Fly Fishing Etiquette

Most of us head out for a day on the river for a day of rest and relaxation. Most days, that is exactly what happens, and we enjoy our time fishing. However, from time to time, our good time is dampened by the poor etiquette of other fishermen. It can certainly be frustrating to have to fight your way through or around those that don't exhibit common courtesies and proper etiquette. Here are some suggestions to make sure that you are not "that fisherman" that aggravates everyone else around him!

1. Give plenty of elbow room. Nobody wants to have another angler moving in on his fishing hole. Unfortunately, what often happens is that one fisherman will catch a fish, and an unscrupulous fisherman will spot him, and move in immediately. I have actually had other fishermen descend on a hole I was fishing while I was trying to release a fish! Such a practice is rude, and will cause nothing but ill will between fishermen. Make sure that you provide plenty of space for others to fish, and wait patiently for others to vacate a particular hole before moving in. Remember, you want others to give you room to fish, so do the same!

2. Don't hold up the line. As you are fishing a river, keep moving. It is considered rude to hold up a hole for an extended amount of time. Go ahead and fish the hole thoroughly, even being willing to change flies and move down the water column if you want to. But, don't occupy a space that others are waiting to fish for more than fifteen to twenty minutes. Face it, if you can't catch a fish in that amount of time, you probably don't have what they are looking for! Move on and let the next angler take a shot at the hole.

3. Watch the noise. Most fishermen are much less concerned about noise while fishing than are stream fly fishermen. The reason is that trout and similar fish are very wary. Loud noises, such as loud voices, clanging equipment, or even footsteps on the river bottom can spook these fish, and make them impossible to catch. Many fly fishermen are very cautious as they approach a hole, trying to stay out of the fish's line of sight, and trying to not make any disturbing noises. It can be very aggravating for a fisherman to cautiously approach his target, only to have someone crash over the hill and splash into the river, spooking anything close enough to catch. Remember to approach all water carefully and try not to splash too much in the river. Such splashing can turn off a trout, and you will not have a chance at catching it!

4. Share the wealth. Some fishermen are very "tight lipped" when it comes to sharing information. It is certainly acceptable to keep quiet about a honey hole that you worked hard to find. But, there is no real benefit to keeping quiet about what fly you are using to be successful. If you are fishing a fly that is working, be willing to share information with those that may ask. Someday, you may be struggling with finding the right fly, and passing, successful angler may be willing to share with you what was working for them.

5. Use the buddy system. If you are fishing with another angler, make sure that you approach each hole fairly. I have fished with some guys who have no respect for anyone else they are fishing with. They will run ahead to get their line in a hole first every time. When fishing together with someone else, you should work out a system that is fair for everyone. One thing that has worked well for me is to trade out "first cast" into any hole. When you move from one hole to the next, alternate who gets first cast. You can also trade back and forth between the head of a pool and the tail. If you fish the head of the first hole, then take the tail of the next one. Over time, this type of trade off ensures both fishermen cover great fishing water.

6. Carry it in, carry it out. One of the most annoying things that I have seen on the river is litter. It is amazing that people who had the space in their vest to carry in a can of Coke didn't have the space to carry out the empty can. Make sure that you take out any and all trash. I love to fish in pristine, wild country. But, the image is certainly broken up by piles of fishing trash. Don't leave fishing line or leaders on the bank. Make sure and wrap it up and put it in a pocket. Don't leave empty cans or candy wrappers behind. It may not seem like a lot, but even a little bit of garbage left behind can spoil the river, and cause trouble for the fish. Another good rule of thumb is to pick up something someone else left behind. If every angler would be conscientious on these issues, our rivers would be kept much cleaner.

These are just a few tips to ensure that you show proper etiquette while fishing rivers. Basically, most of these rules come down to the "golden rule." Make sure you treat the other fishermen around you the same way that you want to be treated. If you would be offended by a particular action, then don't do it to someone else!