I carry in the boat but not on me while on the water. 

Lately I've been thinking about it.

 

I got into a slight altercation the other week with a guy that was treating his wife or girlfriend terribly, along with his dogs.

 

I'm not one to shy away from speaking up.

 

He shut up pretty quick after I mentioned having the park ranger and or police stop by to see how things were going.

 

He could have easily drove over to the boat ramp where I was paddling to.

On 7/21/2025 at 3:12 PM, HawkeyeSmallie said:

Lately I've been thinking about it.

 

I got into a slight altercation the other week with a guy that was treating his wife or girlfriend terribly, along with his dogs.

 

I'm not one to shy away from speaking up.

 

He shut up pretty quick after I mentioned having the park ranger and or police stop by to see how things were going.

 

He could have easily drove over to the boat ramp where I was paddling to.

 

Thank you for your courage.

Last year I was fishing a lake with a golf course next to it.  A guy came by the shoreline in a cart and stopped and hollered;  "Are you catching or just fishing?"

I replied;  "Are you golfing or just hitting?"

It was meant to be funny but he got MAD instantly and started cussing me.  I pulled away but later when I headed for the ramp he was there waiting on me and wanted to fight.  I'm 75 and this guy was a young, very large man.  I don't back down from a fight but I eventually talked him out of fighting because I knew I was gonna take a beating.

Since then I have thought about packing a pocket pistol.  Haven't done it but it could be a deterrent when my talking skill doesn't work.  Sad!

@Lottabass he was probably drunk.  A lot of golfers participate in it for the social and alcohol aspect of it.  Most are also not very good golfers.

 

You did the right thing.  Forget about it and move on.

1 hour ago, Lottabass said:

Last year I was fishing a lake with a golf course next to it.  A guy came by the shoreline in a cart and stopped and hollered;  "Are you catching or just fishing?"

I replied;  "Are you golfing or just hitting?"

It was meant to be funny but he got MAD instantly and started cussing me.  I pulled away but later when I headed for the ramp he was there waiting on me and wanted to fight.  I'm 75 and this guy was a young, very large man.  I don't back down from a fight but I eventually talked him out of fighting because I knew I was gonna take a beating.

Since then I have thought about packing a pocket pistol.  Haven't done it but it could be a deterrent when my talking skill doesn't work.  Sad!

Pretty scary. Especially when a younger person like that wants to take up fists against an older man over nothing. I'm glad it didn't end much worse for you.

4 hours ago, Lottabass said:

Last year I was fishing a lake with a golf course next to it.  A guy came by the shoreline in a cart and stopped and hollered;  "Are you catching or just fishing?"

I replied;  "Are you golfing or just hitting?"

It was meant to be funny but he got MAD instantly and started cussing me.  I pulled away but later when I headed for the ramp he was there waiting on me and wanted to fight.  I'm 75 and this guy was a young, very large man.  I don't back down from a fight but I eventually talked him out of fighting because I knew I was gonna take a beating.

Since then I have thought about packing a pocket pistol.  Haven't done it but it could be a deterrent when my talking skill doesn't work.  Sad!

I could argue that this is a reason to NOT carry. While you seem to have a level head, I can envision a lot of others who, when intimidated by a younger larger man, could perhaps both pull and use the gun instead of continuing to de-escalate the situation. I have no strong opinion about carry or don't carry...I feel it is totally up to the individual (and of course local laws). I am just playing Devils' Advocate here...

I carry all the time. I have a permit, but it is not needed anymore around here and was never needed when fishing. Mine gun is not for the scumbags, though it would help. It is mainly for dangerous animals. I have seen huge gators and water moccasins swim pretty close to my boat. Granted, a small pocket pistol may not do much, but nice to know its there. If any of those critters decided to take a rest on my boat I am afraid I would unload the magazine and probably shoot a few holes in my boat. Like Indiana Jones, I do not care for snakes. Anything that can move that fast with no legs or feet, I want no part of. The gators are normally just curious and will watch you fish for awhile before they get bored and swim away, Unless it is momma protecting some young, or some idiot has been feeding them, then all bets are off. Also, do not catch a small gator on topwater, if your line holds up your combo will most likely not.

