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

[skipper9]

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!!

[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.

[BILLY JOE]

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

[Divers Down]

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.

[faithwalker]

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.

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.