[#0000FF]I was raised in a large family of anglers. As a kid in Idaho, our family counted on adding some fishy protein on every trip to supplement meager budgets. But I was taught that it was important to respect the rights of others and to avoid crowding other folks...and to always ask permission if I thought I might be getting too close. It was also kinda understood that if someone asked nicely, you should allow them to fish nearer than if they just barged on in.
Over the years I have both laughed and gone ballistic over the shameless unsportsmanlike conduct of many of my fellow anglers. Some just never had good teachers to point them in the right direction. Others learned bad habits from being around others with those same bad habits. Still others know the difference between right and wrong but do not think rules and codes of conduct apply to them.
Amazing how some fellow anglers justify anchoring on top of the spot you are fishing...or tromp through the hole you are fishing on a stream...or join you in fishing a small spot just because "Hey, this is where I always fish." Some of the most obnoxious will walk up to the area you are ice fishing and start fishing holes you drilled...without even a howdy or asking permission. They just move in like it was their right to do so...because "Hey, you weren't fishing that hole."
We all have different backgrounds and different ideas about fishing etiquette. Thought it might be interesting to hear from a few others on A. how they deal with wanting to fish an area that someone already has a clear claim on. B. how you handle someone moving in on you...too close...when you are obviously fishing in a defined spot. And C. just how close is "too close" in different situations.
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This is a very interesting topic. I have been on Strawberry Ice fishing when some one told me that about 100 ft was too close, and at other times I have been invited by complete strangers to come sit next to them and wet a line. It is all subjective to your tolerance level. The point is to be respectful and courteous. We all pay for the privilege. If someone is in your spot, ask politely and if they turn you down, move on and set your alarm earlier next time. Odds are they will say sure and you will make a new friend.
How fun would it be to mess with someone that crowded in on you. Picture a guy that comes over by you when you are fishing on the bank. If you think he is too close then just give him a friendly greeting, pull in your line and go over shoulder to shoulder, in his personal space, and cast your line right on his or across his. Just snuggle right up to him and see if he likes that.
Option B - Kick the %$%^# out of him. Normally, I am not a violent person but sometimes you just want to smack these guys.
My motto is - kill em with kindness.
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Hey I will go first on this one, since it is an obvious reference to your post about the whitefish run on Bear Lake.
A) I try to give the other person plenty of room. If I end up getting too close I will move if given the chance. If the person already there decides to blow up I usually laugh it off cause there's no reason to blow up. Also you have NO claim or rights to anything. You are after all on PUBLIC land and waters, and live in a very populous area relative to what is available to use.
B) If someone moves in close to where I am I welcome them. Ask how the fishing has been. Knowing the answer for them is not so great or they wouldn't be moving close to me. Then offer them some advice on baits, presentation etc. I have literally done that on multiple occasions when someone has netted my fish for me, when I clearly didn't need that help. (Think Green River in it's hay day in the 90's. I have a funny story of my brother literally peeing on the boot of the guy next to him while reeling in a fish.)
C) This is impossible to answer because situations vary way too much. I have stood shoulder to shoulder with total strangers and been happy to wiggle in, or let others wiggle in too. I have had guys blow up when I was a half a mile up stream and our clients were catching fish while his were not. When someone moves into a hole I just drilled in the ice, I have given them a jig that was working.
My point is life is too damn short to blow up. Speaking kindly and saying simply "hey you're a little close" will go much further than telling someone to F-off and then going to truck to sulk and leave. When you choose to get salty at best you can hope to get laughed at, and at worst you will get salt and anger back.
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[#0000FF]Great comments.
Personal apology for any offense I may have given in your direction.
The reason for this thread was not to rub salt in old wounds but to just point out that there really are different ideas on the subject...not all right and not all wrong. And there always has to be some latitude for specific unique situations.
Like yourself, I generally go out of my way to help others...especially if kids are involved and I want to help them catch something. And, also like yourself, I have handed out not only advice but samples of the lures that are working best...and even tie them on the lines.
