Am I the only one annoyed by bass boats?
I decided to go do some fishing this weekend to enjoy the fall color of the leaves and to have some peace and quiet in nature. I like the idea of fall fishing, as it is not as hot and I prefer the cool crisp air over the heat and humidity of the summer.
I couldn’t believe how noisy it was. I must have seen at least a dozen different bass boats cruising up and down the river for hours. Maybe I am just getting to be an old man or something, but the noise that these boats make is like going to a NASCAR race.
Later in the day, I saw a few big trucks pulling bass boats on trailers. I thought to myself, these guys could be the poster children for why Americans are wasteful with middle eastern oil; they drive the biggest trucks, with the bigggest engines and then go out on the water to burn more fuel.
Before anyone flames me, let me say. This IS America and hardworking people are free to spend their money any way they please. But it just seems strange to me that, as a society, we seem to embrace things like expensive trucks with loud engines, pulling expensive loud boats to the river, so folks can enjoy some fishing.


yes.
OH MAN I HEAR YA ON THIS TOPIC! ARGH! So stupid if ya ask me…those jerks w/these kind of boats need to stop polluting the waters and ripping up shorelines and disturbing habitat…I’m in Minnesota next to the mississippi river,w/tons of places to fish..but ya know what..I never go out on the river just because of this reason…its terrible the way most of these guys w/these fancy smancy boats fly around…not respecting anyone or anything around them….shit I was just out a week ago,in sum backwaters,and was bombarded by these kinda jerks…I only have a 14 ft flat bottom w/a 25hp Merc….think they’d have enough commen sense to go sum where else and stop crosing back & forth over my lines? NO!!!
But ya know what~i’m doing my part,I hardly ever go take the boat out anymore….love my canoe though….I’d take my canoe over a bass boat anyday! ; )
HEY dgindian… GREAT STORY~LOL~GOT ANYMORE?
Just to be fair, where I am (TN) most boaters are extremely courteous of each other. MOST boaters. But you’ll enjoy this. I was out yesterday, (in my 17 foot runabout with a 65 hp) and a guy came by me in a Javelin speed boat, wide open, and entirely too close. But as he flew by me, I knew he was going too fast and was about to be in for a big surprise. Just beyond me, in the direction he was headed, is a patch of stumps, one of which sticks out of the water a good two feet. A few seconds after her went by me and hung the next corner, I heard what sounded like two shotgun blasts back to back. I just smiled and kept fishing. I stayed out on the lake another hour or so, and as I made my way back to the dock, that $50,000 speed boat that had buzzed me was halfway under water, and still sinking. The guy was on the bank, just stunned that this had happened, calling everybody he knew to see if they could come help him. I laughed, and laughed, and laughed. Karma’s alive and well.
That’s why I took up fly fishing and stick to small trout streams.
Ugh, I worked as a detailer at a Ranger dealership for a while… it’s amazing the percentage of these people who depend upon nature for their recreation and “livelyhood” in some cases have absolutely zero consideration for the animals -other- than bass that live in “their” waterways… Yes, manatee speed zones are a pain in the butt… Yes, no wake zones through residential areas slow you down, but JEEZE. No offense to any bass-boaters who aren’t like this, but most of them I’ve met are self-important dumb*sses… I was (somewhat jokingly, but still) put down on a nearly regular basis for owning and using my kayak, and heaven forbid one of the local sailboaters came in to have the outboard for the dinghy fixed… to tell the truth, I was somewhat embarrassed to work there….
i know i hate that!!! i like catfish and carp fishing…
i wouldn’t mind having 1 but yea espicely when the fish where you are fishing you know what i mean when their boat is right in front of you
I think you are being too much of a purist. These same Bass fisherman are providing the dollars that fund the fish management and conservation programs that are saving your sport. I think you should single out other Truly wasteful area’s of society than those that both contribute to preserving nature and enjoy it.
I am glad you mentioned this! It is also fall hunting season here in Maryland and this past Saturday was opening day of duck season. With the Chesapeake Bay nearby, we enjoy a lot waterfowl hunting in this region.
I was small game hunting along the banks of the Potomac River and saw the same things; bass boats speeding back and forth along the river and the tributary streams. Those guys all dress like Evil Kneivel (or Super Dave Osbourne) in their polyester jumpsuits and just run back and forth in their loud boats.
I am glad to hear that so many of theposters on this forum enjoy the peace and quiet of fly fishing, or using a canoe or kayak on the rivers and lakes.
As for these bass boaters helping the sport. How? All they do is pay for a fishing license (which is cheap). The fuel taxes they pay for the gasoline goes to build MORE ROADS – it does nothing to help the fishing community.
Like Robbie said, the guys with the big boats and big trucks are the ones who make it easier for the commoner to fish. The same guys you complain about are the ones always hunting and fishing legally by buying their hunting and fishing licenses annually. When they roll into Academy or Bass Pro, they spend a pretty penny on lures, gear, parts etc. to help encourage the growth of fishing.
Watch fishing shows and tournaments. Those guys (and gals) have the biggest, best, and baddest gear, and they are on T.V. or utilizing local media to help grow the sport internally. Sound like saviors to me. I do like the peace and sanctity that fishing brings, but if somebody runs their 275 HP javelin 100 yards behind the point I’m fishing, so be it. If I had he financial means, I would do the same thing. Why? It helps me become a better outdoorsman.
I suggest taking up the majestic sport of fly fishing if you wish to get away from the hustle and bustle of the lake. There you can be a purest-casting flies to visible fish in a clear river embracing the sunshine, birds, nature that surrounds you. As fishermen, we need to rally together to help keep the sport in the lexicon of America’s consciousness. Good fishing!
Bass fishing has got VERY commercialized, when i compare it to when i was a child, now there is an obsession with looking like the professionals, dressing like them, using the same gear as them, get the same boat as them etc etc. I think it has gone too far, i mean its all well and good speeding about on the lake in a tournament when time literally is money, but leisure anglers seem to feel they have to follow this suit, i can totally see your point. i mainly fly fish and luckily this “trend” hasn’t caught on in fly fishing.
No you’re not the only one. The thing i hate the most is they have the whole lake to fish in and they come within casting distance of where i am fishing and fish right of shore where i am. I usually will put a big musky lure on and after a couple casts 2 feet from there boat they leave. Boaters can be some of the biggest a holes. They never slow down when we are fishing and make big waves on shore. Really inconsiderate of them. We shore fisherman have every right to be there also. Maybe if they wouldn’t be such retards i would quit throwing musky plugs at them.
I like to bass fish and have a bass boat. I like the room available to me for all of my junk. remember its not bass boats causing problems, its the inconsiderate jerk behind the wheel. please dont lump all bass fishermen together.
NO, ya’ ain’t gettin’ to old and yes your right. I’m in 150% agreement with AIRFLOW ie., Bass fishin’ is not what it used ta’ be! Did Black Bass (still do Smally’s;)) but, the Largemouth scene has gotten far to COMMERCIALIZED for my likin’.
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Ahhhh’, them cool, crisp days be the ticket for enjoyment;). Tight lines and Fish On
Added: ole max makes a’ good point regardin’ the “Jerk” that is control of the vessel. Got some real hot shot loonies out there………………………………………………………………………….