You surely are not saying that some guys actualy take guns with them when they go fishing are you? Are we talking rifles incase they see some game, or personal fire arms? I just cant imagine it, Here in N.Z. the only time you are likely to see someone armed is if they are fishing the back country where they are likely to see plenty of Red deer or wild pigs to suplement the pot and these guys are very likely to stop for a chat and leave you some venison or pork!
I hope I HAVE misinterpreted your article as it would be a very sad state of afairs to have to worry about the guy in the next pool having a gun.
All the best.
Mike.
It is a fact. I don’t know how common it is, but we did have a string on this board a while back asking if people did carry a hand gun when fishing and what kind. It is true. I personally only know a couple of people who carry.
I realize it is not legal where you live, but, providing a person has a license to carry it is legal here.
And yes, it is a sad state of affairs.
I had a woman from a well-known women’s fly fishing club ask me if I carried a gun when I fished. I told her I did not (but I do have a concealed weapons permit). She wanted to know if I wasn’t afraid to be fly fishing alone, wasn’t I afraid of being raped? She was serious.
If that is a common state of mind, no wonder more women don’t fly fish.
[This message has been edited by LadyFisher (edited 20 March 2006).]
Mike - I really don’t think you need worry overmuch about being gunned down while flyfishing in the states!! Nor being raped either. Have never heard of either happening. Not even a pickpocket! lol
Donald
I had a friend that was robbed at knife point when he was leaving the river after dark.
I had someone try to get into my drift boat on a river at night. He had NO idea I was in the woods taking, or leaving, a pee. You should have seen him jump when I said “BOO!!!”
Yes, I almost always fish armed unless laws don’t allow it, like in a National Park. Even then, I have pepper spray in case of “bears”.
Mike
other anglers are not the problem. In some remote areas criminal sorts prey on unattended vehicles or those who they perceive as “fair game”. Also some areas are used to grow marijuana and those folks are a bit dangerous. I’d avoid those areas like the plague myself.
RRhyne56
[url=http://www.robinscustomleadersandflies.com:7ab25]Sweetness On The Water[/url:7ab25]
[url=http://www.robinscustomleadersandflies.com:7ab25]http://www.robinscustomleadersandflies.com[/url:7ab25]
IM = robinrhyne@hotmail.com
[This message has been edited by rrhyne56 (edited 21 March 2006).]
One year I noticed an angler on a local stream wearing a holster/pistol on his wader belt I asked, “What are you doing, Shooting fish”. He laughed and told me he had never seen a year like this when so manyt water snakes and they would always seem to mistake him for a stump or something and come right at tim, so he started bringing a .22 pistol loaded with birdshot. I didn’t even know you could buy .22 bird shot ammo, but then again, I don’t hunt. Since I had seen a couple right off the bridge with tail under a rock and head coming up for air every once in a while and just suspended there I knew what he meant.
LadyFisher, I apparently think like your friend. I too have a concealed permit and I have a small .357 snub nose on most cases, but I carry a North American .22 mag that is in a wallet and fully functional in that wallet. There is more and more psyco’s out there so why take any chances.
I live in the city and foreigners moved in behind me and began to shoot rifles (.22 and a 12 gauge) In fact there is a bullet in the door of a trailer that sits in front of the sliding glass door to my bedroom. The police were called, went over there and basically slapped their hand and said that they didn’t realize the couldn’t fire in domestic areas ( I don’t know where it changed that ignorance was an excuse for the law)
Anyway, with that in mind, no chances and hopefully I won’t ever need it.
she who dies with the most toy’s wins.
In the eastern part of Oregon on some streams I carry a small handgun because of the rattlesnakes.
Rocky
Had a buddy who was fishing the Wolf river in Wisconsin. The evening hatch had not yet started so he decided to take a snooze in his car. While sleeping two guys with baseball bats beat in his windows. The only thing that save him was that he had a 357 with him in the car. He did not fire it but it was enough to drive off the would be assailants.
Later the police told him that there had been many attacks in that remote area.
They also arrested two suspects, (of known reputation), who my friend identified as the two assailants. If it were not for him being armed, he probably would be dead today.
