Fly Fishing Ethics

Not a Soul in Sight... Bliss.

Why has it become so hard to get a piece of a stream to yourself anymore? Every single day I have fished in the last two weeks I have someone high holing me or low holing me. It's as if people have no moral compass. I was raised to see fishing of any sort as a way of solace, it's time to yourself, to gather your thoughts, to find some peace within the river system. For years I have used fishing as a tool to do just that, get away from myself and forget everything else except the feeding trout and the flow of the river. Now all I am doing is getting increasingly agitated.. These so called anglers see you catching fish and enjoying yourself and they take it upon themselves to walk in 20 feet or less from the spot you stand and start fishing! It's absurd there has to be some sort of guidelines people start following. There is plenty of river and plenty of good fishing, why do you have to try and crowd me out?? Have a little courtesy people! And another thing, why do you feel like it's okay to leave your trash behind on the river banks? I'm not even talking about leaving used leaders and tippet (which is stupid in itself) I'm talking about serious trash. Coffee cups, beer cans, trash bags, newspapers, etc... It's obscene how much trash is covering our rivers in the area, it's disgusting. Honestly if every person picks up one piece of junk as they walk by it or over it there wouldn't be any more garbage in the area. But the biggest thing is cleaning up after yourselves. Leave the river knowing it was cleaner when you left it than it was when you got there. Not only will everything look pristine again like it must have 40 years ago, but the fish will thrive and you will appreciate the fact that you aren't snagging into somebodies old boot at the bottom of your favorite run.


Rules to fish by:
1) Give your fellow angler 75 yards or more of water to themselves, just because they haven't made their way to the hole you see upstream doesn't mean you should walk in right above them.
1a) Line of sight is always a good rule of thumb, if you can't see them any more you are probably far enough away.
2) Pay attention to which way they are fishing, if they are covering water downstream don't walk in below them!

Stealth approach to big browns in an oxbow. 
Photo by Rex Bryngelson

3) Ask permission, you will always be received better if you ask if it's okay for you to walk in above or below someone.
4) Be subtle, if you are quiet and stealthy not only will you not spook your fish, you won't spook your neighbors fish.
4a) Fish have a lateral line that senses vibration in the water if you are splashing around they know it and will be less likely to eat your fly.
5) Breath! Fishing is supposed to be fun enjoy yourself, stop making it a competition.