I am wondering about etiquette in bass fishing. In Mike Iocanelli's book, Fishing on the Edge, he describes a scene where he is fishing a some riprap and another angler comes up in a hurry and starts yelling at him. The other angler said that it was his spot since he had fished it in practice. This guy essentially ran Mike off the spot.

 

Mike says in his book that if 2 anglers are coming into the same piece of water, and if one of them has a good shot at winning the tournament and the other not, that the angler that has no chance is supposed to give way to the one that has a chance. Is this right?

 

Also I heard this, though I can't remember if it was in the book or on the forum or where. But an angler was fishing a long stretch of riprap on one end, and another angler started way on the other end. So the first angler drove his boat down there and run him off. If I remember correctly, it was a couple hundred yards of riprap. In this instance... should the angler that got there second not have started fishing the other end?

 

I hate to be rude, but I feel like, if someone is fishing a stretch of riprap, it's not wrong to work the other end, if you meet in the middle, someone goes around and you both work your way to the opposite end.

Bazoo said: "Mike says in his book that if 2 anglers are coming into the same piece of water, and if one of them has a good shot at winning the tournament and the other not, that the angler that has no chance is supposed to give way to the one that has a chance. Is this right?"

 

Only in his dreams! That is controlling manipulative talk right there. Heck no. That other angler that has no chance does not have to yield and let Mr. Special have his way. Domineering controlling manipulative language right there! Typical Ike. He's Mr. Special all day long every day as he sees it. Get out his way! Roll out the red carpet! The king has arrived! All hail king Ike!

 

If he had his way, everyone would be bowing to him and doing what he says and getting out of his way so he can walk all over everyone else and enjoy it.

 

Personally I don't mind it when that kind of attitude gets an external adjustment from others. 😁

 

Sounds like Ike just made that BS up for himself. Trying to create some Ike etiquette.

 

I'll probably catch some heat for this one. I bet some tournament guys would also like to enjoy the Ike power trip! Hey loser out of my way! 🤬 I'm inventing a new rule just for YOU! Er, no for ME! ME! ME! ME!

 

I'd tell Ike, if you want me to yield to you that if you win $100,000.00 and there is no hope of me winning at all, then Ike, you gotta pay me $5,000.00 to get out of your $100,000.00 grand way! No, make it $10,000.00 and a nyotaimori sushi dinner. Otherwise go win somewhere else!

 

I wonder if any other anglers would pay me to mess up Ike's day?

 

(Kidding. Don't take me seriously! This is tongue in cheek humor)

No.

I think it was Kevin VanDam. 

Unfortunately, there are recreational anglers who share Iaconelli’s perverted  sense of etiquette.  I’ve had words with guys,  including guides, who believed because they thought they were on a stretch of river first, they had laid claim to it from bank to bank.  And this on a river that is 250-300 yards wide, and me fishing the bank opposite them.  

If I were fishing a tournament and I had no chance of winning and the other angler did I would move. Why wouldn’t I? If the roles were reversed I’d expect the same respect. 
 

If I’m fun fishing and the other angler is too, we’ll meet in the middle….I’d move around them well before we meet…you get the point.

 

 

1 hour ago, FloridaFishinFool said:

Only in his dreams! That is controlling manipulative talk right there. Heck no. That other angler that has no chance does not have to yield and let Mr. Special have his way. Domineering controlling manipulative language right there! Typical Ike. He's Mr. Special all day long every day as he sees it. Get out his way! Roll out the red carpet! The king has arrived! All hail king Ike!

 

It’s not just Ike that thinks this way. This is basically an unwritten rule in professional bass fishing.

Oldschool fishing etiquette was simple common sense. 
As generations change so has respect and common sense fades.

Today you see tournament anglers are fishing within a few feet of each other were common sense the distance was at least a long cast or 150’ apart. 
1st boat on a spot it’s theirs until they leave then it’s up for grabs. This means you leave the spot is no longer yours to return to unless it’s not occupied. 
Tom

 

I appreicate everyones insight. I'm toying with the idea of possibly entering some local tournaments.

