River Etiquette?

[Thursthouse]

I'm new to fly fishing but not new to trout fishing in New Jersey (got hooked on fly fishing - can't bring myself to use a spin rod again) and I am used to fishing within arm's reach of fellow anglers.

However, on Sunday I was fishing a stretch of the Ramapo that had no other anglers. I was fortunate to come across several rising trout. I worked my way upstream slowly as to not spook the trout and about 30 feet away started to tie on a dry fly when I noticed another fisherman who was walking thru the woods spot the same rising trout that I had. He watched briefly then walked on.
Just as I start to cast, here comes the other fisherman, now on the opposite shore (must have crossed over down stream) and splashes in the river directly across from where the trout were. To make matters worse, it was a fellow fly fisherman. Is this a common occurance? From my brief experience with fly fishing, everyone has been courteous and helpful but I felt like cocking back and slugging this guy..

 

[dcabarle]

I'm new to fly fishing but not new to trout fishing in New Jersey (got hooked on fly fishing - can't bring myself to use a spin rod again) and I am used to fishing within arm's reach of fellow anglers.

However, on Sunday I was fishing a stretch of the Ramapo that had no other anglers. I was fortunate to come across several rising trout. I worked my way upstream slowly as to not spook the trout and about 30 feet away started to tie on a dry fly when I noticed another fisherman who was walking thru the woods spot the same rising trout that I had. He watched briefly then walked on.
Just as I start to cast, here comes the other fisherman, now on the opposite shore (must have crossed over down stream) and splashes in the river directly across from where the trout were. To make matters worse, it was a fellow fly fisherman. Is this a common occurance? From my brief experience with fly fishing, everyone has been courteous and helpful but I felt like cocking back and slugging this guy..

Unfortunately, there are assholes in every crowd. I watched a boat float right through a pool of rising fish and cast within a few feet of another boat while a guide was trying to get his clients hooked into the fish. Some people just don't know or they feel entitled (and they are entitled but they don't realize that everyone else knows they are assholes.) Some people just don't care if they're assholes and actually leave their homes in the morning thinking to themselves, "I'm an asshole, who am I going to piss off today".

Sometimes you just have to say something. Sometimes it's not worth fighting over.

 

[jimmy229oz]

"However, on Sunday I was fishing a stretch of the Ramapo that had no other anglers. I was fortunate to come across several rising trout. I worked my way upstream slowly as to not spook the trout and about 30 feet away started to tie on a dry fly when I noticed another fisherman who was walking thru the woods spot the same rising trout that I had. He watched briefly then walked on.
Just as I start to cast, here comes the other fisherman, now on the opposite shore (must have crossed over down stream) and splashes in the river directly across from where the trout were. To make matters worse, it was a fellow fly fisherman. Is this a common occurance? From my brief experience with fly fishing, everyone has been courteous and helpful but I felt like cocking back and slugging this guy.."

This was wrong on two levels. First, while its not a crime, it is very poor caddying to jump in a pool that someone else is actively fishing without at least asking permission. Its selfish to even ask to do so, but if youre so desperate to fish that pool, thats the bare minimum of etiquette.

Second, the guy was a hacker, as the smart thing to do is to watch the pool for a few minutes before jumping in. If there were fish rising, he would have put them down-so they guy spoiled the pool for him and you.

I would have asked him about his etiquette immediatly if he did that to me. Sounds like the dude was clueless though. Id be surprised if he caught anything that day, considering.

 

[Pete]

On the Ramapo, that's not unusual.
Most of the people you meet, this time of year, just fish a few days of the "stocking season", and are unaware of normal stream side courtesy.
You can learn to share a pool, or spend your life angry and frustrated....

BTW: A spin fisherman wouldn't have crossed the river. He would have just stood next to you in a position that would have made a back cast impossible. If you moved, he would have followed you.

 

[lightenup]

I'm new to fly fishing but not new to trout fishing in New Jersey (got hooked on fly fishing - can't bring myself to use a spin rod again) and I am used to fishing within arm's reach of fellow anglers.

