who as that on the creek today

rgloft · Senior Member

who as that on the creek today

rgloft · Senior Member

Of course you should say something you own the river

Or just that hole anyways right

bottom of the staircase is just too thin

Just sharing! I mean , Just saying

-- Edited by rgloft on Friday 2nd of March 2012 08:42:58 AM

flyguy · Member

So, I was one of the two guys that was on the other side of the bank. I generally don't like to make things like this public, as it gives Putah creek and the people who fish it a bad flavor. I'm certainly not not trying the stir the pot. Maybe this thread can serve as an ethical lesson to all involved.

None of the facts are straight about the conversation that took place yesterday. My friend (first-time flyfisherman) and I were fishing the creek and our last stop was the staircase. I hadn't even intended to fish it, but there were many seams and great water to show him how to read. Across stream was a guy fishing the middle (the main seam). As everyone knows, this is one of the widest pieces of the creek and I've been there when there were six or eight guys and nobody had any beef. I didn't think it would be any different. This was the conversation:

"Hello, have any luck?", I asked.
"Not lately." He replied

(I started to explain to my friend how to fish the seam closest to us, maybe eight feet out, and literally stepped ankle deep into the water and plopped my line out. From across the bank, I heard this...)

"You really gonna fish there?", He called.
"No that's ok, we can leave if we're crowding you".
"You can't see that I'm fishing right there?"
"You weren't, you're fishing the middle seam. I'm fishing this small pocket."

(Then, he muttered some comment about an "attitude")

I said, "I don't have an attitude, but you're not casting anywhere near me. You don't own the river. But, it's cool...we'll leave."

That was the whole conversation and it left me and my friend a bit confused about the ethics of fishing cross-stream. I've been invited to fish the same hole, time and time again by complete strangers. This particular event baffled me, because it went against everything I valued in angling ethics. He never offered advice on fishing anywhere else, or information on other stretches (as previously claimed). And judging by his casts, he couldn't have reached "my" seam if his life depended on it.

The bottom line is, clearly there was room for multiple people to fish. If he wanted to fish my seam, why wasn't he on my side of the stream? Maybe I should have asked permission to fish eighty feet away from him, but that didn't seem appropriate. I don't believe in yelling across a river. And I have never in my life crossed a line over someone. Part of me wanted to go talk to him, but later realized he likely wouldn't be reasonable. Anyway, who am I to teach a stranger a lesson? My buddy will likely never return to the creek based on his first experience. I assured him that this behavior is exceptionally rare and that it will likely never happen again.

My lesson is this- Always assume that the guy across the river owns that stretch and is fishing the entire piece of water from bank to bank-even when he can't even cast to the middle. Always ask permission to fish across stream.

His lesson- Don't jump on someone for fishing the same river- it will happen throughout your life. Unless someone is fishing over you, try to be accommodating, as most other flyfishermen are. He caould have easily and politely asked if we could stay on our side and not cast over him.

Some of us are on the water to share the experience and get away from ****bags. While others think they own the river. I feel sorry for and will try to be more patient with those people...

-- Edited by flyguy on Friday 2nd of March 2012 11:17:34 AM

Berryessie · Senior Member

Two sides to every story, as I know the person who was fishing as these guys approached the hole he was in from the opposite bank. One of the guys proceeded to start fishing in the same seam he was working. I know this guy well and he politely told them that there is plenty of river to fish and even some good water just above and below him.

drifter · Senior Member

If anyone is fishing directly across from me in the same riffle or seam, you better believe I'm going to say something. As someone showing someone else how to fly fish I would think he probably shouldn't start by showing someone how to encroach on someone else. Just saying.

Its going to be a beatiful weekend, get out and fish. I know I am.

drifter · Senior Member

Maybe you misunderstood me, I was speaking generally....It was not me fishing there, I haven't fished Putah in over five years. Thanks for

s h a rring.

Berryessie · Senior Member

Obviously no one owns the creek that is why common courtesy and general fishing ethics need to be practiced. There are very few places on the creek that can have multiple people fishing at once. If someone is in a spot where you want to fish give him space and find move on. If you so need to fish that spot make sure to ask the person before you start casting. This is a good way to avoid getting an earful from an unhappy fisherman. It may seem like he is being a jerk, but in reality if the person hadn't started casting in the same spot the guy was already fishing we would not be having this discussion.

rgloft · Senior Member

They where on opposite side of the river at the stair case I can;t tell you how many times somone has started fishing accros from me at the staircase and I just said how ya doing and smiled , Its not like theres not enough width for two people to fish

Packrat · Senior Member

Sorry, but in this case I'd say you are in the wrong. Even if you are on the "widest" stetch of Putah, stepping into the water right across from someone is not the most ethical thing to do....

