I had to tell a fly fisherman to get out of our fishing hole on Thursday. He was in the wrong for even thinking about trying to squeeze into the same hole two other guys were fishing. He eventually got the hint after we let him know he was in the wrong. After a while he made his way down river, but still kept a close eye on Jeremy and I so he could fish the spot next. As we left there was an older guy fishing on the pool next to us. We get to the parking lot and watch the fly fisherman sprinting up the banks of the river to beat this old guy to the hole. We were laughing our asses off. The old guy calmly strutted over to the hole and started to fish. The fly fisherman just walked right on past him and left. He was seriously sprinting with all his gear. It was awesome to see that older guy just waltz right up and start fishing it!!!! All in all a great trip with just one bone head to talk about. The rest of the fly fisherman were extremely friendly and courteous. As always, Jeremy and I give them a great deal of distance when they are fishing holes and make sure to stay clear when we pass them, so we don't spook any fish they might be targeting.
It happened in the first week of June 2023. This is a true story.
The party Luke and Tom were at was really loud, but when Luke mentioned that he had seen a really monster king salmon delivered by
commercial trollers the day before, Tom's ears perked up. The two quickly moved to a quieter part of the house. Luke was a seasonal
worker for the ADF&G; and happened to be on the processor dock when the fish arrived on June 6th 2023. Luke quickly relayed that the
salmon was being stored at Seafood Processors Cooperative and Tom then quickly hatched a plan to sneak in and steal the fish. The
two were convinced that showing up at the party with a 92 pound salmon would really make them the life of the party.Luke and Tom jumped
in the car and off to the processor they went. They walked into the plant and removed the giant fish and headed back to the party.
Upon arrival they found that they were correct about their assumptions because everyone immedately wanted to see a 92 pound king,
just because few people ever get to see a fish of that size. The party lasted to the wee hours and then everyone finally went home
and the big king was placed in a nearby freezer. The next morning Tom picked up the king and took it home and filleted it out so that
they could have many more parties in the future off this big fish.Well all good things must come to an end, because Seafood Producers
Cooperative put out a $500 reward for someone to turn the crooks in, and one of the people who knew about it ratted them out. Only
about 20 people knew about the theft, so it must have been a stampeed down to the police station. The cops got the info they needed,
so next they went looking for Tom and Luke. After a brief Sitka chase scene, the police had their thieves and Luke was fined $500
and ordered to pay $266 in restitution, and Tom got 150 hours of community service. Luke was also ordered to write a letter of apology
to the processor. Luke said that "he never intended for the king to be cut up". Must have been another one of those giant commercial
miscommunications! Seafood Processors Cooperative had planned to mount the 92 pound king until they discovered it missing.
The point
of this story is that these Kenai giants are being relentlessly pounded by a commercial fishing industry which will deny it. That
size of a trophy king is enough to fuel the Alaska sportfish industy with millions of tourist dollars for years into the future but
instead it ended up selling for a couple of hundred dollars.
This true story would have never seen the light of day if a couple of guys had not
committed a sorry case of burglary on a really
monster of a fish. When you hear a commercial fisherman telling how they just don't seem to catch very many king salmon, try telling
them about the 92 pound king salmon which
was caught and killed by Sitka, Alaska commercial trollers, the first week of June, 2023.
Don Johnson
P.O. Box 876Soldotna, Alaska
907 262 7893ccpwow@gci.net
-
When boating, never run too fast for conditions. If the water is rough, or if many boats are present, slow down. Remember that your
passenger's safety and comfort are your responsibility!
-
Never crowd other fishermen. If you see another
angler
fishing a bank, anticipate
the direction he's moving and do not move to the end of the bank - let him finish fishing it. Never run between a fisherman and the
point
or bank he's fishing. Give other anglers and boaters wide berth.
-
If someone has shown you the extreme courtesy of taking you
to his favorite bass water and requests that you not reveal its location to others, honor that request. It is considered a breach
of sportsman's etiquette to return there without asking his permission first, or to reveal the location to another angler.
