Sharing the Water

Where do we draw the line when it comes to sharing the water with other anglers? This is an ancient debate resulting in friendships and nemeses made on the river. As anglers, we have a tendency to be a bit selfish. Ideally, we want the greatest stretch of water, the honey hole, all to ourselves. We certainly don’t want anyone nearby to out-fish us. I have a habit of eavesdropping on neighboring fishermen, tracking their catch rate to ensure they are not ahead of me. If they start to catch fish, I might give a “thumbs up” of approval, but on the inside my frustration can quickly boil over. Public land is a remarkable concept that unfortunately creates a complicated ecosystem when all anglers own the same land. Encountering other anglers is inevitable in many fly fishing settings, and it is sometimes met with vitriol and disapproval. Although it may feel warranted, this attitude is detrimental to the sport, and has no place in the world of modern fly fishing.

Fly fishing is often considered an individualist activity. Many anglers are motivated by the quiet serenity of the outdoors, accompanied by free flowing currents and the promise of a fish. They are taking a breath from their daily obligations, to relax and enjoy a stream to themselves. Time and effort have been spent, finding the perfect location, choosing the right flies, investigating the current CFS and weather conditions. All seems to be going to plan, until a jacked up truck blasting music pulls up to the bank, disrupting the tranquility of the peaceful scene that was. A few college kids jump out and give a wave while hiking directly to your target water. Now, as an angler you have a few options:

1. Give up and go home.

2. Curse them out. (SOBs)

3. Share a smile, wave back, determining if you need to move on, or stay in place.

If you are a true fly fisherman, then option number one is clearly not the acceptable answer. Our egos could never handle giving up, and there’s always another fish around the bend (even if there isn’t).

Option number two is probably the easiest; to direct a snarky comment to these nimrods, to shake your head and roll your eyes. It feels like justice to let them have it, to “teach these damn out-of-staters a lesson”. But I don’t believe this accomplishes anything productive.

It can be painful, but I am of the opinion that option number three is your best bet. This option is not only the best option for oneself, but for the betterment of the sport in general. 

Maintaining a positive attitude is imperative in the sport of fly fishing, and there are far more impending variables on the water that require this practice. If other anglers show up, why should this ruin your trip? For the effort and energy spent to get to your fishing hole, a few anglers sharing this enjoyable activity in the same vicinity should not be allowed to make the difference on your attitude. And what are the odds these anglers are simply uneducated, unaware of standard fishing courtesies? This type of behavior is far more common with beginners, versus those of us who have logged years in practice. Etiquette is learned by time spent on the water, and through positive interactions with friendly anglers. If these anglers are faced with harsh backlash and discouragement, they will not be motivated to revisit the water, partaking in this sport we love and cherish.

Responding to unaware anglers in a negative and demeaning way is remarkably damaging to the future of fly fishing. Fly fishing is made possible by anglers who advocate for public access, clean up streams, protect native fish habitats, the list goes on. Without our fellow fishermen, the fly fishing we experience today would be in a poor state, or possibly not exist at all. To be stewards of the game, we need to make an effort to be polite and respectful to all, even if they do not share the same prerogative. Showing this initiative creates a culture that welcomes anglers and encourages immersion in the sport, rather than turning positive investment away from our waters. 

I personally despise the pretentious, condescending stigma earned by some of our snobby fly fishing predecessors. Let’s be the ones who are willing to make change, starting with our attitudes. I urge you to keep these values in mind next time you encounter other anglers on the water. Remember, they are just like us, trying to make the most of their time chasing a beautiful animal in its natural setting.