However, on Sunday I was fishing a stretch of the Ramapo that had no other anglers. I was fortunate to come across several rising trout. I worked my way upstream slowly as to not spook the trout and about 30 feet away started to tie on a dry fly when I noticed another fisherman who was walking thru the woods spot the same rising trout that I had. He watched briefly then walked on.
Just as I start to cast, here comes the other fisherman, now on the opposite shore (must have crossed over down stream) and splashes in the river directly across from where the trout were. To make matters worse, it was a fellow fly fisherman. Is this a common occurance? From my brief experience with fly fishing, everyone has been courteous and helpful but I felt like cocking back and slugging this guy..

As stated in a previous thread, I hate stocking season, and I call these people fucksticks. I was fishing a very small pool on a very small trout stream and some fucksick pops out on the other side and literally hit my line with his sinker. I asked him how he was doing..he replied nothing yet...I replied, hmmm that's weird, reeled up my line, picked up a rock and threw it in the pool.. Said have a great afternoon and left.

People are dis-respectful, ignorant and rude...keep reading this forum and you will see just how bad it is!!!

 

[mTrout]

It must be this season but I have experienced this a few times this year by fellow "flyfishermen". Why in the world would anyone walk into another persons space and suck the enjoyment of the moment out of their being? I hate when this happens and it is all too common.

 

[Thursthouse]

"reeled up my line, picked up a rock and threw it in the pool.. Said have a great afternoon and left."

Haha I may steal this tactic

 

[WBDluver]

Music video-Denis Leary-I'm An Asshole - YouTube

 

[Flytrap]

I ussually go just up stream of these a holes and release a finless brown.

 

[Trouser Trout]

I'm new to fly fishing but not new to trout fishing in New Jersey (got hooked on fly fishing - can't bring myself to use a spin rod again) and I am used to fishing within arm's reach of fellow anglers.

However, on Sunday I was fishing a stretch of the Ramapo that had no other anglers. I was fortunate to come across several rising trout. I worked my way upstream slowly as to not spook the trout and about 30 feet away started to tie on a dry fly when I noticed another fisherman who was walking thru the woods spot the same rising trout that I had. He watched briefly then walked on.
Just as I start to cast, here comes the other fisherman, now on the opposite shore (must have crossed over down stream) and splashes in the river directly across from where the trout were. To make matters worse, it was a fellow fly fisherman. Is this a common occurance? From my brief experience with fly fishing, everyone has been courteous and helpful but I felt like cocking back and slugging this guy..

I am very sorry... that was my bad.... I guess i should have asked.

 

[Trout Nazi]

"reeled up my line, picked up a rock and threw it in the pool.. Said have a great afternoon and left."

Haha I may steal this tactic

I've unfortunately employed the rock method 3 times so far. For the method to have maximum "impact", you need to use the biggest rock that you can pick up and throw. Something that upon impact displaces so much water that you can see stream bottom. That gets the point across.

 

[CTobias]

you think that's bad....you should head to the Salmon River when the salmon are running.

 

[Drossi]

SSDD....

People in NJ are RUDE in general....period....end of story. Why would you expect them to act any differently when flyfishing. They can't help themselves they don't know any better.

 

[Thursthouse]

"you think that's bad....you should head to the Salmon River when the salmon are running"

Agreed...but at least up there you expect as much...and it also eases the frustration with 30lb salmon leaping clear out of the water

 

[lightenup]

BTW: A spin fisherman wouldn't have crossed the river. He would have just stood next to you in a position that would have made a back cast impossible. If you moved, he would have followed you.

This is the perfect time for a LARGE streamer and a quick forceful back-cast...make sure you follow through with the forward motion of your cast to set the hook properly in his gullet.....of course when this happens, apologize profusely and say you didn't see him standing there...

---------- Post added at 04:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:36 PM ----------

SSDD....

People in NJ are RUDE in general....period....end of story. Why would you expect them to act any differently when flyfishing. They can't help themselves they don't know any better.

Now Drossi,
I am from NJ and I am the most polite gentleman you will ever meet........on a stream.......although, I have skied near some New Yorkers who will put us Jersey folk to shame with their rudeness and inability to show respect for anything.....

 

[Streamdance]

Now Drossi,
I am from NJ and I am the most polite gentleman you will ever meet........on a stream.......although, I have skied near some New Yorkers who will put us Jersey folk to shame with their rudeness and inability to show respect for anything.....[/QUOTE]

I agree, and if New Yorkers are anything on the stream like they are on our roads, then they can gtfo right about now.