02-24-2014, 05:38 PM
Quote: I didn't want to bring up the encroachment issue, but since it was discussed I will.
I would say easily in the range if 15-20 times we had boats so close I could have hit them with an orange, and I can't throw well with a torn shoulder. A few times I literally could have spit on them.
I am not saying the people trolling were in the right, but I am also not sure if someone anchored on a certain spot has the "ethical" right to that spot. What if the person trolling was the first on the water and hit the rockpile first. Then you came along later in the day and anchored on the rockpile. The troller can't put a sign up that they were there first. And you being in said spot doesn't mean you have more right to that spot than said troller even though you are stating this as fact.
When you are fishing a small area that is well known to everyone on that lake, it is hard to have too much sympathy for someone trolling close by you. Not calling you out, just my two cents.
I do agree that poor fish handling should be avoided. Oh and I have never open water fished BL nor do I really troll, so I am not trying to justify anything I have done.