Lake Fishing Etiquette or Lack Thereof

FinLuver said:
Somehow, they just keep on reproducing that gene…
Haven’t fully understood it…you’d think by now, that gene would be extinct, like the dodo bird. 😉
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Naw, when you see people on shore or in a boat breaking the law with kids present, or is just a "xerox copy" of the law breaking patent. Just happens to me in the Okanogan area, 2 mom's with 3 kids using spinning gear and powerbait, had driven past the "Fly Fishing Only" and "No parking beyond this sign" and parked at the shore boat launch. They were locals and just didn't care. I walked down and told the they were breaking the law, they said howdo I told them and said "You literally drove past the 2 signs telling you Flyfishing Only and No Parking." They just said made some guttaral sound and started packing up. This was their second day doing this!

Stupid can reproduce!
 
Shawn Seeger said:
Naw, when you see people on shore or in a boat breaking the law with kids present, or is just a "xerox copy" of the law breaking patent. Just happens to me in the Okanogan area, 2 mom's with 3 kids using spinning gear and powerbait, had driven past the "Fly Fishing Only" and "No parking beyond this sign" and parked at the shore boat launch. They were locals and just didn't care. I walked down and told the they were breaking the law, they said howdo I told them and said "You literally drove past the 2 signs telling you Flyfishing Only and No Parking." They just said made some guttaral sound and started packing up. This was their second day doing this!

Stupid can reproduce!
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And two "mom's" teaching their kids to ignore the law. Good on you, Shawn, for talking to these mothers.
 
It can be annoying for sure, but what are ya gonna do? I'm likely to either invite someone in, or if I'm irritated, just move on to find other fish to catch.

Running a well known charter boat on the ocean I've learned that it's just inevitable. People see one of the All Rivers boats and just assume we must be catching the only fish in the Pacific Ocean so they'd better come park right on top of us. Happened to me offshore just yesterday in fact. Fishing a rather large plateau for lingcod/Halibut, and doing well. Suddenly 3 sport boats arrived on scene and felt the need to set up right next to me, as well as right in front of my drift. (Saltwater equivalent of low holing). Plenty of area to fish, but they had to be right on top of me. I just picked up and reset my drift a good quarter mile away from them and continued to catch fish. Very irritating but all I can do is chuckle and move away. Definitely not a good look for a charter captain to get raging mad in front of customers and start cursing out other boaters or something, and my blood pressure certainly doesn't need that sort of stress.

This stuff used to bother me a lot more when I was younger, but I guess I've learned more patience and understanding as I've aged. The biggest thing for me that helps me stay relaxed is simply understanding that the majority of people on the water simply can't fish. They feel that finding the "hot spot" is going to make them successful, rather than being interested in learning how to find their own fish to catch. Learning to understand that while these people are annoying, they simply aren't a threat to my ability to catch fish, helps me take a deep breath and move along. If they want to crowd me, I'll just go find other fish. There's always other fish to catch if you know what you're doing.
 
You guys got nothing on the annual casting plugs at boats a thon at Drano Lake. It's wild. There is always threats of violence and sometimes violence. Pretty great family environment. Why we improved a launch facility to enable that bullshit is beyond me.
 
I am usually calm when someones lack of courtesy happens near me but there was on incident that tried my patience to the limit . My buddy and I were in pontoons on a cascade lake. I'm right handed and he's a southpaw so we can troll or cast in close proximity and have conversations etc. but one day a tour guide leading a group of kayakers rowed over our lines as we trolled and the group followed and of all things one rowed right between us. That did it for me. So I started a dissertations on common courtesy and etiquette for this group loud enough for the guide to hear sprinkled with some unsavory comments about the guide and his lack of knowledge spiced up with some mild profanity. Next day same guide, new group, but apparently the message had sunk in. Next year same lake, same tour company, different guide. My nephew wanted to launch his drift boat but there were two canoes sitting right in the middle of the narrow launch. The guide watched him back his trailer to the edge of the launch but made no move to get the canoes out of the way. My nephew got out and grabbed the first canoe and heaved it off the launch. I happily helped him toss the second one. The guide finally got up from the log he was sitting on and asked if there was anything he do for us. Nope. Taken care of. It's been years since I've been back to that lake . Sadly it's been loved to death
 
I am thinking of starting a new fly club... "Low hol'in and Troll'in Club"... 😄

What about this riddle, I or you are the first person on the lake, pick a spot to anchor up and fish do I have to move if you want to troll where I am fishing? Or do I need to pull anchor and move? Or I have anchored and moved several times now and catching well and your having a slow day so I need to move so you might catch some fish?

What about this rule... you are trolling or anchored in a spot or area and haven't caught anything after 15-25 minutes and I was lighting them up in this spot yesterday, should you have to give the spot up so I can catch some fish, some your probably fishing it wrong? 😄

Just me and my gas can and matches....

I just try and enjoy every blessed day...

"Hey am I fishing to close?"
 
Jeez, I wonder how you my-water guys would feel about Eastern moving water fly fishermen standing elbow to elbow. Probably have a coronary.
C'mon, anyone who has fly-fished for steelhead knows there are different etiquettes for different situations. You step up, make one cast and then move down, working your way down, making room for the next guy. Not the same as trout fishing the same water. That's when etiquette allows you to hog a pool.
Had that experience at Amber when I anchored up and started catching some big fish when looking up, saw I was surrounded by the only other fishermen on the lake, at more like 20', still not catching fish. No one asked how or what I was fishing. Personally, I would have donated flies and advice if they had. They are here to relax and catch some fish, not put up with some asshat who thinks he owns the water. Read plenty of fly fishing literature, never seen an article on stillwater etiquette, outside of you don't troll through someone who already has a line out.
If there are fish all over, then  you pull up and go. And if you're going be a nuisance with noise and trash the fishing, thanks for nothing,  child.😝
 
All of this is why you'll usually find me fishing (or rather, not find me) where or when no one else is fishing...even if there are fewer fish.
I've been known to drive 45min to a small lake, see two rigs in the lot and turn around and leave for another lake.
Fishing with friends is great! Fishing with strangers nearby when I'm alone ruins my vibe.

I'm okay with other boats on bigger lakes, but if I notice a boat approaching in what looks like a deliberate way without hailing me, I usually just peddle my yak away as if I were just leaving anyway. Plenty of places to fish; why let myself get annoyed and tarnish my own day?
 
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