Post by: 7mmfan on June 10, 2011, 05:35:24 PM
Today however it seemed like guys were searching me out just to fish over me. Twice today I walked past groups of guys in prime water, chose to fish substandard stuff so as to not get in anyones way with my chosen tactic, just to have guys walk in short distances DOWNSTREAM of me and start fishing over my gear. Not a short distance downstream of my fly, but literally casting over my neon green can see it from outer space floating right on top of the water, fly line.
My dad raised me as a gear fisherman, i've caught close to 1000 steelhead on drift gear, float gear, and hardware. He also taught me that when you walk up to a run, if there is a guy already there, start upriver of him if you can, as he's probably working his way downstream, unless its an obvious shoulder to shoulder game. Its simple river etiquette. Thats when your using conventional tackle and can fish the water right in front of you. When you are swinging a fly, your not fishing the water in front of you, your fishing the water 30-60 feet downstream of you. So when a guy walks in 50' downstream of you and starts fishing, he is effectively cutting you off at the knees. He's standing in the water you are fishing. Now i'm not asking for the whole damn run, I just want someone to not start right on top of my stuff. Start upriver of me like your supposed to.
My ultimate question is, are these guys ignorant of the tactic I am using and simply don't understand it, or do they just not care, or a combination of both. I gave up a long time ago getting into pissing matches with guys over this stuff because no one ever wins, it just ruins both of your days. I just wish people would stop, observe, and think for a minute before they start fishing a run, and learn some damn river etiquette! Maybe I just need to quit complaining and :cryriver: (its high enough already) and put my fly rod away. :dunno:
Post by: Button Nubbs on June 10, 2011, 05:54:05 PM
I honestly think people don't care.
Post by: mallard79 on June 10, 2011, 06:46:37 PM
Post by: 7mmfan on June 10, 2011, 10:03:26 PM
Post by: Button Nubbs on June 10, 2011, 10:33:48 PM
Post by: sebek556 on June 10, 2011, 10:40:42 PM
Post by: FC on June 11, 2011, 02:33:14 AM
The rudest guy I ever saw was at Hoodsport while fishing for chums, it was my little brother's first time fishing for salmon. He was wearing knee boots so I kept him off to the side and taught him how to fish it, some guy walks up and casts right over his ROD and then just starts fishing while holding his rod at about 90 degrees to my little bro and only 6 inches over the top of it! His rod was crossing my brother's about a foot ahead of the reel seat, I had never seen anything like that in my life and pointed it out to the guy only for him to start mouthing off about how I was in the wrong! I was completely blown away! The guy actually repeated the same cast and I gave up and told him to crank up and GTFO of there before we found out how long he could hold his breath underwater...Not my finest moment maybe but he did go away.
If people are being jerks you should probably let them know (quietly), they might not understand that they are crowding you and you can at least try and educate them. If they don't want to move you can always go somewhere else and hopefully not be pissed since you didn't get into a screaming match.
Post by: Bigshooter on June 11, 2011, 04:22:41 AM
Post by: rtspring on June 11, 2011, 04:47:16 AM
Post by: netcoyote on June 11, 2011, 06:11:45 AM
Post by: ICEMAN on June 11, 2011, 06:12:51 AM
Sometimes I think that this world could use a good ol' fashioned pandemic to help thin the herd....
Post by: Button Nubbs on June 11, 2011, 06:17:08 AM
Post by: Rhinoron247 on June 11, 2011, 06:32:24 AM
:bash:
Sometimes I think that this world could use a good ol' fashioned pandemic to help thin the herd....
Especially if "Character and integrity" were the only vaccines!
Post by: singleshot12 on June 11, 2011, 06:38:57 AM
Because of these bubble fisheries fishermen have to resort to being clustered in one small area. So it comes down to a competative, not caring, me me mentality to catch a fish. Too bad it has come to this.
Post by: rasbo on June 11, 2011, 07:24:24 AM
Post by: xd2005 on June 11, 2011, 07:46:05 AM
With that said, if I had been that person and someone came to me and let me know what I was doing, I would express my ignorance, apologize profusely, and make them go back to their spot while I moved along. I'm sure there are others just like me that probably don't even realize what they are doing and until they are told will continue to not know.
Post by: pianoman9701 on June 11, 2011, 07:46:18 AM
I agree with FC that you talk with them about it. If they truly don't know, they'll move away. If they're a$$hats, then you just have to accept that's what they are and move on yourself. It doesn't make for the fun that you expect when you leave 1st thing in the morning.
