. At this point we joked about really screwing with the guy, but decided it was better to call the water patrol.

So we followed him at a distance for about an hour continuing to fish and wait for the officers to show up. We could continually hear him cursing and yelling at what seemed to be random. The Patrol showed up and talked to us, went over and confronted the guy. At first the exchange was really heated and it took them about 35 minutes to deal with the guy. Then they came back and talked to us.

At the end of it all, they ran a breathalizer on him and he was stone sober, not a drop of alcohol. They did mention that he was a little "off" and "not quite right". A very [PoorWordUsage] off gentleman. Apparently some muskie fisherman in a boat very similar to ours had harassed him earlier in the evening and he was still feuding.

I'm kinda glad the guy wasn't drinking, but he was definitely mad and belligerent. I'd like to thank the other guys who messed with him earlier, really appreciated the fallout.

The water patrol responded quickly and was very cordial. It's nice to know they'll take care of things when they seem serious. They were glad to get the guy off the lake, they escorted him back to his dock, hopefully avoiding any further confrontations for the night.

Keep it safe and fun guys-

Jeff

[HugoBox]

Sort of like in the email I sent you, I'm glad the guy didn't shoot anyone. Stuff like that can take the fun out of things real quick. I don't hate people in general, but I find that on the metro lakes I pretty much get off the water by 9-ish on weekends to avoid the crowds - especially between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

[hanson]

Uff Da...

[BigWadeS]

Holy smokes, glad it turned out okay, sounds like it could have turned ugly quick

[Peachy]

Whoa! Glad it ended 'peacefully' even tho it prolly ruined the fishing mood!

[SkunkedAgain]

Sounds like a bull making some bluff charges with his boat.

[bronzeback]

you probably should've just fought the guy.

[copterjohn]

That is why they sell those little Billy clubs in the tackle shops...now I get it!

[frogtosser]

you should have trimmed up he motor and gave the guy a shower

[10,000 Casts]

just curious, what # did you use for the water patrol? did you have it or did you have to get it? or 911?

[JRedig]

just curious, what # did you use for the water patrol? did you have it or did you have to get it? or 911?

My buddy called information and got the number for the white bear police department. They gave us to the switchboard and notified the water patrol. Considering it was 9pm on a weeknight, I think they did a pretty good job getting there within an hour. (getting there means out to us on the lake)

[mainbutter]

when my parents moved to Houston back in.. '82?... there was a newspaper article the first day they had moved in. The article was about how a guy cut some 80 year old lady off in traffic. She honked. He pulled out a gun and shot her.

Makes me wonder how often that sort of thing happens out on lakes.

[SkunkedAgain]

That depends on whether you're on a rural or urban lake

[JimBuck]

That could swing both ways...but I see your point. Glad it all turned out fine.

[Farley]

you should have trimmed up he motor and gave the guy a shower

[hanson]

Originally Posted By: frogtosser

you should have trimmed up he motor and gave the guy a shower

Technique is best performed with an Outboard Jet.

[Rebel9921]

I think that those people JRedig was referring to is really the reason why Pounders were invented... not just cuz it weighs 16oz, but cuz you could really POUND someone in the head with it as long you have a deadly accurate cast

[NETim]

I'm told you can make a heck of a torpedo with Estes rocket motors.

[setterguy]

Sooooo, what did you think of my new pontoon?

[b1gf1sh1]

the few times i've been on WBL the last few years i've had problems there. just like you minding my own business. really weird. i'm amazed they just escorted him off the lake. he could really hurt someone someday. the residents in the WBL section of that lake are really anti outsiders, and fisherpeeps. been that way for years. while back they were even pushing for no fishing near docks, lol. they failed of course. even had a couple try and convince me it's a law. i laughed of course and suggested nicely that it's o.k. to remove the dock if they feel it's an intrusion. they didn't like that very much. some string fishing line around they're docks to catch lures. kind of funny then you pretty much have to get even closer don't you? oh well. i figure if they need entertainment that bad i'm glad i'm in the boat getting it my way.... fishing.

yep. the croix and all those big boats is bliss compared to that place. IMHO.

[JimBuck]

Funny. I haven't been out there in years but it sounds like Tonka. I've had people say that you can't cast near the dock on tonka several times.....I think it's funny that these people even decide to live on a lake, especially a lake with a good bite and tons of boat traffic. I just give a friendly wave and continue my routine. They can take it up with the Sheriff if they want.

[JRedig]

Sooooo, what did you think of my new pontoon?

LOL, those rainbow stickers looked sweet!

[Scott M]

I hope the water patrol were looking for chemicals other than alcohol. Dude could have been all hopped up on crank or something.

No one should be going out of their way to harass you without any good reason, and then to pick a fight...That's not a sober person, even if it was John Doe Recreational Boat A-----e.

[cjac]

JR: Glad you played it cool..... I think I have almost put a hole in my lip at times, but you did it right.

It's tough at times, but the day it's not fun for me there's a big garage sale going down. Stuff like this is what makes a cold October day with sleet and flurries not sound so bad...... Seeing that WBL marina void of sailboats makes me smile!

Chris

PS: As much as I hate owning a cell phone, they do have their good points!

[JRedig]

For better or worse judgement, there's no hole in my lip. I let the guy have it verbally. I was provoked and tend to have a fairly short fuse...but at least I didn't screw with him after that.