In a recent foray across the bass fishing’ e-universe, I tripped over a 2007 bassmaster.com article where Mike McClelland chose to abandon a fishing spot in a tourney. Went like this:
“I pulled up on the spot where I’d caught my two biggest ones,” McClelland said. “Jason Quinn had just left. I was going to let it cool off a couple of minutes. I shut it down, and I started to fish. I made a couple of casts, and here comes this v-bottom boat trolling.
“I thought well, I’ll just wait, and he’ll troll on around the point and just keep trolling. He comes right up to me, and he starts yelling at me, ‘You can’t fish here. We were here before you. If you keep throwing, I’m going to cut your baits off.’
“I’m like, ‘Sir, you know I’m fishing for a $100,000. This is how I make my living.’ He said, ‘I don’t give a damn. If you read the bylaws of Grand Lake, you can’t pay money to fish a tournament.’
“I went ahead and left. You can’t get into a feud with somebody like that.”
That was on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake, not exactly a stranger to bassin’ derbies. So that’s my question: WWYD?
When answering, bear in mind that you’re either answering as an Elite Series pro fishing a national event, or not. Pick one.
Were I not a competitor in a televised event, I think the Jersey in me would come out after being nice didn’t work. Not saying that would be a good thing….
6 Comments
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Big Brake Basser
May 2, 2011 at 1:53 pm
As a weekend-style fisherman or an elite pro, I would have written the guy’s hull number down, left the area, contacted the proper authorities, and reported the incident. When you’re an out-of-towner it’s not a good idea to get in verbal or physical confrontations with a possible “good ole boy” local. They might call up their sheriff buddy and have you arrested at the launch ramp. I know it sounds ridiculous, but believe me it can and will happen.
Rynobass
May 2, 2011 at 2:41 pm
I think as a tournament angler i would of told the man,Sir dont tell me where i can and cannot fish i will fish where i want to.As For cutting off my baits i just dare you to try it.Then tie on a DD22 and let one rip right past his forehead.
Chad Keogh
May 2, 2011 at 6:20 pm
I would have fished, which is my right to do so, and not have taken any sort of crap from the nut in the v-hull boat. I also would have put a topwater lure (complete with multiple treble hooks) on a baitcast rod spooled with heavy test braid in case he got too close…
Avidbasser
May 2, 2011 at 10:50 pm
Maximum wake speed in donuts around his boat.
It’s Grand- there’s a bunch of a-holes that think they own the water around that lake! Still love that lake.
Dwain
May 3, 2011 at 12:42 am
Its an awesome lake for sure, most of the trouble is usually from dock owners, I’ve never had any confrontation from a boat that wasn’t also in a tournament, but I can see it happening. Its like anywhere else, most of the people are nice and a few idiots spoil the fun for everyone.
Bass Pundit
May 3, 2011 at 2:06 am
As an Elite Series Pro, I think you have to back down.
If it’s me on my home water, this scenario isn’t very likely to happen, Minnesota Nice and all. But if it did I would probably continue to fish and ignore the guy. If he continued to harass me and elevated the situation. I would probably take down his boat Lic # and call my local Conservation Officer.