Hit Willard yesterday, bugs were horrible, fishing was horrible and had trouble with the power squadron. I fished several areas looking for some walleye before I ended up out along the west dike, then trouble came along. I was fishing approximately 50 yards out from the dike and there was five other boats in the same area when a large ski boat decided he was going between me and the dike. I couldn't believe he just done that and he continued towards the other fishing boat so I watched. Just as he got close to them he flipped a u-turn right close to them and was headed my direction again. That's was enough for me, I pulled my gear in quickly and waited. I moved to get a little closer to the dike and he was still going between me and the dike, crazy b@$$$$&(. When he was real close I moved right at him to get his attention and he stopped, yelled at me asking what my problem was. I explained to him that he wasn't at the 150' distance and I asked him why he needed to be weaving in and around the fishing boats when the whole north end of the lake was calm water to ski on. This ignorant boater proceeds to tell me how how stupid I was and jumps up on the back of his boat starts threatening me and actually invited me to come on his boat so he could kick my @$$. I just laughed at him and told him he had no respect for anyone else on the lake and shouldn't be allowed to have a boat. So I left and headed to the north marina hoping to find someone with the park service but no body. I called the park service and they said they would get in touch with whoever was on watch. So that was the end of my crappy day at Willard, I only fished 2 hours and caught 2 cats and 1 big jerk!!.
I have been on Willard over 20 days this year and I have not once seen the park service patrol out on the lake. So why are we paying for their service.
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Sorry you had such a frustrating, stressful day. I hate to run across idiots like that! Better luck next time . . .
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About three weeks ago I had a wakeboarder do the same thing. He almost got my planner board. I yelled and all they did was look and kept on going. [fishon]
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Perch,
Now you've gone and done it! This is a can of worms that once opened, we all want to share our similar moments of pain.
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=266751#p266751"]Here's mine[/url] in about the same area as your encounter:
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=266751#p266751"]http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=266751#p266751[/url]
--- Coot ---
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best thing to do is try to get a photo of his actions and registration # of boat and report it. I've had some close calls in my tube up at pine view before. now I get on water early and off as soon as I see the power squad waking up.
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Sorry you had to deal with that nonsense. I had kinda the same experience at Hyrum with lots of boats and close calls. Smaller lake though.
What pissed me off the most was that after I pulled the boat out and began readying the boat for the drive home I found someone had unbolted one of my anchor points on the rear of my trailer and stole the hook latch washer. Could not believe it. They did put the flat washer and lock washer and nut back hand tight. I asked the State girl if they had cameras and of course not.
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With the new drinking restrictions on Pineview I think Willard has become a zoo. Couple weeks ago my buddy in a 19ft blue water was fishing the dike casting to the rocks when one of these ass holes went between him and the dike sending a 5ft wake over his bow. What I will say is marine patrol on Willard is better than anywhere else I've been. The problem is they are spread too thin and its only a matter of time before something does break out. I for one have lost all tolerance. Wide open lake and they want to cruise the dike where the majority of fishing boats are. Many of these clowns are in 150k boats with zero knowledge of the regulations and zero marine training/courtesy. The fact is I've heard plenty of the same from other fisherman/women that boat control/capacity is simply out of control. The state is raking in the cash while allowing what I call a hazardous situation exist. If I'm doing .8 pulling bottom bouncers and appear to be in your way....don't invite what you may regret...
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There a-holes everywhere. About two months ago I had already trailered my boat and was ready to leave Lincoln Beach. Had been a nice day on the pond. Then some nut launching next to me asked if I was a Trump man? ( Trump 2020 decal on my truck). When I answered yes he asked if I wanted a a__kicking. Then headed toward my truck in an aggressive manner he suddenly stopped. Didn’t like my Glock I suppose.
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Its kinda funny how alcohol and stupidity go hand and hand, next time you see all of patrol boat talk to them and get there cell numbers, try to get pics or videos of the perpetrators.
I've been wondering and haven't asked the proper authority's if a paint ball gun would be legal to use, that way it would be easy for the patrol boats to spot the perps.[
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wouldn't use a paintball gun..just would give the #uktards something to use against u...however if you have a good rod and reel and can hit their boat casting...they are too close and wont win that battle.
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A surface bait cast across their bouy is a good warning. Especially if it happens to connect with a few treble hooks.[
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I'm thinking that 1/2 ounce lead weight through there wind shield might lead to some questions
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Some of you are far nicer than I would be up there.
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The Parks folks do need to spend more time on the water and enforcing the rules.
I used to get checked for my boat safety every year.
Not once this year.
It would also be good to have a large sign placed at the ramps with the rules about how close you can get to another boat.
We all need to get along and enjoy our trips but the rules need to be enforced.
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I have some 16oz....
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I hate to sound like a cowardly wuss, but a video is probably your best weapon against these jerks. Any real weapon "brandished" is going to get you into very hot water. Boiling hot if you were to use it.
Unless, of course, the jerk takes action against you, like attempting to run you down or capsize you.
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There is a large sign on the ramp at island launch on deer creek. Trouble they don't care. Get vedio and stills of boat numbers. Follow threw.
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Very well said! Just reading this post infuriates me because I've had the exact same experience as do all fisherpeople! I wish we could just sink the sons of %#&%!!!
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I do believe there is a sign like that at both the north and south ramps at Willard. But most of those big ski and wake board operators obviously cant read.
Wife and I were coming back into south marina yesterday about 1:00 P.M. there were 2 large boats heading out. One was a approx 28 ft. cruiser that followed the rules of the water and stayed to the right, heading toward the green buoy at a slow, no wake rate of speed. The other was a approx 25 ft. Moomba, 8 or 10 passengers, all looked to be less than 25 years old. Guess they didn't feel like moving along behind the cruiser in the correct "lane" of advance. They pulled out around the cruiser, gunned the motor, and came directly at me. I was correctly in the "Red, Right, Returning, inbound lane, in the no wake zone. Had to do a HARD TO PORT (left) turn and gun my little 15 HP Merc. Scooted across their bow with about 20 yards (that were rapidly closing) to spare. The moron at the helm had the balls to
and wave at me like we were playing. Yep, I've stopped carrying my 9mm when I fish from the boat, just for that reason.
I have not been to Willard as often this year as in the past, but I have not seen a DNR / Ranger / or state official once. I have been up at the Bear River fishing off the bank, and have had the pleasure of friendly conversation with a Federal Wildlife Ranger about 4 out of 6 times.
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Only problem I have with a video, is even if I had a video camera that would take good close up videos, I can't control my boat, and take video too. When I have had my camera on the boat, the incidents happened too fast for me to get it out of the protective case.
Maybe someday someone with a bigger fishing boat, with a good high HP motor will take a small crew of BFT anglers out with the express purpose of getting some good quality video and close up stills of offending boats and their HIN.
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