I'm 51 years old and have been a "bankie" almost my entire life. So I think I understand the frustration the bank fisherman faces. I broke down (with emphasis on "broke") and bought a sled 18 months ago. I've been running it on the Lewis and have done everything in my power to be polite. In fact, the last two times I've been polite, I idled down, dropped down lower in the water - and hit stumps as a result! Now here's my complaint: about a month ago, I had a bank fishermen wade way out into the water that I need to run to make it through a narrow slot. I dropped down to idle thinking he would move back a little bit and let me ease by him, but all he did was stand there and scowl at me. I would have happily idled by him, close to the bank, but he left me no choice. I finally had to put it up on plane, and blast right through the water he was fishing. I'm sure he's still cussing at me, but I had no choice. I think we all need to be polite, and and give each other some room - boater to "bankie", AND "bankie" to boater.

-- Hook