If this is you....

Went to balsam yesterday and launched out from Coby rather than Rosedale for a chance. I myself caught two pretty nice pike (sorry no pictures). And somehow a perch, a nice smally was also caught by my brother. But one thing now stands out to me when I fish balsam: many people have no decency. Twice was our spot invaded by some ***hole. Looking around the lake and seeing tones of available spots, only to have a boat come and be right beside us. It was insane, funny how these people were fishing alone, I would think it's because nobody wants to spend a day fishing with a guy like that. I know nobody owns the water, but a shred of common decency would be nice. If you are any of these people, shame on you.
Enough said.

Guy two.

It happens all the time hard or soft water... If you don't like then move on like I do..not much you can do...

Who knows - could be specific structure here that they come to everyday and today they think that you are in their spot! Or they have a handful of locations that they try everyday regardless of how many boats are already there . . .

Hard to judge distance from the camera - they are not close.

As long as everyone is safe - what can anyone say?

Happens many times to me - and likely because I'm fishing specific and obvious structures. Not as if rest of Lake is as good.

When other come close to me I try and put in that extra effort to catch walleye (or anything) to show I'm catching when they are not . . .

We had similar discussions during the hard water season.

Thanks

Well it wasn't me but could of easily been. I don't know how much space you need but some guy quietly fishing along from what I see far enough you can't make out the numbers on the boat is well within reason for a popular south Ontario lake. I think if you want solitude well a fly in trip is for you.

This definitely happens a lot. Unfortunately more often then not...I was fishing on Dalrymple this weekend. We made sure to get up super early so we could get to the spots we wanted to fish. Every morning boats showed up real close to us. Yes boats can fish the same area.. but if I can catch your boat or your line...Your definitely to close.. nothing you can do about it though. Either pick up and move on, or hope to catch the big on in front of them. But I'm a firm believer in karma, what goes around comes around.

What I do is the same thing I do to telemarketers. I start random questions not caring what the answer is.
"hey.. what line you use?"
"hey... You have live bait that I can get some?" <-- I hate live bait.
"hey... I ran out of line you think you can hook me up with a spool of braid?"
"hey.. thank god you are around. My motor is acting up and I might need a tow across the lake!" <-- that usually keeps them far away.

"hey... You pack extra sun lotion I can borrow?"

If they are close enough that they can hear you talk... then fire away at random questions. If they cannot hear you... they are not close.

They seem to be at just the right distance, it's probably a good area and they've likely fished it many times before. I like to stay a little further away but anybody fishing from that distance from me or further wouldn't bother me at all. What finsfurfeathers said was spot on.

Lol fish4dinner! I like it!

X2 rivermaster...... The only way I would be upset is when they come flying in at 50 clicks and shut it down 50 feet from shore...
If I'm fishing and know that I'm going to be near other boats i always come in quiet either at an idol or with the electric!!!!

Fish4dinner what if the guy offers to rub the sun tan lotion on you.... Lol .......

fishmagnet

This happened a lot at Rice last week. At points, we had 7 to 8 boats in really close proximity to one another. Didn't really bother me at all. Nobody was being dangerous and people were getting excited when others caught fish. It was actually really cool.

My only concern was drifting into another boat because I was renting one without trolling motor/good anchor.

That is the nature of these really busy lakes. As you said, nobody owns the lake and people have the right to fish in your "spot". If it is a situation where they are being dangerous or disrupting the fishing, then you might be able to say something.

I hope nobody snapped my picture last week! ;o)

then he is definitely way too close! That is when you be the man and give up the spot!

Ya had that happen to us once or twice had enough of the bs of this I started to do 2 laps close to them then take off to find my self a new spot lol.

Interesting replies all around. For me, these guys were too close. The guy in pic two was well within casting distance. and the guy in the first pic was originally just ahead of our drift, but repositioned a little further ahead before I grabbed the pic. Though I am surprised by comments saying that that's not very close. Maybe I'm used to less busy lakes where it's not necessary to fish adjacent to other anglers. I could see it on a busy day, but like I mentioned, there were plenty of other spots around. If I see another boat, I keep well away, simply out of a mutual respect I have for other anglers on the water. Perhaps I just live in a idealistic world when it comes to angling.

Well, I'm off to the cottage In the highlands to bust some smallies on top water, and crank shorelines for even more smallies

Happy fishing.