Friendliness on the water

[scales]

Good morning people. I saw a recent post on the topic if rude people on our waters. I read all the posts and thought they were insightfull and thought I would add a comment or two. It may be an unwritten by law that I missed but it seems to me that once people (not all but very many) become established fisher persons they are supposed to stop responding to friendly gestures from other fisher persons, such as good morning or you doing any good today. Seems to me that the only responsive people are those that our still learning their hobby or from the old school fishing stock. I guess I just don't understand why it's so hard for those to say hi. Being nice isn't going to jinx the bite is it? Smile and have a good day.

[novice]

scales
I know what you mean. I have such a blast out on the water regardless if I catch fish or not. I think some people just take it to personal if they don't hook up, like it kinda ruins the whole weekend if they don't get into fish. I saw where Jennie took a friendly fishman poll a few weeks ago. Incredible how many people just give a blank stare when you look them right in the eye and say hello.

[THE REEL HEY_YALL]

I say that's an interesting point there. We have to realize too, that they may have had a crappy week, and then a crappy fishing day just adds to it. I have been there, done that, doing it tomorrow, although I have had a good week, so I will be friendly tomorrow I just think it's rude for people to not be responsive with a hello, good morning, naw they ain't biting, etc. because how much effort does it really take to respond back to a friendly gesture?
roll tide

[Luvtofish]

Personally I have found most people are friendly. I have found out information on things I might not know by talking back to them. I fish from the bank so maybe thats some of the difference too.

Hey_Yall, that has to be the first time that I've seen the words "crappy" and "fishing" in the same sentence.

I remember a trip for steelhead on the Clack where it was SO cold that every third cast required the rod tip to be smacked on the rocks first to break the ice off, a back eddie that we had to wade across was frozen over so we had to use our rod butts to break the ice first, the guy I was fishing with caught two steelies and I got nary a bite, and my reel froze and broke internally. The only real I had with me.

Even after all that, it was fishing. Expensive, cold, frustrating fishing, but it was still fishing. And fishing is always gooooooooood. ;-)

[scales]

Thats the attitude we are looking for right there. Nothing could possibly be so bad as to ruin a day of fishing or to not say hello to someone who has just done so to you. I could be in my boat, break the only rod I brought, get caught in a sleet storm and run out of propane for the heater and still have a blast. Beats being belly up to a couch watching MASH reruns.

[First Bite]

If I see someone on the water either drifting by or on the bank, I always ask them how it's going. Sometimes you run into friendly people who will tell you what they caught their fish on and where.

I enjoy helping newcomers get into Steelheading. Two weeks ago I took two friends camping and got each of them into their first Steelhead. It was a thrill for me to watch them catch a fish. Other times I've given people jigs that I use to catch fish on. It makes the whole experience that much better. Tight lines
Mark

[Oakie Drifter]

Fished the Nehalem last week for three days. The friendly poll ended being:
4 friendly, 1 unfriendly. The unfriendly one was a guide too.....was surprised at that. Suppose he really needed some "nookie", you think???

[Mr. Fisherman]

Mean people don't get Nookie because mean people don't deserve nookie!

Lip rippers beware of the mean guides stare, the Karma dog is sizing him up for a bite from the behind,

Dog on!

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Live to Fish
Fish to Live