I carry bear spray when I am bank fishing in bear areas.  

13 hours ago, Kirtley Howe said:

I could argue that this is a reason to NOT carry. While you seem to have a level head, I can envision a lot of others who, when intimidated by a younger larger man, could perhaps both pull and use the gun instead of continuing to de-escalate the situation. I have no strong opinion about carry or don't carry...I feel it is totally up to the individual (and of course local laws). I am just playing Devils' Advocate here...

I agree with you.  Your logic is exactly why I haven't got a pistol with me now.  There is a fine line between when to pull it and when to use it or not.  It would be easy to use the gun instead of de-escalation in a situation of fear and stress.  I hope that I, or anyone, never gets in a situation like this.  Thank you for your reply.

Carrying a firearm is not just a decision to be made off the cuff without any consideration. When it comes down to it while I am an American and I believe wholeheartedly in the second amendment and that every citizen should have the right to defend themselves, but there are some out there who are just not cut out to carry a firearm. It is a very important personal decision that does not come without serious responsibility and a little training. As far as pulling your gun and using it. It is a simple formula that is applied to a complex problem. A firearm should always be your LAST option when all else fails. If you carry then you need to be mindful that your are carrying a firearm and things are a bit different for you. Your first option should always be leaving the conflict. If that is not possible then avoiding physical altercation. Your mindset when it comes to carrying should always be de-escalation. Not aggression. If all else fails and you are under reasonable threat to your life then a firearm is justified but not before. This is the fine line that you need to understand before you carry. It will never be ok to shoot someone because they yelled at you or they hit your boat or destroyed property. ONLY WHEN YOUR LIFE IS IN DANGER OR SERIOUS PHYSICAL HARM IS IMINENT. If that's not a commitment you are willing or able to make then carrying a firearm might not be for you.

Some really good posts here.

I have friends who have a hair pin trigger when it comes to demeanor, quick to anger.

Those types of people make me nervous with a firearm hanging off their belt.

We should avoid any and all altercations. Imo

I've carried for many years and never once thought I was Clint Eastwood 😁

 

On 7/31/2025 at 10:10 AM, Lottabass said:

Last year I was fishing a lake with a golf course next to it.  A guy came by the shoreline in a cart and stopped and hollered;  "Are you catching or just fishing?"

I replied;  "Are you golfing or just hitting?"

It was meant to be funny but he got MAD instantly and started cussing me.  I pulled away but later when I headed for the ramp he was there waiting on me and wanted to fight.  I'm 75 and this guy was a young, very large man.  I don't back down from a fight but I eventually talked him out of fighting because I knew I was gonna take a beating.

Since then I have thought about packing a pocket pistol.  Haven't done it but it could be a deterrent when my talking skill doesn't work.  Sad!

 

@Lottabass:

 

Yikes, Al! I hate that this happened to you. I wish the Bass Resource gang had been there. We'd have been snarling and snapping at him, for sure. Did anyone in the area defend you? If not, they're cowards. I can be a coward, but when I was a teacher working with tough kids in tough places, I was fearless because the situations demanded courage. That situation should have demanded courage from those in the area: a 75-year old man being threatened by a big, young thug. 

 

FWIW, I did buy a handgun (I already owned a long gun.). I don't carry it when I fish though because a canoe is a WET boat and I don't want to clean it every time I return from fishing. If I have to carry it a waterproof case, that's not much protection. I make do with my super-strong spray, a big can that I hook on my right pocket, so it's right there if I were to need it. If I were to meet a bad guy or bad bear in the woods, they'll experience the greatest pain of their lives. 

4 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

@Lottabass:

 

Yikes, Al! I hate that this happened to you. I wish the Bass Resource gang had been there. We'd have been snarling and snapping at him, for sure. Did anyone in the area defend you? If not, they're cowards. I can be a coward, but when I was a teacher working with tough kids in tough places, I was fearless because the situations demanded courage. That situation should have demanded courage from those in the area: a 75-year old man being threatened by a big, young thug. 

