What is a respectable distance and speed to pass a stationary boat

[skinnywater]

While running some of the local river systems, I encounter stationary boats, fishing. What do you think is a reasonable distance and speed for passing these boats.

Considerations: While on a plane, you make less wake, so it might be better to pass while on a plane. I slow, to a little above idol, but it takes longer to pass, and makes more wake, but seems more respectful.

I try to stay as far away as the channel will allow, but if they are ledge fishing on the edge of the channel, I am still closer than I would like to be.

I'm a new boater, and don't want to make my fellow boaters mad. When the weather starts to warm, and the boat traffic increases, this will be a harder questions.

What do you all think?

[esoxfly]

These are good questions. I fish Lake St. Clair, which is huge, but the traffic is incredible. As for rivers, my Mom and Dad live in MN on the Mississippi up where it's still a small little river.

I stay on plane while passing a stationary boat, as long as their boat is far enough away from me so as to not seem inappropriate flying by them.

Now, if they're in the channel fishing, then that's their problem, but just as much, you're responsible for your wake. So, if a boat is fishing in the channel, I'll pass them as safely as I can, and come off plane if I need to. But if they're IN the channel fishing, then they just took on the understanding that there'll be other boats passing at close distance, and they'll get rocked around a bit.

I don't know how large the river you speak of is, but use your best judgement based on the water. If some dude is fishing a weedline 150' away, then there shouldn't be any trouble going by on plane. Now if he's smack-dab in the middle of the river fishing, well he's taken on that understanding, but you still need to be safe, so slow down to a safe speed, and get by him. You don't need to go no-wake or idle, but be safe. If he's in a canoe, then yeah, watch your wake! lol!

There's too many scenarios to sit here and go through them all. Stay on plane when appropriate, but keep your hand on the throttle and your head on a swivel, and if you need to slow to make it more comfortable, then slow down. Weigh the effect of your wake against the proximity of your boat, at your speed to the other boat.

[roll tide triton]

well,the greater the distance, the greater the speed.i would only pass someone on plane if they were far enough away they couldnt hit me with a 1oz weight on a carolina rig on a super long cast,that should be far enough.i would not back off the pad to an idle unless you are going all the down to a slow level idle.nothin is worse than some jerk sitting down close to you ,and then fast idling by with the back end plowing down kickin up some ugly wakes.

[skinnywater]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the insight. I may be a little overly cautious on this, but specially, being a newbie, I don't want to make too many mad.

If you ever see me out on the water in my stratos, and think I have crossed a line, don't get in my face about it, but I sure would want you to let me know.
Thanks all,

[calfish1]

common sense is always the best judge.
I think of it like this, how close would you want some one to pass by you????
there are a lot of rude/careless people in all kinds of boats. if you set example, maybe just maybe they will remember your courtesy.

ok who am i kidding: boaters courteous

[Greenhorn]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by skinnywater &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thanks guys, I appreciate the insight. I may be a little overly cautious on this.....</TD></TR></TABLE>

More people should be overly cautious. I'm sure your at least considerate, probably more so than many.

[ezmuny13]

common sense,but i prefer to be passed with them on plane if plenty of room(safely) less wake

[esoxfly]

Me too. But it's funny how many guys look at you and raise their arms in a "WTF?" manner when you go down the river past them on plane at 80 yards away. "OK then, I'll just slow down next time and throw you a monster wake and see which one you prefer..."

Some people just don't know any better. But I agree, on plane, when safe is the way to go.

[jaybo]

We have alot of guys around here that like to fish the edge of the boat lanes and I can respect that but fishing there comes with the understanding that this is the boat lane and boats are gonna be passing you. I dont wanna have to idle thru 2 miles of boats before I can get up on plane. I stay as far away as the lane will allow and stay up on plane with as much of the boat out of the water as I can get. I have never had anyone run my down and get mad. On the river I do the same thing but if I am back in a cove or creek I idle past them since I feel like these are "fishing" areas and they are narrow and shallow so it makes for some pretty big wakes at times. If you are gonna shut down and idle past someone do it a long way back or the wake will just be worse when the boat plows back into the water. I feel like if you don't see a fishing boat until the last minute it is better to stay up on plane.

