Let's say you're fishing at your campsite around dusk. As luck would have it, the campsite you're staying at is on the wind blown side of the lake (a very large lake). There aren't many campsites close to yours, and plenty of windblown shoreline to fish.

The fishing is wonderful from shore and the eater sized walleye are hooked one after another. Other canoeists/campers out fishing (two boats - 4 people) see your success and start fishing close to you and your campsite. They proceed to fish near you for the next two hours.

Am I wrong for not wanting these people near my campsite? Are there unwritten rules about respecting the space of other campers? Am I being a whiny turd? Have any of you had similar encounters? What would you do in this scenario?

Eh, I'd say you're allowed to be annoyed, but they're also allowed to do it, so you'll enjoy your trip more if you focus on something else.

I'd have no problem if they fished passing through, like trolling or maybe spent 10-15 minutes and moved on. But for them to sit there for two hours seems kind of rude to me, especially depending as to how close to the campsite they might be. If I were in the canoe, I'd probably ask, "Do you mind if we join you for a bit?" to at least acknowledge I might be violating a boundary. But technically they're not doing anything wrong, so to get upset/frustrated about it is really useless.

Sounds like a good time to go swimming. ;)

UncleBuck: "Sounds like a good time to go swimming. ;)"

I like that! LOL

Haha! Or practice your rock skipping!

the water is everybody's but in the same sentence you/we are up there for some solitude. it happens often with novice fisherman , "hey look over there, they look like there catching fish , lets go there "

I like to heave the 2oz pike spoons in those circumstances.

I don't think you're being whiny, I wouldn't have done what they did.

I got turned around with my map two weeks ago and wasn't sure exactly what island I was paddling by on the South end of Seagull. I felt bad paddling up to an occupied campsite just to double-check where I was at with the occupants, who were very nice. But I didn't stick around to talk, I never got out of the canoe, spent about 1 minute talking with them about campsites, thanked them and was on my way ASAP. I figure they didn't come all that way to spend their vacation time with me.

They should have left when you quit fishing. As long as you were fishing, they were just sharing your hot spot.

It's happened to me before a couple times. Never a fun time and is frustrating but some people don't understand proper manners. It's tough to do much about it though and I do my best to not get worked up about it.

I get annoyed if I see anybody on the lake I’m fishing! LOL

i think they have every right to fish there. but i wouldn't do what they did and wouldn't like it if someone lingered near my site.

When you see them coming close, could wave them closer to you and yell "Hey, you guys want some extra Eel Pout? We kept too many!"

Or, when they get close, get in your boat and paddle almost up next to them. Start fishing, and engage them in far more conversation than anyone would want. "Hi. Where you from? What you using? Been to the BWCA before? Bugs bad in your camp? Scared of bears? What's for dinner over there? Is your latrine bad? Ours is awful. Something nasty down there." And so on, and so on. They might just decide fishing down the shore a bit is a good idea.

Or, best yet, just get a cup of whiskey, fry up your pile of walleye, and think about how lucky you are to be there and catch so many fish, and forget about your ill-mannered neighbors.

I would not do that to anyone in camp. It would bug me a bit. I would grab my poles and paddle out close to them and throw the biggest kerplunk rig I had and start up a very loud friendly conversation. I can be kinda hard of hearing, you know!

It’s definitely bad form but there’s not much you can do about it.

I always leave if people roll up on us when we’re catching fish. Tough to do when you’re in camp.

Having your dog bark at them incessantly will do the trick.

Or if you do not have a dog, then barking at them incessantly will do the trick.

UncleBuck: "
Sounds like a good time to go swimming. ;)"

Haha! Perfect!