 

So basically, no matter what I do, unless I turn tail and run constantly, I'm going to step on someone's toes or trip on their ego.

 

I don't know what I think about that. I generally try to avoid confrontation.

Fish a few tournaments and see if it’s for you. There should always (might) be a weeknight league at your local lake. Inexpensive fees, mostly locals. There may be a bass club local to you that you can join. Go fish, have fun, use common sense, fish how you want to (within the rules) Don’t get pushed around by tool bag want to be’s and a club is a good way to learn some things and see if it’s for you. 

Only once in my life have I ever had someone who thought a particular spot was theirs.  Tournament or not, if you are on a spot it is yours.  I’ve never had someone say that I should move because they were fishing a tournament.  If that happened I would tell them to look closely in my eyes and see if they looked like I cared what they were doing.

33 minutes ago, Bazoo said:

I appreicate everyones insight. I'm toying with the idea of possibly entering some local tournaments.

 

So basically, no matter what I do, unless I turn tail and run constantly, I'm going to step on someone's toes or trip on their ego.

 

I don't know what I think about that. I generally try to avoid confrontation.

Listen to yourself, avoid confrontations and enjoy your time on the water.

Tom

12poundbass said: "If I were fishing a tournament and I had no chance of winning and the other angler did I would move. Why wouldn’t I? If the roles were reversed I’d expect the same respect."

 

Why wouldn't I move to give someone else a shot at winning?

 

I totally agree fishermen should have and show respect for each other, but in an MLF tournament it is not about showing respect to someone who might win. They could still wind up losing even if that spot were given up to them.

 

But the real issue is this... what if you needed the fish you were about to catch off that spot to keep your MLF rankings? And you give up that spot to someone who may or may not even win, and it costs you from being eligible for the next tournament because you just let him catch the fish you needed to keep ranking status?

 

"MLF angler standings are determined by various factors depending on the specific circuit, but generally depend on cumulative points rankings earned over two-year cycles or recent tournament results and total weight from matches."

 

"If MLF (Major League Fishing) anglers don't catch enough weight for a tournament, they are eliminated from the competition, with final standings determined by the heaviest weights."

 

So its not about respecting someone who might win. That is irrelevant to the rankings!

 

The fisherman who gives up a spot out of respect may be the nice guy here, but he may also lose his own rankings by doing so, and may not even qualify for the next tournament because he was nice and respectful to the potential winner- who might still lose. Giving up that spot could cost a fisherman $$$$$$$$$$.

 

This is where MLF rules make being the nice guy a bad thing! The rules turn it into cutthroat bass fishing! Just watch Ike! He's a pro at it! 😉

 

@Bazoo you seem like a reasonable guy so just use some of that while on the water and in a tournament.

 

I'm not a tournament angler, but I encounter them at times.  I try to avoid lakes that have a lot of competition because it pushes some to the limits, and often makes the fishing more difficult.  Each circuit will have their own rules on the distance they can be from another tournament angler, or another watercraft in general.

 

My personal buffer is casting distance.  I don't like other boats, kayaks, etc coming within casting distance.  My personal vendetta right now is with rowers as they are coming dangerously close to another collision with my boat while fishing.  

 

Over time you can usually tell how another boat is fishing; some go very slow and methodical, some move along quickly with an aggressive approach, covering a lot of water.  I usually fall somewhere in the middle.  I always ask myself "would I be upset with someone if they went there?" before I make my move.  If the answer is yes or maybe, I don't do it.

2 hours ago, Bazoo said:

I appreicate everyones insight. I'm toying with the idea of possibly entering some local tournaments.

 

So basically, no matter what I do, unless I turn tail and run constantly, I'm going to step on someone's toes or trip on their ego.

 

I don't know what I think about that. I generally try to avoid confrontation.

Sign me up as your co-angler.  I have absolutely no problem dealing with "confrontations".  I'm not suggesting that I cause problems or act out.  28 years as a police officer and the past 6 years working full time as the firearms training coordinator for a police academy has taught me the ways of the Jedi in dealing with threatening ultra-Karens.  You fish and I'll watch your six.  😎

I’ve been fishing competitively throughout the SE in MLF and B.A.S.S. tournaments for years as a co angler and volunteered to Marshall a few Elite Series tournaments. 
 

