Quote Originally Posted by slimshady View Post
For starters, I am not siding with the OP, nor do I agree with the "I don't care what the rules are" attitude. I tend to fish areas without tons of traffic so it usually doesn't matter so much. However, I do have a question for those who have more experience dealing with this. I only troll down-wind with my electric motor. Going across the waves or into them is usually not a viable option. I am basically drifting, but using the electric to assist the drift. Hypothetically, if I am trolling down-wind, with 2 other boats doing the same to my left, and a big charter boat comes trolling along from our starboard side, going perpendicular to the wind under engine power, all 3 of us are required to give way to the guy going against the grain under power? That doesn't seem right to me. Now I am not going to troll over him or get in a fight over it, I would probably pull in my lines and go somewhere else. However, it seems to me that guys who are "trolling" down-wind under electric power only, should be classified in a similar way to those who are purely drifting. In other words, pleasure boats should give way to fisherman under engine power; who should give way to those under electric power only; who should give way to drifters; who should give way to boats that are anchored. That seems like the logical heirarchy to me. The rules may not agree, but maybe the rules need to be modified to the reality of today's situation. When they were created, the category that I would fall into didn't exist. Just my opinion.
You didn't say if you were "drifting with the assist of the TM" and pulling boards, or casting. If you're casting, then you are a "drifter". If you're pulling boards, you're trolling, and moving fast enough to maneuver.

Here's my take on it:

Everyone must avoid an anchored boat...even sail boats.

Those under power, and moving (whether using electric or engine), must avoid drifters, because their engines are off and cannot move. Those under power must also adhere to the rules of the road whenever possible.

Pleasure boaters who are on plane and running through fishing packs must avoid all of us.

Those annoying sail boats need only avoid anchored boats when under sail. But, hopefully, they would also avoid drifters too, but good luck with that. When under power by engine they must adhere to the same rules of the road as the rest of us.

Oh, and don't get in a ferry lane and expect them to move for you. That's just not a smart practice.

It's best just to be the courteous one when you can see someone is being a jerk.

Like you, I also leave the packs and go find my own fish, so I don't have to deal with it. Then, when they start piling in on me again....I go find another spot.

It's best just to take the high road....you'll live a longer healthier life.