How sad and pathetic folks could be so intrusive. Desperados?

thlipsis29: "I'd have no problem if they fished passing through, like trolling or maybe spent 10-15 minutes and moved on. But for them to sit there for two hours seems kind of rude to me, especially depending as to how close to the campsite they might be. If I were in the canoe, I'd probably ask, "Do you mind if we join you for a bit?" to at least acknowledge I might be violating a boundary. But technically they're not doing anything wrong, so to get upset/frustrated about it is really useless. "

Rude? If they are like you, they are probably in the BWCA to catch fish. Invite them to join the fun. When the fish are biting spread the wealth. I remember a time on Agnes up EP 16 when fellow trip members stumbled up the motherload of walleye, crappie, and even some sauger. They invited our canoe to park right next to them because they were catching them hand over fist and had no more room on their stringers.

For those tight asses out there wanting the wilderness to themselves: Go somewhere more remote. It is there to share. Respect and courtesy yes, but getting upset over people wanting to accomplish the same thing you do? Invite to join, celebrate success with others and have fun. I used to be the grumpy tight ass and I can tell you first hand it makes you and others have a less enjoyable trip.

I am still grumpy sometimes, but try hard not to ruin it for everyone else ;-)

While totally leagal it was rude and an amateur move. My best guess is they were not skilled fisherman and were having a tough week.

1. You stated eater size walleyes and they stayed there for several hours, they already obviously had enough for a meal very quickly...what skilled fisherman would sit there and fish eater size walleyes when there are lurkers to be had elsewhere?—-especially when you factor in the awkwardness of being right off your camp. Also only someone unskilled would think this is the “only” place the walleyes were biting. I guarantee there were spots away from camp that would of produced as good or better.

2. It was dusk...maybe middle of the day would be okay but at night sitting right off of someone’s campsite, that is really bad form, that is a time many people want to themselves. Once again only an unskilled fisherman that was having trouble catching fish would sit there with the awkwardness and rudeness and catch eater size walleyes.

3. They saw you catching fish and came over. In canoe country, this is not necessary only someone that was clueless on fishing would feel the need. I have never been that desperate to have to do this...and I bring little kids :)

There is an occasional poster on here I am friends with and he told me a story like this. A group came all the way across the lake and fished right off his campsite, you could hear every word they said, they were practically close enough to Start roasting marshmallows from his campfire :)

So he loaded up his group and headed right over to the other groups camp and started fishing, the other group came back and asked what they were doing uncomfortably close to their camp just as my buddy starts nailing walleyes—-to rub it in more. I don’t remember his response exactly something to the effect of “How does it feel?” but that group stayed away from his camp the rest of the week.

Even though most people are great, even in the wilderness you will run into the occasional selfish, clueless group...

T

This has happened to me when fishing on motor lakes from both kayak and canoe. The boat guys can go anywhere they want as fast as they but they must fish right next to me...just because I am catching fish.

I just throw on a jitterbug or some other tangle monster and start snagging lines..."oh, sorry! didn't see you there!"

Reminds me of Loon Lake, the one where the LIS River runs into. My party was camped at a site and a 15-20 knot wind was blowing ashore. My kids were young and I decided we would take a "wind" day and not go out fishing. Since Loon is motorized, a boat came right offshore of the campsite, threw out its anchor and proceeded to fish. Soon they pulled up anchor and trolled parallel to the shore. It was too windy for the electric troller, so the "kicker" motor was used. Soon, exhaust fumes of the poorly tuned kicker motor wafted into camp. It was a couple, a man and a woman out there. They fished from 8 am until well past 4 pm. I don't know how the woman did it. She didn't try to relieve herself anyway that we could see or notice.

I myself think that doing these things are an attempt to assert power and dominance over others just because the offending party thinks they can, and not so much about fishing. There is not much one can do without risking a violent confrontation as these people just don't give a damn what you think or feel.