I am a sucker for a polite request...like "can you help me" or "do you mind if we fish here". But I get get a bit miffed when someone just moves in and takes it for granted that I won't say or do anything when they mess up my fishing, tangle my line or let their kids or dogs run rampant...tangling lines and eating bait or personal food.
I live by the philosophy "Anything not clearly understood is misunderstood." Misunderstandings are what causes divorces and wars. Don't need any more hostility and misunderstandings in the peaceful pursuit of fishies.
Peace.
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Merry Christmas
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Thanks Guys... Later J
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this is why i fish the lake less fished! [
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[#0000FF]But not all of us live in Sanpete. We gotta be sociable...or not fish.
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Couldn't agree more Pat! I'm a firm believer in giving people their space, it's called RESPECT and I realize it's becoming an extinct term these days.
No matter...it's always good to help someone who needs help be that advice or bait or ice jigs, or a flat tire.That is called being decent.
Merry Christmas my friend. Keep on keepin on!
D
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I don’t mind fishing next to others even in a tournament
All I ask is let’s get to know each other and have some fun
Numbers are drawn for a reason, if you crowd me I’ll catch your line every cast.
I treat others like I’d like to be treated.
Please don’t park on my fish, stand next to me and I’ll give you some bait.
Some folks are way to serious when a couple bucks are on the line.
The only exception is CJ strike, there is no etiquette there.
Some guys own everything.
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[#0000FF]Merry Christmas back atcha. Good luck on the ice this year. Maybe see ya afloat next summer.
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[#0000FF]Ain't it amazin' how putting up some money in a tournament or contest brings out the "best" in some folks? Friendship, sportsmanship, ethics and even legalities go out the window...all to win a few bucks or get bragging rights.
I used to fish some of the early bass tournaments in California...when you couldn't even make enough to cover expenses if you got top prize. But it got so competitive and cutthroat that all the fun went out of it. I have made it a point to stay away from all competitive fishing since then. Take away the fun and you got no more reason to fish.
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[quote dtayboyz] if you crowd me I’ll catch your line every cast.
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THIS is how to deal with shoulderhoppers every time.
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For myself it's common sense and respect for others.
If Ice fishing I try to get away from the crowd. I try to stay a least 100 ft from others if they were there first. In my boat I ALWAYS try not to get close to others while they are still fishing so they don't have to put up with a big wake, especially float tubers, I even slow down. I hate when I'm still fishing a lake and some bozo comes trolling by so close you can almost hand them a soda. I ALWAYS let them know it too.
But now matter where you go there will ALWAYS be some idiot with no common sense or respect. For the most part I'm a pretty frendly person but can get pissed.
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My dog has mellowed out a little in the last few years, but she'll still lose her mind if someone gets within 20 feet or so and I don't greet them. People move on pretty quick if there's a growling dog circling around them. Once I go say hi, shake hands chat for a bit she's ok but if I don't choose to, let the barking commence. So far it's worked 100% for me. Of course I'm often the guy sharing tips and bait, I'll tie stuff on for people's kids or even other guys but if a grown man walks up to me on the lake in a spot I've spent some heavy calories getting to and plops down next door, he's probably choosing a spot where he's not catching fish today.