-
When fishing
a
farm pond
, always ask permission first. Carry all litter out and leave all fences and gates as you found them.
-
Give your fishing
partner every opportunity to catch fish, just as you would expect him to give you the same opportunity if you were in the back of
his boat. Don't "front-end" or crowd him so that he can't reach the
structure
. Avoid over-competing, especially when you're not fishing
in a tournament. Trying to outfish your buddy is annoying to the other guy.
-
Not every boater or fisherman is a bass fisherman. Crappie
fishermen, panfishermen, trollers and other anglers deserve your respect. Do not invade their territory. Pleasure boaters deserve
their fare share of the water, too. Be courteous to all boaters. Whether or not they're bass fishermen.
-
If someone signals for help
or assistance, respond immediately. The bass can wait. You, too, may need directional help or a tow someday.
-
Never attempt to fish
the same structure at the same time as another angler. This is annoying and often ends up in a mess of entangled lines. If your buddy
is fishing a structure, wait until he's done. More often than not, if he pulls a fish off it, you'll have a chance too. -- James Turner
See more great articles like this at:
Faith For Dummies--Fly Fishing With Dub by Ken Mowery
Years ago I lived next door to the perfect neighbor. His name was Dub. He was an avid sportsman and often included me on his Saturday adventures into the woods and wilds of Northern Colorado.
Dub has since gone on to his eternal reward, but I think about him often. My favorite memories of Dub center on the occasions when
we grappled with spiritual matters. He often surprised me with his well thought out answers to my many questions. He made sense out
of deep and profound concepts. Dub answered questions without making a person feel dumb and embarrassed for not knowing the answer.I
discovered this one fall morning on the first of many fishing expeditions with Dub. We loaded up his old truck with fly rods, waders
and tackle. By 5 AM we were rumbling toward The Poudre canyon and the great fishing spot he had told me about. The first light of
dawn sliced through the canyon to meet us as we donned our gear and began making our way down to the treasured "s" curves of the river
below. Dub stopped and pointed silently at the river. Looking down at the dark water I saw a small triangular shaped patch of light
playing on the surface of the river. The outlines of four fish were illuminated by the sudden splash of sunlight. Dub turned to me.
His voice just above a whisper, "Isn't that the perfect picture of how God works?""I guess I'm not sure what you mean."
"Those fish were there all along, but we didn't know it. A higher source, in this case the sun, had to do something to help us see."
He looked at me to gauge my reaction. My face no doubt belied my lack of understanding. Dub persisted. "Don't you see? The truth about
God is all around us, but we don't have a clue. We can't see it until God opens our eyes and then suddenly he reveals himself and
we see the truth." It was my initiation in to what I call Dub's Bible Basics for Dummies Like Me. That Saturday as we fished together
standing waist deep in the frigid water of the Cache Le Poudre River, Dub began to teach me about God and His creation. Woven into
the memory of that day is the joy of catching a lot of fish and having a great deal of discussion about the nature of God.At one point
I asked, "Dub, are you saying that God actually reveals himself in nature?" "Sure, its what the theologians call general revelation.""You'll
have to explain that one, Dub."
"Its simply the idea that a man can figure some things out about God just by looking at the things God created. The Bible puts it
like this." To my surprise Dub reached into his pocket and pulled out a little book which I supposed was a Bible. He began reading.
"because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world
His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made,
so that they are without excuse."Dub put the tiny Bible back in his pocket before continuing. "Although we can't possible fathom everything
about an infinite and divine being like God, it is clear that we have been given enough information about God that we have no excuse
not to acknowledge Him."
"But aren't you making an assumption that there is a God and that he created everything? "You're right on both accounts." Dub conceded.
