Perch Fishing Etiquette, Am I missing something?

I've done hardwater fishing for perch on Simcoe for years and in the summer I primarily target walleye (not on Simcoe). In both cases, for the most part (there are always exceptions), everyone respects others personal space and maintains a reasonable distance. I just think of that of basic fishing etiquette as well as common sense.

I have recently taken up fishing for perch on Simcoe during open water season, and while I understand that perch often congregate in the spring and fall and that can often lead to a large number of boats in a general area, why do people feel its perfectly acceptable to fish literally 10 feet away from your boat especially if they see you catching fish? I routinely have encountered others who come within spitting distance of where I am fishing and when I ask them if they wouldn't mind backing off a bit, I get they "do you own the lake?" response or the blank stare like "you expect me to understand what you are saying?" response. Very rarely have people respected the request to back off and allow a bit of space. Seemingly catching perch prevails over common decency. What gives? Is it too much to expect basic common fishing etiquette to be followed when it comes to perch fishing on open water? Am I missing something? Are my expectations too high, and I should just adjust them accordingly? Just trying to understand if there are different rules when it comes to perching open water on Simcoe. Thx

There's all sorts out there, some understand, some don't and some don't give a hoot, the mentality of society we have to deal with. Don't know if you ever did the Orillia perch derby 25-30 years ago, weekends were more of a gong show than anything else.
It's like the Owen Sound Spectacle, you would think people could grasp the idea of somehow alll going in a big circle of sorts but there's always some Richard that has to cut across lines, or some Gibony trolling 700 feet of leadcore through the middle of the flotilla and then getting mad.

Well its common knowledge that all the fish are in one spot, so you must have found "THE" spot.

I have dealt with my fair share of morons when perch fishing.

Had folks even run their big motor between three boats casting to the same area peacefully even though there were no boat around either side of all three of them.

This is why for the most part I don’t pack fish perch at all. So many other good spot WAY away from the pack.

If you do pack fish I have nothing against it. You just have to be ready for a lot of stupidity IMO.

this happens on all bodies of water and fishing for any species. You don't need to be in a pack, can be the only boat for 2 miles and someone will find a way to cut you off or go whizzing by within a few meters. that why I always mark my spot I'm fishing with a big X on the bottom of my boat.

I generally try to fish away from people. I'm actually a very social guy, but fishing to me is a peaceful and serene activity.

Short story: years ago was ice fishing cooks Bay, a ways away from anyone. And walked kms to do so. Guy in his car pulls up right beside me and starts fishing and doesn't say a word. I pack up move a couple hundred feet away and set up again. Half hour later, he's beside me again fishing one of the holes I drilled. I made that hole my new dedicated urinal hole after that.

Some people don't get the hint.

My own personal rule is 200 feet (60 metres) minimum. That applies to both hard and softwater as that is the distance the MNR lets you be from your second line on the ice. As for expectations regarding others - i have none as the percentage of %^&*s is just too high.

never ends this thread, the best one I got was on Simcoe jigging for lakers, open water, I'm on spot lock, boat comes screaming across the bay pulls up beside me and the big hairy Grizzly Adams type guy yells at me for being in his spot. Well apparently if you mark a spot on your sonar you own it and no one is allowed near it. I never knew that, everyday on Simcoe is a learning opportunity. I own a lot of that lake I got way marks all over it.

If I was in a spot and someone stopped 10 feet away and started fishing and was rude about it. I think I would reel in my rod and commence pounding the water with one of my oars while hollering ###### you too....lol.

Arnie

When they get too close to me when ice fishing I go to my side imaging.

Arnie

There is no getting away from this especially fishing perch and then for ice fishing it's trout and whitefish.

some people will just never get it unfortunately and i have given up trying to be polite or attempting to dialogue with them

If it irks me enough i will just move if possible

similar situations arose many times while trolling on lake O when Iwas on a tack and 4 guys in a tinner would constantly zig zag and get way to close to my boards. I would try to yell over and ask them to back off before we crossed lines, but nope they would just carry on......meanwhile there is miles of open water lol

I finally gave up and told my crew.watch this........a planer board mast and large boards win out every time against those pesky little duckie boards

after that they would pay attention

Yes perch fishing in the anchored boat clusters on Simcoe can be 'interesting".

Sorry these events spoil your fishing trips.

Have dealt with 'close fishers' and spot hogs for years..

In the boat, I almost never anchor anymore or throw out a buoy marker. I just use the minnkota and putter around, if perching near boat packs, I stay outside of the cluster and slowing move around until I find a few perch and then fish. It's not really an advantage to stay anchored for Simcoe Perch anymore IMO, the jumbos move around quite a bit and I just move around to find them. More often than not they swim more than 100 - 200 ft away from the boat packs.

I go out on a charter with Tony in Owen Sound and we have the same fools playing near the boards.....so annoying.

Arnie

Yup, have seen it all. One year on the ice buddy drove his little sno-dog up so close he could peer in our bucket. Didn't say a word, not even an acknowledgement when I said "Hello."

On open water it can be worse. We try to keep our distance, and most anglers seem to as well, but there's always a few who seem unable to control their boat or are just ignorant. The ones who show up 2hrs after everyone else and then just drive right into the middle of the group - and usually also the ones who talk at the top of their voice.

I fish open water with a fairly heavy sinker or jig on, and am not afraid to demonstrate my casting range in the direction of a boat that is piloted by someone who doesn't appear able to judge distances.

The schools are big and move a lot, there's no need to get so close... but saying that, often the terrain outside the group holds better fish anyway...