Like they used to be.

[Flatfish]

Things aint like they used to be.

When I was a kid, just learning how to cast, let alone fish, there was 3 kinds of folks.

1- The newbie. One look and it was plain as day this was all new to them. They had trout rods with Mitchell 300s on them. Cheap hip boots( if they even had waders), and a small tackle box with a few corkies and Oakies in it.No rips and tears on the waders or rain gear.
No fish on the bank. But they had a hopeful look in their eye.

2- The regular 90%er. This dude has a casting rod 8 1/2', an abu 5500, chest waders that may or may not be patched yet,A large tackle box with a lotta corkies, birdies, and such long with spoons, spinners, and other contraptions they bought to catch a steelie because they had tried forever to get one on drift gear, but never had so they tried the metal as a substitute.They also had a vest which carried a ton of unseen stuff that had never caught a fish. These guys had the eggs that Joes sells for bait. They had no fish on the bank.

3- The 10%. They had chest waders that looked like they had been in a gunfight, then patched, A fenwick rod or an original lamiglas, An abu, Diawa Millionaire, or a Lews Speed spool.They all used Maxima line. They all drift fished with their own eggs, cured in Borax.Some of them had driftboats.Some of the guys in the boats used "Hot Shots" trolled behind the boat. There were silver, metallic green, metallic blue, and the "Toman Special", a metallic green back with a silver body.They caught lots of fish.

For a long time I thought the 10%ers caught all the fish because they had Boraxed eggs and Toman hot shots. I was wrong. These guys could actually feel the difference between their leads banging bottom, and a fish eating those wonderful boraxed eggs.They knew where the fish would lie. They fished thereThis was in the days of heavy leads dragging the bottom, not this lite freedrifting stuff that is so popular today.

I bought many hotshots, spinners,spoons and such( in fact I bought some new drift bobber things today to go with my other 48329 zillion other drift bobbers) trying to be loke a 10%er. I did not catch many fish. I kept trying though. Eventually I bought a boat, sure that it would enable me to become a 10%er.

A friend, who was so tired of laughing at me began to show me the ropes. I began to catch fish on a semi-annual basis. On purpose even.
I am forever indebted to him for showing me what I would have probably never figured out on my own.

When I was a kid, you drift fished eggs from the bank, and pulled plugs or drift fished eggs from a boat. If someone cut in front of you they would most likely hear about it. Sometimes they would hear about it, along with most of Tillamook county. For the most part, people were pretty polite. You started plugs at the top of a hole and never cut in front of someone. You would never ever fish the tail in front of someone, always took your turn. Sometimes waiting several minutes to even have the chance to pull plugs thru a hole behind several other boats. It was crowded at times, but still somewhat polite. You would nou pull plugs thru a hole with folks drift fishing it.Ever.

I went fishing on the coast this weekend. We drifted a section of fairly technical water, to help rid ourselves of the crowds. There were 5 boats on our drift. I assume that they had been fishing for quite sometime if they could all row thru this section of water without banging and clanging.Ofthe 5 boats,1 thats right 1 single solitary boat did not long me on water I had began to cover. 1 actually snagged my wifes plug as it entered a tailout, as he tried to get to the fish before I caught them all.

3 guys boondogged all the drift (a simple and effective way to catch a steelhead, very effective if you cannot drift fish) and were especially rude.Hitting each piece of water several times directly in front of us.Then racing with their motor to the next hole.

I am beginning to resent electric motors. The rude people ALL had electric motory lashed to their transom. I doubt any of them has ever caught a steelhead drift fishing. They all were using techniques that are new inventions since I started snagging lead on rocks. Boondogging, floats and bait, jigs and floats, and fly fishing. When i was a kid, nobody ever flyfished winters. It was not done.

When I was a kid, I did not like sleds, because they were noisy. Driftboats are quiet things( unless you cannot row, which is OK) and I always enjoyed the quiet.

