Your thoughts on helping others on the water?

FAOL Community Fly Anglers Online
21

I very rarely run into people, but a few years ago I ran into a young guy just starting out. He had got out of the water downstream of the bridge I was on. Being polite, I asked him how he did.

Turned out, he was a complete noobie, had bought some gear because he was going to be in SWW for the summer and tried to learn from a Dave Whitlock book. Anyway, it was a disaster and he was dejected as hell.

I asked him if he wanted to fish upstream with me. We took turns, I corrected some of his misinterpretations, and he got his first couple of trout.

I’d like to think I did some good.

22

Sharps, we only fish Roaring River during the winter c&r. We’ll have the river totally to ourselves. Don’t fish the other parks. Blue Ribbon streams for sure, and very few people on them. Other than that, it’s South Dakota and Wyoming for us … and we pay it forward.

23

You mean there are fish in South Dakota? :wink:

Larry —sagefisher—

24

This is my appraoch too! When I first started fly fishing, most I encountered on stream were of the second camp. I met a small handful of folks that gave me some key information and I vowed that the same would be my mantra…help anyone who is willing to listen. One of the rivers I fish has a long stretch of river access but the parking is pretty much limited to one boat launch/parking area. The Post fishing discussions can be highly enlightening for those who join in the conversations!

aa

25

Then my memory is worse than I thought!! I thought I remembered you mentioning several years ago that ya’ll fished Bennet and had recently been to Montauk…but I’ve slept since then so hopefully I won’t be held accountable…hehe. The C&R at Meremac, 12 miles from my house, was not a lot different from trout season the two times I went 8 or 9 years ago. I just cannot do the park thing. I’ve never been to Roaring River.

Where do ya’ll fish inWyoming? I lived out there for a few years, right on the Idaho/Wyoming line. Haven’t been back in 10 years come October. It’s a trip I need to make.

26

I’m only too happy to share flies and techniques. But not honey holes or secret spots. Part of the fun of fishing is find them on your own, so why spoil that for someone?

27

That Golden Rule thing works pretty good most of the time.

28

There is nothing that gets to me more than watching someone Thrashing the water to death with a fly rod.

I simply can’t walk past without asking if I could offer a tip or two to making things a bit easier.

Most times my offer is accepted and I am then ready to spend an hour or more showing the tyro how easy it is to cast a fly line when you are shown the Basics and how to apply them.

My Reward is that look of absolute astonishment accompanied by a wide grin as that first GOOD cast sails out there and the line slaps against the rod.

I have taught many to cast a fly line in my time and helped a lot more. Just my way of paying it forward. I love Fly Fishing.

29

I have helped lots of people and continue to. I participate in a 4+ church fly fishing group. Usually on a trip we will have a nooby or two. I “guide” them help them with flies, reading the water and drifting. Several of those i have helped have turned into fly fishing addicts like myself. I have also helped quite a few on the river if they were obviously noobys or asked for help. I have had several bad experiences.
The worst of which was giving in to the pressure from 2 work friends who loved to fish ,but did not fly fish. They knew i fished for trout close to home twice a week while living in Denver. The fishing spot itself was not what i call secret, but completely over looked. I finally gave in and they drifted salmon eggs as often as they could get there and killed every fish they caught until all the fish were gone. Prior to that I typically could catch a dozen 12 inch rainbows an an 16 to 18 " brown after getting home from work and mowing my grass. One evening I caught four 18" browns. Thankfully I was transferred so I didn’t do anything stupid.

30

Took a water break one morning and watched a guy who had been trailing me (at a discrete distance) fish a pool I had just finished. After a few minutes it was pretty obvious he was new to the game (the lack of sunglasses and hat should have been a dead giveaway), spraying sloppy casts all over the place and either fishing barren water, hooking the overhanging bushes or spooking the fish as he waded right in to where they were actively feeding.

