How close is too close?
I was raised in a large family of anglers. As a kid in Idaho, our family counted on adding some fishy protein on every trip to supplement meager budgets. But I was taught that it was important to respect the rights of others and to avoid crowding other folks...and to always ask permission if I thought I might be getting too close. It was also kinda understood that if someone asked nicely, you should allow them to fish nearer than if they just barged on in.
Over the years I have both laughed and gone ballistic over the shameless unsportsmanlike conduct of many of my fellow anglers. Some just never had good teachers to point them in the right direction. Others learned bad habits from being around others with those same bad habits. Still others know the difference between right and wrong but do not think rules and codes of conduct apply to them.
Amazing how some fellow anglers justify anchoring on top of the spot you are fishing...or tromp through the hole you are fishing on a stream...or join you in fishing a small spot just because "Hey, this is where I always fish." Some of the most obnoxious will walk up to the area you are ice fishing and start fishing holes you drilled...without even a howdy or asking permission. They just move in like it was their right to do so...because "Hey, you weren't fishing that hole."
We all have different backgrounds and different ideas about fishing etiquette. Thought it might be interesting to hear from a few others on A. how they deal with wanting to fish an area that someone already has a clear claim on. B. how you handle someone moving in on you...too close...when you are obviously fishing in a defined spot. And C. just how close is "too close" in different situations.
Over the years I have both laughed and gone ballistic over the shameless unsportsmanlike conduct of many of my fellow anglers. Some just never had good teachers to point them in the right direction. Others learned bad habits from being around others with those same bad habits. Still others know the difference between right and wrong but do not think rules and codes of conduct apply to them.
Amazing how some fellow anglers justify anchoring on top of the spot you are fishing...or tromp through the hole you are fishing on a stream...or join you in fishing a small spot just because "Hey, this is where I always fish." Some of the most obnoxious will walk up to the area you are ice fishing and start fishing holes you drilled...without even a howdy or asking permission. They just move in like it was their right to do so...because "Hey, you weren't fishing that hole."
We all have different backgrounds and different ideas about fishing etiquette. Thought it might be interesting to hear from a few others on A. how they deal with wanting to fish an area that someone already has a clear claim on. B. how you handle someone moving in on you...too close...when you are obviously fishing in a defined spot. And C. just how close is "too close" in different situations.