I will sell my drifter in the next 10 years or so. When my quiet rivers are no longer tolerable,filled with rude people who never learned how to drift fish, who never learned fishing manners, who never got it from a 10%er about howthey are being rude. Filled with people who think the only fish on the hole are in the tailout- right in front of my plugs. People who think hot shots and loomis rods will make them fisherman.These fisherman remind me of the "Hatchery Hole" guys, who think that a concentration of fish is necessary to catch fish. the fish are not in any real concentration right now. Theyare late. They will come.

I can catch fish behind most anyone. Even if you caught one, another will fill that spot shortly. I don't mind sharing water either. There is a lot of water on NW Oregon. take a piece yourself.

Towards the end of the day, the 2 dudes who snagged my wifes plug were working a tailout with drift gear. I put the plugs in at the top of the run. I ran all the way thru the hole tail and all. When the plugs were in line with their drift, the captain said"Hey ^^%$& &^% !We were fishing here first". I said, "well I figured you would not mind me fishing here, since you did this to me earlier this afternoon". He cursed my mother some more and pulled anchor. I did not feel better. I was mad at myself for sinking to their level.

I must be getting old now. Because things are changing.I do not like it. People hide behind the fact that they are greedy and selfish. They don't care if they ruin your day with their quest for a fish. But they sure do get upset if you mess up one of their opportunities.

It bothers me that these folks have migrated to my favorite quiet river. Even my happy section of that river too.

Folks, there are plenty of fish out there we do not catch. Thats why hatcheries recycle fish back down again and again. There are plenty of fish to be caught. But there are no shortcuts to being a master. If you want to be the 10%er, great. But do not step on someone in the process of getting a fish. If you are good at this game you will be able to hook up behind anyone. My mentor has hooked up behind Buzz while winter steelie fishing. Does that mean he is better than Buzz? I dunno. But it shows that the greatest steelhead anglers miss on occasion. My mentor did not have to race in front of Mr. Ramsey to get that fish. He did not ruin anyones day.

The next time you are on a river, think if what you are doing is rude to others. If it is, would you like someone to do it to you? Probably not.

I have committed all of these sins. I rarely caught a fish right in front on someone else. If I did, I felt bad about it later. Don't taint the catch with greed.

I am not directing this at anyone. I am not complaining about any particular technique.But when in Rome....

Thanks for letting me vent. I am sorry if I ever cut you off for a fish. I was wrong if I did.

There are no free lunches in the fishing world. Learn your quarry and it's habits well Then you will catch fish.Tackle, and techniques are only as useful as the person carrying them.

For what its worth, I am 33 years old. I began steelheading in 1980-1981. My Dad had never been steelheading before. We learned it in the School Of hard Knocks.Maybe my age has made my memories of some of these folks fond. I do not know.

Have a safe new year.

Mark and the dog.

[norms gone fishing too]

well said have a happy new year and hope to see you and that dog on a river sometime

[drift fishing fool]

im kinda new to this steelheading stuff and im a pretty young guy myself( just shy of 19). i fish with a friend and his grandpa who has fished the central coast all his life. it feels good to be in a boat with someone who has put their time in and knows the unwritten rules of driftboating. i love hearing the stories of how things used to be and i wish they were still the same. Stick to your home rivers, road trips ok but dont make it weekly, staying zipped up when the fish come in to keep places from getting zoo'd, lie about what youve caught to keep your spots secret; these are all games that make it fun. Im the kind of guy who likes to explore, learn things on my own, but at the same time take the time to get to know the good ol boys and pry info out of them. i will almost always hide the fact that im fighting a fish if someone else is around and when i get it to the bank it hides in the bushes till i leave. i just have a good time playing the secrets game with people i dont know but also spend time learning and sharing with the buds.

[spinnermaker]

Well put that was a great post Flatfish. I started fishing with my father 30 years ago. Things have change there are alot of rude people out there now. I'm 40 now and can see its not getting any better.

