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
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