Especially due to “accepted” changes in our society, I would support ANYONE desiring to “pack” while participating in any solo outdoor activity. I would also support them doing whatever it takes to become proficient at useing the weapon. It is NOT the volume of the bang that is useful, but the placement of the projectile that is of benefit.
I would not, nor would I care to see anyone in need of any such action. I do not even know if we are mentally capable of such action. In NO way would I want the absence of a weapon to make that decision, though.
…lee s.
Wow, this is a sad thread indeed.
When you personally are attacked for any reason or like those just mentioned it’s something I can’t comprehend. I just don’t know whats wrong with people. I just don’t.
It leaves me with that horrible sick, ugly feeling inside, something that’s totally foreign. It’s unbelieveable.
I was very badly mugged in service by a drugged up psycho in Germany after coming out of Viet Nam unscathed. I toook a lot of damage to my face and head with a cracked skull and 5 teeth missing and damaged sinuses that to this day give me a lot of grief. As it was happening…time stands still…I just couldn’t understand “why”!!!
He was courts-martialled…I forgave him. People intentionally attacking another like the post where baseball bats were involved…it leaves a person damn near in terror. It’s the stuff of horror films!!
I don’t know what to say.
Jeremy.
In the brochure for my river guide service (which never opened due to insurance cost, but that’s another story) I stated clearly that clients were free to bring with them any legal firearm they chose if they felt a need for personal protection and/or if they wanted to have fun doing some target shooting down in the river channel during the trip.
Myself, I feel comfortable around guns so long as the weapon is being carried and/or stored in a safe fashion. It’s because I’ve done so much hunting and target shooting in my life, but when I’m on a river trip the sound of gunfire is relaxing, like rain on the roof to me.
An argument could be made, I suppose, that if you enjoy fishing on a river where it’s legal for others to hunt or target shoot, that it’s reasonable and practical to carry some type of firearm yourself. Something small-caliber like a .22 so that you can signal your presence by firing one round into the ground if you hear the sound of target shooting happening off in the distance? This lets those distant target shooters know they’re not alone and they need to be especially watchful of their downrange background so they don’t send any lead your direction.
And from a strictly self-defense standpoint, I wholeheartedly agree with Fly Goddess’ choice of a .22 as a carry gun. For very little cost in the weapon and pennies for the ammunition (and a minimum of recoil and report) a novice can start going to a range and with a bit of instruction develop themselves into a skilled close-in combat shooter who would be the absolute last person on earth you’d want to menace or assault.
A small-caliber, small frame handgun is useful also simply for display purposes. The fact is, perpetrators are deterred seeing a weapon in the hand of their would-be victim. The weapon doesn’t even need to be pointed their direction to deliver the message: Go Away Now.
It truly is sad that anybody has to think about the need to carry a firearm while fishing – for self-defense reasons against fellow humans, I mean. But I for one am Okay with people who feel that need, and who do carry something with them. It’s what they do, or don’t do, with the weapon that counts the most to me.
For those who “pack” regularly, I’m sure it becomes a deal where they rarely think about the gun being there. It’s like being a policeman in the sense that the gun is an item of equipment you carry with you every day, it’s another tool to protect and care of properly so it’ll take care of you if and when you need it.
Joe
“Better small than not at all.”
I live in the Northeast. I have never considered carrying a firearm. I think the odds are more likely that I would do myself harm with a firearm (and yes I am an experienced former gun owner) than I would need it to protect myself. I also think I would rather be robbed (though not physically harmed) than shoot someone else.
jed
I’ve never felt the need to carry a weapon while I was fishing. Fishermen don’t strike me as a very “high value” target for robbery, and stumbling onto somebodies “patch” seems the next likely scenario for needing protection. Rest assured that if I felt the need, I would arm myself. I realize that there’s a calculated risk, being almost anywhere, including your own home, not having access to protection. You should judge for yourself the risk, and act accordingly. When you’re in trouble, “who ya gonna call?” If you plan to use a firearm for protection, it only makes sense to get some training and proficiency to use it. Where and when, are probably at least as important as how.
Lew
Joe
Interesting post. I would argue that while a .22 is easy to carry and conceal, it would not be the ideal caliber to stop someone. Yes if shot in the upper body by a .22 the results are usually fatal. But it won’t put anyone down instantly.
