I have a personal code regarding fishing a location taken by someone else: stay one long cast away from the other boat. An exception to this might be fishing near a specific structure, like a pier. If there is a boat fishing in front of one pier, if the distance is 'fair', fishing an adjacent pier may be OK. I am curious about your opinions.
Fact: Recently on Tichigan Lake, a local was fishing at the end of his pier with a bobber thrown out. I was casting shoreline. I used the electric motor to go around his pier to get to the next one. I stayed more than a long cast away, certainly away from his bobber. I went to an adjacent pier and caught a largemouth. This prompted him to scold me for fishing 'his area'; I was 'too close' to his property.
Fact: During a fishing tournament on Tichigan ( I was NOT part of the contest), I had a big strike on the surface. Nice bass jumped over the popper and a big splash was seen and heard. Within a few seconds, this huge bass boat was right behind me. To their credit they were throwing where I was not throwing. But I could have pitched any lure under-handed and landed in their boat--they were CLOSE.
Fact: While fishing the Fox frequently, there have been a few skiers who really push the envelope with how close to a fishing boat they get. Is there a rule in this regard?
Over the years, I have seen and heard arguments of fisherman to fisherman, or fisherman to land owner, or fisherman to water skier. We know of 'road rage'; there is also 'water rage'. I dont believe there is a State rule on the minimum distance between different lake users.