How Close Is Too Close To Fish?

[wildoregonfish]

How far should you stand appart from another stranger fisherman while drift fishing on a river?

I arrived at Barton Park this morning at 6:45, no one else in site on the bank. I carried my gear out and found a great spot, all to myself, and had some coffee until the sun came up. I was trying out some new jigs I tied up, had a few take downs, and a nice long drift.

At 8:30am, While I am re-rigging another jig color, two other guys show up, each stake their claim within 30 feet on either side of me. I'm a little disturbed, because now my drift is obstructed below and above my position. The entire river was wide open, and now it's a little claustrophobic.

I'm not sure if I should be angry or just get used to it. I got there long before anyone else rolled out of bed, just to get a good spot. When I fish with my buddies, we stand close so we can talk and harass each other. And Whenever I arrive at a fishing hole with other people, I stand clear of anyone's drift.

Don't get me wrong, these other fishermen and one lady fisherperson were nice people, I just don't feel right about giving someone the evil eye when they are casting over me, not to mention hooking a steelhead 10 feet from me.

The good news is I had success with my new jigs. I hear pink and white work, and white and pink. Also, pink pearl corkie and pink yarn got one to the bank.

[Day Late]

Don't know of a river on the coast where you can expect to keep a hole with public access all to yourself. Actually, 30' is a comfortable distance in most cases if everyone minds their casting manners. If people are courteous with each other, everyone can have fun. Too many fisherman this day in age to expect much privacy. Just a fact of life I'm afraid.

Day Late

[andy-ap emerger]

When I can see them! [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img]


<*}}}}}}><

[Fish Hawg]

What gets me is when sturgeon fishing (this week) I got anchored up in my spot, at 7:45 and started catching fish. Around 9:00 some boat comes by and sees us with a double and slows down and throws the hook. He is closer than most hog lines are.I dont mind If they anchor 40-50 feet or more but right next to you when they have the whole river Still they were not in the slot so some times it does not mean you are going to catch fish right next to some one who is. Oh well. I just had to vent a little :smile: :grin: .....Ross

[north coast kook]

I don't mind having one or two other guys around, as long as they understand how *group casting* works. It's kinda nice to see if they are catching anything, or if you're not the only one getting skunked! More than one or two though and I start to feel a little crowded. You can imagine how I feel fishing at the hatchery on the NFL for fall fish!
-KooK

[salmoncatcher]

under deception pass there is an eddy on the outgoing tide where balls of herring feed along with salmon. it is about 30 by 50 yards and there can be as much as 20 to 30 boats in or around that spot. most of them don't know how to fish it. when you hook on a fish you let the current take you out of the eddy and away from the other boats. this used to be a secret spot a long time ago, but now its just a circus. i now avoid fishing there. i wish the government would shut down NAS whidbey so there would only be a few people to fish the hole. it looks like they will in the future. i also wish people would have some common sense

[ampersat]

So am I on your short list now Andy-ap emerger? Remember: I know your dirty little secret.

Actually, elbow to elbow can be close enough if everyone is fishing properly. As long as everyone behaves themselves and fishes with some respect for each other, it's not a problem. Just because you chose to get up at "0 dark 30" to get to the water doesn't mean diddly squat to the rest of the world. For all I know, you could've gotten there five minutes ago.

[ 01-17-2004, 06:14 PM: Message edited by: ampersat ]

[GOT2FISH]

With the increased pressure I have seen the same thing. I just try to alter my fishing and bite my lip. Some times it workes and you wind up fishing with pretty cool folks and have a good time other times it stinks. I just remind myself that I cant get a Dead for that slot and have to share.

[mophile]

I was there (Barton) yesterday, wildoregonfish, and it was the same thing! I got there at a time when no one else was fishing a pool I like. I looked down to unhook my jig to cast and a line sailed in front of me! I shook my head, moved up to get farther away from him, AND HE MOVED UP TOO!! . Unlike some of the more tolerant people here, I despise fishing with someone else in the same hole. I will never, ever move into the same hole as someone else. They were there first (whether 5 minutes or 5 hours, doesn't matter to me). Anyway, I left. Spent all day today trying to find someplace where there weren't 3 people fishing where there was room for one. Failed and gave up.