It has been my overwhelming experience that a competitor on the very low end of the leader board who has a low chance to improve his standing will yield to an angler fighting for a top finish or for overall points   

If I entered as boater I would absolutely yield to another who had a better chance to finish

 

It’s a choice, but more importantly 

It’s called professional courtesy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

Generally if I know I’m just donating (not in contention), I’ll let the guys in the hunt have the spot…..If I’m sitting on a decent sack, then all bets are off. 
 

If I’m working toward another competitor, I try and get 20 yards or so away and go around. 
 

It is really all just common courtesy- most in the tournaments subscribe to it. 

@FloridaFishinFool on the water Ike js a fierce competitor. He’s fishing for his lively hood. He also is the guy who won’t leave till everyone has an autograph from him. When he talks to kids he doesn’t stare down at them he will drop to one knee and make them feel involved, comfortable, encourage them. He will make them feel like they are talking to a human not a hall of fame pro who just doing it to make face. He is in my area often fishing recreationally. Know him before you throw him under the bus. His true character. His true character is giving back to the sport specifically the children and getting them involved. 
 

I completely agree if you have a shot at winning but, I’m not even going to make the cut tomorrow I should move. You shouldn’t ask me but I should yield. That’s respect.
 

On a one day tournament at a local lake? I am not moving an inch im competing  for the same money.  If I am out recreationally  fishing sometimes I ask if I can go by someone that I am not intruding I’m going way over there just need to get by because it’s narrow. If I’m recreationally fishing and I know tournaments are going on I will give them more room.

I agree Ike can be a good guy, but there are times when he is not like what he did to this local in following video.

 

A guy is working down a bank fishing minding his own business and in blows Ike going around this guy to get in front of him just so he can do some mapping ahead of a tournament. He stirs up sediment and grass and messes up this locals bank ahead of him.

 

Now Ike said he was sorry, but if you listen to Ike he is telling that local I am more important than you. I have to mark my waypoints or whatever ahead of time. He is trying to win the argument of just having messed over a local. No amount of words from Ike can fix this. He did it. A complete lack of respect because Ike thinks he is more important and what he is doing should take priority over everyone else.

 

This is NOT being a good guy here as I see it. Ike should just say he is sorry and move on and stop trying to win an argument over what he just did to this guy. This is thriving on causing trouble. This rubs lots of people the wrong way. And that is why he is viewed as the Bubba Wallace troublemaker of pro bass fishing. Ike has no one to blame but himself. And this cannot be written off as fierce competitor because competition is NOT happening here. Messing someone else up for his own selfishness is what this is.

 

And this is why Ike gets thrown under buses. No, he walks out in front of them and gets run over all by himself with this type of thing right here.

 

His words are domineering and controlling. "Come talk to me like a man!" And "Turn your engine off" and barking all kinds of do what I say language. Why? This is an ego issue right here. A lot of guys would just rather avoid him if this is how his "fierce competition" ego plays out. Respect is supposed to be a two-way street. Not just one-way.

 

 

In following video they say its a semi-final day and you have to be in top 12 if you want to fish the finals. And, on this spot or hole are a limited number of fish.

 

KVD and others are already on the spot hauling in fish and staying apart and respecting each other no problems. Then in blows Ike. He slides in and starts casting into the same area KVD is casting into. And then Ike yells "Community hole bro!"

 

KVD says "Not cool!" Ike says if you want me to leave just say so.

 

Where is the respect etiquette rule at play here? Its not. This is fierce competition? Hardly. This is the ultimate in disrespect moving in and trying to take it over and take it for himself and KVD rightly calls him out on it.

 

Again, Ike is the one throwing himself under the buses. For the rest of us it is just great entertainment watching and listening to him do it and then try and use controlling manipulative language to try and justify his selfish self centered behavior. He KNOWS he is causing trouble. I think he wants it. Thrives on it and captures it all on camera so he can get views and his name out there for any reason is good publicity to him.