"But what if, for the sake of argument, we decided to proceed under those assumptions?" He stopped to collect his thoughts. "After
all, didn't we sort of do that this morning before we left the house?""Sorry, Dub, you lost me again.""Well, I told you that I knew
about a great fishing hole, right?""Right.""So, did you know for sure that you would catch fish here?""No, but I had a pretty good
idea that I would.""So you made an assumption. And I'm betting you're glad you made that assumption." He winked at me as I nodded
affirmatively. "But let me ask you this." Dub stopped talking momentarily to adjust the tension on his line. "What if you had made
the assumption that there were no fish and therefore decided not to make the trip this morning?" I could see where he was going. "I
would have been wrong and..."
"You would have missed something really great wouldn't you." Suddenly as if on cue the tip of my rod dipped violently toward the water.
I instinctively lifted my rod and gripped the line to keep it taut. The fish broke the surface exposing his white belly, and flared
gills, revealing the red intricacy within. Twisting and bucking he cleared the water by his own length or more. I struggled to keep
the tension on the line, but the Herculean leap toward me had too much power and velocity behind it. The elk hair caddis that had
been lodged in his mouth was suddenly free and the fish was gone. For a moment the only sound I could hear was the rapid drumming
of my heartbeat in my ears. Dub continued talking as I inspected my leader. "So why can't we talk about God from the assumption that
there actually is a God? If we're wrong, no harm done. But, if we are right Well, we might just find something good." It was a reasonable
proposition. We fished and talked until the sun slipped behind the western peaks. Exhausted and fulfilled we made our way back to
the truck. As we drove home I thought of one last question I needed to ask. I found the right words as the headlights of Dub's truck
illuminated his driveway.
"Dub, today while we were talking about God." He looked at me over the rim of his glasses. "You said a lot of things that came out
of the Bible. Right?""Yeah, you're right.""Well, I don't mean to be hard headed or anything, but what would you say to the man who
is not so sure he believes in the Bible?"Dub smiled and said, "Well, I would say to him, 'You know, I read about this great fishing
place up on the Big Thompson. Why don't we go check it out?'"
For more great articles about many different subjects, please visit:
Copyright © 2023 Phil Scheen Advantage Website Designs
If you are an outdoors oriented website, we would be happy to exchange links with you! Just email us
with your request, and the URL where you've linked to us... We will then reciprocate
Fishing Etiquette Can Improve Your On Stream Experience
Take a moment.
Relax and imagine you are on your favorite stream. You have been stalking a large rainbow maybe some 19 inches. You have
spent 15 or 20 minutes making cast after cast, changing flies, changing your casting position slightly to improve your presentation,
still no fish.
Suddenly, a fisherman walks down the bank, enters the water right where your fish was holding and starts to cast
into the pool. You can see your rainbow heading upstream at warp 5. Obviously, this newbie either didn't know fly fishing
etiquette or just didn't care. Let's give him or her the benefit of a doubt and assume they didn't know. So let's talk about
"Stream Etiquette" or "Fly Fishing Etiquette"
Fishing Etiquette is really a matter of following a few simple rules and courtesy
for your fellow angler.
Why People Fly Fish
In this day and age most fishermen don't fish to feed their families. Especially fly fishermen. Fly
fishermen fish for relaxation from the 'daily grind", enjoy some peace and quiet, enjoy the smell of being outdoors in cleaner air
than the city or for the thrill of outwitting a wild creature on a fly that they tied.
In my opinion, fly fisherman fish for some of
the same reasons that hunters hunt. Except by practicing "
Catch-and-Release
" fly fishing, we can help to conserve our quarry
for other fly anglers to catch too.
Give Other Anglers Their Space
As with most other outdoor sports, the angler enjoys the peace and
solitude of the sport. Fortunately, we in Colorado are blessed with over 6,000 stream miles. Much on public land or assessable
through DOW leases. Generally, a fly fisherman can find a quiet time and spot to practice the sport with a little planning.
If you know your stream will be crowded by 10 am, start at 7 am. This gives you 3 hours of quality fishing time.
When you get
to your stream, take a little time and explore for likely places to fish. For me this is part of the fun of the sport, the exploration.
Generally, I will do this upstream. Fishing some spots along the way and then fishing others on the way downstream back to my
vehicle.