[drhall99]

Oh, come on. That's not too close. This is too close!!! :shocked:


[ 01-17-2004, 07:13 PM: Message edited by: drhall99 ]

[David Johnson]

Lets see, fishing in a county park, with easy walking access, it's a Saturday and you're 30 minutes from down town Portland. You're lucky you didn't have 15 guys within 30 feet on ether side of you. You could have if it was a reel popular fishing spot like the pipeline on the Sandy. That's how it used to be 20 years ago when I started fishing the Clack. It sounds like they gave you plenty of room.

[ampersat]

DJ: good use of perspective.

Want some solitude? Get to be good buddies with someone who has riverfront property, drive a long time or hike a long distance. Hate to put it that way, but it's true. If you haven't done one or more of the above and yet you find yourself in fishing solitude, there's probably not going to be any fish there.

[GOT2FISH]

Not to add fuel to the fire but last year after hearing war stories about it I tryed the Salmon river. Ya it was crowded Ya I got there at 4:30A.M. and ya I had a good time. Wasnt a snagfest and mostly everyone got along. Not my idea of the perfect fishing experiance but when your limted to the bank you do what you gotta do.

[Surething]

sounds like they gave you enough room

[Quasimodo the fish killer]

if they get to close to ya just kill them and pitch them in the bushes. I wont notice they are missing.

[corkyking]

Courtesy, friendliness and hope that everyone limits out and goes home. Wait for your cast and others will start to wait for theirs. Remember you chose to elbow in too.

Something that I like to do, especially at the barrier is to move, catch a fish or two, wait for everyone to crowd in on me and then move again. Pretty soon you have a lot of people watching every move you make and shuffling slowly after you.

Remember:
"An inexhaustible good nature is one of the most precious gifts of heaven, spreading itself like oil over the troubled sea of thought, and keeping the mind smooth and equable in the roughest weather."
-Washington Irving

Also, probably more true:
There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot.
Steven Wright (1955 - )

[cully]

amp and DJ and the rest of the unimpressed. I respectfully diragree with your post. The operative phrase you missed in the origanl post is "The whole river was wide open". In this case it was, in my opinion very bad manners to be anywhere in wildoregonfish's drift and absoultly the fisherman who steped in just down river of him is completly out of line. Now if your in the bank hogline that's another story but take a look at the bank space and amount of anglers. Not to tough to do.Let's see one? Hum, lets go stand next to that guy. Sorry, I don't get it.

[fishbait]

What DJ said

[drhall99]

Cully,

It's kind of a hogline thing (no offense intended towards hogline fisherpeople). These guys are probably newer to the sport and thought that if some guy is willing to get up early to get that spot, it MUST be good. Either that or he just picked a spot that everyone fishes. I know that I've never seen the bank at Barton without at least two or three people fishing it. Seriously, though, the only way I've ever been able to have the bank to myself is to follow the "Twelve Pack Rule" - Meaning that you keep hiking into a remote area until you have walked past at least twelve empty beer cans of the same brand (about 1 1/2 miles). Running out of beer usually keeps the worst of the fisherman from going any further and very few of them will carry more than a twelve pack.

D

[ 01-18-2004, 08:50 AM: Message edited by: drhall99 ]

[wildoregonfish]

Thanks for the perspectives, on both sides of the fence. Yes the river was wide open, and I epxected to see the groups of fishermen. It was also nice to see others catching fish, and seeing what was working. Group casting does work, and it was working well, no line crossing. Overall, I guess it would have been nice to spread out a little, but if given too much room betwen each of us, another fishermen probably would have squeezed in anyway.

Tight Lines

[Fshklr]

WOF,
location really plays a part in this answer. It may be nice to have a slot to yourself and those times are far and few so enjoy them when they occur when it happens, but in all probability it was a spot that is well known to hold fish. I will opt to fish with you where I know fish are, rather than move up or down into non fish holding water. I arrived at an o'dark thirty spot the other morning and had it to myself until 8am(60 feet of prime water)..by 11am I had been joined by no less than 30 people trying there luck..some cycled in, some cycled out, and fished with 5 to 8 fisherman at any given time. It's just the way it is. If you want water to yourself you'll have to do as suggested...start hiking in to the less traveled places. I have started this and it is paying off. You just have to be willing to put the effort in for the rewards you wish for.