 

Or, I should say disrespect is not fierce competition. It is simply being a jerk. And he's very good at it. I'm not throwing him under any buses. He does it to himself over and over and over.

 

Fierce competition does not include being in the wrong over and over again.

 

But I agree there are times when Ike can be a great guy. He's just abrasive and controlling.

 

 

Even the other bass pros have issues with Ike. Listen to Greg Hackney here as he clearly says while Ike is screaming- "If he was my kid I'd be giving him a spanking right about now."

 

What we have in Ike is not just a fierce competitor, but an egotistical arrogant jerk at times who throws respect out the window quite often just to try and win tournaments and always rubs a lot of people the wrong way.

 

Again, its not me throwing him under any buses. I do believe he does it to himself.

 

 

 

Mark Zona even did a short compilation of Ike meltdowns- an ego maniac seeking attention and intentionally being a drama queen. That is how Ike is viewed and its not just me. Mike Iaconelli IS the Bubba Wallace of pro bass fishing. Always causing trouble everywhere he goes. And then trying to argue his way out of it when he is completely in the wrong. Here comes another bus Ike!

 

Can you say I am wrong with my observations?

 

Gotta love Mark Zona's description of Ike being nice... "Whether its in a bassmaster classic or whenever, when Mike Iaconelli catches a fish he has an allergic reaction to HIMSELF!" Is fierce competition always being the loudest drama queen on the lake? Does he really have to go there? Pure ego. Not competition. Ego. That's how I see it. And it won't change until Ike changes.

 

Because of how he behaves, often unjustly too, Mike Iaconelli freak out videos are a great teaching tool for kids getting into bass fishing. Here kid watch this guy right here freak out. Don't be like him! This is what you don't do! Sad but true. He throws himself under buses.

 

I think I have allergic reactions to Ike too!

 

 

I am not a fan of Iconelli. Honestly could care less what kind of person he is off the camera. His behavior on camera and in tournaments is obnoxious, loud, and rude. Not helpful to the sport IMO.

To the OP, just fish the tournaments man....It's not this dramatic in real life.  Lots of hot air in here by people who seemingly don't have actual experience in tournament fishing. 

 

Are there jerks out there?  Sure, just like any other day on the lake or any other situation in life.  It's not the norm though.  There's a lot of camaraderie and respect out there on the water that doesn't get noticed by outsiders because it doesn't make headlines or boost youtube views.  

 

You got people here pointing at Ike for examples of negativity or whatever....The guy has a had a 30+ year career in tournament fishing and there's what, 5 or 6 incidents with him in these videos?  If a handful of incidents over 30+ years is the 'worst' example, I'd say it's not that bad out there.  FWIW, he's a been a class act in all my interactions with/near him - Good person in my book.  

I like Ike. He’s spastic and obnoxious but watching him scream at birds or Zona’s reaction when Ike fell off the boat really made me laugh. 

Just now, Logan S said:

You got people here pointing at Ike for examples of negativity or whatever....The guy has a had a 30+ year career in tournament fishing and there's what, 5 or 6 incidents with him in these videos?  If a handful of incidents over 30+ years is the 'worst' example, I'd say it's not that bad out there.

I was going to say this. 
 

@FloridaFishinFool I’d rather have someone who shows emotion and passion than be another robot. They aren’t being paid a salary to fish. They are gambling their money in hopes to win tournaments to make a living. That’s why almost all are just content creators to make ends meet or have their own  brand.  As far as being loud saying come talk to me. Turn your motor off etc. that’s meeting confrontation head on. I have had many many arguments go from yelling saying F you to talking through what actually happened shaking hands and exchanging numbers after. Maybe that’s just the Philly/NY/NJ way. 

@gim I think it is. I knew two pro anglers before I ever really started watching pro stuff. Ike and KVD. I had no clue who Rick clunn, Jacob wheeler, Roland  Martin, anyone else you can think of. 

I tried to point out for Ike it is not just about drama and passion and emotion. It was about him being in the wrong. Disrespecting others over and over.