We haven't been back to Loon Lake since. The motors can have it.

buzz17: "

thlipsis29: "I'd have no problem if they fished passing through, like trolling or maybe spent 10-15 minutes and moved on. But for them to sit there for two hours seems kind of rude to me, especially depending as to how close to the campsite they might be. If I were in the canoe, I'd probably ask, "Do you mind if we join you for a bit?" to at least acknowledge I might be violating a boundary. But technically they're not doing anything wrong, so to get upset/frustrated about it is really useless. "

Rude? If they are like you, they are probably in the BWCA to catch fish. Invite them to join the fun. When the fish are biting spread the wealth. I remember a time on Agnes up EP 16 when fellow trip members stumbled up the motherload of walleye, crappie, and even some sauger. They invited our canoe to park right next to them because they were catching them hand over fist and had no more room on their stringers.


For those tight asses out there wanting the wilderness to themselves: Go somewhere more remote. It is there to share. Respect and courtesy yes, but getting upset over people wanting to accomplish the same thing you do? Invite to join, celebrate success with others and have fun. I used to be the grumpy tight ass and I can tell you first hand it makes you and others have a less enjoyable trip.


I am still grumpy sometimes, but try hard not to ruin it for everyone else ;-)"

So is it rude to you when I'm catching all the fish at the front end of the canoe and you're not, LOL?

Sounds like a good time to go skinny dipping!

Most of the good campsites on river systems correlate to good fishing holes. Same thing with 5 star sites on peninsulas. Fact. Public resource. Would I fish next to another canoe? Nope. Would I pass on fishing below a rapids or windblown point because the camp site was occupied? Nope. Cast and troll away all day. Reminds me of several times below Chatterton Falls were the occupants felt entitled to "their" falls. Fishing, exploring, photo ops met with vocal replies.
I go up there to catch fish, not cater to other peoples privacy and needs. If they get annoyed I'll remove my PDF to really get them riled up.

After guiding day trips and extended trips for over 25 years, I must say you have every right to be annoyed. I have had other boats and canoes "invade my space" while fishing and it is one of my pet peeves. If I was the one watching you catch fish from the shore, well then good for you. If I were fishing in the area, 1st of all I never fish in front of an occupied campsite and more than likely there is plenty of similar windblown shorelines and 100's of acres of water. Nothing sounds better than a hookless spoon bouncing of a canoe.

A lot of us on this board operate on a different frequency than those jerks' behavior talked about in this thread. Inflicting an irritating situation on someone else is not in our DNA. In our situation on Loon Lake, the fact that guy never once took his woman to a campsite to relieve herself in over 8 hours spoke all that needed to be spoken about his character.

I watched a YouTube video where a guy put a speaker inside a tin can, sealed it shut to waterproof it, buried it in his yard and then played Celine Dion's greatest hits for 4 days straight to get rid of voles in his yard.

Maybe something similar would work? Or, on second thought, being so close to Canada, there's a possibility they might enjoy that.

FlambeauForest: "I go up there to catch fish, not cater to other peoples privacy and needs. If they get annoyed I'll remove my PDF to really get them riled up.
"

Yes, unleashing an Adobe Acrobat file is sure to get someone worked up.

Do you think Celine Dion's greatest hits in a can will work for moles? LOL

I don't think I would have a problem is someone fished next to me, if they asked first. Should be about fun with manners, not entitlement.

I agree, one could get very easily annoyed!! When it's happened if the other party can't figure out from the social cues they are getting from us...you may as well just confront because they just don't get it.
I've never confronted but it can be very easily figured out that what they are doing is NOT the right thing to be doing.

2 hours?! Awe naw...time to get in the water and catch 'em...pardon my whitetail!

FlambeauForest: "Most of the good campsites on river systems correlate to good fishing holes. Same thing with 5 star sites on peninsulas. Fact. Public resource. Would I fish next to another canoe? Nope. Would I pass on fishing below a rapids or windblown point because the camp site was occupied? Nope. Cast and troll away all day. Reminds me of several times below Chatterton Falls were the occupants felt entitled to "their" falls. Fishing, exploring, photo ops met with vocal replies.
I go up there to catch fish, not cater to other peoples privacy and needs. If they get annoyed I'll remove my PDF to really get them riled up.
"

Some moving water areas are small. You get within casting distance your
pretty canoe might get "dinged" with a big Daredevil. Plenty of water up
there to catch fish. Find another spot. Same as fishing in front of campsites.

