Lake Fishing Etiquette or Lack Thereof

N. Metz

N. Metz

Steelhead
Forum Supporter
What do you all do when your fishing a lake and someone pulls up 50 feet from you and starts fishing the same water you are? This happened twice on a lake with plenty of room on it. I was in a good spot both times, but that doesn't make it alright.

I'll usually stare em down a bit or think to myself "fucking asshole" but don't say anything. I am starting to reconsider that, as in the past week I've had to deal with some real idiots and I'm tired of it. I've always thought it sucks when people do that, but also don't see any point in getting worked up over it and letting it get in the way of my day.

Additionally, I also figure that 95 percent of people know better and just don't care. Am I wrong? It seems like common sense to me and probably should be if someone fishes somewhat regularly. Do more people than I realize just not know any better or am I right in assuming that they just don't care?

What are your thoughts? Should i politely say "hey, how you doin, your too close, please move further away from me"?

I think it's probably just a reflection of where humanity is at right now but god damn.

Nick
 
I posted about this earlier this year. Start getting fish, and other craft start showing up right on the edge of my casting range. Happens often. The other day after about 45 minutes I had 3 boats loosely trolling in "my area". I'm sure they are aware of what they are doing, but the desire to catch a fish overwhelms all other thoughts.
I usually start talking to them, a lot. Nothing bad or confrontational, just endless. I have actually talked several times now to the bass Bro's, not bad guys, and they don't get too close anymore.
I also realize it's the only lake in the area, it's public, and they are not my fish. I can choose to be happy I'm fishing, or get pissed at things out of my control.
 
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Okay, it's March 17th and you've lifted your float tube over your head and twisted through the fence stile at the north end of Lake Lenore. It's 38F, you're the first one there some 20 minutes before sunrise but it's dawn and you can clearly see. Ephrata Tim isn't on the rock slope, you're the first one there. You pull on your fins and back out into the lake and slowly kick towards the rock slope as you strip line off your reel and make a few casts. You hear gravel crunching. Moses Lake Bob is pulling into the lot, you hear more gravel crunching and see two trucks pulling off SR17, one of them has an awful Colorado pontoon badly faded from the sun, the other guy has a spinning rod, his English has a distinctly Ukranian accent. Pretty soon four more rigs are in the parking lot and you're surrounded by all your best friends. That's Lake Lenore on March 17th - every year. The dentists from Spokane are the Worst of the worst for crowding but the Colorado pontoon boat knows how to get close.

Shift north a few lakes to that Giant Cataract lake. You're the first one there except for Fish30 who's blocking the launch with his inflatable while he strings up four rods. Fish30 takes his time. Drink some coffee, he's in no hurry. Finally, you are on the water and anchored up just past the launch bay in 29-feet of water where you're damn sure there's a spring. Car doors are slamming and within an hour five boats are within casting distance, all anchored up around you. They're young men, big and strong (turns out they're firemen from Everett and they too know there's a spring where you're anchored but now they're also your new besties).

True story: Three of us were up in BC fishing my favorite lake on Greenstone Mountain. There were two other anglers on this lake that's plenty big enough for five anglers (even big enough for six or seven anglers). Your buddy starts talking political trash to one of the guys we don't know when the guy we don't know erupts on my friend telling him "if you don't like it why don't you just move". Man! The ice forms. If I kick my pontoon withing a hundred feet I hear this guy cursing "too close, too close, too close".

Nick and Tom, I'll try not to crowd you but sometimes I might have to kick by fairly close to get by. I too hate getting crowded on lakes (or creeks or rivers or beaches). It seems to be the nature of the beast or a sign of the times or you're just too good and draw a crowd.
 
This is not new, it is behavior that has gone on as long as I have been fishing and I see old time photos that show it has gone on way before my time when there were a lot fewer people on the planet. It sucks, but it is not a sign of the times.
 
If the lake is fishing well and has easy access, crowds are kinda inevitable. I try to just roll with it. Maybe avoid fishing the weekend? But there are some natural filters that reduce popularity, like a lack of boat launch and distance from the parking area. I can’t think of the last time I felt crowded if the walk in was >1 mile.
 
N. Metz said:
Additionally, I also figure that 95 percent of people know better and just don't care. Am I wrong? It seems like common sense to me and probably should be if someone fishes somewhat regularly. Do more people than I realize just not know any better or am I right in assuming that they just don't care?
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It turns out that common sense is actually somewhat uncommon. When it comes to something like “How close is too close to fish to somebody,” there is no agreed upon standard answer; there’s a wide variety of opinions and experience levels and that includes people who see no issue whatsoever with fishing next to a stranger on a public lake. And there’s no consensus on what’s too close, for those who like a little space. 50 feet? 100 feet? Other side of the lake? It’s just one of those things we have to deal with sometimes. You have choices on how you deal with it. I like the “keep the good vibes going” choice. Life is too short and I don’t fish enough to ruin my day for myself.
 