 

To your point of gambling their money to make a living is precisely why a person should not give up a spot to a potential leader. If respect goes both ways then the little guy losing may need those fish to stay in competition. The "leaders" should respect the little guys too and let them have their fish so they can stay in the competition game. On this one I disagree with that respect goes only one way to the leader to give them what they want at my expense. The little guy is there to win too. He has every right to those fish if that is what keeps him in competition to make his living.

 

This unwritten rule to submit and bow out to some leader who may or may not win should be at play when $100,000.00 is on the line and elimination is imminent if you show respect in only one direction. The whole point of competing is to win and move up. Knock the top guys off and move up. Not just give it all away and call that respect. The little guy is being disrespected by those demanding respect be given to them. Respect should be two ways, not just one way is my point.

 

Now if you want to bring that etiquette rule into local tournaments where its not a big deal, no real money on the table and giving up your spot and fish does not hurt you or cost you ranking status or eliminate you from competition, then sure, let the big dog eat. But not when it cost me my income at my expense on fish I need to stay in competition. It is the rules of the game that dictates which way respect is to go. Its not one way or the highway as I see it. Respect should go both ways.

 

Just my opinion.

 

As for that confrontation with the local, Mike was NOT confronting conflict head on. He was causing it. The local was driving off. Leaving the drama queen. It is the drama queen who called him back basically calling him a sissy for driving off. Come back and talk to me like a man. Come back and let me run you down, over power you with my how did you describe it the "Philly/NY/NJ way"?

 

No, Mike was not confronting conflict head on. He was causing it and then profiting from it on camera for his views and likes and on camera drama he is famous for. The local was leaving confrontation behind and Mike instigated it and propelled it and videotaped it carefully for his viewers. He does this on purpose so we won't agree on how you spin this one either.

 

I'll stop it here. I have said enough on this subject and don't want to keep going for my part. Justifying Ike being Ike cannot be worded away. Not with him or here. Ike is just Ike like you said the "Philly/NY/NJ way". Your words. Not mine but they work just fine.

 

As for tournaments. I have fished local tournaments only. The little guy weekend warrior tournaments with a little pocket cash on the line. I hated it. Still do.

 

When I am at a boat ramp and I see the guys with clipboards in hand and I am backing boat into the water and they come up to me, "hey do you want to fish in our tournament tonight?" I politely refuse because I know what they really want is more pocket cash put into the kitty, and I tell them, thanks but no thanks, I fish for fun- meaning turning fishing into work is not fun for me. Besides I can't stand the politics of it all.

 

Here in Florida I am surrounded by tournament guys and guys who run tournaments and all I hear is whining and complaining on a regular basis about this guy did that or that guy did this and so and so blah, blah, blah. That's not fishing. Too much politics for me so now I avoid it and rather just mess with them. I stay out of their bass clubs too. What a load of BS those can be. Lots of Ike's all over the place. Even here on this forum.

 

Sometimes I go to Whitey's fish camp when the fish killing weigh ins happen just to watch all the drama. Quite the entertainment along with dinner and fish killed floating in the water.

 

When I fish the St. Johns river one of the things I despise out there are the tournament guys pre-fishing learning what they need to know ahead of a tournament. They often follow locals around using binoculars to spy on locals. Tournament fishing has become a circus. It takes a certain type of mentality and ego to put up with it. Ike is perfect for it. I am not. God did not give me a funny bone. I prefer fishing alone privately and quietly away from all the drama. Count me out.

Bazoo, I was “raised” in tournament fishing by some old school guys. Don’t fish tournaments anymore but still try to follow the rules.

 

Yes, if you’re out of the running you should show deference to a competitor that has a chance to win if they ask, not demand. When you show respect on the water, if the roles are reversed hopefully that angler will do the same for you. 
 

It all comes down to respect from both parties.

25 minutes ago, FloridaFishinFool said:

Lots of Ike's all over the place. Even here on this forum.

Count me in on this than. You and I are never going to see eye to eye on anything ever. Doesn’t make you or I a bad person. Just complete opposites.