When I was just learning how to fly fish I was very fortunate to have been taught about displaying common courtesy and respect for the beautiful natural resources that God has graciously given us. I naively thought that this is what fly fishing was all about and that everyone who fly fished had the same morals and values that I had learned. Unfortunately, I was wrong.
I have found that while many fly fishermen hold to these same moral and ethical standards that I do, not everyone does. In my idealistic mind, I still believe that all fly fishermen should put themselves on a pedestal and should be shining examples of what all fly fishermen should be. I think we should lead by example. We need to be leaders (no pun intended) and practice what we preach to enlighten our fellow angling community of what good sportsmanship and good stream etiquette are all about.
The following are some basic rules of etiquette while fly fishing that I have either been taught directly or learned indirectly by observation:
Obey all state and local fishing laws and rules even when no one else is around. You never know who may be lurking nearby.
Always recognize and respect property rights. Always ask permission first. Public waters are disappearing quickly and we must show the utmost respect to the property owners to show we are gentlemen.
Do not litter. If you brought it in, take it out (even leaders). If you change a leader, spool it up and put it in a vest pocket to be thrown away later. Leave the area cleaner than you found it.
Wade only when necessary. The aquatic life is crucial to the trout's survival.
Strive to not leave any marks or tracks whenever possible.
Mum's the word. If someone happens to divulge a secret about a favorite fishing hold, keep it to yourself. There's nothing worse than losing a favorite, tranquil spot to a crowd.
Approach the water slowly and quietly. Do not enter the water anywhere near an angler who is already in the water. A section of water belongs to the first person fishing it. It is inconsiderate to crowd an angler who was there first. One of the times this may be a problem is when fishing a crowded Steelhead run in the Great Lakes region or fishing the Russian River in Alaska during the Sockeye salmon run.
If there are many anglers on a section of river or stream, find a section that is equal to or greater than the existing distance between each angler.
A stationary angler has every right to remain where he/she is for as long as they want. If you are working your way toward them, exit the stream and quietly walk around them. Having said that, the stationary angler should also practice common courtesy and, after some amount of time has passed, share that piece of water with others as well.
If you see an angler sitting on the bank, keeping a close eye on the water, he may be resting the water and giving the fish (and himself a break). Do not charge into the stream and take this location away from him. Instead, go chat with him and ask how he is doing and he may opt to share this stretch with you...but don't be surprised if he doesn't.
If a nearby angler has a fish on, yield to that person and if necessary, lend a helping hand by offering to net the fish, etc.
After you have hooked a fish, do not play it excessively. Land and net the fish as quickly as you can. Keep it in the water as much as possible and remove the hook with forceps without touching the trout, if possible.
Practice catch-and-release. Each time we release a trout we give it another chance...a chance to grow, a chance to reproduce, a chance to provide another angler with the joy you just experienced.
Boaters need to yield to anglers already on the stream (this is more boater's etiquette than anything but still applies here). They should not float small streams where there is not much space to get your particular watercraft through this section. If possible pass behind a wading angler but if ever in doubt, yell ahead to the angler and ask him which bank he would like you to navigate.
Never light a fire on someone else's property.
Use common sense.
Communicate calmly to resolve conflict.Steelhead fly fishing etiquette is much the same as fishing for their smaller cousins but I recently learned of an extra point I'd like to share here as well.
In the West they practice what they call "rotating the pool". This is where each participating angler will cast his fly and let it drift through the pool and then takes one to three steps down stream. I never knew of this until a recent visit to Colorado where I was speaking with a fly shop owner who's son guides in Alaska. This method is used heavily in Oregon and Washington but from what I understand, isn't really practiced too much in Alaska either.
In the East, the concept of "rotating the pool" is a relative unknown and I can't say that I've ever seen it practiced in the Great Lakes region. I'm all for it, though. Having fished the Lake Erie region many times and seeing many anglers sitting in one hole or pool for hours, I'm of the opinion that this method would be a great addition and a welcome change to eastern steelheading.I believe fly fishing is the most rewarding sport there is to those who truly understand and embrace it. It can be a time for complete solitude and reflection, a means of stress/tension reduction from the rigors of the daily grind or a time of fellowship with friends and/or family. I have found it to be one of God's most awesome blessings.
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