Post by: BigGoonTuna on June 11, 2011, 10:26:41 AM
people just don't give a *censored* anymore.. it is in all aspects of life not just fishing.when i started out, you pulled something like that and you'd hear about it from the other guy. you don't hear much on-river etiquette talks any more...you're more likely to hear the drunk dipstick who just made a cast over your line ranting at you for getting in his way!
everyone packs into spots like sardines any more, not just the old terminal zones like blue creek(which interestingly enough, has had many places surpass it in the crowded clusterf*ck category, like the skokomish and mouth of the toutle, yet it's still the standard for comparison).
river restrictions being tightened, access being lost, and the internet making reports available for any slob to glean information from(face it, the guys chasing reports tend to be the kind that stumble into your spot at daybreak toting a case of busch lite, ask you what river it is, and then starts casting of your gear and trying to snag fish) have all led to the "i got mine, screw you" mentality.
Post by: Skillet on June 11, 2011, 10:47:35 AM
"Hey, big F-ing ocean, ain't it?!?"
Post by: Ripper on June 11, 2011, 02:04:06 PM
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on June 11, 2011, 02:16:30 PM
Post by: FC on June 11, 2011, 03:00:38 PM
I reeled in and recast putting it right beside their boat and promptly hooked an oversize fish. I couldn't have scripted it better.
A little bit of poetic justice there :chuckle: :chuckle: nicely done!
Post by: Bullkllr on June 11, 2011, 10:06:09 PM
I believe the proliferation of terminal fisheries has spawned a generation of new "fishermen" who honestly think that's the way it's supposed to be. All they know is Blue Creek, or the Skok, etc. And if it's fine there, they why not anywhere else?
Really, its a big problem; I don't see it changing anytime soon. Some of these guys need to "start over" with an ethics manual and no reliance on terminal hatchery areas to depend on.
Post by: sakoshooter on June 11, 2011, 10:07:20 PM
Post by: longknife on June 12, 2011, 08:34:22 AM
I understand the river thing, but there are PLENTY rocks for lings, and open areas for sturgeon in the warm beach area! I understand you were the first one there, but thats what makes a day of fishing fun, to out fish the others on the water.
If your first to arrive, that should be your area, but its a sport, dont claim it! It has been claimed by others in the past, that let you in.
That river thats close(wont say any names) theres only a couple "hot spots", and boats stack in like crazy! Its moving, and catching to show them up, thats the prize! Adapt and overcome the situation.
Dont get me wrong, i will fish the SAMMISH for ch#@$t sake. Everyone wants the same thing, bite your lip, and out fish them. :twocents:
Post by: Ripper on June 12, 2011, 09:01:33 AM
Post by: longknife on June 12, 2011, 09:29:07 AM
Have had other boats in the river within 4' of my boat, and anchor. Everyone is out to have a good day, and have fun catching fish. We all love the sport, just no reason for yelling at eachother on the water.
Im just saying if you are a new guy/gal, and dont know, the one yelling is the a$$hat to them. Its nothing that can be taught by screaming at someone for their first couple times out. I think asking is a huge part to newbies! If they would ask, or be respectfull, i would give a spot up, just to see the expressoin on their face when they hook up. Never met one yet!
I used to get pissed off, and yell, but now, i just shake my head, and move on.
Post by: chongo469 on June 12, 2011, 10:06:35 AM
Post by: buckhorn2 on June 12, 2011, 10:06:46 AM
Post by: longknife on June 12, 2011, 10:54:42 AM
i think we all are better than that...
Post by: 7mmfan on June 12, 2011, 11:34:14 AM
Too my surprise, he started walking up the bank towards me. He asked how I'd done and if I'd been fishing much. We talked a little bit and he ASKED if it would be ok if he started fishing up above me. No problem man have at it. I finished swinging the run and on my way by I told him to have a good one. He stopped me and asked about fly fishing with a spey rod. I gave him a demo and little instruction, 5 minutes later he's casting 70 feet and low and behold, he gets throttled about 3/4 the way through the swing. It didn't hook up but I think it hooked him.
I didn't catch anything that day but it was nice to feel a little respect and camaraderie and see a new guys eyes light up when that steelhead tried to yank the rod out of his hand.
Heading out again tonight for an hour or two. Something about skating a dry fly in the waning light that puts a guys soul at ease...
Post by: Ripper on June 12, 2011, 02:56:04 PM
Post by: JimmyHoffa on June 12, 2011, 03:23:14 PM
Post by: singleshot12 on June 12, 2011, 03:43:41 PM
Post by: CAMPMEAT on June 12, 2011, 04:14:26 PM