Greetings from a new guy!

Thought I’d introduce myself to this wonderful community and drop one piece of advice/observation that has struck me in the last few weeks.

I’m 32 and have been fishing since just about the time I could walk, but only this year was drawn to try fly fishing. My father set me up with an old rod and reel that belonged to my grandfather and a box of flies my dad tied a number of years ago when his hands didn’t hurt so much. As soon as I started practice casting out on the lawn, with some of his instruction and after watching a bunch of videos on YouTube, I was hooked beyond all measure.

I’ve since been out on the water whenever possible, hooked a few panfish (my favorites!) and have seen a growing library of fishing and tying books appear on my shelves. I’ve even begun tying my own flies and can’t say I’ve ever been happier with my time on the water and the time in between! I’m totally in love with fly fishing and am looking forward to sharing it with my daughter once she’s a bit older.

I will say though that spending more time out and about seems to be coming with a price I didn’t intend. I live in and fish around Southwestern New Hampshire, and while there’s a whole lot of good folks here, there’s a few people who’s parents seem to have neglected teaching their kids about being polite. And I got to meet a few of these charming people this month.

I’ll spare most of the details, since it was mostly typical “I should fish right next to this guy!” behavior, but I’ll share my “favorite” incident because it was just jaw-dropping (at least to me).

I’m fishing off to the side of a boat landing, mostly working that pesky roll cast which just ain’t doin’ it, when Fella comes up with his dog. It’s a public park, but it was pretty deserted with the weather being cool and wet. It was also a weekday, but I won’t mention what I should have been doing that morning. :wink:

Without saying a thing, Fella throws a stick into the water which sails over my hat and the dog (a beautiful golden) does what comes naturally. Before I can even react, Fella shouts “Hey! Watch it [expletive deleted]! You’re going to hook my dog!”

I don’t know if it’s because my parents taught me right, but I just hauled in my line, broke down my rod and left without a word, all under the evil eye of Fella.

I wanted to say something, well, quite a lot of somethings actually, but figured that was just a sign I should give up on the roll cast for the day and try to get a Black Nosed Dace who’s bucktail wings won’t fall off. (They still did.)

Advice for other new fishermen? Stay mellow. It’s possible to educate some people on the points of etiquette we like to see on the water (I’ve had success with a couple of folks this month), but people like Fella just aren’t going to get it and there’s a lot of other water out there for us.

Tight lines from Keene!

… and welcome to the Bulletin Board from the Intermountain West, Jeff.

Too bad you encountered such a boar, and bully, when out trying to get that roll cast right, of all times to have it go sour. But I applaud your good instincts and maturity to just let the golden have a good time with a Fella who clearly doesn’t deserve to have such a nice dog.

Hope you enjoy your time here, and send some more Keene stories our way.

John

Jeff,

First, welcome aboard and to a life time affliction for which there is no cure.

Second, as to your incident with “Fella.” As my wife is fond of saying, “There’s two kinds of people in the world - first class and no class!” No doubt about which one you met. Sounds like he was deliberately trying to provoke you into a confrontation. Probably for the best that you decided to call it quits.

Had a similar incident many years ago when a kid of about 10 or so started throwing some stones near my head off a bridge I was about to fish under. When I told him to watch out and quit cause he almost hit me he says that he can do whatever he wants. About that time I hear a whole string of cussing and fussing from above and so I back up a bit and there in an old rusted pickup sits probably grandpa swigging liquor from a half pint; pistol on the dash, rifle in the back window and one on the passenger seat sticking out the window. He was saying that those @#$%^&* people from other counties think they can come here and steal all our fish etc. My brother-in-law came on the scene about then and quietly whispered that it would be a good idea to leave quickly before we got shot.

And welcome to it Keene, I can tell you’ll be great to have around.
Put your thumb on top of the grip pointing to the place you want
your roll cast to go and pretend to chop wood as you bring the rod
tip from the 1 o’clock position and just as you start that move, try
to remember to press the grip a little extra with your thumb…oh and
remember not to stop the movement of the rod and line…contrary to
an aerialized cast !

Cheers,

MontanaMoose

I’m glad you love the outdoors and fly fishing. There are many very nice people on this site that have helped me tremendously over the years. They are very, very generous and I have yet to have a bad encounter on this site. But, of course, keep things positive and don’t be confrontational–it makes life much easier.

