This Is Why I Hate the Potomac! Language Alert!

Why do I hate the Tidal Potomac? I don't... I think it's an amazing fishery. What I hate is the traffic it gets. I hate the community hole style fishing that happens so commonly there. Like the Upper Bay, which I also think is a great fishery... It's a bunch of over crowded grass patch fishing in the spring. Honestly, I'd rather fish these types of places in the summer when the grass is in abundance and anglers aren't congregated into areas where new grass is starting to grow.
Just past mid way through this video, I had one of my least proud moments on the water in quite some time. It was a boiling point kind of thing for me. Day 1 was comical at how many people were in Aquia Creek. On top of the regular weekend fishing traffic, there was a 30-40 Jon Boat derby that went out of Hope Springs. There was also about 30 kayak anglers that launched there that morning. Day 2, traffic was light early where I was but mid morning, I was working down a bank. I was clearly moving in one direction at a decent pace. A bass boat came in off the main river and sat down directly in front of a dock I was working towards.
I may have over reacted but I'm not sorry for it. If the same circumstances were reversed (roles wise) that boater would have had choice words for me too. I said what I was thinking, exactly as it came to my mind. That is one of my biggest faults. I have a broken filter.
Good, bad, indifferent... I'm man enough to take the heat that comes in the comments. I'm not sorry for saying it.
KAYAK USED:
Innovative Sportsman Osprey 1436 & Custom Work
www.innovativesportsman.com/#/
GEAR USED:
Windrider Apparel
www.windrider.com/
Temple Fork Outfitters Casting & Spinning Rods
tforods.com/product-category/...
Bates Fishing Co. Reels
batesfishingco.com/
Yak Attack Accessories
www.yakattack.us/all-products/
Torqeedo Electric Outboard Kayak Motor
www.torqeedo.com/us/en-us/pro...

[@bryceybasses]

I like your content, I tune in regularly. Food for thought: you got mad because they fish “where you planned to fish” but you roll right up on people bank fishing? And fish their very limited cast zones?

[@JakeHarshman]

I see your point but in fairness, I never saw the guy bank fishing and as soon as I did, I asked if his lines were out before trying to get way out of his casting zone. The other people I conversated with were not clearly fishing before I got there. I try my best to give people as much space as possible when I fish. It can not be seen on the video because it was out of frame but when that boat sat down, his co angler pointed at me and he even looked my way. My point to him was, If a kayaker had done that to him, he'd have been pissed because in a lot of their mindsets, they are more entitled to water because their price tag to use it is higher. And that percentage number is well over 75% I'd bet. I appreciate you watching and I appreciate your POV. I'm not defending myself because I should have handled it better. I also don't apologize for anything I said, because I meant it. But I show the good, bad and ugly on this channel and I will continue. I hope my frustration and discontent is more controllable for me personally in the future.

[@curvinh6289]

That first line with that dude was insane 😂😂, I'm going to have to remember that one next time I get cutoff

[@JakeHarshman]

I blame the military lol

[@DougPABowhunter]

I am a new follower. I love how you handled those pricks in the boat.

[@JakeHarshman]

Thanks! I wish I would have not cursed though

[@DougPABowhunter]

@JakeHarshman it's hard to control yourself in a situation like that. I think you handled it well.

[@K.Welshh]

Awesome content here

[@JakeHarshman]

Appreciated

[@robswoodsandcustomsawmilli9940]

kayak fishing is great but what I dont understand especially here in pa. Is why dont we have tournaments in our creeks. We have so many great ones and boaters cant get there.

[@JakeHarshman]

I think access becomes an issue. And most kayaks aren't built for creeks anymore. They're more like mini bass boats

[@joshsiock3813]

i live in northeast pa.. and it does not matter what body of water i go to.. if a boater gets on the body of water i get followed and cut off the whole time till i just leave..or go to the back where they cant go.. its mind boggling how ignorant every boater seems to be in this state....

[@JakeHarshman]

I could have handled it better though

[@bbowen4629]

Don't let it ruin your day. It's not worth it.

[@JakeHarshman]

You're right

[@stevehardy7757]

If I were that dock owner and you rolled up on me and tangled my lines you would have gotten a fine cussing yourself. Everyone makes bad decisions, you don’t need to overreact the way you did. You never know how someone is going to react to your mouth.

[@JakeHarshman]

I apologized to the dock owner who I did NOT see fishing until it was too late. The cursing didn't occur with a dock owner, it occurred with an entitled, inconsiderate boater. Get your facts straight before you try to lecture me guy...

[@MikeWitmerNatureJournal]

So you don't like the crowds yet constantly post about the place to social media and support all these tournaments? If you choose to go to these "crowded" places then you are part of the problem.

[@JakeHarshman]

I've posted about the Potomac once this year and you commented on the video I posted about it. I don't like fishing in crowds, I typically try to do the things others aren't doing just to avoid them. I can't control where the tournament trail goes to, I just go there. Maybe I am part of the problem, thanks for watching... lol