If you observe, a fisherman catch a fish, watch how they play it, land and release it. No matter how much you think
you know, there is always more to learn. And DON'T rush down to the stream where they caught a fish and start fishing.
Most streams have more than enough fish to satisfy everyone.
Tip -- If you are on a crowded stream, look for an unused run or
riffle. Often large fish will lie quietly at the base of a riffle sipping in midges or emerging mayflies. In October on
the Cache La Poudre river west of Ft. Collins, CO, I have caught 19" rainbows lying in 5 inches of water sipping tricos. So
I know that these often overlooked places can hold large fish. But you will need a stealthy approach, the right flies and a
good presentation.
"
Fly Fishing Etiquette
" consists mainly of a few simple rules, respect for others, the fish and some common sense.
-
First Come -- First
Served
-
Don't Spook Another's Fish
-
Stay Quiet In and Near the Water
-
Respect Your Environment
-
Respect the Fish
-
Respect the law
-
Respect Private
Property Rights
First Come -- First Served
This is the #1 Cardinal Rule of Fly Fishing. The angler that is in or on the water
first "owns" that stretch or pool until they leave. Generally most fly fishermen will work upstream. But I have seen them
fishing their way back downstream too. If you can't tell by observing them, ask which way they are going. If you ask to
fish the water they have fished, be sure to give the other angler plenty of space so you don't spook any fish they may be fishing
to now.
If they are sitting on the bank by a stretch or pool, don't assume that they are done. They may have been fishing to
a fish they spotted and are "resting" the water waiting for the fish to quiet down. If you want to find out, simply ask them
if they are done fishing that stretch. Most fly fishermen are friendly and willing to share stories, flies and often water if
you ask first. As in most places, rudeness is not welcome.
Tip
-- Try and locate two nearby pools or stretches of water to fish.
Then alternate between them to rest the fish where you have just been fishing. This also gives you an alternative should another fisherman
take over one of the pools or stretches you had previously "staked" out.
Don't Spook Another's Fish
Trout are spooky creatures. They are particularly sensitive to overhead shadows that may indicate
an eagle or osprey to them. They are also very sensitive to your pressure wave when you wade. Sound carries well in the
water. Tests have shown that trout as far as 200 feet down stream from a careless wading angler will spook and run for cover.
When
you enter the water upstream from another angler, do it as quietly as possible. Try to keep your wading noise to a minimum.
Your fishing experience will be better and so will the downstream angler.
If you are watching another angler fish a pool, don't stand
where you cast a shadow on the pool and spook a fish he may have been fishing for over the last hour. This won't win you any
friends.
If you must walk along the bank, try and stay as far from the water as possible. Walk slowly, quietly and with
a low profile. Try to keep your shadow off the water.
If you have children on an outing, there is a fascination with kids, rocks
and streams. Don't let them throw rocks around where an angler is fishing.
My personal observation is that fish in a park stream
where there is constant stream activity like kids, horses crossing and such tend not to spook as easily as those on quieter streams.
In other words, trout in such conditions have become conditioned to more noise than their cousins in a high mountain stream.
Stay Quiet In And Near The Water
Sound carries well in the water. Tests have shown that trout as far as 200 feet down stream
from a careless wading angler will spook and run for cover. Clanking wading staffs or moving rocks will scare fish upstream and downstream
for long distances.
If you are moving to another spot, try and take trails if possible. It is a lot less work for you to
move on land than in the water. And you won't have spooked the fish along the stretch where you were wading. Another angler
may be just behind you and want to fish that stretch where you scared all the fish with careless wading tactics. Remember respect
for others.
Trout have a lateral sense line that is highly responsive to vibration. Sight a fish sometime and then jump up and
down on the bank. See how fast that fish will run for cover.
Tip -- On streams with undercut banks, BIG trout will often
hug the bank for cover and ease in feeding. If you absolutely must walk along such areas, do so with well back from the bank
and tread lightly.
If you enjoyed this article you canread more at
http://www.fly-fishing-colorado.com/fishing-etiquette.html
More fishing etiquette advice