You might need more practice if...

Over the years, I have written countless blogs and articles concerning fishing, and the fishing industry. Proudly I have watched the sport grow to heights I never thought it could reach. But, along with the sports success, the sport is finding huge problems along the way.

Courtesy out on the water seems to be at an all-time low. Having just turned 52, I was brought up in a time where we were taught manners. We opened doors for women, said yes sir, yes mam, please and thank you. All outdoorsmen considered each other family. This moral standard by which my generation was raised is slowly being replaced. Its replacement seems to be rudeness and selfishness.

When I hit the water, I am in my happy place, as are most fishermen and other boaters. For the water to remain our fun and relaxing place we must as a group find a way to get along better. This blog wasn’t intended for just one group, well actually it is…all of us. From the bass pro to the bank fisherman we need to treat each other with respect.

I learned a long time ago that I don’t own the lakes and waterways I fish. Common sense and good parenting taught me that. Sometimes doing what is right isn’t always the easiest route to take. It is however usually the best route and the safest. One of the worst things I see on a regular basis is fishermen crowding each other. At that point both parties generally get pissed. This is the easiest situation in the world to void…use your head. If someone is fishing a spot before you get to it, let them have it. Move on. If you are fishing with a child you have just done two things. Taught the child a good lesson and you avoided an incident out on the water. If that one spot was the only spot you thought you could catch a fish, you need more practice.

When I’m out on the water I try to treat other fishermen as I would like to be treated. This includes bank fishermen. Just because a person has a boat and another person doesn’t, does not give the boater right to fish all over the non-boater’s spot. By using common sense, decency, and respect toward others, our happy places will begin to be happy places again.

Have a great day!

Lowell Henderson

Blocking a public boat ramp...Really!

Things about fishing usually get my attention quickly. Lately, some things about fishing have gotten my attention…but not in a good way. Incidents of anger between anglers out on the water, are getting as common as road rage on the highways. While the sport of fishing is booming, it seems that ignorance on our waterways is too.

I have personally witnessed a couple of things in the last month that are very disturbing. I have watched a kayak angler paddle directly between another kayak angler and the bank she was fishing. He then proceeded to fish the water where the female angler was anchored down on. The second incident that has my blood boiling happened on the same lake, just on a different day. A boater that obviously thinks he is above the law and better than everyone else, parked his truck and trailer in the water on a single access boat ramp. That’s where he left it while he went fishing. This action prevented any other boat from using the boat ramp until he left the lake.

It is rudeness and stupidity such as this that cause problems that often lead to severe problems. Where or when did this kind of crap become ok? I certainly don’t remember this stuff being common place while I was growing up. I have fished tournaments for over thirty years, and fun fished for over forty years. Never have I seen the need to act in such a disrespectful or hateful manner while on the water.

As a rule, when launching from a public boat ramp, you need to spend as little time as possible on the ramp. Have your boat ready to put in when you back down the ramp, then get your tow vehicle out of the way as quickly as possible. This is called common courtesy.

Addressing the other issue, don’t crowd people out on the lake. It’s not a hard rule, just give people space. Treating others the way you expect to be treated, will usually take care of all the problems we encounter. This applies to everyone on the water. From the bank fisherman to the bass pro and everyone in between. The water is the most beautiful, relaxing place on earth…let’s keep it that way.