I would also caution anyone from pulling a hand gun to “scare” off a would be attacker. There is only one reason and one reason only to pull a gun. If you are not committed to doing that, then I would question why someone would want to carry one.
there was only one instance when i wished i were armed–it was when i shared a motel room with jed while on a fishing trip. he snored so loudly that if i had had a gun i would have used it on myself. 
I will take a weapon with me while fishing or hiking sometimes. Depends on where I am going. Not necessarily for protection. I like to shoot and will take a gun along just for that reason alone. I also like to do some hunting while fishing. Some areas I fish also have some great bird hunting. Both upland and water fowl.
I used to think a large caliber handgun was a good weapon against bear. I have been told that a high quality bear spray is better then a gun by those that should know. I now carry bear spray when in an area frequented by bears. This does not mean I won?t be armed with a large caliber pistol also.
It is legal for US citizens to carry a weapon if they so choose. I will exercise my right to bear arms and have no problem with others that do also.
[This message has been edited by Kerry Stratton (edited 22 March 2006).]
Dave,
Not to deflect the intent of this thread, but I respectfully disagree with the contention that there is “one reason and one reason only” to pull, or display, a gun when faced by an imminent unlawful assault. (The “reason” being to shoot somebody.)
I can only speculate that such an idea originated with Hollywood movies. It’s certainly an entertaining and dramatic concept. However, note that police officers and military personnel pull their guns, or display them, all the time during kill-or-be killed situations. They don’t enjoy doing this, but they do it anyway because it gets the point across to the perpetrator or felony suspect that IF he or she doesn’t immediately cease their behavior they’re at risk of being fired upon.
To my way of thinking, if a situation arises where I’m convinced that someone is menacing me with imminent physical attack, or if they have already commenced such an attack, I would rather display a firearm – including pointing it at them if necessary – and thereby scare them into backing off and leaving me alone. This sure beats shooting them, don’t you agree?
You will notice on TV shows like “Cops” and others that during raids or arrests following pursuit the officers almost always have their weapons drawn and at the ready. Yet they very, very rarely shoot anybody. There’s no reason to shoot; they have tactically and psychologically gained the upper hand and there is no need to shoot anybody.
The armed citizen under attack, or threat of attack, has the same option and should NEVER feel compelled to shoot someone simply because you’ve drawn your weapon or are displaying it.
Also, I truly am a fan of small frame .22 caliber handguns for personal or home defense, and a firm believer in their killing power. It might take a few more bullets is all, but the follow-up shots are more accurately delivered due to the .22’s greatly reduced recoil (compared to, say, a .357, 9mm or .44 mag). And at home, if you shoot at an inside intruder and miss, the .22 slug will not be blasting through your wall and passing through your neighbor’s house wall to hit someone there.
And now, folks, back to my favorite subjec: fly fishing! This weekend looks like a winner weatherwise here in N/E KS, and I don’t plan to miss out.
Joe
“Better small than not at all.”
Joe
All I am saying is that if someone carries or pulls a hand gun with the sole purpose of scaring someone off, then they ought not to carry. Law enforecement is different. They are trained. Most citizenry are not. The cops are commited when they pull their weapon. I was taught that as an MP. If you don’t think you can pull the trigger then you ought not to be carrying. And as far as a .22 is concerned, if they were that deadly then why aren’t they the side arm of choice for the military or police? If you have to fire several rounds to put someone down, you are already at a disadvantage.
I am thinking of getting out this weekend as well. There is a smallie river not too far away that keeps calling my name.
[This message has been edited by anglerdave (edited 22 March 2006).]
Well guys I seem to have stired up a whole can of worms with this one. I supose if I lived in the states or come to that anywhere that “packing” was legal I might be tempted just incase I bump into some game like a wild pig.
I am heading out this weekend to try out my new [second hand] boat on lake Rotoaira & lake Otomangakau in the central north island.
The average fish in Rotoaira is about 3.5lb and 18 inches long with the better ones going up to 6lb and 25inches.
I wish you all the best and may your rods be well bent this weekend.
Mike.