When he had finished with the hole (no bites) he came over and asked how I’d done (a few), and if I could give him any suggestions. First thing we did was to walk back to the tail of the pool and I gave him my sunglasses so he could see where the cutts were lined up in their feeding lane as the pmd’s came drifting down. I wasn’t going to get into casting mechanics (I’m poor enough that I’d just instill all the bad habits I’ve taught myself over the years), but I did point out where the fish typically could be and that he should just keep the casts short to have a bit more control, especially when the wind brewed up by afternoon. Then I gave him a couple pmds, foam beetles and hoppers and told him to get his butt up to Cooke City and buy a pair of polarized sunglasses and a baseball hat asap.

Regards,
Scott

31

It all depends on the person for me. Although admittedly, some things I just plain keep to myself. :slight_smile:

32

… when I got to my last stop a fellow was fishing there with spinning gear. As I pulled up to the access, I saw him lift up and then release a nice fishy.

He was just finishing up at that spot. When he came to the top of the bank, I asked him how he had done.

His reply was that he doesn’t tell anyone where he fishes, what he fishes, or how he fishes it. Period.

I just acknowledged that and told him I am the complete opposite. That I will help anyone who asks about the type of water to fish ( not specific places ), what flies to use, how to present them, how to tie the flies, etc.

My new acquaintance’s reaction was immediate. “Well, in that case …” and then he proceeded to tell me the best ways he knows to fish the stretch he had been fishing, from time of day it fishes best, to where the fishies are when during the day, to what works best, and how to get the fly to the fish. Treated me just like I was a novice in dire need.

Turns out Mitch lives just upriver from where we met and fishes the river a lot. And it turns out that his advice was spot on to my experience on that stretch of water.

I think it’s called Karma.

John

P.S Fishing was pretty slow, but I did end up with a respectable number of fishies willing to play …

… with JARS …

… and a PSC …

33

I don’t go out of my way to help people, I like my solitude when I’m on the water and find that most people are the same. If someone comes up to me when I’m fishing and wants to talk or if they are sitting on the bank taking a break I take the time to talk, if they ask for help I try to help as best I can, I have given away my fair share of flies as well.

34

[CENTER]How I met Rosie Cotton and learned to love the Patriot…[/CENTER] [CENTER] [/CENTER] [CENTER]by Bob Houf[/CENTER] [CENTER]April 11, 2013[/CENTER] [CENTER] [/CENTER]
Those of you who are ardent fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy will know who Rosie is. Those who don’t are invited to investigate – Google will provide plenty of details. Rosie plays a small role at the beginning in the shire as a pub waitress who catches Sam’s eye, and then again at the end of the story when Sam returns to successfully woo her.

Rosie, although a bit player in the movie, is strikingly beautiful – her name is apt –cheerful disposition, rosy cheeks, blonde hair with curls upon curls, a smile that lights up the screen, and, well, you get the point.

So what has this to do with fly fishing, you ask? Well, it happened like this…

I was at Grayrock in northern Michigan last year for the first time. I had just completed my first bamboo fly rod and was excited to meet all of the elders of the craft I had read and heard so much about. I rented a small cabin on the bank of the Manistee River not far from the gathering. I spent as much time as I could listening to the wise graybeards explain the history and craft of rod making but I was also torn by the desire to try my own rod out on the Manistee.

Each evening I would leave the rod makers and return to my cabin to have a quick dinner then put on my waders, take up my rod and fish the river. I picked up a few trout here and there and learned about the unique nature of these northern sandy-bottomed spring-fed rivers in Michigan. I studied the bottom carefully so I could fish as the evening turned to dusk then dark and still safely navigate back to the river’s edge.

This pattern continued each evening – eat quickly, don gear and fish until dark – but I only caught a few fish. Few and far between. I saw the usual mix of other fisherman wading the river, the canoes and the tubes and other observers, including a bear.

As the evenings passed, I saw how other fisherman who weren’t staying on the river would enter the river at the bridge upstream of me and work there way down stream, through my area. Some were courteous, others not so much.

