Horseshoe Bend

[gafiremedic]

We float from the dam in fishing kayaks to both exit points and those darn fly fisherman wading take up alot of room to fish lol...but theres alot of fishing on the tail water for everybody..... thats why its public water.... A good friend of mine that only fly fishes floated down to Horseshoe Bend with us sinner spinner fisherman on sunday and he done well...

[star8]

wow!
Fishing in a crowd of tangled up angry fly and spinner casting fishermen.
Sounds like relaxing fun. Must be a good time for all with cherished memories of natures finest moments.



lol Soon you will have to pay to park you automobile.

[terry creech]

Regarding acceptable space between yourself and another angler, I'd give as much to others as I'd like given me on any stretch of water.

[S.Trutta]

If the river was choked with other fisherman and 40 yards was all he could give you then just continue on and try to let it bother you. However, sounds like nobody was around and I think 40 yards away is waaaaaaay to close. I would say if not out of sight, at least a few hundred yards away and leaving a few holes in between you guys.

So much water and guys will jump right in because they see you catch a fish or because "this is the hole i wanted to fish". My answer is always the same....you can certainly fish here, when I am done and gone. Until then dont even think about crowding me out.


Rich

[Cliff Speed]

I think the worst experience I ever had like this was several years ago I was fishing on a small, but regularly crowded and busy mountain stream with my nephew who had to be like eight or ten years old at the time. We were fishing a small pool on the stream, one that could actually be accessed from either side quite easily from different angles, when a man in his 50s or 60s comes up and starts casting into the pool. This pool is fairly circular and maybe 15 feet or so across. My nephew and I were on opposite sides casting toward the middle. There was absolutely no more room for anyone else to cast. This guy came right up and cast right across both our lines on purpose and tangled us all up!!! He threw all the way across the pool on purpose. I couldn't believe it. And he kept doing it. I didn't want to make a jerk out of myself in front of my nephew, although maybe I should have, so I didn't say anything. It was a good hole and I figured the guy wanted to run us out of it on purpose, and I wasn't going to let him, so I just kept fishing and so did my nephew.

Then this kid about the same age as my nephew comes up and starts fishing the hole too! He casts kind of off to the side and he pulls out a eating size rainbow. He was fumbling with it in the grass, trying to get it off the hook, when I notice there is a small, but deep looking hole in the ground right near him. I immediately see what is going to happen - he gets the fish of his hook and it gets away from him, flopping in the grass. It didn't take long for the fish to flop right down into that hole. Bye bye forever fish!

People can be so clueless and inconsiderate. It's so crowded out there these days, and that's why I usually seek the solitude of small streams now. I go to the mountains to get away from these idiot people I have to deal with during the week. Then I get up in the mountains and there they all are waiting for me!

[zug buggin]

I had a similar experience on the Chattogga Dh this winter I fly fisherman came up and started fishing the hole I was in. I was very mad so I waded thru the middle of the hole and left it to him.

[tekton]

Ok, I'm not trying to upset anyone but being a total newb I have a question. When is it acceptable to approach another angler for a brief conversation?

[Reel'em In]

Appartently only when in the parking lot

[wtbfishin]

Originally Posted by tekton

Ok, I'm not trying to upset anyone but being a total newb I have a question. When is it acceptable to approach another angler for a brief conversation?

Pick out an old guy, most will always talk, if not their easy to out run!!

[JOHNKIES]

Excellent question and you have already demonstrated common sense just by asking! When I encounter someone on a stream and wish to speak with them, I will wave and make my presence known, then just sit and wait nearby. Eventually most will walk over and you can introduce yourself and ask your question. If you fishing up a stream and you see another angler in the next hole, stop your progress and if possible, again, wave or otherwise get their attention as a friendly gesture, then exit the stream and walk upstream past them to the next good water. They should return the favor as the two of you now leapfrog up the stream.

At least in a civil world it works that way. You will encounter those who believe in their hearts that this stream belongs to them on this day and you are trespassing. For those a__holes, the rest of us apologize. We don't like them either. The best resolve for this kind is to simply walk out of the pool you are fishing (especially if you are outnumbered), go the stretch the a__hole just left and catch some fish. Be certain to make a lot of noise while landing the fish a__hole missed!

When I encounter other anglers not yet fishing but standing on the bank, I walk up, say howdy and ask if they are fishing upstream or downstream? I agree to go the opposite from them, share a few tid bits and off we go. Well, once they break free from the headlock I have them in until they agree to attend the next TU chapter meeting in their area.

Finally, when fishing with a friend, a typical distance is maybe 100 feet or so, close enough to call for assistance in netting a big fish yet not close enough to hear him complain about his wife. But in some circumstances you will be closer and as I tell them, there is a reason fly rods are 9' long. If you both stand pointing your rods at one another and the rod tips just touch, then that's a safe distance. Have fun and be safe out there!