I was offered a A$$ kicking at Hammonds

Capin' Dan · 08-11-2001, 11:36 PM

Just thought I would share this with my fellow ifishers. Those of you who have met and know me know that I'm a fairly easy going guy. I have been building a mad on and a good case of the Red A$$ at Hammonds due to the guides who leave there boats tied up at the launch while waiting for thier clients.
Thursday I mentioned to Jody Mathes (SP) that it isn't a good idea to leave his boat tied while people are trying to launch thier boats. He was right in the middle of the pier instead of at the end. He immediately got defensive. He ask me how much I pay to launch my boat. Why does this matter? rude is rude Even if he pays $150 a year thats because he launches every day. It still does not give him ownership or the right to rude behavior. I mentioned fine next time I see his boat parked in the middle of the ramp and not manned I was going to set it afloat. Probably not a smart reply and something I probably would never do. At this point he offered me a good ol fashion butt kickin when and if I ever set his boat a drift. Probably deserving of one if I ever really set his boat a drift. Those of you who know him mention to him not to tie up the ramps while waiting for his clients. I have heard nothing but good things about Jody this is the first time I have had any contact with him. But many of those guides do park at that ramp and wait for their clients. Maybe I'll file a complaint with the marina and see if they can do something about it. Anyway tight lines.
Jody if you read this page sorry to get you going so early in the morning it has just been building and trying to launch with you there was difficult without playing bumper boats and not getting wet myself. The whole end of the pier was open. By the way I did know that you were not just parking your truck like you said. I noticed you were shooting the breeze with your fellow guides for at least ten to fifteen minutes while I was getting my boat ready off the launch area. [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img]

Boat Ramp Etiquette. Live it. Breathe it. If everyone does thier part it could be a lot more fun. Try it once be curteous to your fellow fisher people. think to yourself what can I do to make it easier for everyone.

OK off my soap box.
Dan! [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[ 08-12-2001: Message edited by: Jody Mathes (SP)]

[ 08-12-2001: Message edited by: Capin' Dan ]

WheresMyBobber · 08-11-2001, 11:52 PM

I had a bad experience with an un-named guide this spring, and the very minute I got home I searched his name in the Yellow pages and on the Internet. With no luck contacting him by phone, I sent him an email telling him what I thought about his actions that day and exactly what I would do if anything like that ever happened on any river in the future.

I got a very nice reply apologizing for his actions that evening. Hoefully he knows that I was serious about my intentions. Guides have a tough job, but taking that kind of crap only goes so far before you need to let their clients know what kind of p.ricks they really are.

"Do unto others as you would have done unto your self".

[ 08-12-2001: Message edited by: WheresMyBobber ]

FM2 · 08-12-2001, 08:35 AM

Hey Capin, was that around 10:30-11 on Thursday. If that was I was on the dock and a guide was yelling at someone, actually yelling was mild, this guy was screaming. Man the verbs were flying. I just couldn't believe what I was hearing, my ears were burning [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img] . This guide had markings all over his boat which myself and Jet noted. That guy will not get a good report from us [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Drachir · 08-12-2001, 09:29 AM

Dan
A couple of years ago we had a bad run in with the same afore mentioned Jody Mathers. We were down at Hammond for a great day of Sturgeon Fishing, We went down to the flats and cruised aaround til we started marking fish on the graph, and dropped anchor. We anchored about 200-250' to the starboard of Jody. He immediately started yelling obsenities at us for anchoring too close to his water. We said we have fished here for years and in much closer quarters than this and never seen anyone lose a fish or have any other kind of problem. He yelled back what #@%$&^* holes we were and if loses any fish or gear he will come over and cut our anchor rope. All this going on in front of his 4 clients, now who's the #@&^%$hole? We continued to hold our position, and after 15 minutes or so Jody had had enough, and pulled anchor and left, blessing us with a huge wake 10' off our side and a 1 finger salute. I would never have believed this of a guide with clients on board, if I ahd not seen it for myself. I think the guy has some serious anger issues to deal with, and should be avoided like the plaugue!!
Sorry to hear about your run in with him, ramp ettiquitte, is just something we should all practice as a religion, it will make for a much better day for everyone. Just treat your fellow boaters with the same courtesy and respect that you would expect from them. [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img]

Krome Brite · 08-12-2001, 01:21 PM

Is Mathers a heavyset guy? Because if he is I've seen him around and he seems pretty nice. Maybe he just had a couple bad days??

WaterDog · 08-12-2001, 03:05 PM

I like the fact that the ramp has a BIG sign that says DO NOT power your boat on the trailer(what's up with that anyway?) so I do the tippee toe on the trailer trying not to get wet and some guide next to us drives his boat right on! [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img] I guess the rules only apply to us common folk a SOME guides are above plain old fashoined courtesy and respect. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

Trick · 08-12-2001, 04:10 PM

Dan, I think it high time to sick that pack of wild labs on him. Or worse yet, give him one of those homeless kitties (if you still got them), that ought to work. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

I've seen the same behavior at that ramp as far as them leaving their boats tide up in the middle of the traffic jam. Obviously they live by a different set of rules. Either they don't care about the posted signs or they can't read...either way it's a royal pain in the a$$.

