Boating--Slow down when passing someone fishing or keep going?

Depends on the distance. In close quarters (small canal/bayou) I slow down and idle. If I can keep about 30+ yards of distance I stay on step. I won’t throw a big wake on step. When I’m in my kayak I’d rather people stay on step if they have enough room.

This thread should be fun.

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But lately when going out fishing some people wave you by and want you to pass at full speed on by

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This is me. I don't anchor or fish in deep water so I try to keep any passing boats to stay on plane. I don't want people getting stuck or having to idle to deeper water.

If I can give someone 100 feet of buffer then I just keep on running. Any closer and I'll drop down to idle if the water depth allows. If I see little kids on the boat I'll do my best to slow to idle but on plane I put out such a small wake that sometimes it's better to get past them quickly. If it's someone I know then I run straight at them and throw it into neutral at the last second.

Camps and house boats are shite out of luck unless there is proper legal no wake signage or something forces me to pass within casting distance of their dock or boat. As long as I'm in the middle I'm not slowing down.

I usually slow down before I get near them, and idle by, unless they wave me through, then I frickin hammer down son! lettem know who the big dick around here is!

As highway to the danger zone plays in my head while I hit max speed of 25mph in my flat bottom

What about people who put up homemade no wake zone signs by their camps? How do y'all feel about them?

Most of the time i signal to other boats to keep going, but if I’m in a skinny canal, i think they should slow down.

Different situation here on the Tennessee River than you guys in LA but similar as well. With ledge fishing being so popular here on Pickwick it can be like an obstacle course in the main channel here.

I went last Monday and there was a boat about every 50-100 yards since there was a big high school tourney going on. 380 boats plus locals made it pretty crowded. I ran about 40-45 and gave as wide a berth as possible when passing boats fishing and that's generally what everyone here does. If I am runing WFO I will also slow down to 50 or so when passing anyone while trying to give no less than 50 yards if possible but preferably 100 if possible.

Now if I go in a small creek or slough I idle in and out if someone is there. But on the main river I stay on plane. There are places you can't run unless you are in the main channel due to shallow water, rocks, etc. so you can't always give as wide a berth as you want if they are sitting in the main river channel.