If the big fish are biting I'm not leaving. Ding away. Not sure I buy the wilderness argument, most routes are essentially a first come first serve KOA campground atmosphere this time of year. You wouldn't get that kind of berth on Vermillon, Trout, or Pine Lake. I'm not out being loud or rude, just enjoying a resource. You want a wilderness experience and complete privacy go to an actual wilderness.

I don't like fishing around people I don't know. If I saw people catching fish in a spot I would not invade their space. I might sneak in there at a time they weren't around though. I would just fish elsewhere, there is plenty of good water up there.

One time on Shade Lake, a fairly good sized lake in Quetico, there were only two canoes on the whole lake and we were one of them. Me and my fishing partner paddled down this long dead end channel that we have never been to before. We get to the back of the channel and sure enough the only other canoe on the lake comes around the corner and starts fishing there way right down to us. I couldn't believe that these people had the rest of the lake to themselves but had to follow us back into a dead end channel. We just pulled in out lures and left and let them have the channel. I never saw them catch a fish, they probably had no idea where to fish so they just followed us.

Another time we were fishing some water pouring into a lake, we were there for hours killing it, catching a ton of smallmouth. Then a group, and a guide I know from the outfitter I used for a tow come across the portage. 4 canoes put in and we figured they would just move right along, but no, they all sat right next to us and started casting. It is a great place to fish, but if someone is already sitting there fishing, move along. They were all banging off of each other, making a ton of noise. One of them made a cast with a jig that bounced off the side of my canoe. That's when I had enough and just left. We paddled off to the side and watched them not catch a thing since we had already pounded the area for hours. So we head to the other end of the lake to fish where the water starts to pour out into the next lake and sure enough 10 minutes later here they all come again casting all around us. So then we moved down the creek and fished where it poured into the next lake and yes once again they start casting all around us. That's when we paddled back upstream to get away from them. I later spoke to the guide about all of this and he apologized. He said the group he was guiding were all A-holes.

I was just wading the river in my backyard. I am working this little rapid stretch. I hook a decent fish and when I land it there is a guy about 15 feet up river from me that just came out the woods with 2 fishing poles, rod holders, and chair. He puts his chair down, pushes one of the rod holders in the ground and then proceeded to go up river and plant another rod holder about 30 feet up river right where I am heading. So while he is shore fishing I am standing out in the middle of these rapids wading. So my next cast lands about 2 feet off shore right where he is planting his second rod holder. I think he got the hint, he just looked back at me, pulled up his rod holder and moved everything downstream from where I was fishing. Some people just have no idea.......

FlambeauForest: "If the big fish are biting I'm not leaving. Ding away. Not sure I buy the wilderness argument, most routes are essentially a first come first serve KOA campground atmosphere this time of year. You wouldn't get that kind of berth on Vermillon, Trout, or Pine Lake. I'm not out being loud or rude, just enjoying a resource. You want a wilderness experience and complete privacy go to an actual wilderness."

You get too close to me while fishing in the BWCA we are gonna exchange words. Mille lacs, Red lake, Vermilion.... that's a different scenario.

I'm deaf. Sign language instructions below. In case we meet I'm sending you thoughts and prayers not being a smartass.

UncleBuck: "
Sounds like a good time to go swimming. ;)"

Lolololololol

FlambeauForest: "

I'm deaf. Sign language instructions below. In case we meet I'm sending you thoughts and prayers not being a smartass.


"

Another internet tough guy. Hilarious!
Hahahaha

Flambeau, you are the guy at the party that no one likes.
Take care

Zwater: "You get too close to me while fishing in the BWCA we are gonna exchange words. Mille lacs, Red lake, Vermilion.... that's a different scenario."

Zwater: "Flambeau, you are the guy at the party that no one likes.
Take care"

Oh and somehow HE'S the "internet tough guy?"

