Etiquette

[topsy]

What is the etiquette with fishing a pool?

After a luke-warm discussion in the bar last night it was decided that none of know what we are talking about, and therefore I would like the guidance of this forum to settle the matter.

So is it polite to
1. Cast, take 1 step.
2. Cast, take 2 steps.
3. 2 casts 1 step.
4. Or hog the pool all day because you know somewhere there is a fish

Thanks,

;D

[sealicer]

Normal etiquette, if someone is fishing the pool down behind you, is to take a step downstream after each cast. If someone is already fishing a pool, then you should always start upstream of the other angler. You should never start fishing downstream of another angler fishing a pool, unless he (or she) is in agreement of course!

[Fruin]

It all depends if somebody else is fishing, or would like to fish, the pool you are working your way down. Some beats will state that you should fish a certain distance from other anglers, and move a minimum distance between casts.

I would suggest that as a minimum you should cast and take two steps. This will let you cover the water, and should have you moving down the pool at a rate unlikely to make those behind you irate.

Also, if somebody else is fishing close behind you and you get a serious tangle or other tackle issue that is going to take more than a couple of minutes to sort, exit the pool and let them fish through.

If somebody is fishing behind you, try to keep wading to a minimum and only where necessary. There can be nothing worse than somebody wading chest deep through salmon lies before you even get to them!!!

[redshrimp]

Well said fruin
Pity most of the plonkers now fishing the Finn in Donegal and other rivers in Ireland don't adhere to these principles. I get the feeling a lot of new recruits to salmon fishing have started on put and take stillwaters and think it's acceptable to hog a piece of water. On the Finn i've even seen guys drowning a bunch of worms on one rod and spinning with another at the same time and this on beautiful fly pools. I can't be bothered with the hassle and threats if i said anything so i just don't bother going anymore.

[Fruin]

redshrimp,

I hear you! I like my car in one piece as well!!

[topsy]

At the end of the day you go fishing to catch fish and to be outside and not to have abuse thrown at you and your property damaged.

But honestly i don't think you can put it down to people coming to salmon fishing from P/T trout pond. They are probably just as badly behaved there.......

I think its probably more to do with the state of society

[wilbert]

I take a good step of about a yard between casts unless I have the pool to my self and I am covering a known lie then i take half steps. Most members of my club are pretty good this way but we do have 1 or 2 herons in the club. I don't have a problem with people fishing the opposite bank directly across from me if the the river is wide enough or they move down the pool at an acceptable rate. Sometimes though you can be too polite, I remember ( I sound like an old git but I am only 28) starting to fish a pool with a spinner about 8 years ago when a fly fisherman appeared so I reeled in and let him fish the pool first, he then caught 2 grilse in 15 minutes whilst I caught nothing, never picked a spinning rod up since.

[Bogyoch]

Not that I have ever fished this method, but what is the etiquette for when you are backing up a pool?

[johnmac]

some good info there folks! thanks.

[williegunn]

breakell said:

Not that I have ever fished this method, but what is the etiquette for when you are backing up a pool?

1. Don't try it on a busy association water.

Best used when you have a beat to yourself.

Difficult at the bottom of the Glebe but it has been tried.

[kercock]

sealicer and fruin said it all,well said lads.

[easky]

I don't have anything against spinning and bait fishers as such but without generalising too much I think it is safe to say that they are usually the 'worst offenders'.

I agree, the Finn and indeed the Mourne can be a bit like Blackpool pier at times What I do now is to fish the river very early so that you get it mostly to yourself or at least fish it with other fly men who are normally more aware of other fishermen and etiquette

E

[redshrimp]

I don't have anything against spinning or worming either, provided the participants show a bit of common sense and manners.
Even some fly fishers lack common courtesy.Apart from the Finn, i've come across hogs on the Galway weir who get a pull and then take root and will not move on. The rules clearly state.... step,cast down to the bridge then move up to the top and start again.
One rod last year, in june , hooked a fish at the top of the catwalk ,got played by it until it came off and then spent twenty minutes trying to hook it again. Well ,that's what it looked like to me. No amount of prompting would make him move on.

[sealicer]

You are right owen, problems do arise more frequently when there are 'catchers' on the water. Some of them would sell their kids for a salmon! Catch & release waters are not really any different, i've seen anglers hogging pools on such waters trying their best to lasso fish in midstream with a double spey, cos they're waded so far out in the pool!

[topsy]

The thing that has struck me since bringing this up, is how do you / should you educate others?

Who is it down too, to show people the correct etiquette?

I have fished since I can remember but who is to say what I perceive to be correct may be the height of bad manners to another.

I guess sites like this help, where we can share our views and opinions, before any offence is caused on the river….

[kercock]

I well remember a few years ago on the Guala in Norway,flyfishing down from the top of beat one ,the wormfishers were doing their statue impressions fifty yards short of them I reeled in,set down my rodand walked down to an assotment of Germans and Scandanavians and announced that as we had all paid the same amout in Kroner for rod licences and fishing permits we all had the same entitlement to fish ALL the water and that I would very definately be flyfishing through the area where they were standing,should anyone wish to make an issue over it perhaps they would be kind enough to reel in so as we could settle the matter in any way that they saw fit. Nobody said a word so I walked back to my rod and started fishing again and every body reeled in moved out and through I went, nae bother. Ilove a gamble,but I well know that there are a stack of places I would'nt even dream of doing the same thing. Gambler I may be. suicidal I aint. Incidently,the rule there ,was, (at Storen) one cast then TWO metres then cast etc. On a busy day you could be off the legs ! Superb place,not expensive either ,10days fishing+accomodation mini bus from the airport return,self catering,hunners o whisky(we took our own,38litres ,between nine of us) we gave a lot away, Total cost including airfare was a shade under £700 for me,some of the lads managed on less ! )great icebreaker, I may go back,but not this year.......

[JJ]

One of the worst places for this is the Nith (Common Good Fishings at Dumfries). It was like a coarse fishing match on a canal - some of wormers even had brollies!

I am not sure I'll ever go back there even though there were clearly plenty of fish around (well, at least where the wormers and spinners had made camp)

It is irritating though isnt it?

- JJ

[JJ]

Yes SpeyValley - Wee Green!

And the College Pool and Mill Green!

sigh

- JJ

[exerod]

While in no way condoning those bait fishers who hog pools and don't let you fish through it might be worth considering why they don't move. They stay where they are because they are fishing a known lie, at least they are if they have any sense! Why should they be expected to move down and cover empty water just because fly anglers enjoy casting over every inch of the pool irrespective of the chances

I don't know how it works out on big rivers but on the small ones I fish most of the water never sees a taking fish. One beat of two miles that I've fished hard for over 10 years only gives up fish from about 20 lies which amount to about fifty yards of river, the rest of it is very pleasant to fish but a total waste of time.
BTW I almost never bait fish because I get bored long before the salmon ever bite, and friends who have tried to demonstrate how effective it is always blank

Tight lines

Andy

[ceilidh]

If you are fishing down a beat with others behind you and a fish moves to your fly or you have a pull, how many casts would you make in the same spot before continuing to move down ?
My own preference would be to make two more casts, varying the angle or speed slightly and then move on, however, I know far too many fishers who would make at least a dozen (or more) casts, which, nine times out of ten will only succeed in putting the fish down for a considerable time.
If I am fishing alone I will make three more casts, then rest the lie for ten minutes and change the fly size (usually down, unless I am already using a 10 or 12, in which case I would go up a size) and give it another three casts.