[WP]

Mark,
I am 55 yrs old and have been fishing for the last 45 yrs, off and on. In some fisheries I have the skills and knowledge to be successful beyond average. In others I am a novice, even when I have participated for as many years as you have lived. Steelheading has never been a strong draw for me and the main reason (besides frozen guides and no boat) has been the secretiveness and guarded actions of the "10%". I come from a family where no one fished and have learned virtually all I know from reading or the very slow experiencial way. In recent years I have been lucky enough to have several friends from work invest time and effort in building my knowledge and skills (Thanks Chris, Matt, and company) It is a slow process. What I do find is that most rudeness and gaffs from the novices and relatively inept stems from ignorance. There are some rude and obnoxious people on the river but they are evenly distributed between all classes of fisherpeople, with the exception of novices where there are actually fewer (they don't want to offend and loose resources and they already feel stupid/inept). The experienced can better afford to be rude...they know it all, at least in their own minds.
When frustrated by others actions, I choose to avoid the activity or person or I look for ways I can improve the situation...not try to find blame. We can't make another "fix" our issues. We have to focus on what we can do to resolve it for ourselves. In the case of rudeness....drifting protocol and fishing ediquette (sp), instructing without attacking and providing a good example for others will do way more for improving the situation then all the revenge or complaining in the world.
An example of this occured for me on one of my first drift trips. The rower cut his boat right in front of a group of bank anglers who were fishing a slot against the far bank. I was appaled until he talked about how he sees so many boaters drift over the top of the bankies slot rather than in the shallow water infront of them. He opened my eyes to the fact that experince can change our perceptions dramatically.
Not everyone has the priviledge of having a mentor with the "right" experience and knowledge. When we learn incorrectly, we don't know that it is wrong! Unlearning and re-learning is more difficult than getting it right the first time. I know that I struggle from this a lot. I think I know something so don't know to ask. Habits are also hard to break.
Just as we are all becoming vitally aware of the need to protect and sustain the systems that keep our sport viable, we also need to invest in and understand the need for educating, mentoring, helping, and providing good examples for the "new" people on the rivers. It is our own best interests! It is not enough to just "take a kid fishing", we need to have sustained effort and include "kids" of all ages! At 55, I am a "kid" too!
Through frustration, look for answers that you can help with!
Thanks too for listening to my rambling and allowing me to present from the "other" side. ight lines and pure joy in the greatest pastime in the world. I leave your rivers to you so you may have the serenity you seek.

WP :tongue:

[HOGTIDE]

Flatfish--nice post with a real human dimension. If folks have fished the Pacific NW for any amount of time, they have seen the changes in the pressure on the water, the crowds at the boatramp. What always had intrigued me about fishing in my youth was the solice and the mystery of it all. Finding special spots that produced, being successful and sharing some of your success with special friends or family. It was a quiet, personally fulfilling 'craft' that fisherman developed over years of trial and error.

Today, everyone knows everything and is everywhere. The nature of the situation and the mass crowds requires you to be agressive on the water if you want success...or even just a spot to fish. There are few 'special' spots, few places where you can just relax and work your way along a stream thoroughly and properly. And, unfortunately this type of a situation brings out the worst in people. It brings out the worst in me, also.

I remember taking wooden driftboats down the Sandy and fishing it's northern banks when most anglers thought us to be a drifting oddity. I can recall launching at Scappoose Bay's gravel ramp when the only rigs were a few locals and the only fee was helping to tow others out of the drink...Santosh was a secret and [72] was reserved for the 4 guys that owned it's legacy.

Maybe that is the reason I have shifted most of my fishing to the boat and out in the big river...the crowds still impinge, but I still have the option of putting some distance between us.

[ 12-31-2002, 06:24 PM: Message edited by: HOGTIDE ]

[Applegate]

Well said and right on. I would like to copy your post and place a copy at several boat ramps :cheers:

Wonder if those folks most lacking in manners would stop to read it?

[Rock Stick or Fish]

Really in the last couple of weeks I've learned a lot about courtesy on the rivers that I hope will pay off. Some stuff that really doesn't affect me now but its still important for the future. Stuff like

Have a plan/location "B" ready before I work hard to find 6 people fishing my spot at Odark:30.

Drift boats should stick close to fishers to keep out of teh fishable water(I had a guy go out of his way to cut under my line on the Sandy, a bit of effort that really made my day)

Sleds don't really bother the fish, I shouldn't let them bother me either.

Just little details that go to making a good day when I don't scowl at stupid stuff.

