Just read some postings and some of the guys were venting about people not following the rules of proper fishing edicate. Thought it would be a good idea to post some of the unwritten rules of fishing on the rivers. Let me start with one that was taught to me by a guide from the forks area. If you come into a run and there are bank fishermen there rather than float over the water they are fishing you should float as close to the bank they are on as you can. Now a question, if you come into a run and there is a boat pulling plugs there is it ok to throw bait as you drift through?

It is generally not a good idea to float by somebody pulling plugs and then throw your drift rigs out as you float by. This pisses me off big time as I am obviously making progress downstream through the same water they just pitched into. The last guy that did that to me actually got tangled up with one of my plugs. Way, way, way too close. No excuse for that crap! I do, however, believe that there are some exceptions to this such as really long plugging slots like if you were to plug the Two Bit hole on the Sky from top to bottom. Always give a plugger a "cushion" of at least 50 yards from where you believe that his plugs are. I don't really like it if somebody boondogs their stuff below me when I'm pullin' but if they're 200 ft. or more away from the boat, then they're far enough away that it's not the end of the world. The rivers are getting so crowded that it's getting close to being a free-for-all these days. Doesn't mean that I'm going to sacrifice good etiquette just because everybody else does, but I try to keep everybody around me from freakin' out. It is still a good idea to anchor up and wait 'em out if you want to fish a particular hole that somebody is fishing. Don't want to wait, then leapfrog to the next hole.

Communication is always a plus. Also try to keep your eyes open and see if a boat is fishing one side or the other if they're on anchor. I try to ask guys if they want me to float by inside or outside if I'm not sure. Remember to be "nice" when correcting other people's etiquette when on the river, at least on their first screw up. A lot of the time you'll run into the guys later throughout the day and find out that they just they're rookies and just didn't know any better and they are genuinely nice people. We've all been in their shoes at one time or another. Wish you hadn't yelled at them now? Yup!

Justin
CEO, Sauk River Steelhead Ranch

Think when ya come up on a guy pullin plugs you can throw bait in water he's already covered but don't do it under his plugs. Its like low holin a guy when you come up on a guy fishin a hole you either ask if he is not moving to fish under him or fish the water above him that hes already fished. e was there befor you and gets to move though the tail first.

Tight lines

Kevin

If the boaters out there could give the bank fisherman some room, and vice versa for the bank people, that would be great. Have had some boats get within 10 feet of me this year. Lets all give each other a break. Its not like there is only one good spot. thanks.

Personally I dont have a problem, if Im pluggin and slowly workin a run if a guy gets down river from my plugs and NOT cast on top of them, which blew me away and has happened to me. If they keep sidedrifting/boondoggin downriver. Thats fine. If they do that then anchor down river, in the run-thats not cool-that be a problem (Corky) and I will let them know. If I come across a boat that is pluggin a run I'll ask if they mind if I cast downriver in the run. Most guys give you the "no problem", then there are some guys that I think might not understand english, lack personality, apparently are very cool and they are the only ones that know it-and dont say ****.

Many times there is enough river that I blow the run. I dont get into the race. If a guy wants to get ahead of me--fine I'll bat clean up.

I too try to stay out of a persons fishing zone-whether they are bank or boat when I am passing.

What about his one, My dad and I were fishing the sky out of a boat, We just put in at Sultan. We're working the slot with plugs, we're at the tail end of the slot and another boater with plugs out cuts us off. We were about 10-15 feet of the bank and he cuts on in the inside and says "just passing by." He deliberately cut us off, and float over the water we were covering. If someone is working a slot and they were there first, there's plenty of holes to fish, pass by someone where the fish would most likely not lay. Some people don't use common sense when they are fishing, it's like they don't care