First steelhead of the season and river etiquette

Well I got on a local river this morning early and to my surprise I was beaten to my spots that i used to see know one at ever, oh well. So one spot was open to my self and i thought great and started fishing. Five minutes later this guy comes right to the spot I'm fishing at goes in the centre of the river 20 feet in front of me and starts float fishing. Now i can't even cast in front of me because i would hit him with my line. I was so pissed off and decided it was not worth the argument. I decide to cast behind him about ten feet to see if he would get the point and smack a fish hit it so hard and started jumping it almost jumped on his back. All I could say is karma is a BIT%h to that guy on the river and give each other some room and enjoy the day. sorry for the sideways pic I don't know why it does this

NIce fish. In a few weeks no one will be fishing much and you'll be alone again.

Beauty Bow...
Gotta love when karma is right on time... Love it!!
congrats

FSHN 247
Jay

Nice! Hopefully he got the message!! Great fish!!
Eric

Beautiful . Some people eh . At least you got a nice fish out of it lol
A Ray

Beauty bow for sure. had kinda the same thing happen to me crappie fishing last week. Guy pulls up in a boat and throws anchor over about 15yds out front of me fishing from shore. Suggested he move or the water may get rough and his little boat may end up taking on some water. He moves on and runs over the line of the guy fishing next to me. Then proceeds to park in front of my son so we start casting at his half boat half inflatable he finally leaves. Some folks of certain culture wonder why they all get a bad time.

Good on you for sticking to your spot and getting that beauty from behind him.

outback

Some People suck but I am glad karma taught him a lesson.

I find that those people are playing the odds, banking on the fact that most people won't feel it worth the while to speak up. Their ignorance pays off more often than not because most don't want the hassle. Usually if you say something and call their bluff they'll back off, but I have seen a new breed that is looking for the confrontation it seems. Then you have to back off or up the ante. I find snagging and cutting their lines is more than they can handle (float reties can take a few minutes). Haven't got anyone in my face yet, I'll feel sorry for the ignorant SOB that does. I'm tired of people's BS, just be courteous and fish, is that to much to ask?

This is an argument as old as time. I fish the rivers quite frequently and this season has by far taken the cake. I feel that I am more than courteous when I see a guy in the stream but some people take the whole "spot" thing to extreme measures.

Here are a few guidelines I live by:
1) Just because you are fishing a section of the stream it doesn't mean you own that water while you are on it. Anyone can come up beside you and start fishing. It is a public resource and everyone needs to be respectful of that. I don't care if you got there at 4 am to start fishing. It is still public space
2) Along with point number 1 you must respect peoples space. On a river you a slinging in some cases a fishing rod 3 times the length of your body. It can get frustrating when someone comes to park within a few feet of you. Please respect a person who was there first and give ample room for everyone to drift.
3) Spark up conversation. Ask if it would be alright to fish along side someone. It never hurts to be courteous towards your fellow fisherman. You never know when you will need to borrow a net or a piece of leader material.
4) DONT WALK THROUGH THE POOLS. Just because you are done fishing that spot and snagged a dozen times it doesn't give you the right to spoil the pool for others who might want to fish it after you.

This year already I have gotten in to it with a couple guys. They think that just because they are fishing that no one else can fish that pool. I have walked up on the other side of the river and drifted in along side them with no tangles or issues. The trouble starts when you hook a fish in front of them. There is no place for jealousy on the river. It leads to frustration and an over all ty day. Just be happy to be out and have fun. So sick and tired of the BS that happens on the river these days. There are more river fisherman than there used to be and we need to find a way to be able to share the space we have.

My apologies for the rant but its been on my chest all season.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FurFeathers&Fins

This is an argument as old as time. I fish the rivers quite frequently and this season has by far taken the cake. I feel that I am more than courteous when I see a guy in the stream but some people take the whole "spot" thing to extreme measures.

Here are a few guidelines I live by:
1) Just because you are fishing a section of the stream it doesn't mean you own that water while you are on it. Anyone can come up beside you and start fishing. It is a public resource and everyone needs to be respectful of that. I don't care if you got there at 4 am to start fishing. It is still public space
2) Along with point number 1 you must respect peoples space. On a river you a slinging in some cases a fishing rod 3 times the length of your body. It can get frustrating when someone comes to park within a few feet of you. Please respect a person who was there first and give ample room for everyone to drift.
3) Spark up conversation. Ask if it would be alright to fish along side someone. It never hurts to be courteous towards your fellow fisherman. You never know when you will need to borrow a net or a piece of leader material.
4) DONT WALK THROUGH THE POOLS. Just because you are done fishing that spot and snagged a dozen times it doesn't give you the right to spoil the pool for others who might want to fish it after you.

This year already I have gotten in to it with a couple guys. They think that just because they are fishing that no one else can fish that pool. I have walked up on the other side of the river and drifted in along side them with no tangles or issues. The trouble starts when you hook a fish in front of them. There is no place for jealousy on the river. It leads to frustration and an over all ty day. Just be happy to be out and have fun. So sick and tired of the BS that happens on the river these days. There are more river fisherman than there used to be and we need to find a way to be able to share the space we have.

My apologies for the rant but its been on my chest all season.

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X'2 . Fish the credit in the fall ( Mississauga Golf Course area ) and see countless guys fishing there and have not seen or heard one argument going on, just guys respecting each others territory on the river. yes it would be easy to cast over and snag 3 guys lines from the far bank but let their lines go by and cast in , they do the same from their side.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JMatthews

NIce fish. In a few weeks no one will be fishing much and you'll be alone again.

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JM is right, but I always make the point of saying something in these situations. It doesn't always work out, but for the most part people who move in on you, move away if you speak with them. it might also help that I am 6'4"...

I quit river fishing years ago for that reason. It just wasn't enjoyable trying to wrestle a spot to fish in.
I do like taking the dog for a walk to the river and I always get a chuckle when people fight over pools, kind of entertaining!