RSF

[PTS]

Great post by a couple of youngsters, Flatfish and drift fishing fool. I am 61 and have had those feelings for a VERY long time. I was fortunate to be able to fish in those good old days which allowed me to put a few thousand steelhead on the bank virtually all by drift fishing from the bank. Due to the current environment on the rivers I do almost all my fishing in areas that really are not the best water just to avoid the hassles that occur by so many fishermen that seem obsessed for meat. Ranting may make you feel better, but nothing is going to change the trend toward unfriendliness and bad manners. Those characteristics seem to center around the pursuit of steelhead and Salmon. I really don't want anyone else to do this, but the solution for the hassles for me was to switch to flyfishing and catch and release trout in the remaining relatively secluded areas of the northwest.

[ampersat]

it has nothing to do with the sport itself but with people in general. the increasing lack of respect is inevitable. call it the fall of western society. the same folks that are rude to you on the highways or in the grocery store are the same folks that are rude to you on the river. however, that's one of the great things about ifish.

i got into salmon fishing after a long hiatus of southern texas fishing (at least i'm not from california). i'm the first to admit that drift fishing perplexes me. i bought a drifter hoping to get closer to those 10%, if only for the fact that you can see more fish in the course of a day.

i try to be courteous, asking if it's okay to step in to a line of folks drift fishing or if it's alright to pass a boat on the river. i try, and that's probably what separates me from most of the folk on the river.

however, when you encounter a rude person or boat on the river, instead of being rude back or just ignoring them, perhaps suggesting this site would be a better solution. it's here that i learn what is considered proper etiquitte on the rivers, what exactly is considered rude while fishing. some folks just won't listen but if you and reach one person out of five, it's more than worth it.

it's sad that you have so much to be upset about in this sport of ours. it ain't what it used to be and it won't be what it is today in the times to come. ifish

[slamin salmon]

Lots of good reading in this post. I'm 54 and don't know nothing but I will learn. I feel fortunate to have you guys to learn from. I am also grateful to like people and have found ways to get along with some of the rudest. We can never go back-adjust is all there is.Looking back to now I really fear for my grandkids. Will they need guns, will some idiot shoot them. If it gets to bad I hope they get there fish in a store. What a shame people have come to and where it seems they are going. I wish I could buy a big stretch on a good river(both sides) and just hold it for the kids. I can only do my part in the kindness area but its my part. The only change I can make is in myself. Again I'm lucky to have all you guys out there. You are my hope for some good in the future. :bowdown:

[GL2]

This is not directed at any one in paticilur.
I'm gonna take the bait on this one!
I did a "no free lunches for real anglers" post a few weeks ago.
I got a lot of flak from some people for it.
I'm a greedy angler! But I don't fish on top of other people!! I have good maners, except, I've been known to lie about hookups.
Thats how I'm greedy. But I put in time scouting water, I'm not gonna give up what I worked for for free. I like to fish away from the crowds. I want to keep it like that. I've given a Kalama report twice and thats all "anyone" is ever gonna get out of me.
I'll give out tech info, but thats it from now on.
Not that Kalama river was just discoverd last month anyway!
I've been real tight with info before. But I've been dishing out the goods after that post. Madwizerd did a reading water post too. Guys should be able to learn a ton from them. I think you could about publish either of them. I'm only giving out the info so guys, don't have to feel like they have to fish over the top of people to catch fish. Guys pointed out the only place they had to learn to fish was "hatchery holes" & deadlines. Well you can pick up a lot of bad stuff @ those scenes. So I hope some guys will run with the info & break off from the pack. I hope others will feel like they can be less agrresive on the water too catch fish.
I also want to help "polite" anglers that aren't hooking up! If they are willing to read and learn then put it to use, I respect that! I hope they yard a ton of fish. Just not the fish moving up river to me. :grin: :grin:

