River Etiquette

[rick james]

Hi all,

Everyone knows this time of year is arguably the best with explosive chrome fish entering the rivers daily. I'm sure, like me, there are many fanatics out there that get up at ridiculous hours of the morning to try to get to their favourite spots before anybody else.

Last week my bro and I walked in the dark through a thick forest to arrive before anyone else to one of our favourite pools about 10 minutes before twilight. Luckily we got there first.

The pool is ideal for 2 anglers but anymore and it gets crowded. The river we were fishing is large and has many other good pools but on this particular day there were quite a few anglers out so it did not surprise me that a couple guys fit themselves in at the tail-out.

However, what did bother me was their attitude. As they walked passed they looked grumpy as though we had ruined their day by arriving at this spot sooner than them. Neither hello, nor good day, nor even eye contact to acknowledge our existence. They fished for awhile and moved on not saying a word.

Personally I will almost always try to say hello or engage in some pleasant small talk or even for permission to fish next to somebody when I'm trying to fit myself in, especially in tight circumstances. Is it reasonable to expect this from our fellow anglers?

Also, a lot of times a fish will take me downriver and sometimes somebody takes my spot. Is that fair?

Tightlines,

Rick

 

[rich_ace_G]

There is no such thing as river etiquette during this season. it just doesn't exist. what does matter is respect. If no one gives respect to my space, expect not to get one in return. Seriously though, everyone has a right to wet a line even if it's a small pool, unless you can show them the deed to the spot, then there's really nothing you can do. When I fish, I'm very quiet as well. I don't do small talk because I don't want the other guy to lose concentration. I usually fish alone and don't mind moving around and hunt new spots. And always remember not all people are nice and not all people are jerks.

 

[Shawarma]

Also, a lot of times a fish will take me downriver and sometimes somebody takes my spot. Is that fair?

This here is an interesting question. Is it fair? Not really.. but it happens. And, of course, you just showed that you caught a fish in that exact spot, so they're going to stand exactly where you were standing and cast the exact same spot! lol

There's just so much river most of the time. I, personally, don't care that much as i'll move up or down stream.

 

[rich_ace_G]

or maybe next time just introduce yourself....

 

[fisgfreek]

And then you get the 6 or 7 guys that just get closer and closer and drive you off a pool. It never happen to me but I did witness it once on a east trib, it drove me nuts but I kept my mouth shut.

 

[FisherGirl]

I'm gonna have to start fishing like this...

 

[fishermandan420]

Dont chase fish. Id rather lose my fish than my spot!

 

[416fish]

Dont chase fish. Id rather lose my fish than my spot!

LOL sooooooo true

 

[Kit]

Lmao!

I'm gonna have to start fishing like this...

 

[chinooky]

I've had guys step in front of me while I was changing lures. Politely I tell them how cool they are at being arseholes and wish upon them snags and bug bites. Then I walk away. There's more spots.

 

[Shmogley]

I've had guys step in front of me while I was changing lures. Politely I tell them how cool they are at being arseholes and wish upon them snags and bug bites. Then I walk away. There's more spots.

this is what happens to me a lot. sometimes im even changing bags and they guy takes that as a cue to step literally right in front of me and annex the spot.

thats when i start swinging my float over his line and stare at him the whole time while doing it

 

[sidekick10121]

Do like I did. I had someone walk rite beside me (Same as you. Wouldn't say hey or anything when I tried). He kept casting rite infront of me when I was just about to cast. First time we tangled by accident. I pulled it back a couple times so we wouldn't again. After I
Noticed he didn't care we tangled bad a couple of times. He eventually left because of my "newb" mistakes haha. Just like life. Play dumb and plead ignorance when someone is wing disrespectful lol

 

[rich_ace_G]

Dont chase fish. Id rather lose my fish than my spot!

exactly what I do. there's a reason we put yards of line on the spool. Let the fish take some line. Hold your spot. I don't mind sharing pool with anybody...but those who doesn't respect "fish on" will get that treatment. had that at the opener. I was already fighting a fish when this dude just came over and cast right where I was fighting the fish. of course it was a mess. The guy fishing across the river waded by and fixed it for me cutting his line...lol.

 

[rick james]

I agree for sure everyone deserves a wet line no matter how crowded the river but I guess it wouldn't hurt the odd time to make a simple gesture of politeness.
As far as holding onto to your spot, yeah I can understand on a day like opener where you'll expect to hook many fish during the day and the spot is at a premium. But if it's one of those days where you might get a handful of hookups I would risk giving up my spot to do my best to land the fish, whether it's to take a pic, keep one for the table or just stare in awe at its beauty.