I think that like anything else it depends on the person. There are great fishermen and women on the river that encourage newcomers and give pointers. I met a wonderful man on the river who makes his own bamboo rods. He's also a marine biologist and ties what he finds under the stones. On the other hand, there is a guy up the river who is totally nuts. He screams at fishermen/women that they are handling the fish wrong, get off his river, etc. This wacko has actually shot a gun at the bank across from an offending fisherman. For the most part - when people are out fishing they are in good moods and just glad to be there. I've met very, very few unfriendly fishermen. In every case that I've come across a cranky one it's due to a violation in fishing manners. Fishing too close to another or running over when the fish start to bite seem to be universal no-nos.