But I agree with everything Mark & the throwback Dog say! It gets my blood hot. I haven't be railing on this latley though. But now I'm sorta ticked cuz I hear how Yahoo's messed with Mark & the dogs day.
I'm 31 so I know where Mark is coming from.
It breaks my heart to see this going down. I know its gonna get worse. It has driven alot of people off the water on the weekend. Guys take days off to fish the week days, too have peace. I see a light coming up the tracks & it's a train thats gonna run alot of anglers off there home water.
The instant gratifacation crowd, with there gotta get a fish greed! I've only tagged my limit twice this year. I don't gotta take a fish home, I relase @ least 10 fish for every one I tag. Ive seen guys keeping foul hooked fish cuz, they got some trip about having fish. "Gill Plate or better," = a boot in your as- or better to me! :sick: They will come over and fish on your elbow cuz, they gotta have a fish. Whats up with that??
I'm a drift fisher & spoon & spinner thrower. Thats my game & I do it from the bank, & I gotta keep going farther in the bush to do it without someone on my elbow!
I bought some pootons to try to get away. I can drop anchor and run a diver and bait. But I don't know jack about plugs & I'm not a bobber & jig or bait guy. I've only bobber and jigged 3 times & bait never. So when I'm on my poontoons I'm out of my game. I do get to drink a beer while running a diver. :dance:
But I'm having less success, when I jump into the toons. All in the name of peace.
So when I hit the bank the next time it's hard to not want to kill the first jerk who crowds me.
I get even by driving to the hatchery or deadline hole & wading right into the crowd the closer the better. Then I'll hook & relase more fish than the rest combined in a hour or two. My friends have seen me do it. i'll even cast over a few guys.
This growing problem makes me mean. I don't deal with it well and can be a real jerk.
I know I act like a child sometimes.
But I'm not the one who started the war.
And you'll never have me come jump on your elbow, when there's all kinds of other open water to fish.
Jason

[ 12-31-2002, 08:36 PM: Message edited by: GL2 ]

[Green Machine]

Flatfish-

Good post and well said. One thing I might add is some of these "manners" are picked up on hot spots like the Cowlitz and Bouy 10. If you are fishing different than someone else, they yell at you, but you just shake it off and not think or worry about it. In fact, some of these poor manners are even practiced by guides. To get to my point, I am a younger angler and every hot spot I have fished has been littered with rude people, showing very little respect for anyone. This has been stamped into my brain. :depressed: If you want to catch fish, hit the hot spots and be prepared to stand your ground. Now that I have a little more experience, I realize how nice it is to have solitude, or fish around experienced anglers. So if I am ever working a stretch of water, and happen to "cut" you off, politely let me know, and I will get out of your way. Maybe I heard a certain river was "hot", and I have never fished it before. When I go to fish it, chances are I will be in everyones way!! :depressed: I am not making excuses for jerks, as there is no hope for these individuals, but merely asking for a little patience with anglers to a new stretch of river and to those that have been taught bad habits. Remind them "this is not the Cowlitz!!" :grin:

Green Machine

[Gun Rod Bow]

Flatfish,

Great Post!!!

I remember when I was eager to have some truly legendary fishermen take me under their wing. I wanted to learn to row a drift boat. I quickly learned that "steering with your ass" and "don't drop through there until your straight" were NOT the important lessons.

The important things were, "lets just anchor up and have a smoke while these guys finish fishing this hole" and "no, we're not gonna run the plugs here, those two guys down there are bank fishing, let's let them have the water"....those were what was really important.

Giving friendly responses like, "no we haven't touched a thing, how bout you?"when they're spilling out of the fish box... and kicking your real out of gear as a sled goes by...then resuming the fight when he's out of sight...is part of how things are done.

I recently was talking to a guide and telling him about all the places that I'd fished right along side of him. When he said he didn't remember me, I just smiled. I guess I was doing it right.

Tight lines brother!!

Happy new year. :cheers:

GRB

[crabbait]

Remember, no one can ruin your day. They may provide the stimulus, we chose the response. If I am angry it is because I chose to be angry.

Yes, there are rude people out there. There are also some great folks who will give you the shirt off their back. I chose to look for the good people and ignore the rude people whenever possible.

Clinging to the way things used to be is the road to becoming a cynical old man (or woman). For some reason, we cannot seem to control our rampant breeding so there will be more people until some catastrophy dramatically reduces our numbers. We either have to learn to deal with the influx, change with the change, or do our fishing from the computer.

