Question to the Captains about trolling courtesy & protocol in a pack

I am a rookie but know enough to be courteous so hopefully I was never a problem out there but I did hear a lot of frustration on the radio from what I assumed some were Charter Captains who had smaller boats cutting them off, etc.

Just wondered if some of the more seasoned would like to chime in and add input here about common courtesy, beyond basic rules of the water, when trolling in a large pack of boat like area N. of Niagra over the weekend.

Thanks again to all for your help and guidance! Had a great weekend in this, my rookie season, with 13 for two over Sat. & Sunday. Some real Hawgs too!!!

N. of Niagra about 80 back at 1.6 with all on Bandits. Tiger and Purple Shad worked best for us.

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Idle through or out of a pack of boats or go around giving 300+ yards. Nothing #@$$!$ me off more than than a boat that goes through a pack of boats on plane. This is the quickest way to shut down a good bite.

When trolling through a pack of boats, remember the width of your spread. If it cannot fit through giving the necessary clearance for the boats fishing, don't go through. Do not turn in front of or close behind a fellow boat that is also trolling. When approaching another boat that is trolling, think of driving a car with boats passing each other on their port sides.

Well, first of all I consider myself very respectful! It is frustrating sometimes but I really enjoy my job and refuse to let the pack frustrate me. There are plenty of fish for all of us. Some boats that are really good fisherman attract other boats around them. I quest everyone figures I don't ever catch anything so they don't fish near me. But when I do accidentally run into a pack I try and follow the rules of the road. I do try my best. So if I ever cut you off I am truly sorry I did not do it on Purpose. Most boaters do not know who has the right away. So the size of the boat does not matter. The boat coming toward your starboard side has the right of way! Green light means go! The boat coming towards your port must yield to you! Red light me and stop! But at the end of the day we all must yield to avoid a collision. I know I had a great weekend no one got in my way. Because I just turned and went the other way. No problem. There is more fish over there!! Fish on!!

when you are fishing big boards, when you get through the still pack , do circle to the outside of the pack and work your way back in line with the others doing so especially when you have a consistent wave action, guys with smaller board will go through, make the pass with the waves, pick up, and circle outside to go back to set up once again. Running through the pack to get back is NOT a friendly gesture. You will get sneered upon.I personally usually don't run through the pack out of respect to my fellow fisherman.I still get fish on the outer peripheries much to there gazing on chagrin. lol there's nothing more frustrating when there's folks trolling through the troughs of the waves counter to what most other troller's are doing....... so yes I guess there's sort of a trolling protocol when you get out there just to make us all happy campers.

its a lot easier to give way even when you are not the give way vessel chance of heart attack and hair loss a lot less than playing chicken all day with the other boats. you do get in a bind once in awhile you just hope the other boat understands why you cut it a little close

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Originally Posted by limitlypps

when you are fishing big boards, when you get through the still pack , do circle to the outside of the pack and work your way back in line with the others doing so especially when you have a consistent wave action, guys with smaller board will go through, make the pass with the waves, pick up, and circle outside to go back to set up once again. Running through the pack to get back is NOT a friendly gesture. You will get sneered upon.I personally usually don't run through the pack out of respect to my fellow fisherman.I still get fish on the outer peripheries much to there gazing on chagrin. lol there's nothing more frustrating when there's folks trolling through the troughs of the waves counter to what most other troller's are doing....... so yes I guess there's sort of a trolling protocol when you get out there just to make us all happy campers.

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Think like a truck driver mentality on a turn and like a person in a combine with a spread. Sounds stupid but that gives me an idea about distance and the concept on the water and also starboard and port understanding is nice. I was in the Navy so I get it.

I agree with the most of the previous comments. The only thing I might add, is pay attention to your position and the boats near you. If you see somebody else is going to get in a bind and you have room to open up the pack then do so. I see boats with a wide open lake on one side that refuse to give any room and it makes no sense to me.

On Sunday I had an idiot blast past me and then stop 75 yards directly in front of me and start setting his gear.I was netting a fish and my buddy who was driving my boat asked me what to do.I told him stay your course full steam ahead.We got to within 20 yards from the back of his boat and one of my friends proceeded to unleash a string of f-bombs on him that would make a sailor blush.He pulled his gear and took off.There is no excuse for this kind of crap.We were not even near any other boats.He just saw us netting a fish and decided to crash our party.

Nothing worse than someone shutting down in front of you when trolling. Next worse thing is when other boaters don't work with turning off you. Knowing how to cut angles is very important when in with multiple trollers. You can turn right while they turn left and after say two minute on that heading can turn right back on line angling behind the person and be perfectly fine. Next thing would be if in pack of boats don't set boards so far out makes easier for all. You can also bring the boards in on a turn so you can manuver sharper. Best rule.... If the boat was there before you STAY OFF HIS LINE OF TRAVEL!!!! (Or her ). Sorry Juls

Personally if I see a pack of boats fishing in a area that I was originally going to. I will go to another area and fish. I will go and find some other school of fish to fish for when I am trolling. I found out if fishing bye myself not a boat near me the fish are not to finicky. If to many boats in the area seems like the fish shut down. The water is not like it was in the 1980's where you can fish on top of each other. What I am trying to say is that I avoid those packs of boat either I am drifting or trolling.