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Hey TD, I'm glad you started this topic. I wanted to post on the other thread, but didn't want to hijack- it was getting interesting. You and Scott are pillars of the fishing community and I have a ton of respect for both of you, but I could not believe going after out of state guys and tourney anglers. Why not go after a different demographic, like incomes less than $30,000 or people in small boats or missing teeth or over 60 guys that lost their edge? First off, this was a small scale derby with really nothing on the line, ask Mike- I think he placed and won like $50. To think the 20+ anglers put undo pressure on the lake is laughable, and in my opinion would be the more considerate anglers. I've seen tournaments that have a lot on the line that incite unfavorable behavior, but this was not that. I''m not even sure out of the 100's of people fishing how you could tell the derby anglers. I agree, there was plenty of pressure. My thought it was the weather, which was spectacular or reports (thanks Mike for the help) or people knew it was just time to get them. I can attest there is some people that like to fish tight to you. We have been on the lake fishing for macs 5 of the last 6 weekends and just killed it this year. My worst day was 8 fish, and had 2 days of over 30- all fish between 8 pounds and 20ish. We put well over 100 big fish in the boat. When some people see you catching like that they instantly think location not presentation and move in on you. I don't let it get to me, even though there were several times I could have jumped from my boat to another boat without getting wet. My thoughts are that if you choose to fish where and when fish congregate, so will fisherman. I'm guilty of following the fish. I love fishing Henry's on the opener or sitting at Targhee creek in July, stripers at the damn in April at Powell, first ice at Mantua, Reds on the Russian (I actually hated that one), or macs/whitefish on the rocks at BL. If you don't want people close to you, don't do any of those. If you choose to, be prepared to get cozy. Its not everyone that violates personal space, 1 in 5 or 10 and its hard to tell how close is too close, but when someone crosses that line, look out. This year I saw one of those old guys on Henry's that fish every day totally fill a guys boat by going full throttle with his motor raised and aimed, all because he got within the no go zone. It appears accceptable distance is different in all of these cases, at Henry's if your long casts don't cross your good, but miss judge by 10' and its on. On the Russian river its apparently 4' between people and your good. My guide is if you both cast long and they don't touch then your good and if they do, try not to loose it and fill up a poor guys boat with a 115hp shower. We all do this for the same reasons.
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[#0000FF]My comments on the negative effects of the contest on the whitefish harvest were purely secondhand from Scott. He has been on the lake for years and has seen many whitefish runs. And his observations were simply that there were a lot more folks chasing them this year than in previous years.
Ditto for the Wyoming guys. Scott got an unwelcome chance to see them up close and personal...with their yellow Wyoming stickers on their boats. They made several "strategic moves" on other boaters with established positions that literally ruined the first boaters' fishing. And when offended boaters voiced their displeasure they were completely ignored...not even any "salty" language.
No need to go after any specific angler demographic. For the most part, fisherfolk tend to be friendly, helpful, kind and courteous...like boy scouts. But there are representatives from all segments of anglerkind that either use poor judgment or else seemingly go out of their way to irritate and bully others. How we deal with it is an individual matter.
I too have racked up a lot of "memorable moments" of combat fishing. Some angling spots...during some times of fish migration or congregation...just attract the masses. If you can handle the craziness and the melee then join in and polish your medal for masochism. If not, find somewhere else to fish.
As I have mellowed (I think) with advancing years I have purposely avoided fishing in crowds...if for no other reason, simply to keep my blood pressure down. Getting all hot and bothered by the wackos is not good if it results in a heart attack or stroke. Anyway, I have long enjoyed the peace and tranquility of fishing either by myself or with only one or two carefully chosen fishing partners. If I plan it right, I do not put myself in a position to have my blissful reverie shattered by some doofus with more boat than brains...who wants to get up close and personal and share my bliss.
I have not yet reached a zenlike state, in which I can simply close my eyes and chant my way back to inner calm when assaulted by ignorance or attitude. But I have become better able to quickly assess an unpleasant situation and to talk myself out of mayhem when I recognize that an explosive reaction on my part will do little or nothing to change things.
I've said it before and I'll probably say it a lot more times. I fish for enjoyment...not endurance.
But, back to the topic under discussion. My basic feeling is that "too close" is subjective...based upon the location, the species, the type fishing involved and just how sociable you are. Under some conditions...with clear water, shallow water and skittish fish...noisy intrusive "help" from another angler joining you without invitation can totally ruin your chances for success. Otherwise, look on the bright side. A chance to meet new people and make new friends. We can always use more friends.
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I've always lived by a "two-cast" rule. If my long cast lands where your long cast lands, I'm too close to you.
I haven't found a way to impose that rule on other folks, though.
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