I am far from perfect and, on occasion, I react poorly to stimulus. I can only strive to be gracious, to believe that most people have a good intent, and to try to educate the novice without ostracising them.

No amount of rudeness gives me the right to be mean or to try to demean those with less skill and experience.

[Flatfish]

Wow,

I sit down and whine about how I feel robbed cause I took too long to figure out drift fishing and everyone agrees. Go figure.

Thanks everyone for your positive feedback. Makes me glad to know I'm not alone.

Crabbait-You are right, as usual. Their actions did not ruin my day, but it tainted it. I am more unhappy with my improper REACTION than anyones actions.

I guess I have this script of the days events in my head, and I do not like to deviate too much from my own preplanned story. It is pretty well written, when it plays out right.

Mark and the wild and crazy dog.

[ 12-31-2002, 11:17 PM: Message edited by: Flatfish ]

[Wannabe]

Flatfish,
Great post and some good ones by others too. I used to spend many many hours on our coastal rivers ( I'm 52) from Astoria to Alsea and have caught my share and released a lot more. I've seen houses built, fences put up, signs etc, not to mention the numbers of people grow and grow. I have memories of fishing the 50 cent hole on the trask by the dairy with just a couple other locals or catching a bunch of fish on the Necanicum with nothing but the elk to watch ya. Or fishing the Claskinine and walking from the hatchery down to the bridge for salmon and steelhead and maybe seeing only about five people. The list goes on but they are fond memories I will treasure. I still fish the Necanicum about once a year just to see the changes. It still fishes good between people sometimes.
About ten or so years ago I got into warmwater or non-combat I call it. I still have to go out and get my fix with winter fish but I try not to get caught up with all the goings on to much anymore. I like being out there enjoying what our good Lord has created and not trying to think evil things about our brothers and sisters. (it's hard sometimes)
I find for winter fish now I usually don't leave as early as I used to and I drive or walk more to find a spot thats not so busy. I even find I talk more to people (if there receptive).
Anyway good posts and hopefully our rivers will improve some with Jennys site ,or at least the bad stuff will not grow as fast in the upcoming years. Tight Lines
<)))><

[Flatfish]

I want to go on record that I am not mad that my favorite rivers are getting clogged up with people. Kind people make up all of the deer camp we go to( when we are lucky enough to draw tags)which has better than 30 folks in it, when we all draw. A lotta folks in a small space. No bickering, just good company. Wonderful fun.

I do hold a bit of resentment to those who are using methods that have basically no learning curve. I guess this is because I really worked awful hard to become a moderately poor drift fisherman. But I did pay my dues. I suppose I am upset that I never got to boondog when I was 12. But they can only catch fish when conditions are right, and if electric motors are legal. Plugs, spoons, and drift fishing have been mainstays in steelheading for longer than I have been alive. All take a lot of work to do well with.

The folks who should know better but do not care, well I have no idea of what to do with them. Ask politely to correct the rudeness and move on I guess.

Maybe instead of resenting the new kids( who are catching fish without paying their dues) I should feel sorry for them. They have not worked very hard before catching fish. They did not row all day for no strikes. They did not spend untold hours learning the difference between a rock and a fish.They did not learn to fish according to my script. They do not appreciate the fish that they do catch as much as I do. Or maybe they do...but their script has a different writer.

Mark and the dog.

[ 01-01-2003, 11:13 AM: Message edited by: Flatfish ]

[Flatfish]

Yeah Jim,
it was the 1st problem we have had. But we moved to Bend in '98 and moved back this year(oops, I mean last year, don't I). When we lived there, we only fished the coast a couple times. The Deschutes and the JD got our attention. So this electric motor thing is new to me.

Have a good new year.

Mark and the manually operated dog.