I've found that to many boaters don't know the boat on your right has the right of way and the boat on your left should give way and give you the right of way. and then you've got the 10% of boaters that just don't care who has the right of way. they'll stay there course until your forced to make sharp turns and sometimes have to cross to close to other boats to be comfortable. even if I have the right of way and see I'm going to get to close to the other boat i'll start adjusting my course and speed to clear there boat.

I personally think every boater should have to take a boaters course to at least learn who has the right of way. but theres just nothing you can do about the 10% that just don't care.

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Originally Posted by sherman51

I've found that to many boaters don't know the boat on your right has the right of way and the boat on your left should give way and give you the right of way. and then you've got the 10% of boaters that just don't care who has the right of way. they'll stay there course until your forced to make sharp turns and sometimes have to cross to close to other boats to be comfortable. even if I have the right of way and see I'm going to get to close to the other boat i'll start adjusting my course and speed to clear there boat.

I personally think every boater should have to take a boaters course to at least learn who has the right of way. but theres just nothing you can do about the 10% that just don't care.

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Beyond the standard required safety equipment every boater should have to demonstrate knowledge of the "Nautical Rules of The Road". I think it should be required to purchase your registration decal and should be a federal law for everyone's safety on the water everywhere in the country. Last year there was a discussion about right of way and the "Nautical Rules of the Road" on this forum. One person in particular felt that under no circumstances should the "Nautical Rules of the Road" apply to him if he was trolling. The discussion after becoming heated finally ended when he took his keyboard/ball and went home/left from the forums. He was a perfect example of the 10% you are referring to!

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Originally Posted by sherman51

I've found that to many boaters don't know the boat on your right has the right of way and the boat on your left should give way and give you the right of way. and then you've got the 10% of boaters that just don't care who has the right of way. they'll stay there course until your forced to make sharp turns and sometimes have to cross to close to other boats to be comfortable. even if I have the right of way and see I'm going to get to close to the other boat i'll start adjusting my course and speed to clear there boat.

I personally think every boater should have to take a boaters course to at least learn who has the right of way. but theres just nothing you can do about the 10% that just don't care.

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My son and I had been drifting for close to a mile, I noticed a bigger boat trolling coming from our right, he was under power so I figured he would adjust, he did not. He kept coming so finally we reeled quickly, started our boat and moved out of his way. So my question is even though he was coming from the right under those circumstances does the boat to the right still have the right of way. I did not think the rules read that way.

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Originally Posted by D.D.E.

My son and I had been drifting for close to a mile, I noticed a bigger boat trolling coming from our right, he was under power so I figured he would adjust, he did not. He kept coming so finally we reeled quickly, started our boat and moved out of his way. So my question is even though he was coming from the right under those circumstances does the boat to the right still have the right of way. I did not think the rules read that way.

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You are correct in your thoughts! But the catch 22 is that if at all possible every boat that is capable must take evasive action to avoid a collision. So you made the correct decision as far as the law is concerned.

My time is money also, so just because you charter for a living and pull a 100ft wide path, it doesn't mean you own the lake! I got cursed out by a "captain" I use that term loosely because I didn't move out of his way quick enough. I have video of the altercation and will be turning it in to the authorities. The next time this happens, I will chop up your lines so bad you'll be retying for hours. See if your customers like that cluster, and you'll be the one to blame. I hope your reading this, you know who you are.

[QUOTE=wakina;53340]You are correct in your thoughts! But the catch 22 is that if at all possible every boat that is capable must take evasive action to avoid a collision. So you made the correct decision as far as the law is concerned.[/QUO

The biggest boat wins, and he exposes his pride I guess. That is the world we live in I guess.
Thanks for replying.
P.S. That was my first trip on the water, with my first boat, and my first trip with my son fishing.

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Originally Posted by D.D.E.

My son and I had been drifting for close to a mile, I noticed a bigger boat trolling coming from our right, he was under power so I figured he would adjust, he did not. He kept coming so finally we reeled quickly, started our boat and moved out of his way. So my question is even though he was coming from the right under those circumstances does the boat to the right still have the right of way. I did not think the rules read that way.

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you totally did the right thing. but you are right in your thinking. the boat under power should have gave way to a drifting boat and steered around you. that's why in most cases a sail boat has the right of way over a boat under power. that guy was part of the 10% that just don't care. you cant fix stupid.

My grandfather used to always say, "Pedestrians have the right of way. That doesn't mean that you just step out in a crosswalk in NY City without looking and using common sense... You'll be "Dead Right!"

There are rules, and it would be nice if everyone used them. I was in that area North of Niagra and stayed out of that pack. The radio was full of comical and frustrating interactions.

