Fishing Forum

I took my two sons to a local community pond tonight to get some fishing in with the hopes of getting my kids excited about fishing. When we arrived the place was pretty busy. I found an open spot and started fishing with the boys. We found a school and quickly caught three fish. Our good fortune was noticed by other anglers there. Next thing I know I've got someone casting next to me, putting his lure about 2-3 feet away from mine. Then another guy started casting his spinner from the pier over my lines, snagging one of them. Does proper fishing etiquette not apply to the community ponds? Why can't others understand that you should not encroach on others space when fishing. That was extremely annoying when I was obviously already actively fishing the spot. At least ask me, I may not mind as much, but if you are going to just cast right were my lines are obviously placed...PLEASE!!![mad]

Anyway, my kids did have fun catching the three rainbow trout. Take a look at the attached photo.

I did explain to my boys proper fishing etiquette so they do not become inconsiderate anglers in the future.
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Thats frustrating,but its the way it is in any outdoor activity I see it out in the marsh and and my private hunting club.No matter how hard you try it seems you cant get away from the bubba's.
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People are just rude this way, happens to me too, more so on the smaller ponds...I'll usually say something like "you wouldnt come over and still my hole would you" and they usually leave...anyhow nice bows, is that farmington pond by chance?that rock looks familiar.
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Glad the kids had a good time, sorry to hear about the tanglers. They are more and more common at the community ponds. They are there mostly for dinner........not the day out on the water....dont get me wrong, I like fish, but its not the reason I fish. These people with do ANYTHING to get a small trout.

Glad the kiddos had fun,

Shawn
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Don't feel singled out. I will find a place on Utah lake to catfish with my daughters away from any boat in sight but sure enough there is a water skier that has to show me how cool his boat is and run right by me. Back in the day...I thought having a fast fishing boat would get me away from other anglers or boaters, not true. Unfortunately, you can't fix stupid.
Regardless, nothing is better than having your kiddos catch fish and to see the s on faces. Congrats!
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I was happy to see I'm not the only one frustrated by the unsportsman like conduct of some of our local fisher people. I took my wife on a Steelhead fishing trip last week. On the first day of our trip we weren't able to fish in the hole we usually go to as there were others fishing in the spot we normally like to fish. I told her that if we wanted to fish in that spot that we would have to get to it early the next day. So we did jut that. We got there before first light and were ready to catch fish. An hour into the days fishing one of the older gentlemen fishing in the hole the previous day asked if he could come down and fish down from us. "By all means" I responded. He was polite and a good distance away from us. 30 minutes later the rest of his group started moving in on where we were fishing. I guess since they had fished there the day before they felt they were entitled to the spot again that day. Now I know that they have just as much right to be there as I do but to come down and fish literally within an arms length of me was just ridiculous!! One even made a comment jokingly that maybe they could crowd us out of "their hole" if they stayed long enough.I guess I must have greater patience as they finally went home to Rexburg in frustration . My wife and I stayed to catch many fish that day.
My father and grandfather taught me that this type of conduct was unethical. The thing was that these men appeared to be in their late 50's and you'd think they would have known better. Even worse is that they probably pass this conduct on to their children and grandchildren. That's what our children will have to deal with in the future. Sad. [:/]
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I clipped a guys line once for doing that to me. He socked me in the chin but I held my fishing spot.
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Good job on the fish. To bad about the jerks. The only time I've came in and fished that close to another person
was in Alaska and whats know as combat fishing where its pretty much shoulder to shoulder.

Otherwise when I'm fishing and see someone else having success while I'm getting skunked I just go ask them what their using and ask for tips if their willing to help me, if I'm still not successful I just keep fishing and take over their hole when they leave.

I think a good rule to follow is "The Golden Rule" only adapt it to fishing. "Fish as close to other as you would want them to fish to you'' if that makes sense. I'm kinda a pushover and really if someone came and fished close to me I'd move.

Good Job on the fish again. Looks like your boys had fun.

Mike
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I have had the same thing happen. Its frustrating. I stay my distance from other fisherman and will actually not fish if there are too many people and not enough room. I wish I could say its from a lack of fishing experience, but unfortunately its just disrespect.
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This is the exact reason if I do go steelhead fishing again it will be from a drift boat!
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I think a lot of the people at community ponds haven't had much fishing experience. Often they are young or from another culture and have never really had anyone to teach them about fishing etiquette here.

At many of these ponds, it is technique that catches the fish and not the spot. So when I get crowded too much I move and usually still catch fish while the crowders don't.

If they are polite, I am happy to show them what I am using and teach them how to do it.

But if they are obnoxious, I would rather leave than to get involved in an ugly confrontation at a public spot. What good does that accomplish? Is the two-fish limit worth a physical confrontation? I don't want to keep the fish anyway.

Ironically, even though the community ponds get hammered, I find some of the least crowded fishing on urban creeks and rivers.
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Had the same thing happen steelheading last month. We arrived at the river long before light. We were having a solid day, and an older gentleman came down and started fishing less than 10 feet above me. I asked if he minded moving up a little bit, at least out of casting distance. He said, "we put 8-9 guys in this hole all the time. You guys only have 3. You need to get closer together." I was baffled as I could see up river over 100 yards and down river probably 200 yards, and there wasn't another fisherman on any stretch up or down. This guy just wanted the exact hole we were fishing.