[3d3e]

Speaking of inconsiderate, me and a friend went fishing on the Klaskanie river we left Saint Helens at 2:45 AM and stood around at the river talking for a few hours until first light so we would be the first people in the hole. So at first light my friend crossed over the creek and we began fishing we fished for some time we saw a few fish move by but didn't catch any. Anyway at around 9AM about five people came and crowded into the same whole and just started drifting over us. They tramped accross the creek 2 feet away from where we were fishing in about 5 minutes ten or twelve people came tramping accross the creek so we decided to leave about ten minutes later. One of the IDIOTS had the nerve to yell at my friend for walkking back accross the creek quiet a ways away from where they were fishing when they just tramped right through everyone. I think it is rediculas the inconsiderateness of these people just because they could not get there drucken
***** out of bed in time.

[hawgcatcher]

Flatfish, You did a good job of hitting some of the problems. Only I have to say that I don't totally agree with the first part of your post.

I am 60 (yes getting old and senile) and I started fishing salmon and steelhead on the Willamette when I was a teenager. I fished with a Mitchell 300 and a Shakespere fiberglass rod. I caught fish. I learned how to catch them from old timers that I fished alongside. Many of them used the same outfit.

There were a lot that had Pfluger supremes or the ever popular Ambassadour 5000. They did catch more because they had 40# test line and hauled them in. I finally saved up enough money from yard work to buy one. I then caught less fish. Why? Because I spent most of my time clearing backlash after backlash. Finally I learned how to use the reel and then there were more fish.

Boots! Most of the people casting at the falls, wore knee boots. Some wore "tire patched" hip boots. You didn't want to have them on if you slipped into the swift and deep water.

The old timers wore jeans and wool shirts, with a stocking cap or baseball hat. No one wore a wide brimmed hat as it would soon be drifting down the Willamette when it was knocked off by the guy standing next to you.

Most of the people that fished there were local workers and were more then friendly and in their own way, courteous. They gave you room and they helped you land your fish. They took out their rigs when you called out "Fish On" and moved back.

We didn't have problems with the boats. They anchored in hog lines that were away from us. Once in a while someone would anchor in a casting drift but if you talked to them, they would move (or get a 4 oz lead against their boat) to another area.

In recent years, I have fished the coastal rivers and found that most people will give you a break if you are on shore casting and they are in a boat. However, there is an element that feel their license gives them the right to drift through your water or anchor up right in the drift in front of you (humm, where did I put those 4 oz sinkers). These are the people that feel that they own the river and you are a nobody that doesn't know anything and doesn't have any rights.

Most people are good. Electric motors are better then the guy with a sled that feels that he needs to open up that 200 hp motor to full bore to get to his special hole up river from you and doesn't care that the wake will wash you clear out to the bay or snag your line (darn, I know I had a couple of 4 oz sinkers in my bag).

Enough of my bantering. You brought up some good thoughts to create some chat. You must be alright, you live here in Forest Grove. I need to go. I am melting up some lead to pour some 4 oz sinkers for this coming year. :wink:

[ampersat]

if the main part of your disappointment is that there's less learning curve to other techniques, guess again. sure, watching the float with a jig under it go down is a lot easier that telling a rock from a fish when drifting. pitching spinners can be just as tough sometimes as drift fishing. i use all of these techniques at different times of the year. i probably catch most of my fish drifting for the simple fact that i spend more time with that technique than any other. but i dabble in other techniques for different runs of fish as they might be appropriate. my success is probably less than it could be because i'm not focused on one technique. i have a lot to learn about drift fishing as well as jig fishing and spinners.

in addition, even if you have the guaranteed gonna-catch-'em lure, you've got to know where the fish are. most folks don't want to take the time to learn so they head to the deadlines and hatchery holes and harvest their fish. on the other hand, on most rivers there's very little public access. this concentrates the bankies into certain spots. most of your johnny come lately fisherman don't have boats so they go where they can get access. as for the drift boaters with electric motors, so far i haven't encountered that phenomenon myself. i can see why those without them would get irked by those who have them and i don't have a good solution for you. they are within their rights to use them and if they did so politely there would probably be less of an issue surrounding it. purists will look down their noses at those who use electrics the same way fly fishers will look down their nose and folks casting hardware.

i think what is really disappointing you are the folks who go out and buy the "hot color" of blue fox spinners or the winter steelie pack of first cast jigs or even the spanking new clackacraft (complete with electric motor) and head to the water with the feeling that these things give them a right to catch fish no matter how rude they have to be to do it. they'll probably catch a fish and that'll keep them coming back. they haven't learned to fish, they've learned to harvest fish. and they haven't taken the time to learn the history behind what they're doing. their only interest is in harvesting fish. it's a noble sport we participate in with a long history and they come along, catch their fish and don't take the time to appreciate what they or the other folks on the rivers are doing.

it really comes down to common courtesy, which is increasingly becoming less common in our society. as said in another post here, it's sad to think that one day we'll look back and call these the good ol' days.