On the last evening of my stay I noticed a fisherman, not a tall one, working down the far bank of the river, closer and closer to my location. Usually they would try to steer around me but this one came closer and closer and my ire began to rise. All manner of thoughts about fishing etiquette were rambling around in my head when the person started to come directly over to me.

Then I saw her clearly.

The first thought I had was, “This can’t be possible!”

Standing in front of me, smiling a radiant, brilliant smile, with rosy cheeks, blonde curls falling out from under her hat, was a dead ringer for Rosie Cotton in waders, vest and fly fishing gear!

I could only stutter when she asked me how I was doing. All thoughts of poor fishing etiquette flew out the window as I introduced myself and what I was doing.

She explained she was fishing the river with her husband who was in the cabin down from mine and had been working up one side of the river to the bridge and now was getting ready to leave the river. The only way out was right in front of me so she came over to say hello and see how it was going.

As I mentioned to her the struggles I was having catching fish she introduced me to a pattern I had never seen before – the Patriot.

Red, white and blue, it is an attractor pattern by Charlie Meck. Then she handed me a couple with a big smile and a wave goodbye. And I started catching fish.

Now it’s almost a year later and I am booking my trip to Grayrock. There are two things I will be sure to take along this year, in addition to all my other gear.

One is an ample supply of Patriots.

The other is the DVD of The Lord of the Rings – who knows, I may see Rosie Cotton on the river again…

Bob is a retired engineer who has discovered fly fishing, fly tying and bamboo rod making. He hopes to be able to put it all together to catch a few fish.

And in full disclosure, Bob is happily married to the same Kathy he met in 1971 and married in 1973 – a most beautiful woman and my one, true soul mate.

35

Great post, Bob!

36

Well, I don’t think I am qualified to give anyone help when on the river/lake/creek/pond. But if any of you happen to come across a water thrasher that looks like he really wants to do this fly fishing thing right, that’d be me and I would appreciate your stopping and giving some pointers.

37

Nice story, K7!

38

I learned all my good fishing habits and bad fishing habits from people that were willing to take the time and show me how they did it. I try to past on only the good habits but sometimes the bad habits sneak in.

39

My first experience with a fly fisherman on a stream was getting yelled at for bringing my son with me to the trout stream. It our my first at trout fishing. Granted, my son (9yrs) may have disturbed a pool but we did not know better at that point in time. We were spin fishing back then and I wanted nothing to do with grumpy abusive fly fishermen. Ten years later I decided to try fly fishing anyway. Since then I have meet some wonderful fly fisherman on some streams that were encouraging and gave great advice. I now have been fly fishing for 15 years and all my sons now fly fish with me. I vowed that I will never be that abusive fisherman and will always help anyone else on the stream. If they are fishing with their kids, I will be even extra helpful. I read a thread awhile back that fly fishing is dying and only grumpy old men fly fish. Twenty years ago I would have agreed with the thread. We are the ambassadors of our sport. I hope we are all willing to help out another fisherman. If your fishing is always more important than people, I hope you find a stream all to yourself. Not so that you do not have to talk to anyone, but so that no one ever as to talk to you.
caribe

40

Steven, one big ATTABOY for you! You made a very kind gesture there and something that that young kid will likely remember for a long time. Nice going man!

Oldfrat, you echo my feelings perfectly. I’ve also given away a few flies on a few occasions and it’s always been appreciated. It’s nice to be friendly and “do unto others” w/o coming off as a know-it-all and gassing out unwanted “help”.

Given that, spots are sacred. I learned that lesson many yrs. ago in my walleye fishing. With trusted and good friends it’s one thing but just talking around is not to my comfort, especially like some special spots that are hard-earned. No sense in it.

Given all this, I’ll help anybody any time I can and also help keep our streams clean by carrying out a lot of other folks crap. Pity but what’re ya gonna do??

Steven, good to see you again. It’s been along while. I hope all’s well in Chi-town for you and your family. I have a son who just moved there (Willowbrook area) with his girlfriend as she goes to the Optometry School there. I can’t stand driving around that town…wink/grin

Jeremy.