Fly Fishing in Rockies -
Fly Fishing Etiquette
From REI
When you're out on a trout stream, you're bound to come across other anglers.
It's difficult, after all, to keep people away from a good time. Luckily,
there's almost always plenty of fishable water to go around. In this article,
REI has compiled some rules of etiquette that have been passed from fly fisher
to fly fisher for generations. Following these basic guidelines will prevent
misunderstandings and let everyone get the most out of their fishing time.
In general, keep in mind that fly fishers, like other outdoorspeople,
value the peace, quiet and solitude their sport offers. Also, remember that
trout are skittish and easily disturbed. Spooked trout can't be caught
either by you or by other fly fishers.
Give Other Anglers Their Space
Allow another fly fisher as much space as possible based on the situation.
For example, if you see someone fishing a pool and there is no one else
in sight, keep looking for an unoccupied stretch of water.
If every pool is occupied, try to work a section as far from the nearest
angler as possible. For example, if someone's at the head of the pool,
then try the opposite end. If you can't find room on the best pools,
then it's time to get creative. Explore riffles and search for water
that other anglers might overlook. (In fact, this is a good tactic to
try whether the river is crowded or not.)
Don't Cut Off Another Angler
The cardinal rule of fly fishing etiquette! The first angler in the water
has the right of way. And usually, they're working towards the water they
believe holds the best fish. When you encounter another fly fisher,
it's your job to determine which direction they're headed (upstream or
downstream). Then give them enough room to fish from their current spot
to the head or tail of the pool. If you can't tell by watching if they're
headed upstream or downstream, then go ahead and ask. Most people won't
mind if you slip into water they've already covered.
Don't Spook Another Angler's Fish
Trout are nervous creatures, and if they see you along the bank,
they'll usually stop feeding and head for cover. Imagine the frustration
of another fly fisher if you spook a fish they've been stalking for 20
minutes or so. When passing by water that someone else is fishing,
remember to stay well away from the bank.
A Fly Fisher at Rest Might Still Be Fishing
If you see a fisher sitting by the water, it doesn't mean he's done
for the day. More than likely he's resting the water. This is an
effective tactic when you've cast over a good fish a couple of
times without hooking it. When someone is resting water, they still
"own" it. If you can't tell whether they're resting the water or just
taking a load off, it's a good idea to ask before you wade in.
Walking and Talking
Sound does not travel well between air and water. So go ahead and
chat with your fishing buddies while you're on the stream. It's part of the fun.
The fish won't hear you and will go about feeding as usual.
On the other hand, sound carries extremely well in water.
Splashing or clanking a wading staff in the water will scare fish up
and down the river for long distances.
With this in mind, it's best to stay out of the water as much as possible.
If you want to travel upstream or downstream, take the fishermen's trails
rather than wading through water you don't intend to fish. It's a lot
less work to move on dry land, so you'll have more energy for fishing
when you get to the next good spot.
Another point to consider: Trout are highly sensitive to vibration.
If you'd like to see how fast a trout can swim away from you, try
jumping or stomping next to a river bank. For the sake of your own
fishing success and in the interest of etiquette, walk softly as you
approach the water.
Respect Your Environment
Trout streams are delicate ecosystems. As in backpacking, if you pack
it in, make sure you pack it out. Take special care with monofilament
and leaders. Never throw anything into the water. Designate a pocket
of your vest for spent material.
Go to the bathroom far away from the water
Leave the stream as you found it. If you notice any human tampering
with stream banks, streamside vegetation or the stream itself, make
sure to report this activity to the local game warden as soon as possible.
These are serious offenses!
Respect Your Quarry
It probably goes without saying that fish are living animals
and should be treated with respect.
REI strongly recommends catch-and-release fishing. Wild trout are becoming
increasingly hard to find these days. If you must kill trout,
go for stocked fish. If you do kill a fish, do so quickly and humanely.
If you clean a fish near the water, conceal the remains so other
anglers won't stumble across them. This can be an unpleasant surprise.
Stressed Fish
High river temperatures can create a deadly situation for trout.
As water heats up, the dissolved oxygen content in the water goes down.
If you hook a trout in warm water, it may become so exhausted during the
fight that it cannot recover. When trout are suffering from heat stress,
you might do better hiking, biking or paddling until things cool down.
Also during heat stress, trout will tend to stack up in deep holes or
near the mouths of cooler tributaries. You may see some big fish in
very shallow water. These fish are much more vulnerable to being caught
than normal. Before casting to a fish in this situation, you may want
to ask yourself if it's an ethical move.
Spawning Fish
Take some time to learn about the spawning behavior of trout.
Different species spawn at different times of the year. During
spawning season, the female trout digs a shallow bed in the gravel
known as a "redd." This is where she will lay her eggs. She will
guard her redd ferociously, and may strike at your fly out of
anger and territoriality, rather than a feeding instinct.
Spawning takes a lot out of a trout and the last thing they
need at this point is to be caught and stressed by a fisherman.
If you're lucky enough to spot a trout guarding a redd, take some
time to observe and then leave the fish in peace.
Foul Hooking
On rare occasions, you may accidentally foul hook a fish.
This is when you hook a fish in the tail, fin or any part
of the body aside from its mouth. A foul-hooked fish is not
considered a fairly caught fish, as the point of fly fishing is
to trick the trout into biting your fly.
Never try and purposefully "snag" a fish with your fly.
Snagging is cruel and unethical.
Respect the Law
You must have a license to fish in most water. Licenses can be
purchased at sporting good stores, fly shops or directly from
the state fish and wildlife department. You can be fined heavily
for fishing without a license and you may lose your fishing privileges.
Make sure you thoroughly read and familiarize yourself with
local fishing rules and regulations before hitting the stream.
(You'll get a "reg" book when you purchase a license.) You can
also check out your state's fish and wildlife department's website
for more information.
Ask for Permission to Fish Private Land
Many trout streams run through private land. This water is not
necessarily off limits. If you ask the owner for permission to
fish on their property, they just might say yes. Showing courtesy
to landowners helps ensure that other anglers will be able to
continue enjoying the resource.
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