I'm kind of shocked at the level of entitlement in much of this thread. MY campsite! MY fishing hole! MY nature!

If you're being bothered by other humans, you didn't work hard enough to get
truly "remote." You could throw a tantrum and let it ruin your night or you can be a friendly human being and remember to paddle farther next time.

And I thought I had problems with tail pipers down here!

People who think it is great to fish off your campsite for hours catching small eater walleyes'

user0317: "

FlambeauForest: "I go up there to catch fish, not cater to other peoples privacy and needs. If they get annoyed I'll remove my PDF to really get them riled up.
"

Yes, unleashing an Adobe Acrobat file is sure to get someone worked up."

Personal Doflation Flevice, LOL!

It would have been nice if a cordial conversation could have stemmed from this post, but there seems to be childish banter between SOME folks. I agree that traveling to a more remote setting would drastically reduce the likelihood of seeing others, but that wasn't my original quandary. I merely wanted to tactfully discuss potential unwritten behaviors that MAY be frowned upon. I wasn't claiming the lake, campsite, 30' radius in front of my campsite, or the surrounding land. I understand that individuals traveling to the BWCA have a broad range of reasons why they camp in canoe country. This could be to fish, canoe, avoid showering, or to enjoy the versatile wildlife. I don't see the need to threaten other members here, even if you have a different opinion.
Let's keep it professional folks.

I like you FlambaeuForest, you can come to my party anytime (: Does seem that this thread is getting a bit toughguyish, not cool.

I personally think Leave No Trace - Principle #7 - Be Considerate of Other Visitors kind of covers this situation. To post up in front of an occupied campsite is not being considerate or courteous to others. We all agree to LNT prior to receiving our permits so although this is not technically illegal because it's in public waters in my mind it goes against LNT principles.

That said camping by falls or other desirable attractions would require adjusted expectations. If I know other people want to see an area I'm camping by and take photos I would expect to have more visitors hanging out by my site. I personally like getting away from people so I would never stay there because of that.

I'm not trying to be "toughguyish." I was just stating that if someone is anchored up right out from my campsite or next to me while fishing, I would definitely say something. I believe a lot of people would do the same.

When you have hundreds or thousands of other acres of lake & shoreline to choose from, setting up on top of someone else's campsite is the height of asshattery.

It's legal, so some people are going to feel entitled to do it anyway, but that just makes them self-entitled asshats.

Edit:
At its core, this is an EQ (Emotional Intelligence) issue. Having the ability to understand how your actions are impacting and affecting the people around you.

Ever deal with someone who stands too close, violating your personal space? (And for that, there is a societal aspect - in some cultures that 'normal' zone of personal space is smaller) Or saying something awkward, but not realizing they are making everyone uncomfortable?

Same issue. The person who cannot recognize that they are standing too close, or fails to recognize that they should not criticize your dear departed wife is the same person casting past your tarp.

sns...

Your post makes a lot of sense but as I read it I realized that the very person you are describing would not have the EQ to understand it :)

Interesting thread. I used to be a pit boss at Hinckley in my old life. Folks would grumble and piss and moan if somebody new came to the table because, well, you know, they were cool and stuff. (Obviously apples to oranges vis a vis wilderness.) Our little etiquette rule was people have the right to ask to join you and you have the right to say no.

Point is, a little communication goes a long way. I once towed my boat 2 hours and drove it a mile up the St. Croix to THE honey hole, only to find a couple guys sitting there in a canoe. I talked to them, they were cool, and we all fished. If I hadn't said anything, they likely would have been pissed off.

Especially in a canoe, it would be OK to say "You guys mind if we fish here? Are we crowding you?" or "How would you guys feel about giving us a little more space? Sorry, but you're too close for canoe country. I'm not mad or anything, just asking."