A good old, "how ya doin'? Lots of water here...." usually does the trick.
 
I remember fondly of trolling well offshore in Hawaii and spotting a bird pile diving on bait...there are no boats in view for miles...when you arrive at the feeding fish, as if by magic, a dozen boats are pounding the same bait ball...happens all the time.
 
N. Metz said:
What do you all do when your fishing a lake and someone pulls up 50 feet from you and starts fishing the same water you are? This happened twice on a lake with plenty of room on it. I was in a good spot both times, but that doesn't make it alright.
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Yeah, how can other anglers not possibly know that your dominion on public water extends out to where the natural curvature of the earth renders them invisible to you? Many of us have heard the refrain that "the pool belongs to he who arrives first." OK, but how much or how big is the pool? And who made up that notion in the first place? I like Tallguy's approach. If people are too close to you, you aren't acting crazy enough.

Personally, I'm in the more distance from strangers, but closer to friends so that we can socialize while we fish, but not so close that our casts overlap. I haven't grown to think about public lake fishing in terms of property rights yet. When I think of lake fishing etiquette, I'm more inclined to think about how loud the other fisherman's boom box volume is set at. God bless those who use ear buds!
 
Brute said:
I remember fondly of trolling well offshore in Hawaii and spotting a bird pile diving on bait...there are no boats in view for miles...when you arrive at the feeding fish, as if by magic, a dozen boats are pounding the same bait ball...happens all the time.
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Here in Washington, you find a nice bait ball with birds diving on it, quietly move in close, start casting around the edges of it and hooking a few fish - and some fuckwit comes and trolls through the middle of it, right over your lines. It’s hard to keep the good vibes going when the salmon that you were playing is wrapped around someone’s downrigger.
 
Was at Pass lake once about 50 feet from shore and casting to the bank when some assphat decides to fish and kick between me and the shore while smoking a cigar.....unbelievably inconsiderate. Funny thing was that the fish were further out where I proceeded to start hooking them.....karma..!
Another time at Pass I was working some water when 3 guys in a drift boat saw I was hooking fish ( and they were not) hung around the fringes of my casting ring waiting for me to vacate my spot ( still too close)......very borderline behavior.

Now, it's one thing if you are not having a great day and you would like to ask me about technique etc....that goes a long way and I am always willing to share knowledge. It's another if you come over and invade my space just because you think you might catch something where I am.

Once upon a time, an individual on here ( he knows who is) helped me out when I was struggling and also gave me a handful of flies. I will always be grateful someone helped me crack the code a little. I still however have had to put in my own time to figure some things out.

A little communication goes a long way out on the water.
 
The Fish Whisperer said:
Was at Pass lake once about 50 feet from shore and casting to the bank when some assphat decides to fish and kick between me and the shore while smoking a cigar.....unbelievably inconsiderate. Funny thing was that the fish were further out where I proceeded to start hooking them.....karma..!
Another time at Pass I was working some water when 3 guys in a drift boat saw I was hooking fish ( and they were not) hung around the fringes of my casting ring waiting for me to vacate my spot ( still too close)......very borderline behavior.

Now, it's one thing if you are not having a great day and you would like to ask me about technique etc....that goes a long way and I am always willing to share knowledge. It's another if you come over and invade my space just because you think you might catch something where I am.

Once upon a time, an individual on here ( he knows who is) helped me out when I was struggling and also gave me a handful of flies. I will always be grateful someone helped me crack the code a little. I still however have had to put in my own time to figure some things out.

A little communication goes a long way out on the water.
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I agree with this. I've been on both ends of that exchange. Generally if asked I will invite a struggling angler to anchor up next to me and share my recipe for success on that day. If I'm struggling I sometimes go over, not too close and with rod on the floor of the boat and ask a question or two. More often than not this has resulted in a new friend and some bit of knowledge I didn't previously have. The modern angler is Internet raised and socially inept in many cases.

Having a few cold ones even if you aren't drinking but to offer others is also an excellent technique for luring a fellow angler into spilling the beans. Just make sure your presentation is subtle and accurate. And always have a beer of upper scale. These are fly fishers and they can be particularly selective. You don't want to put them down with a Budweiser.
 
Salmo_g said:
Yeah, how can other anglers not possibly know that your dominion on public water extends out to where the natural curvature of the earth renders them invisible to you? Many of us have heard the refrain that "the pool belongs to he who arrives first." OK, but how much or how big is the pool? And who made up that notion in the first place? I like Tallguy's approach. If people are too close to you, you aren't acting crazy enough.

Personally, I'm in the more distance from strangers, but closer to friends so that we can socialize while we fish, but not so close that our casts overlap. I haven't grown to think about public lake fishing in terms of property rights yet. When I think of lake fishing etiquette, I'm more inclined to think about how loud the other fisherman's boom box volume is set at. God bless those who use ear buds
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It has nothing to do with property rights, as it's a public lake. It's a common courtesy and decency issue, not one of ownership.
 
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