 

FWIW, I did buy a handgun (I already owned a long gun.). I don't carry it when I fish though because a canoe is a WET boat and I don't want to clean it every time I return from fishing. If I have to carry it a waterproof case, that's not much protection. I make do with my super-strong spray, a big can that I hook on my right pocket, so it's right there if I were to need it. If I were to meet a bad guy or bad bear in the woods, they'll experience the greatest pain of their lives. 

Katie, there was nobody around at the boat ramp so I was on my own.  I have thought long and hard about carrying a pistol.  I bought a small derringer that shoots .410 and will carry that from now on.  It won't kill but will disable an attacker.  I left my phone laying in the boat so I was in a bad spot.  Hopefully just pulling it will stop an attack, I really don't want to pull the trigger, but don't want to end up taking a beating.  I hate to admit it but at my age and health a beating could be the end.

2 minutes ago, Lottabass said:

I hate to admit it but at my age and health a beating could be the end.

 

I hear ya, Al, When I'm walking through the woods with my fishing gear and there are roots and rocks and it's dark, I feel my fragility.

 

I think, "You can't fall or you might break a bone and never do this again."

 

I feel as safe with my military-grade pepper spray as I would with a gun. You're supposed to test spray it once a year to make sure it's still pressurized, so I did this in a wetlands on a calm day, one short burst. Then, when I walked through that area about five minutes later, even though there must have been the merest amount in the air, my lips and eyes started to burn. I can't imagine a full, concentrated blast to the face. 

12 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

I hear ya, Al, When I'm walking through the woods with my fishing gear and there are roots and rocks and it's dark, I feel my fragility.

 

I think, "You can't fall or you might break a bone and never do this again."

 

I feel as safe with my military-grade pepper spray as I would with a gun. You're supposed to test spray it once a year to make sure it's still pressurized, so I did this in a wetlands on a calm day, one short burst. Then, when I walked through that area about five minutes later, even though there must have been the merest amount in the air, my lips and eyes started to burn. I can't imagine a full, concentrated blast to the face. 

Thank you, Katie.  I will get some spray and display that on my outside and keep the gun in my pocket for a last resort.

On 8/1/2025 at 7:41 AM, IYAOYAS said:

Carrying a firearm is not just a decision to be made off the cuff without any consideration. When it comes down to it while I am an American and I believe wholeheartedly in the second amendment and that every citizen should have the right to defend themselves, but there are some out there who are just not cut out to carry a firearm. It is a very important personal decision that does not come without serious responsibility and a little training. As far as pulling your gun and using it. It is a simple formula that is applied to a complex problem. A firearm should always be your LAST option when all else fails. If you carry then you need to be mindful that your are carrying a firearm and things are a bit different for you. Your first option should always be leaving the conflict. If that is not possible then avoiding physical altercation. Your mindset when it comes to carrying should always be de-escalation. Not aggression. If all else fails and you are under reasonable threat to your life then a firearm is justified but not before. This is the fine line that you need to understand before you carry. It will never be ok to shoot someone because they yelled at you or they hit your boat or destroyed property. ONLY WHEN YOUR LIFE IS IN DANGER OR SERIOUS PHYSICAL HARM IS IMINENT. If that's not a commitment you are willing or able to make then carrying a firearm might not be for you.

This is an excellent post and ties in along with my mindset.

 

My though process is "will this event be worth my family having me in jail for many years if not forever". I view it as if I lost the likely court case and investigation that will come after it regardless of how legal and justified it is. With how things are in the world common sense isn't there and I cant guarantee a fully justified reason will be enough to walk away innocent. I need to be able to live with that choice and what it means for my family. The hope is everything is justified and I'm released, but I need to accept the other possibility completely or it isn't worth using it.

 

Saving my family's life or harm coming to them? Yes

 

Saving myself if they aren't around and no other options? Yes

 

Saving someone else if/after my family is safe? 50/50, dependent on the scenario. I may have a hard time living knowing I could have saved someone's life and chose not to just to make my life simpler. Lot of variables for things that fall into this category.

Pepper spray/OC can be effective but it does not work on everyone. And many people are able to fight through it, but it may be enough to get away from that person. I would start there if you cannot diffuse a situation. 
 

If you are going to pull a pistol on someone, you better be fully justified and ready to use it. You can’t think maybe it will scare someone, or maybe it will just wound them. It is meant as deadly force ONLY.