I think that most of us respond to politeness. It's a cultural trait that goes hand-in-hand with the colossal acts of passive aggression described above. Casting at somebody is far, far more impolite and rude than fishing near someone.

lundojam:"I think that most of us respond to politeness. It's a cultural trait that goes hand-in-hand with the colossal acts of passive aggression described above. Casting at somebody is far, far more impolite and rude than fishing near someone."

^This. Well Said.

I have enough emotional intelligence to understand what I'm up against this time of year. I'm lucky enough to be working in the Iron Range this year and get to make a lot day trips into the BWCA on weekends. I'm not going out of my way to fish next people, many times this is not possible. I use my heavy sit on top kayak and portaging is not an option. Johns lake for example, any weekend both campsites are likely filled. Not even possible to fish that lake without being in view of either. If I come out of the river and pop a 6 lb walleye or big perch by the first camp I'm not going to stop fishing. That's being honest. Same thing goes for Sawbill, Alton, Pine, and the K river. One has to have realistic expectations of a shared resource and common courtesy goes a long way. I have a game plan of where I'm fishing before heading out and an occupied campsite is not going to prevent me from fishing a sunken hump or saddle that has produced in the past. Especially on any busy entry point lake.

I'll also be the first person to message GPS cords or share spot on spot locations so others can get the same enjoyment I do. If someone sent a daredevil my way, I'd remove it and tie on a hook and leech for them to join the fun. Speaks volumes of my low intelligence I guess.

UncleBuck: "
Sounds like a good time to go swimming. ;)"

That's the best response, hands down (APPLAUSE)!

FlambeauForest: "I have enough emotional intelligence to understand what I'm up against this time of year. I'm lucky enough to be working in the Iron Range this year and get to make a lot day trips into the BWCA on weekends. I'm not going out of my way to fish next people, many times this is not possible. I use my heavy sit on top kayak and portaging is not an option. Johns lake for example, any weekend both campsites are likely filled. Not even possible to fish that lake without being in view of either. If I come out of the river and pop a 6 lb walleye or big perch by the first camp I'm not going to stop fishing. That's being honest. Same thing goes for Sawbill, Alton, Pine, and the K river. One has to have realistic expectations of a shared resource and common courtesy goes a long way. I have a game plan of where I'm fishing before heading out and an occupied campsite is not going to prevent me from fishing a sunken hump or saddle that has produced in the past. Especially on any busy entry point lake.


I'll also be the first person to message GPS cords or share spot on spot locations so others can get the same enjoyment I do. If someone sent a daredevil my way, I'd remove it and tie on a hook and leech for them to join the fun. Speaks volumes of my low intelligence I guess."

I have no problem with this post, but the original poster was asking about a group pounding small walleyes for several hours right off their campsite, that only came over because they saw them catching fish in an area where you could probably replicate this in several areas...you continually seem to support this bush league behavior in your posts...there is a big difference in what you seem to say and what happened to the original poster? If you think what happened to the OP is okay then I think you have issues and need to sharpen your fishing skills to at least becoming an average fisher person.

I have had people walk over and fish off my camp because it was at the base of a Falls and have no issue with that as we talked and had a conversation...where you camp determines your expectations. Based on the OP post that is not what happened in this case. Maybe you are not a jerk...but the way you post makes it look that way earlier. That might be your your EQ :)
T

sns: "When you have hundreds or thousands of other acres of lake & shoreline to choose from, setting up on top of someone else's campsite is the height of asshattery.

It's legal, so some people are going to feel entitled to do it anyway, but that just makes them self-entitled asshats.

Edit:
At its core, this is an EQ (Emotional Intelligence) issue. Having the ability to understand how your actions are impacting and affecting the people around you.

Ever deal with someone who stands too close, violating your personal space? (And for that, there is a societal aspect - in some cultures that 'normal' zone of personal space is smaller) Or saying something awkward, but not realizing they are making everyone uncomfortable?

Same issue. The person who cannot recognize that they are standing too close, or fails to recognize that they should not criticize your dear departed wife is the same person casting past your tarp."

Well-stated. I call it 'common sense'. Maybe it's not so common, after all.