After a short, and not very friendly discussion I just said, "You could have at least asked me how I liked it before you started humping my leg." This apparently offended him, and he said, "I live here, I can fish anywhere I want!" I said that although that was technically true, it sure didn't show a whole lot of common decency. After he caught a fish, he moved on using a lot of profanity and mumbling threats, etc.

I hear people all the time refer to "Utards" and how bad Utah fishermen are. I've had the same thing happen to me in Yellowstone by a husband, wife and daughter from back east. They moved within about 10 feet of us so my buddy intentionally tangled his line with one of theirs to give us a little respite. The husband knew his fault, but the wife opened up a string of profanities that would make a sailor blush. I was in my younger, more fiery years, and told the man that I wouldn't say anything to his wife, but would sure hold him accountable for any of her words and actions, and "suggeste"d they moved on to one of the thousands of holes down river from us that nobody was fishing at the time. I've had this happen on many waters in Utah, rivers and lakes. I've had it happen in Idaho. Fact is, people are just not considerate as a species. Sure, some are. But for the most part, we aren't very respectful and considerate, that's what it all comes down to....a little common decency.

Rule of thumb for me, go out of sight if possible. If not possible, always ask what direction someone is fishing and if they would mind if I jumped in the opposite way....but always well out of casting distance. If they say no, move on to another spot.
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Its very frustrating, But I have also found that most of the time at the community ponds I am there with my little kids. So if somthing is working to catch kids for my kids I love trying to help the people "Kids" next to me.
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Hey sorry to hear about the other crowding you out. I think everyone has had this happen at one time or another.

I love the pictures those are some great s and I bet the kids will be ready to hit the pond again really soon and get some more great pictures to share their fishing adventures with others. thanks for sharing with us
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I whirl my line irratically in a circle over my head a few times. That usually seems to back people off.

Or as a teenager I would drop my pants and pee in the river/pond with my pants down like a 4 year old kid, while still casting and fishing.

But I wouldn't recomend the second tactic if you are of the age where you can be arrested for indecent exposure.

Nice time with the kids, you will always have to deal with jerks. Looks like Farmington pond?

Good luck in the future.
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Its nice to see all of the support from my fellow BFTers. Thanks! Its nice to be a member of a site that has anglers that understand the true sport of fishing. I'll keep taking the boys fishing, its important to help them foster a love for the outdoors.

I have rolled my eyes in disgust as I have read each or your stories. Its really unfortunate that so many of us have been subjected to this type obnoxious behavior.

I fish probably over 100 days a year and usually enjoy the company of my "neighbors" but last night was just too much.

By the way,those who guessed it was Farmington Pond, you are correct!
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I'm afraid that this behavior will only increase in the future, especially with all the exposure Utah is getting in recent years. This "great little fishing state" is on its' way to being not so great. I think all of us in here know what I'm talking about.

Who knows...maybe 'combat fishing' will become the new Olympic Sport for this state. [:p]
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Ugh I hope not. I live up here in Cach valley and have not had too much of this problem. I agree with the comments here that it is mainly people who are fishing to catch for food and don't give a darn about enjoying nature and the sport itself. I suspect these same people are the ones who leave all their garbage around [mad] anyways I have fished a fair number of the urban ponds when i lived down in draper, and saw quite a bit more of that there. I think one of the benefits of BFT is that those of us who really care about catching fish can give each other some heads up about the lesser known spots in Utah.
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I never anticipate well mannered fisher people anymore ( unless I know them). Anywhere truthfully, but certainly at the community ponds. You discovered why there is a lot of logic to keeping it a secret spot secret. Not always for the fish, but for the privacy it can bode.
Certain lakes I fish, I just know that there is a likelihood to be crowded out of my spot if people catch word on that there is good fishing there.
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One of the best incidents of Angler Etiquette involved the esteemed TD several years ago ( actually MANY years ago, but that doesn't matter) The aforementioned TD, myself and another friend, Rick, were fishing behind Geneva at the Bubble up We were about 10-15 ft off shore, about 6-8 ft. apart, slinging jigs( what else !!) and catching White Bass about every cast. Most of them were going back into the lake, but a few were going in the basket. There was a little old man of the Asian persuasion that was not having much luck, stuck on shore, so he began casting between us, over us, and eventually hitting Rick several times in the back. Rick warned him politely, but after he got clocked behind the ear with a 1/2oz jig, he picked it up, bit it off and warned him again. The second time the jig bopped him, he waded back to shore, handed the guy the jig and promptly picked him up and gave him a bath. To put this in perspective, I am the smallest of the trio, standing about 6 ft, 250 lbs at the time. TD and Rick are both about 6-3, 6-4, and 220 - 250, so this guy must have had a death wish. So much for Etiquette on the water !!!!

No names have been changed to indict the guilty !!!