fly etiquette

[fishermandan420]

This morning i was fishing (with my gear not fly)on a very urban(busy) river and when i went down to the pool i wanted to fish there was a fly dude in it workin down with his indicator rig. no prob. it was a longish pool, and i could have low-holed him like i would have another pinner(if he was anchored lol), but i waited and told him to fish through first when he told me to jump in below. we shot the breeze about flyfishing while he fished, and buddy offered me a fly, which i thanked him for and dropped in my box of hooks. now heres my quandry- should i have offered something back? i know its totally rude to not take the fly offered (not that i would) but im still learning the "ways of the fly" i didnt have my flybox with me, but i could have offered up my fave bead colour i guess. can anyone help me with the general convention of "the fly trade'' ?

And to Steve pleasure to meet a gentleman on that stretch. dont see too many. thanks for the sj and if we meet again ill hook you up with a secret weapon of mine

 

[miles]

very nice to head of a gentleman on the river.

I enjoy a bit of conversation on the river as I'm often by myself for long periods of time and don't mind having a chat but some can be outright rude on the rivers.

I have offered a number of fly fisherman beads without them taking them haha they like to stick with their flies.

On the bead topic I just got a bunch of lip on another board on the bead topic with a bunch of people calling me not just a liner but an outright snagger...

 

[fishermandan420]

this guy had beads in his arsenal, sorry riv but i dont really want to start the bead debate here aswell.

 

[miles]

Sorry my bad

 

[ChaseChrome]

I often give flies away on the water, though I do so never expecting this to prompt an exchange of sorts...so wouldn't worry that you've transgressed some secret fly code...

 

[weemalky]

I would consider it for what it was and we need more of- a random act of kindness, simply pay it forward someday. I often wonder if I'm transgressing some unspoken secret river codes as well so I simply try to follow the golden rule.

 

[LogJam]

"pass it forward" next time your on the river give something to someone else! and maybe they will do as as well.
i was fishing a small creek once, i was getting some nice fish on a panther spinner, i had a few of the same in my box, a father and son were also fishing just up from me. the father came down to where i was and chatted for a bit. he told me he was not haveing much luck and asked what i was using to get the few i did, so i showed him what i had on, he didnt have anything but worms and hook for him self and his kid, so i gave him one of my "lucky" #2 panther spinners, not even 10 min later his son was catching fish... (trout not shiners)

it really makes ya feel good inside knowing just one small gift of a lure, spinner or fly can make someones fishing day that much better!!!!

 

[fishermandan420]

thanks guys. ive only been "fly fishing" for a couple years, but have tied flies for pinning on and off since i was 17 (i still suck!) and have given lots away. just didnt know if it was customary to give one back. i have never expected anything in return wen giving them away either. guess that should have been a clue

 

[jshannon]

Over the years I have gave flies to other fisherman and don't expect anything in return. I have provided flies to Spin fisherman,float fisherman and flyfisherman.