The Great Debate: HEY YOU'RE ON MY SPOT!

Is this unsportsman like conduct? But both want to win.
(Photos: BASS)

 Nothing can ruin a fishing day faster than arriving to your spot only to find it getting pounded by someone else. Tournament anglers are paying the mortgage with winnings. So, having your spot ravished by others can boil blood. But, and this is a big BUT, who's spot is it anyways? Several factors come into play. Is it pro vs. pro; pro vs. pro from another tournament; pro vs. regular Joe fisherman? Does it matter? 

Trout anglers have been fighting this problem for centuries. When the trout season opens or the run is in, fishing can be shoulder to shoulder. It is usually first come first severed. Doesn't make a difference who you are. If you wish to fish that spot so badly, come earlier is the trout guy's motto. Its one of the reasons opening day of steelhead (trout) lost its appeal a few years back. Fishing on the last Saturday of April in Ontario is a zoo. In the 1980s it was like the wild west. I've seen the police break up fights, seen tires slashed, beer bottles whipped and even a few guys thrown into the drink.


Bass fishing isn't that bad but the question still rages; who has the right to claim a spot? Why write about this now, well the last Bassmaster Elite tournament on Douglas Lake has a bit of a situation.
Aaron Martens and Brandon Card squared it off. Neither won the even but it did highlight a problem of fishing public waters.

Here is the live blog entry from BASS writer Greg Huff:

After hitting a few points on Muddy Creek with no action Aaron Martens pulled up on Brandon Card on a long point where my boat driver Stan Hackworth says there is a house foundation in about 20 feet.

Martens objects to Card being on the spot, saying he had not "seen him on it all week."

Card says "I have a lot of spots. I live here. You're not the only one who knows about this spot. This is the biggest community hole on the lake."

They debate it for about 10 minutes, with Martens cruising back and forth in front of Card.

Card boats two bass about two minutes apart. The first goes back. The second goes in the box and he culls. After that Martens leaves, taking his floatilla of spectators with him.

 Card is a local and fished this lake long before he turned pro. Aaron was Day 1 Leader and a true Elite pro angler. So which one is more correct or at fault? Do either of them have the right to complain?

Please comment. We want your opinion.