As far as your encounter with the man and his dog; you did exactly the right thing. I’m 55 now, and although I’m not old, I have experienced the outdoors since I was a little child. Walking away is always the best thing in fishing, hunting, business, etc. I found that over the years I’ve probably met a 1,000 nice people in the woods and on the stream to every one impolite person. So the odds are inn your favor. I still believe people are inherently good.

One time here in PA, there was a hunting incident that ended in murder. This guy shot a buck and tracked it to where it died. Just as he got there another guys arrives and claims it was his buck. An argument ensues and I’m sure you can figure the ending. One guy shot the other to death. So, it’s always best to let it go.

Have fun,
Bruce

It’s time folks like us SAY SOMETHING to people like that. That is why they do the things they do beacuse no one says anything to them.
This is why we have the Administration in the White HOuse we do.

SPEAK UP!

Welcome to the wonderful world of flinging line and creating bugs out of dead animal parts and other things. As for your encounter with the guy at the dock, just remember every horse has one.

There was a Man a couple of thousand of year ago, who I believe never did anything wrong. He left the advice of “turn the other cheek.” I know it would provide instant pleasure to use a 2x4 to turn it but long term following His advice is better.

Jeff, Welcome aboard from sunny So Cal. New guy chops wood and makes coffee. But don’t worry, there will be another new guy along in a few hours.
I liked your story about your dad passing along his dad’s stuff to you. Take care of it so you can pass it on to your daughter.
As for the pinhead, he shouldn’t be allowed out without an escort.

I think there are people where saying something will actually get through, where you can correct the bad behavior, but this definitely wasn’t one of those people. I will say, as I think I mentioned in my original post, that there were a couple of people that just didn’t know what they were doing was rude. Once I spoke with them, things were fine.

My advice was about picking one’s battles.

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome! And I’ll definitely keep working on that roll cast. Every fly I loose in the trees is just one more reason to keep on truckin’. :wink:

:smiley: Welcome to FAOL!!!

Jeff, I’ve had the problem that you describe. It is a pity. I usually keep fishing, even if I doubt that I’ll catch anything. Eventually most dog owners figure it out and leave. I’m getting too ornery to back down for bullies that aren’t packing anything more threatening than an evil eye. Maybe it’s just that I’m so ugly that when I smile at them it scares off the dog…

Ed

Hi Jeff,
You sound like a mellow guy with good judgment and solid reasoning which means you’ll fit right in here. Please join us regularly with your opinions, hints on roll casting and other fly fishing infomation. Since I fish public areas on a large SC lake, I run into a few unpleasant characters like the dog guy. Believe me, you picked the right course of action. Take care, keep fly fishing, and keep posting! 8T :slight_smile:

Hi! and welcome aboard. I am brand new at this too and I’m sorry you ran into Fella. I got to go fishing with a couple of regulars on here, Jack Hise and WarrenP the other day. I think it was 3 canoes full of “Fellas” we seen, they put in a couple of hundred feet up stream and then came right down the river. I actually had to step back to keep from getting ran over. Can you imagine? Getting ran over by a canoe? One of them did apologize and say they were new to this. I wanted to ask them if they could be new to this on the other side of the river, but didn’t. Anyway, welcome aboard and don’t let the Fellas run you away from a great sport.

hNt

Having grown up in New England I am not surprisied by the fellows boorishness (as John Scott aptly put it) and congratulate you on “Gentlemanly behavior” .You will find a wonderful group here of the same nature (gentlefolk that is ). Hopefully you will perfect your roll cast and at the same time work very diligently on a perfect backcast. That way if you see the same boor and his dog suprises you again you will have the opportunity to beg his pardon for hooking him on a back cast gone awry . :slight_smile:
You have some glorious fishing up in your neck of the woods.
Send lots of pictures,
Welcome to the friendliest fishing spot on the web.
Peter

I carry a real big treble hook in my creel for such situations. There isn’t any restrictions on catching dog here; Just fishes.
Bar-B-Qued dog ain’t half bad. :sunglasses:

Welcome to FAOL.
I fish with treasures from my Dad, Mom, and Grand Dad, too. :wink: