We got the finger !

[Frank Bradfield]

Almost every trip out of the Econfina, trout fishermen , anchor in the channel, cast in front of my moving boat , in general just think i'm wrong and they aren't giving. We came out Saturday ( around 9:30 ) on real low water and as you know , can't get out of the mouth on idle, and even if we could would have to idle 3 more miles to get on plane, can't sit down in the river with risking the foot so you'd hope for some common sense here. We never got off plane and i think pissed some people off. I'm thinking , don't anchor in the channel, don't cast in front of my moving boat and if your trolling or drifting just ease out of the way of a moving boat. I'm a trout fisherman also and understand that the channel is narrow and don't clog it up for boat traffic. I'd rather someone get on by than try and slow down and make a bigger wake. By the way we got the finger on the way back in Saturday , and he got it right back and he also knew where the ramp was and was a no show. I also had a guy stand up and cast across 75% of the river when I was 50 ft from them , I'm sure he was pissed also, that was done on purpose to make me stop ,well try and make me stop anyway. Since there are a lot of trout fishermen here I thought I'd ask what you think ?

[Chalk]

I'm with ya...even with a small boat, I tend to get up and don't want to stop til I'm out the mouth a good ways...I believe the rules of the road is to not anchor in the main channel used for navigation, so if you anchor in a channel, especially a narrow, rock infested channel, you shouldn't get upset when a big boat blows by you.

[GC]

I hate to do it as much as the next guy, but if it comes down to my boat motor losing a foot or the guy in the channel (illegal) bouncing a little, it's not a hard decision.

[Ty one on]

When fishing in the middle of the road one should expect some "Fly-Bys"

Chalk, Why are you in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean?

[wevans]

I will be as courteous as possible, but don't expect me to take any risk just because your dumb enough to be in or near the channel when I blow by you and I aint beyond kickin someones butt if the try wrapping line in my prop on purpose

[Capt. J.D]

That is always going to be a problem when there is a shallow narrow channel. I have gotten my share of dirty looks and birds, but like WEVANS said I always try to be as courteous as possible. Most of those guys also don't realize that most of us don't throw any wake when we are on plane and skint back. Oh well. I am trying to sneek down there tomorrow it is supposed to be a perfect day.

[Chalk]

Chalk, Why are you in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean?

Just seeing if anyone was paying attention

[Dubble Trubble]

We also came back in on saturday evening around 4:30, with water level dropping. Came around that first sharp bend and there is a CANOE in the left middle of the channel. A little ahead of them was a boat idling on the right middle (Had just passed the canoe I guess).

I kept on plane and did a S turn between them. I was not risking my foot because they decided to be in the channel.

I am sure I got the finger too, but really do not care.

I had one lady one day call me an A$$hole at the ramp simply because I needed to let my driver off and she was completely across both sides of the ramp. I had to slip around her and I guess my boat idling made too big of a wake for her comfort. (She was holding the boat to the dock with her hands). Ever heard of a rope?

I have learned to just get in and out and ignore all the idiots and bite my tongue. Why ruin my day with an argument....

Dubble

[catchin1]

Frank if you were in a big Key West about 4:30 sat afternoon, then I saw and was right in the middle of it. First let me say I agree about not slowing down for people fishing in the river. its a waterway and if you fish there you should just accept people coming by on-plane.
This is what you left out of the story. I was on plane running in the river at the same time. I saw the guy that gave you the finger, he looked me down hard also. Right about then my 19 year old son said "dad look behind us!" I looked back and all I could see was the bow of a big Key West right on my azz. You couldn't have been more than 2 boatlinks behind me. It was a pretty scary sight. I was in my 198 Carolina Skiff. Mind you I'm on plane running about 30 mph. It had been my intention to stop at this spot in the river and fish also. So after seeing you right behind me I shower down on it and run right on past this place and try to put some space between us. Just beyond this spot I veer over to the left side of the river so I can come off plane with out getting run over. I get out of the throttle and dang if you haven't veered left following me and have to steer hard back to the right to keep from at the very least swamping me. That was too close. There was 3 grown men in my boat and my 13 year old and that put a scare in all of us. Now needles to say I was pizzed too. I had no idea that was you, but I gave you a pretty hard look and threw up my hands as you motored off. Now I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt and assuming maybe in that big boat you didn't realize how fast you were running and came up on me in a hurry and maybe with the bow of the boat up in the air like that you can't judge distance, but I'm telling you brother you were following me too close.
I'm glad now that I kept my cool and didn't give you the finger or do something stupid like chase you down. Being fellow forum members I'm sure we can both learn from this and not have to have hard feelings.
If for some reason you don't recall this or that wasn't you in that boat then I'm sorry for that. But this is just what happened.

[Frank Bradfield]

It was me .. Actually I told my guys in the boat you were the only guy who I wanted to apoligize to, because i'd had backed down to about 25mph much less and i'd be throwing 4 ft waves and you stopped kinda quick in the turn about the same time the guy was giving us the finger and I probably leaned more your way than I wanted so I do apoligize and I'm glad I got to do that with you. Hope you got the limit !

frank

[catchin1]

Good enough my friend.

didn't quite have the limit, but we got enuf to eat.

[RodBow]

SEE to all the unbelievers....Tidings of comfort and joy!

Tis the season.

[RHTFISH]

That big Key West washed me off my anchor and into bank
Sat am just outside the tree line...I thought it was going much too
fast that far from the mouth of the river for the number of boats
anchored and moving around slowly. Guess danger is in the eye
of the beholder! I agree with not stopping in the mouth if at all
possible but that far up the river is another story! I really think
this time of year with boats fishing in the river so special
consideration is warranted.

[Chalk]

Some should take note of Rule 9 (c)

(c) A vessel engaged in fishing shall not impede the passage of any other vessel navigating within a narrow channel or fairway.

http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules ... Rule09.htm


BTW that might not of been Frank in the Key West in the morning, there is more than one.....You should be thankful it wasn't a Sea Ray, if it was you would still be washed up on the bank, those boats throw a 4 foot wake

Also remember that a large boat slowing down to come off plane moves alot of water, so if a large boat did or could come off plane less than 50 yards from you, you would probably wished he hadn't, when that bow wake approaches you.

[wevans]

That is always the equation that I consider in the moment that I see someone Chalk "is it better to continue on plane or risk a two foot wake from slowing down to late" and that's in my Alum. Bass boat I know of several occasions that I wish the boat had just kept on going in my fishing