[Mitch-]

I agree being too close is not a good thing. But, at the same time, there are a lot of fishermen / fisherwomen and the rivers seem to be getting more crowded. 30 feet of fishing space seems pretty good to me.

[Norski]

You should see the people at the Browns Hole on the Deschutes when the springers come in, It's so bad that people spend the night sleeping on the rocks with propain heaters just to get a spot, for a slimmy fish.
And than when you fish the browns hole it's a drift hole on the west side, and than some moron, go's to the east side and wants to fish just like he is on the west side and it, becoms a tangle up mess, some times 3-4 people get all tangled up and than the [img]graemlins/icon_argue.gif[/img] words start flying,
I just sit back and get a good laugh at all of these guys.
Browns Hole on west side = DRIFT
Big Eddie= PLUNKEN HOLE
Little Eddie= PLUNKED HOLE
Roster Rock Hole= PLUNKED HOLE
Out House Hole=DRIFT
Across frome Out House=DRIFT
Sucker Hole=PLUNKED

It's been this way for 20 some years.

[Fast Water]

I suppose it all depends on your level of comfort, expirence and what you want from your outing.

When I was a rookie, I wanted to stay far away from other fishers as not to interfere. There are times now when I want some isolation but for different reasons.

I also don't have an issue standing shoulder to shoulder with people who-know-what-they-are-doing because it can be a fun way to meet people and have a few laughs. If the crowd is not to my liking, I'll go elsewhere even though I might have been one of the first people there at the hole.

:smile:

[SKP]

In combat fishing zones, my opinion is people should still give you a fishing rod's length above and below you, or go to the end of the line.

30 feet seems ok to me.

Last time I fished, the nearest guy was 100 yards away. There were only about 4 fishermen in a half a mile stretch. That was nice.

I think each fishing hole is different. Public parks and hatchery holes, you'll never get 30 feet between you and the next guy, even if you get there an hour before anyone else.

SKP :grin:

[wildoregonfish]

Thanks for the perspectives, on both sides of the fence. Yes the river was wide open, and I epxected to see the groups of fishermen. It was also nice to see others catching fish, and seeing what was working. Group casting does work, and it was working well, no line crossing. Overall, I guess it would have been nice to spread out a little, but if given too much room betwen each of us, another fishermen probably would have squeezed in anyway.

Tight Lines

[ORoutdoorsman]

I personally wont move into the same hole as someone if there is pleanty of room to fish in the same area, such as Barton. As far as other people, I prefer to be extended the same courtesy, but as long as they are not disruptive and we are not over drifting each other, I don't mind. However, in a place like Barton, if your the only two there, there is almost no reason your two casts should have to cover the same water.However, as long as they arnt being rude or actually hindering your fishing, I see it as no one person owns the river.

[Tugjunkie]

If it's a high traffic stretch & I walk up on a guy fishing a drift that's reel fishy and there's room, I will ask if he minds my stepping in, 99%of the time I get a surprised... "sure" most of the people I've asked have been very friendly or become friendly after the shock has worn off. In fact they are more likley to give unsolicited advice/tips after receiving a little courtesy.
My point, I quess, is plain ole communication can get you along way.
If the situation is reversed and like wildoregonfish, & I was there first, then I would weakly hope to have that surprised look..... I certainly don't expect it....and definately would not let it affect my day.....although I don't mind helping someone with their casting manners.

If for some reason I choose to do some "combat fishin, I already know what I'm in for, and treat it like a party where anyone and any type of person is invited, a great place to practice tolerance, hone my sense of humor, meet some new people and get a good dose of the human condition, the good, bad and the ugly.

Keepem tight
Rick

[greenbuttskunk]

some "good holes" will just tend to get crowded, and I don't think it's really being uncourteous
to fish close, just not on top of the other guy. The important thing is to be respective and know how to drift the hole properly. Doing this, you can fish fairly close to another guy without problems. When someone hooks a fish, reel in and wait. Be polite and think of those guys around you. Offer help when you can. When I approach a hole with others, I usually pass it up, or wait till the guy has had some time in it and then give him as much room as possible, if it's tight I just move on.