Go get em' capin' [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

roadsend · 08-12-2001, 04:34 PM

Waterdog (above) is right. There is a seperate set of rules. Since Hammond raised the price of its seasonal pass to $150? the only ones who can come out money-wise are the guides who launch almost daily. There is a separate entrance lane for the seasonal passes (guides) so they dont have to wait in the long Buoy 10 lines like us common folk. Money talks B***s*** walks. By the way a seasonal pass at Illwaco is $45.

Baldpate Basher · 08-12-2001, 04:47 PM

Hey Krome Brite,
This Jody Mathes guy is a young trim fellow who Danny could have chucked into the drink easily enough. [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img] In fact I can't imagine why he didn't. Well let's just say that he's lost me and anyone I know as a client. [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img]
Good hunting!

sturgn · 08-12-2001, 05:03 PM

**** yu guys are making afraid to say a word at the dock! I hope you guys don't think all guides are bad?? I really like to think I am not!

MetalHead · 08-12-2001, 06:00 PM

This blocking the ramp waiting for clients seems to be a common practice. At the Wind this spring the large teal green guide boat "I believe it was NUSHAGAK River Guides <sp> Dan Ross" would launch tie his boat to the little dock there on the ramp side then go park his truck and then set there for an hour waiting for clients. Those of you who have been there no there is no room for this BS. Most "not all" of the other guides would pick up their clients under the bridge.

Rippenlips · 08-12-2001, 06:12 PM

So does anybody know why we can't power our boats on the trailer at Hammond? I saw a guide do it and it sure would be alot quicker for us experienced boaters. $150 Dollars? Do the math! $5.00x365 days eqauls 1,825.00!! Who should have the right of way? If my math is right Jody only paid .41 cents to launch.
Jon

boater · 08-12-2001, 06:33 PM

i keep hearing "guides have a tough job", they decided to be a guide, nobody is making them do this. it is tough to go fishing everyday but isnt that what they want to do, have a boat load of clients ? i`m sure some of them realize this that they have there dream job and if one of the jerk guides ever jumped in my face i`d jump rite back in his. he`d have to be a fool to throw a punch at you, wouldnt he look smart being taken away in handcuffs and having his boat impouded.

urb · 08-12-2001, 08:58 PM

I was tied a couple boat away from GUIDES this spring I didn't catch the whole discussion but GUIDES took his shirt off and wanted to met the guy in the boat next to him on the beach. Sounds like he might have an anger managment issue.

urb · 08-12-2001, 09:01 PM

And what is with the net throwing when they lose a fish?

Salmonator · 08-12-2001, 09:13 PM

Please chill with the THEY stuff, geez! I am one of THEY every now and again and i've never thrown a net, but have lost plenty of fish! [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img]

Capin' Dan · 08-12-2001, 11:23 PM

Sorry this turned into a guide bashing thread. I use guides several times a year. Always when I want to learn a new fishery. I have heard Jody is a very knowledgable guide. Sorry I will never get to find out.

The issue is boat ramp ettiquitte (SP) when you see this kind of behavior at the launch casually say something and try to stay calm. They know they are wrong and will generally move. Jody did after we both got the red a$$ he moved and motored around out of the way while waiting for his clients.

I would not black ball him for this one time however, I will be watching in the future and will still say something when I see this behavior.

I also recommend using a guide when learning a new fishery it is money well spent and is the easiest way to become one of the 10%.
LOL Dan! [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

smoky · 08-13-2001, 07:56 AM

Every guide should be as fine a gentleman as IFISH guides Marty Peterson & David Johnson.

onstep · 08-13-2001, 07:56 AM

Mr.Mather he fishes diver and bait on the trask in March. nough said.

Ed · 08-13-2001, 07:56 AM

I have fished out of Hammond several times and folks tieing their boats "close-in" does make it tough to launch/load. Frankly, I don't think anyone should tie-up within the inside half of the dock.

I have used a guide once in the last five years. It was the best $125 I ever spent fishing. Alan Clark of Fly-By-Nite set the standard for service and performance that I think all guides should emulate. Guides are the pros. of our sport. Therefore, I expect a higher standard of performance and behavior from them. Guides really should be the role models for our sons and daughters in the sport of fishing. When the going gets tough, the last people that should lose their cool are guides (even if the guide is right). It's no secret that lost tempers mean lost business. I am in the personnel recruting business and I know that my best sources are customers AND people who observe my program in action. As a professional, it may be necessary to get out a little late or miss a fish or two in order to avoid a conflict. And if there is a concern over losing money, well then I'd say the're a guide for the wrong reason.

Hookset · 08-13-2001, 12:11 PM

The sign stating "do not power your boat on the trailer" is to reduce and eliminate motor wakes near the dock. When you have lots of boats in a close area, the extra current from the increased power while power loading makes docking troublesome for others, expecially for the larger less manuverable boats. I noticed the sheriff's and state troppers are keeping a close eye out. Just back in a little further, wear some rubber boots and winch the boat on the last foot or two.

Agree with Joe and John, lots of good guides out there. It's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] The biggest offense aimed at the guides I see is people anchoring and motoring to close.

Gregg