[Flatfish]

Amp,

I am frustrated, not necessarily rationally mind you ,buthey I can feel what I want so...,people who fish directly in front of me, instead of waiting their turn. My frustration does not have to be logical, as most of it seems emotionally based.

As far as different techs go, hey I spinner fish quite a bit, and it takes a lot of practice to fugure it out. Bobber and jigs require some input from the angler, not a great deal of it, but if the guy on the rod is asleep at the wheel, it will cost him fish. Boondogging is not that way, I guess it's why I do not like it in particular. If you can cast 30 feet and shut the bail, you are fishing. Effectively. It just bothers me, here comes the irrational part, that I stood in the Kilchis for 2 winters and springs( so cold at times that i wanted to cry, so cold that I started to get sick to my stomach trying to learn to drift fish. 2 were caught. I had no idea that I had a bite). So thats what bothers me. If you don't think I am right,OK.

Now I have not chased winter brats on the coast for quite a while. There were NO electric motors on boats when I last fished there on a regular basis.So when I return to the crowds, it takes me quite by suprise on how commmon alternate power is.
I remember the days when gas motors were legal on the coast. A local guide tried to run one for a while. He was pretty much run off the river(this was in the 80s, if memory serves).A driftboat was designed to be rowed. I have a kicker that I use on mine in the bigger rivers.But it only works OK at best. A sled is much safer and more comfortable to fish from, especially when under power, than a drifter.If you want to drift thru a run several times, and drag your baits behind you thats fine. Lotsa folks do it. A sled is a totally superior boat to do this in.A drifter takes way too long to run up with and

The electric motors were being used to race from hole to hole. I own a rowboat. If I wanted a motorboat, I would buy one. Not try to "Get an edge on the competition" and have an electric that requires 3 batteries to operate.

I don't care that all things are constantly evolving, changing. Even fishing is constantly changing. Thats fine. But I do not have to like all of the changes that come along. Some are swell, like graphite and Curados, and Tuf Line.But graphite ,Curados, and Tuf line are only as good as the person holding the rod.

But not all new ideas are good ideas. And just because it works, does not make it right.If you doubt that statement, lets talk gillnets.

it appears to me that anyone with the means to buy a drifter and outfit it with an electric motor, buy 2 dozen sandshrimp, and a couple rods and hooks can catch steelies. The problem, as I see it, is these people have not paid their dues. they do not understand ettiquete. They will change the way of angling here, and not for the good.

I hope I am wrong.

Mark and the dog.

[Snapset]

Great post, Mark. I agree with your drift fishing point especially. I have taken a few people under my wing, and helped them get their first fish. I don't even mention jigs or spinners until they have a few fish on the tag.

I would no sooner teach a newbie how to fish spinners or jigs than I would teach a 7'th grader basketball player to play "cherry-picker". Now that I am old and even slower, though, I play cherry-picker sometimes. And I fish with jigs and spinners fairly frequently. But when I catch steelhead with these methods, I feel slightly that I have somehow robbed myself. Almost that I wasn't really steelhead fishing at all.

I have a boat, but Iusually bank it, because often I launch and find myself in the middle of the "Jack-Rabbit Armada" you described, and there is no way out except to the next ramp. The only way I have made days like this productive, is to make a point of watching where other people are fishing. I don't often pull plugs though, so it doesn't do me that much good.

[hustlerrjim]

the first problem with electric motors?????
there will be many more before every body has enoigh of this 2 way traffic and petitions the marine board to get rid of them on ALL rivers.