how fast to pass anchored or tolling boats

[hookem]

I fish all along the willamatte near o.c.
I know if I go fast, I throw out less
wake, but get some drity looks, if I go
slow I have a big wake.
Whats the rule of thumb on this one?

[Steve]

You are damned if you do and dammed if you don't, I slow down when I approach anchored boats, even if I know that the wake will increase as the boat settles into the water. There is the liability issue that you are responsible for damage from your wake...I can kick a bigger wake with my 8 hp, kicker than my pump....go figure....Give them a wide birth and they will think you are doing them a favor...

[DF]

Yes that is the right thing to do. If I come up on a big group I will slow waaaay down. But if its just one or two boats I will get as far away as possible. And if its a smaller boat like 12 ft I will slow down more often. For big big big boats anchored I just keep goin

[LVFLYGUY]

I think we are all in agreement on this one. You can't make everyone happy all the time and sometimes you just can't make anyone happy. Just don't look at thier faces!

[Mrdorkfish]

images/icons/mad.gif Yesterday i was anchored along an island on the Columbia fishing for Shad staying away from everyone soaking up some sun and getting a few fish....two big boats decided to split the difference between me and the shore.....(stones throw away) What is the purpose of this ? I was the only boat in this area and 300 yards from the channel....I just don't get it...I think in this case they shouldn't let me see thier face images/icons/rolleyes.gif

Mrdorkfish

[Jellyhead]

Owning a bass boat that will travel at high speeds, I tend to get alot of negative looks from time to time as I'm cruising past anchored or trolling boats.

Here's my rule of thumb. If I'm going through an area packed w/trollers---I slow down to idle if I can't cruise around the pack, out of the trolling lane.

If I'm going past anchored guys---I notice how close together the boats are in the hog-line. If they're touching each other I just Blow by at full speed as far away from them as possible. If they're evenly spaced out I just blow by at full speed, again, as far away as possible. Bottom line is--In my boat, w/my hull shape, I'll leave the smallest wake possible at hyper-speeds. The only time I'll slow down past anchored fishermen is when they're anchored on a river bend or corner where I can't see above them--and going by them at high speed would pose a safety risk.

Try Idling past every anchored boat you see, It would take you a year to get to you're spot. People that get all bent out of shape by other people cruising by them while they're anchored up need to chill out. Why spend you're whole day mad. If you don't like wakes, go to a 10mph. lake.

Aaron

[Stz ll]

Either go past wide open if there is room or go at a slow idle. Just don't slow down to a point where you are plowing thru the water and leaving the largest wake possible. Unfortunately this appears to be the choice of the Heidlebergers that are out this time of the year.

[Mrdorkfish]

I really don't mind all the Jellyheads causing wakes in the river
images/icons/tongue.gif I just don't think it's right to go blasting past a boat that is anchored 30ft from the shore on the inside images/icons/confused.gif Is that understandable? I was the only boat anchored for as far as i could see images/icons/shocked.gif BUT...when there alot of boats on the river sometimes you have no choice and can't make everyone happy...really wasn't mad just can't figure out why someone would do that.

Mrdorkfish

[Jellyhead]

Mrdorkfish,

Man, I hear you about the boat that passed between you and the shore! This happened to me two years ago in the mult. Channel. Except it was a JETSKI!! I was fishing a current break, 30 ft. off shore. I was releasing a nice smallmouth and then this A-hole cut between me and the bank, Needless to say it put off the fish. Next time he gets a 5 dollar crankbait in his cranium! But, I'm sure this isn't the last time it will happen. Some people have a hard time remembering that it is a big river, and there's no reason you need to pass someone under a boatlength away.

Aaron

[Deleted User]

I fish a very small{10 Ft.} boat on thee river{cant afford anything bigger and better, do not want you guys getting all the fish}, and I appreciate it very much when others stay as far away from me as possible, though I ALWAYS turn my bow to the wake, before it gets there. I also ALWAYS have my PFD on.

[Ocean]

Jellyhead:

About jetskis: Keep in mind that the new ODFW regulations specify a 2 jetskier bag limit with 4 in posession. You must use at least a .243 centerfire, no hand gun season yet, but here has been some talk of a jetski bow season next year.

They are also fun to catch with heavy gear and treble hooks.

[ 06-09-2001: Message edited by: Ocean ]

[Joe Schwab]

I try to go at the most reasonable speed for the area I am in and leave the smallest wake. Sometimes that means high speed, small wake, more distance from the anchored boats. Other times it requires slow speed no wake. I try to avoid that in between huge wake speed. If someone objects to high speed, less wake I would be more than happy to come back and show them what medium speed does. The same people that object to boat wakes in a heavily fished area are the ones that like to brag about how rough conditions they can fish in.

[Biteme]

It's also important to now what kind of hull design your boat is. If it is a planing hull with a semi v or flatter design it will throw a smaller wake at high speed than it does at mid speeds. If it is a deep v or displacement hull it will still throw a big wake even at higher speeds. I am sure you have all seen the people in the 40ft motor yachts with a displacement hull cruising through the small boats at anchor at a pretty good clip throwing a 4ft wall of water at the small boats at anchor, it does seem that there is something that happens to boat owners when they get there first big boat over 25ft especially one with a flying bridge. I think maybe the oxygen content of the air up on the flying bridge is low or something.

Be aware of your Surroundings and slow it down when you could endanger small craft.

[cts258]

Its not the wake that gets me. its how close you are (or should I say stupid you are)

[Gone Fishin]

Right On cts,

I don't care how fast you go, just don't try to see how close you can come. A sling-shot with a marble can cause serious damage at close range. images/icons/shocked.gif

[ 06-10-2001: Message edited by: Gone Fishin ]

[ol tuna skipper]

In the Channel trolling speed. Small wake. couple of inches. Guy in panty boat (row boat that is flush with water, looks like your wearing a panty breif) starts screaming and swearing and bailing. Sorry dude. I swerved to the middle of the channel to avoid you and slowed down. I guess sometimes there is no slow enough speed for rowboats. So i will just ignore your language and assume you were saying hello in french.

Guday mate

[Gratewhitehunter]

images/icons/mad.gifUNTIL SATURDAY I HADN'T BEEN EFFECED TOO MUCH BY THIS...We were fishin for sturgeon at the nursery hole below Gilbert River Launch and about 40 yards from the shore on the scappoose side of the river. A large yacht, probably 40ft at least decided too split us and the shore on the narrow side. My partner was grabbing his ugly stik with a daiwa 40h to set the hook on a bite the wake sent us rolling drastically. He ended up losing his rod over the side. I am in a 19ft alumaweld stryker. I wish I would have known that these boats were responsible for damage or loss I would have got a hull number They almost got a 38cal slug through the hull images/icons/rolleyes.gif images/icons/mad.gif