My main lake is way out in the boonies and electric only.  No boaters and all the morons that just sit on the bank and guzzle beer and blast music and such go somewhere else that's closer to home.  It's mostly regulars and we all know each other.  There is an occasional idiot but we recognize it pretty quick and work together to show the fool the errors of his ways.  Not with violence or anything but not allowing him access to good coves and that sort of thing...until he gets the hint.  And then he is welcomed.  or doesn't come back.  Either one is great.

Dont think ive had this problem while fishing... But duck hunting public land is a different story!...... Nobody with a brain would pick a fight knowing everyone there is packing a 12 gauge, but some people seem to have no brain 

Best advice... Smile... Theyre angry, so they want you angry too.. Dont give them the pleasure

2 hours ago, River Dave said:

I just have to wonder who are the bigger fools here. Is it the people who are harassing a fisherman and insinuating that he's gay for having long hair or the people that even remotely suggest shooting someone for harassing him and insinuating that he's gay for having long hair (or whatever the insult was)? The fact that firearms are even mentioned in a thread about "what to do about rude people" is a large part of the reason certain people go after the right to bear arms. Obviously you walk away from rude people, do you really need to be told that? Boys fight, men walk away. Unless they are robbing you or physically harming your family or something you ignore them and walk away from confrontation. If you ask me anybody that doesn't already know that should really think about leaving the gun at home.

I think most have suggested that he not shoot those instigators.

i fish at a couple of spots sometimes that have me looking over my shoulder, but i've never once had a confrontation with someone.  even there i'm usually approached by people who ask if i've ever caught anything here, what i caught it on, etc.  i know there's crazy, rude people out there, but from the way you talk it sounds like an abnormal concentration of such people.  

part of why i fish is because i can be out there, often alone, and not worry about a thing except for the next spot to cast or next bait to try.  if i had to also worry about which jack@ss would be the next to give me a fit, i'd find a new spot or a new hobby to be honest.  i've never been in a real fight and have ZERO intentions of changing that so i wouldn't do a thing except walk away and move on....

Sounds like you should change your user name to "fishinginthehood"

2 hours ago, the reel ess said:

I think most have suggested that he not shoot those instigators.

Yes, "most" but shockingly not "all". 

I couldn't imagine fishing in a stressful place like that anymore. I would find, and have found, a new spot if other people get to be a problem. I used to fish a lot of very urban areas and every once in a while one would get shady and I'd quit going there. One place got overrun with punk teenagers and one time one of them stole one of my rods when I made the mistake of leaving it out of sight for a few minutes. I knew one of them had taken it but it was stashed in the woods somewhere by the time I realized it was gone. I wanted to choke the life right out of every single one them but I did what I had to do and walked away and never went back. Hate to get chased away by some kids but I'm not going to jail for beating up a kid (I was in my 20's then) so I walked. It's really hard sometimes but it's what you have to do.