| When I was just learning how to fly fish I was very | | | | piece of water with others as well. |
| fortunate to have been taught about displaying | | | | 10. If you see an angler sitting on the bank, keeping a |
| common courtesy and respect for the beautiful natural | | | | close eye on the water, he may be resting the water |
| resources that God has graciously given us. I naively | | | | and giving the fish (and himself a break). Do not charge |
| thought that this is what fly fishing was all about and | | | | into the stream and take this location away from him. |
| that everyone who fly fished had the same morals | | | | Instead, go chat with him and ask how he is doing and |
| and values that I had learned. Unfortunately, I was | | | | he may opt to share this stretch with you...but don't be |
| wrong. | | | | surprised if he doesn't. |
| I have found that while many fly fishermen hold to | | | | 11. If a nearby angler has a fish on, yield to that person |
| these same moral and ethical standards that I do, not | | | | and if necessary, lend a helping hand by offering to net |
| everyone does. In my idealistic mind, I still believe that all | | | | the fish, etc. |
| fly fishermen should put themselves on a pedestal and | | | | 12. After you have hooked a fish, do not play it |
| should be shining examples of what all fly fishermen | | | | excessively. Land and net the fish as quickly as you |
| should be. I think we should lead by example. We need | | | | can. Keep it in the water as much as possible and |
| to be leaders (no pun intended) and practice what we | | | | remove the hook with forceps without touching the |
| preach to enlighten our fellow angling community of | | | | trout, if possible. |
| what good sportsmanship and good stream etiquette | | | | 13. Practice catch-and-release. Each time we release |
| are all about. | | | | a trout we give it another chance...a chance to grow, a |
| The following are some basic rules of etiquette while | | | | chance to reproduce, a chance to provide another |
| fly fishing that I have either been taught directly or | | | | angler with the joy you just experienced. |
| learned indirectly by observation: | | | | 14. Boaters need to yield to anglers already on the |
| | | | stream (this is more boater's etiquette than anything |
| 1. Obey all state and local fishing laws and rules even | | | | but still applies here). They should not float small |
| when no one else is around. You never know who | | | | streams where there is not much space to get your |
| may be lurking nearby. | | | | particular watercraft through this section. If possible |
| 2. Always recognize and respect property rights. | | | | pass behind a wading angler but if ever in doubt, yell |
| Always ask permission first. Public waters are | | | | ahead to the angler and ask him which bank he would |
| disappearing quickly and we must show the utmost | | | | like you to navigate. |
| respect to the property owners to show we are | | | | 15. Never light a fire on someone else's property. |
| gentlemen. | | | | 16. Use common sense. |
| 3. Do not litter. If you brought it in, take it out (even | | | | 17. Communicate calmly to resolve conflict. Steelhead |
| leaders). If you change a leader, spool it up and put it in | | | | fly fishing etiquette is much the same as fishing for |
| a vest pocket to be thrown away later. Leave the | | | | their smaller cousins but I recently learned of an extra |
| area cleaner than you found it. | | | | point I'd like to share here as well. |
| 4. Wade only when necessary. The aquatic life is | | | | |
| crucial to the trout's survival. | | | | 1. In the West they practice what they call "rotating the |
| 5. Strive to not leave any marks or tracks whenever | | | | pool". This is where each participating angler will cast |
| possible. | | | | his fly and let it drift through the pool and then takes |
| 6. Mum's the word. If someone happens to divulge a | | | | one to three steps down stream. I never knew of this |
| secret about a favorite fishing hold, keep it to yourself. | | | | until a recent visit to Colorado where I was speaking |
| There's nothing worse than losing a favorite, tranquil | | | | with a fly shop owner who's son guides in Alaska. This |
| spot to a crowd. | | | | method is used heavily in Oregon and Washington but |
| 7. Approach the water slowly and quietly. Do not enter | | | | from what I understand, isn't really practiced too much |
| the water anywhere near an angler who is already in | | | | in Alaska either. |
| the water. A section of water belongs to the first | | | | 2. In the East, the concept of "rotating the pool" is a |
| person fishing it. It is inconsiderate to crowd an angler | | | | relative unknown and I can't say that I've ever seen it |
| who was there first. One of the times this may be a | | | | practiced in the Great Lakes region. I'm all for it, though. |
| problem is when fishing a crowded Steelhead run in | | | | Having fished the Lake Erie region many times and |
| the Great Lakes region or fishing the Russian River in | | | | seeing many anglers sitting in one hole or pool for |
| Alaska during the Sockeye salmon run. | | | | hours, I'm of the opinion that this method would be a |
| 8. If there are many anglers on a section of river or | | | | great addition and a welcome change to eastern |
| stream, find a section that is equal to or greater than | | | | steelheading. I believe fly fishing is the most rewarding |
| the existing distance between each angler. | | | | sport there is to those who truly understand and |
| 9. A stationary angler has every right to remain where | | | | embrace it. It can be a time for complete solitude and |
| he/she is for as long as they want. If you are working | | | | reflection, a means of stress/tension reduction from |
| your way toward them, exit the stream and quietly | | | | the rigors of the daily grind or a time of fellowship with |
| walk around them. Having said that, the stationary | | | | friends and/or family. I have found it to be one of |
| angler should also practice common courtesy and, | | | | God's most awesome blessings. |
| after some amount of time has passed, share that | | | | |