On Roosevelt Lake, AZ at the Arizona Kayak Bass Anglers Tournament, after a morning of good fishing on the water Bennet Shulkin of Bennet Fishing was in search of bigger bass near the trees.
Tournament Angler is crowded by a pontoon in this viral video
“I was on to a decent pattern when a bow fishing boat passed me, cut me off and tried to shoot a fish right in front of me,” said Shulkin.
Shulkin went on to make small talk with the bow fishing pontoon that had cut him off as the pontoon made itself at home in the prime fishing spot. Shulkin did emphasize that because waterways are public, the pontoon’s actions are of course completely legal, but it’s often considered bad form to drop in on an occupied fishing spot.
“I didn’t let it ruin my day and just kept on fishing,” added Shulkin.
While Shulkin handled the incident without altercation, the comments section of the viral YouTube video were far more heated.
“This is like standing next to someone at the urinal when all the others are open,” wrote commenter tweedlebahz, highlighting that while dropping in on someone’s fishing spot certainly isn’t illegal, it’s most certainly awkward.
Space on the waterways: when kayak fishing gets heated
Issues of space and fishing are a hotly debated topic in the kayak fishing community and Skulkin’s encounter was hardly heated compared to others.
When a landowner threatened to call the police on kayak angler Ray Borbon, an argument ensued about the legality of fishing near private property. In a different, inflammatory video YouTuber Alex Rudd is fishing at a bass tournament when a bass boat buzzes Rudd and yells profanities at him on film. In yet another frightening incident, Travis Shearer has a near-miss with a motor boat on collision course with him that diverts at the last possible minute.
Bennet Shulkin fishes a while a bow fishing pontoon sets up shop nearby. Featured Image: Bennet Shulkin | YouTube.
This is a gross violation of the Dude Code