All of this is assuming you are in a bassboat and not some kinda barge

[billius]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by esoxfly &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Me too. But it's funny how many guys look at you and raise their arms in a "WTF?" manner when you go down the river past them on plane at 80 yards away. "OK then, I'll just slow down next time and throw you a monster wake and see which one you prefer..."

Some people just don't know any better. But I agree, on plane, when safe is the way to go.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I think we all know that unless you're very close to the other boat that being on plane does throw less wake then just backing down a little. I always slow down to just above idle. If you know that slowing down to say half throttle is going to throw a larger wake...why would you do that? Why would you slow at all?

[esoxfly]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by billius &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I think we all know that unless you're very close to the other boat that being on plane does throw less wake then just backing down a little. I always slow down to just above idle. If you know that slowing down to say half throttle is going to throw a larger wake...why would you do that? Why would you slow at all? </TD></TR></TABLE>

I don't actually slow down unless I'm too close. My "quote" in my above post about throwing a huge wake was just me being facetious.

I know my wake would be larger, and would rock their boat, and that's not what I want to do. Here on LSC, there are no manners, and the cruisers, powerboats, yachts, and jet skis will fly by within literally 30-40'. So it's not an issue here, and is sadly a free-for-all. But fishing the upper Mississippi at Mom and Dad's house, you come by on plane 70 yards away and quite often you get flipped off or the dude will stand up in the boat and raise his arms up over his head like he wants to fight....

So apprently not everyone knows that a boat on plane at a safe distance throws less wake.

[Bassin Billy]

1st I look at the issue of wether I am outside of the required distance set by the alw. The next thing I try to determine if I am big enough to woop his azz if me blasting past at a 100' is too close for the fella. I have had one occasion where I passed outside of the 100' limit set here and the fella wasn't too happy. When I sat down he come flying up behind me raising cain. I kindly told him I did nothing wrong and went to fishing. He never backed off and asked if I fished with a club and if I knew the laws. I told him I knew them and went ahead and gave him the name of our club. He explained how he was good friends with the president and was gonna cal him and complain since we were having a tx that day as well as report me to DNR. Well I never saw the DNR and guess what else?? He never bothered to call the club president either. Did I mentio that I was the president at the time for the 2nd year in a row?? Jackazz!!

[fishin fever]

I preffered to be passed fast..

[weedhopper]

Maybe I missed it, but as far as I'm concerned as long as you don't run really close (&lt;50') and endanger someone or run right over the top of where I'm fishing, go for it. On smaller waters is where this is more of an issue. I've made mistakes in my jet as well as my bass boat by running up on someone unintentionally. Ususally this happens when I'm eating my fried chicken while running up the river or talking to my buddy about our next spot. Give 'em as much room as is feasible.

[bothomas]

I fish in the channels. And I fish in channels that are only 30 - 40 ft wide. And in those channels you better not run outside of it unless at your own risk of catching a stump. Fly by me on pad and give me the ( what can I do?) wave as you pass and I'm fine. I know that the boat traffic has to come through here. If I need to run that channel and your fishing you better do the same thing I do, hear me coming and reel in your line, I'm not slowing down and it's going to let you get back to fishing a whole lot quicker. Any one who fishes a lot won't care at all. Like I said, Just give the 'ol yeah I know it sucks but I gotta get through here wave!! I think there's fish in them waters back there!!

[Gomer Pyle]

Judgement call. Open water or small channels. Some times the situation dictates.... idle speed . You guess wrong, they will let you know.

[winner89]

I like to get them wet just a little bit KIDDING! Stay as far away as your comfortable, and stay on plane!

[Palico]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by esoxfly &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
So apprently not everyone knows that a boat on plane at a safe distance throws less wake. </TD></TR></TABLE>

This is all too true. There is no way to satisfy all of them. Personally as long as your not close enough to be in danger of colliding I don't care. I just kind of judge each boat as I approach. If it's a bassboat or bayboat and I'm not with the 50 requriment for SC I just go right by. If it's a pontoon or jon boat I'll usually drop off just because most of them seem to not know it thows more.

[BasserJim]

if you are ever passing me.. go as fast as you can go......less wake that way.

[Ranger_519_vx]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Gomer Pyle &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Judgement call. Open water or small channels. Some times the situation dictates.... idle speed . You guess wrong, they will let you know. </TD></TR></TABLE>
I guess Gerald Swindle guessed wrong when he blew by that boat in an Elite tournament because they let him know with a big DQ.