I had a Crestline coming up on my port side. I was trolling about 100' wide, with another boat 25 yards off my Starboard (our boards almost touching) and couldn't turn Right, and another boat trailing off my rear port so I simply could not give way. I had the right of way, but long before anything happened I started saying, "Where is this guy gonna go? His only choice was to turn 90 degrees port and get in line with us because he simply couldn't make it across all three of us, and he couldn't turn between us.

I knew once he kept coming that someone was going to be in trouble. He was by himself, trolling offshores. By the time he realized what was going on, it was too late. I did say something to him on the radio (nicely)... but he maneuvered and ultimately wrapped his off-shore around my port side planer board.

He immediately got on the radio and apologized. Other boats were yelling at him because they saw it happen...

I originally told him what marina he could pick up his gear at later that day. He said that he really wanted to get it off my board because he had an expensive lure.

Because he was alone (i've been there) and he was sincere in his apology, I tried to keep tight lines and go in and out of gear while he came up along my board, got his off-shore un-clipped, then got his line and lure. It all took about 7-8 min.

No harm, no foul.

Had he cussed at me or flipped me off, my boards would have been in and I would have owned about a $40 setup that I would never use. He handled it well and we both went on our way.

This was during all that radio chatter and guys threatening each other. One boater even said something about someone being "Sponsored by Kleenex." Tempers were pretty hot that day... Boats going whatever direction they want... Guys coming into a pack of 150-200 trolling boats and setting down to drift...

I drift too! But because I have a larger boat and troll, I also know that it takes almost 1/4 mile to turn a 30' inboard 300' wide with 16 parallel lines in the water (unless you are Skipper9 and then you can spin it on a dime). I also know as a troller that I have a difficult time telling if someone is drifting or under power until it is too close to do much about it. If you are drifting in a pack of 100+ trolling boats you have every right to be there. You have the right of way (for the most part). But don't hesitate to get on the radio and tell a large boat coming toward you that you are not under power, and drifting. Most of us will greatly appreciate that courtesy. Those who give you a hard time for drifting... well.. they are going to be upset no matter what.

Keep in mind too that when someone that trolls says, "A drifter came and set down RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!" that is a legitimate gripe if a boat stops within a half mile or so directly on your line. It is kinda like a motorcycle whipping in front of a semi tractor-trailer "because he fits" and slamming on his brakes...

I would personally love it if boats that are in a huge pack of 80-90% trolling boats would talk on the radio and let people know that they are drifting. I promise, people may get upset, but it won't take long and everyone trolling will know which boat is drifting. On calm days it's easy... It's the one with the guy standing on the bow casting! lol

Other times... it can be tough, but if we know you are there we will accommodate. Every trolling captain started off drifting. Some of those captains tend to forget that, not every drifter has knowledge and experience of a 34' Cat trolling 16 lines.

-Matt Gaiser

PS - I am not a captain, just an amateur.

One quick comment: many of the larger boats (especially charters) are using auto-pilot. They may or may not be watching what's in front of them all the time. Since I'm in a smaller boat and always have someone driving, it is easier for me to stay out of their way rather than expect them to make an adjustment. Just common sense. Makes for a better day for everyone. Share the road. Enjoy the lake. It's supposed to be fun.

Great pics from Dave! I am looking forward to getting on the Lake soon.

I was making a north troll around the niagra area sunday heading to c can and had a boat off my port and starboard quarter so I had no room to maneuver when off in the distance to my port side hear comes a blue and white thompson pulling big boards 200' out each side trolling east with plenty of room off his port side to give way but instead just kept comming straight for me. Had to finally put kicker in reverse and make a 90 degree left turn with trolling motor while pulling all my lines to keep from having a collision with his board, missed by less than 10 feet all the while getting f-bombed and mother f*** by this guy for not knowing the right of way on the water. Correct me if I am wrong coming head on port to port is the proper procedure unless other circumstances prevail and when coming at each other at a 90 degree angle starboard side boat has the right of way which I was and could not maneuver but he had plenty of room to maneuver did not need him to make a sharp turn just give way a little....am I right or wrong? Forgot to mention that most of the boats in the area were trolling north and south but this guy was cutting a path 400' wide east and west

I m not sure if you say this because of my question, but as I stated in my original question, (I had been drifting for close to a mile,) I did not shut down in front of anyone.

Madd Matt, sounds like some good wisdom from Grandpa. You may be an amateur but I am a true rookie when it comes to trolling, just thought it was a good thread to start being I see a few others here may also be new to this. Lots of good info here everyone, thanks for your replies.

So were you the Large Cat out around Niagra over the weekend Matt. I fished there Fri. -Sun. and noticed a rather large cat in the area, but never got real close. Heard the talk on the radio about a cat taking on water but assuming that was not you, hopefully.

My two cents as a rookie. I try to get all set up and trolling maybe .5 mile away from the group and then gradually troll into the pack if I want to join the merry go round. To be honest we have more luck trolling the NE edge of the traffic area an it is a lot more relaxing.

On Sunday we trolled with the group in that tight pack close to Niagra and I noticed no one was around D can so we moved that way and picked up a few right away with 100 yards from the can and no one was around us. Seems 15 minutes later we had 10 boats around us. Good Fun.