Just my opinion.

bono · Master Fly Fishing Guide

The way I approach matters like this all varys, just depends on the water that I'm fishing. But talking Putah specific, if I see somebody fishing I will never fish across from them and will ALWAYS politely ask them which direction they are fishing (upstream or downstream) and then fish the opposite direction or sometimes give the angler plenty of room and then fish behind them. Re-thinking what I said about never fishing across from somebody I have done this in the past and that is at the resort, while fishing from the resort side only during the high summer flows. I feel that there is no way a person could wade or cast anywhere near where I am at and visa-versa. Also its always a good thing when you see someone on the creek to just give them a friendly wave or a "hello hows fishin". I always teach my kids that manners and good social skills in every day life go a long way, like holding the door open for somebody, saying "excuse me" or "pardon me" "thank you" or sometimes just a smile and a wave. Todays rat race mentality paired with so called "social media" is turning us all into social retards. Bono....have a nice day! wink

shon42073 · Senior Member

TThe person who started this thread has invaded my space on putah

Cole Davis · Senior Member

I'm gonna try to steer this the other way and tell you a funny story that happened a few years back in the exact same spot on the creek. So I'm fishing the RV side of the staircase in the high summer flows. During that time there is the big back eddie bucket in the middle with various seams on either side to fish. Plenty of water. As I approach I see an old timer with cut off jean shorts and a gear rig on the other side. I wave and start high sticking the edge right in front of me. A few minutes later I see a massive goo ball off eggs and nightcrawler swing in front of me. I look up and see dude's line connected to it. WTF? I turn up my palms and shrug, as if to say dude your missing all that juicy stuff right in front of you. Start fishing but I'm playing stealthy now. I follow my rig with my head downstream but I am wathching him the whole time in my peripheral. He waits til my head is downstream and quickly chucks his rig back over and swings through. Cagey old bastard this guy. I let that happen a couple times before giving him some "advice" We both left shortly thereafter fishless.

Xnjb707X · Senior Member

I've purposely snagged people's lines that have done that to me. I have a personal fishing space bubble, don't pop it.

kbarn · Veteran Member

One of the first rules of fishing I learned was to never crowd another fisherman. I say use your best judgement and everyone will remain happy.

rgloft · Senior Member

It looks like the generel consencus is You all own the river !

Cole Davis · Senior Member

There is a HUGE difference fishing the creek when it's 600-700 cfs versus the 140 or whatever when you were out the other day, that was my main point. I know you and like seeing you when I do, but I think it's time to move on dude. The low flow puddle pitchers will be gone again soon and there is going to be plenty of water to fish. See you out there.

Sammy · Member

"It looks like the generel consencus is You all own the river !"

Been lurking on this thread for a few days. Gotta say, rgloft you sure do have a chip on your shoulder for something that happened when you weren't even there. You've heard two sides to the story, and not once in this thread did anyone else concede to "owning" anything. Some people need more space than others, including your "humble" friend.

papaoak · Veteran Member

I think this post is important to new guys as well as those of us who have been doing it a while.
I haven't been on putah for a couple of years now. The lower yuba is my new water.
Not that I own it and we all know no one owns any water except big buisiness.
I was on the water today fishing to risers and this guide with a wooden drift boat drifts in front of me
and his client starts flogging the water not 6 ft in front of me.
I didn't say anything to dude but i did cast as many time as I could right in front of him trying to grab his line.
If the wind wasn't blowing so hard I would have caught his line on the first cast. This guide held his head down in front of me not making eye contact. If you read this have the balls to tell your client to hold off until your at least 20 ft away.
Any way punk move.

kbarn · Veteran Member

We don't own the river. We own respect.

bono · Master Fly Fishing Guide

I strongly believe that being a guide you must teach your clients good stream manners, you would be surprised at how many people out there just do not know anything about it. A perfect example was last Oct I was fishing with a client in a rather tight area, he hooked and landed a nice 20" fish. When I turned around after releasing the fish there was a teenage kid maybe 18 years old standing right where we were when we hooked the fish ( about 15 feet away from where we were now standing)! I politely explained that what he was doing wasn't right. He was a little embarrased but thankful for the advice.

rgloft · Senior Member

I agree with your point. maybe i have goten a little over board point taken it is easy to get carried away with trying to defend oneself rather keep an open mind to what people are saying thanks for the input

iamamultitasker · Senior Member

Richard,

I was watching you helping your wife on the Yuba trip and paying attention to your overall attitude even though it looked like I was fishing. I think you are going in a good direction with this. Just my .02 cents.

jvento · Senior Member

Richard,

Don't let anyone get you down. Most people on any river have an angry disposition when another fisherman enters into "his" space, even if "his" space exists a 100yds away. Good for you for standing up for someone

-Jon