Things That Drive Anglers Crazy!

Posted by Joel Johnson on 20th Jun 2022

Things That Drive Anglers Crazy!

Fishermen are generally a cheerful, dedicated, and passionate bunch. However, some things get under the skin (literally!) of even the most positive folks. Following is a list of things that drive me crazy on the water, and I’m certain the majority of anglers can relate.

#1 - Bugs!

More specifically the axes of evil- ticks, mosquitos, black flies, and chiggers. I can go without food, water, and even a cold beverage for some time without complaining. However, these creepy crawly degenerates can put me in the red immediately! The worst part is once you see one or get bitten, your mind plays tricks on you for hours or days; convincing you that a tick is tickling the inside of your ear or ‘skeeters are circling your bed at night.

#2 - Over-Friendly Fishermen

Maybe it's just an Iowa thing or the way I was raised, but when you’re on the water there should be a concept of personal space. I know in Minnesota and even on the Iowa Great Lakes the boats can sometimes be so close you can bait your neighbors’ hooks. However, I try to follow the golden rule when my family is on the water. When we locate a hot bite, I don’t appreciate it when other anglers crowd around us for a piece of the action. I cherish this time with my wife and daughters, and copying or homing in on our location is just plain lazy. I don’t hijack others when they’re catching fish and expect the same courtesy in return. Maybe I’m just old school…

#3 - Bass and Musky Guys...

As a rule, I don’t disparage other anglers without good cause. We’re all on the same team and should always try to lift each other up. However, there is just something about some of the bass and musky guys trolling the internet and popular fishing apps. Their self-righteous and sanctimonious attitudes towards these fish species and anglers that don’t revere them with the same amount of passion is maddening. My family doesn’t bass fish, and we treat them as bycatch when targeting panfish, walleyes, or catfish; releasing the lot. As a biologist and angler I understand and appreciate apex predators and the role they serve. However, bad mouthing and abusing folks that keep a bass or two for the dinner table, when they are following the regulations, is ignorant and rude. Similarly, tearing down folks that accidentally catch a musky and don’t handle it “properly” or treat it with little kids’ gloves is annoying. Just because a teenager catches a trophy bass or musky on a nightcrawler and bobber doesn’t mean all those gigantic lures in their tackle box are a waste of money.

#4 - Boat Control On Windy Days

It never fails. You plan a fishing trip to your favorite honey hole expecting light winds and when you arrive it's blowing 15 and gusting 25 or more. Unphased, you back your boat in the water and head for a brush pile or gravel bar. After a few minutes of searching you locate the fish and the bite is amazing! Unfortunately, at the same time the wind starts gusting to 35, rendering your electronic and traditional anchors powerless to stay on the coordinates. A patient man may be able to control his emotions and go with the flow. In my experience, no matter how hot the bite may be, the stress and strain of trying to keep the boat on point makes me wish we’d stayed at home.

#5 - Line twists, loops, and birds’ nests on fishing reels

Part of my springtime routine is to clean, inspect, and replace the line on all our reels, and I learned a long time ago that less is more. Avoid the urge to fill your spools completely and you will save yourself significant pain and suffering. When spools are too full, it tends to roll off the front of the reel creating slack, twists, and loops. This is amplified on windy days or when casting into the wind. The same can happen on baitcasting reels, and it can be devastating. Every novice using a baitcaster has experienced a back cast or “backlash” when reels are not configured properly. Like black magic, loops are created deep within the spool, causing casting to completely fail. Patient anglers have the ability to use a pick to meticulously remove the loops, let out line, and correct the situation. Others anglers, like myself, most often toss the rod back in the rod locker to deal with at a later date.

#6 - People that don’t know the difference between wake and no wake

Nothing is more irritating than being parked on a good bite and having another boat pass by too closely and too quickly in a no-wake area. For the uneducated, no wake means operating a boat at slow or idle speeds to prevent visible waves from being produced. This is a courtesy to other boaters and shore anglers in the area. Again, I follow the golden rule on this one when my family is on the water. Would I love to open up my Mercury and get to the next spot? Absolutely! However, I resist the urge to do so and respect other folks on the water.

#7 - Commercial Worm Bedding

What’s the deal with that disgusting black commercial worm bedding? What do they make that out of, tar or leftover asphalt? Not only does it stain fingers and clothes, somehow it always ends up in every nook and cranny of your boat or smeared in the carpet. My family usually picks our own crawlers and stores them in buss bedding or similar. But in a pinch we sometimes have to buy the blue box brand at convenience stores or wally world. I don’t know what they put in that black sludge, but they would likely sell a lot more if it wasn’t so messy.

#8 - Poor Boat Ramp Etiquette

Now that open water season is heating up, many of you have probably experienced (or displayed) poor boat ramp etiquette. For my family, this includes folks that fish from boat ramp jetties, people who park on the edge or sides of boat ramps, and boaters that fail to complete rigging in the parking lot. All of these issues make putting a boat in or out of the water more difficult. In addition, they inconvenience and generally add stress to an already stressful situation. If you’re catching fish from the boat launch, I certainly don’t want to mess you up, but if you could please move temporarily so people can put their boat in or take it out, I appreciate you in advance. If people could refrain from parking directly on or around the entrance to boat ramps, it would reduce the risk of collisions and prevent a potential confrontation. When boaters remove tarps and straps before they get to the ramp it saves time for others that may be in line. If boaters wait to unload and situate equipment until they are out of the water and in the parking lot they don’t inconvenience others waiting to get out of the water. Finally, if you are using a kayak, please don’t obstruct the ramp at the edge of the water. People backing trailers down the ramp may not see you or your equipment until it's too late.

This list is by no means exhaustive, and I’m sure there are some obvious examples that I missed. Nobody is perfect, and I certainly make my share of mistakes. As anglers we should treat each other with respect and set an example for others. Do your best to be patient and thoughtful when you’re on the water. Think about how your actions or inaction may impact others and do your best to be a good person. If you have a good day on the water, share some intel with others so they can be successful as well. What comes around goes around and we could all use some good karma right now!