FS Digest

I recently got back into fishing in the last few years. I live in the mountains of BC and have been regularly fishing the last few summers, mainly shore casting and wading into deep pools in rivers and streams. Mostly rainbow, cut throat and brown trout. Back to my roots and it feels good.

My question is about fishing and casting area etiquette.

I drove my truck up to a small mountain lake to fish for the last time this season. The lake is about 300 meters squared. When I got there there was one other fisherman fishing on a pontoon/wader seat. I usually walk around the lake and try a few spots on the shadow side first, so I did that and when I was on the other side of the lake the other guy saw me and took notice of me.

When I completed the circuit around the lake I found a spot on shore about 100 meters down from where the other guy had launched himself into the water. He was in the middle of the opposite side of the lake from me when I started casting. After about 10 casts I see a few rainbow jump right around where I am casting. Minutes later I notice the guy is coming closer to me. Closer still. Closer still.

The guy paddles his floatie right through my casting area (moreless exactly where my lure is landing) and starts casting. I had to stop casting and I just looked at him because if I cast I could have easily snagged his line or him. I watch him (and he watches me) for about 5 minutes and then he pulls out a nice sized rainbow. I didn't say anything or even make a gesture. The guy had 3 rods and was very professional looking. I just packed up and left.

I'm not sure the etiquette in this situation. Do boats have priority over shore casting spots? Am I obligated to stop casting? Are other people obligated to not navigate through the area that I am casting in? Who was in the wrong here? Me for being choked or him for paddling into my spot? It was such a quiet and peaceful day up there I didn't want to start any sort of verbal pissing match.

Thanks.

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by Dunetrait

FS Digest

I consider that rude. You were there first so he should not have came so close like that.

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by mademan101

FS Digest

Where im from theres lots of fisherman fights, i was raised to stand my ground as a fisherman by my grandfather (we fish for food, not so much fun), but I dont really mind when im kayaking and I/someone drifts near but in that situation i would have kept casting/put a heavier lure on and made him umderstand no one is catching anything if he cant figure his area out and/or communicate. Usually if you say something and dont be a jerk they move on though, most fishermen are nice and polite IME outside of my home area.

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by dieselprogro

FS Digest

IMO, if the lake was that quiet, he should’ve moved somewhere else. He was in a kayak, you were on bank so he had infinitely more options than you did.

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by PhlashMcDaniel

FS Digest

That’s when I cast and bump the lure off his boat

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by Goombadoomdra1

FS Digest

Yeah. He’s wrong in this situation.

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by redsox90210

FS Digest

Happens here surf fishing. We usually call it mugging.

Some guys will take out the drag clicker to avoid people hearing and casting on top of you.

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by EmbracedByLeaves

Hooksetter2 Loc: League City, TX

Just all wrong on his part. You have to make it known to these type of people by becoming verbal. You must tell them that they are in your space. No need to be "yelling" at them, just enough to make it clear that you are not allowing them to encroach on your fishing space. You could also add that out of respect, you intentionally steered clear of his space when you arrived. He knows what he was doing and he was actually waiting for you to say something. Sorry this happened to you.

John D Loc: Duncanville Alabama

Dunetrait ,
The last thing you want while fishing is a confrontation. By the measurements that you provided, that’s about an 18 acre (7.5 hectares) lake.
He has no more right of way of the lake just because he’s on a floatie. You may want to start some kind of dialogue with him like maybe how you didn’t mean to infringe on his waters. This may produce some kind of verbal or non verbal agreement. If there is no solution at least you tried.
Just because he looks like a pro doesn’t necessarily make him one. And , alas , he maybe just your typical BH.

kprzybyla

Dude hands down I would found the biggest treble hooked lure I had and planted it squarely in the back of that tools head... I have zero tolerance for idiots on the water... understanding we were all idiots once, that's just lack of courtesy/ common sense... casting practice.

Big dog Loc: Bayshore, Long Island, New York

When ever someone that has more mobility is rude like that, put on a treble hook, cast out, snag his line, bring it in and cut it.
I grew up casting and teaching a••ho!3s not to mess with me. Yeah I got into some trouble, when I was 14 years old, but I can tell ya. A 3oz sinker can make an impression, BIG TIME.

bozokarl Loc: south central Pa

A holes like that are my biggest pet peeve while fishing. I would have kept on casting right where I was and if he still didn't get the hint I would have tied on the biggest lure in my tackle box and zipped it past his head a couple times.

Rayz Loc: North West N.J. and South Hero Vt.

A set of treble hooks in his float would have solved the problem.

N.fl bassman Loc: St. Augustine Florida

You did the right thing by walking away a fight out in the middle of nowhere could have gone south!! Live to fish an other day! He was definitely in the wrong so F@&$ him and move on

kvothe Loc: West Deptford new jersey, but the salt calls

He punked you, there are plenty of assholes in the world, you did the right thing. Never know nowdays...