What ever happen to river etiquette? One of the things I use to really like about the O.P. was the respect we use to have for each other on the river, Is it possible to go back to those standard's I know I'm sure tired of the new routines I have been seeing out there, help!!!

FAST,

It's the same story as the freeways. More people and less etiquette. Some just don't know any better, and some do but don't care.

It's something you see statewide, and with the increased pressure on the OP rivers due to closures elsewhere, you'll see it up there too.

Fish on...........

Ive notticed it. Ive been pushed out of some places this year cause I just dont want to deal with it. Fortunately there are still places you can get away from the people. There may not be as many fish but then agian there arnt as many or any people.

Id rather fish alone in peace and catch few fish than in a crowd of rude fisherman. Nothin pisses me off worse than a guy walking in and casting three feet below ya on a creek like goodman, especially when your the only two guys out there.

I know EXACTLY why river etiquette is the way it is. It's not the closures, it's the damned Californians that have invaded WA state. They have taken over everything (ever see how rude they can be in CA???) No offense to any of you Californians, just making a joke.

Been fishing the O.P. most of my life. Used to fish all over it growing up. Now that I'm older have to hit more of the Southern O.P. rivers, and only make the ocassional trips to the upper west O.P. rivers that I love to much (just hard to make a 3+ hour drive with the kids).

I personally feel, it's alot of the new people out there fishing that have that (I'm all that) attitude. Not saying it's bad that there is new people fishing (the sport won't stay alive unless we keep the next generations fishing) it's just that most never have been taught respect and courtesy. I remember being able to float down a river and say "hi" to a banker or fellow boater and ACTUALLY CONVERSE with them. You do that now and all you get is a glare or are completely ignored. Very rarely do you say "good morning" and you get one back.

I would like to say the "good ole days" will come back, but doubt it. It's seems we as sportsman are getting more and more divided then coming together.

Well, just my .02, could say more, but starting to get heated up.....

Speaking of proper river etiquette I have a question for the board... Here’s what happened when I was bank fishing an O.P. river over the weekend. We got to the river around 11am there were two guys already fishing an area that had more then enough room for all of us. So we started fishing above them moving up and down the river still above them, at one point they stepped out of the river and went to their truck. I proceeded to move down river through the area where they had been fishing planning on fishing that area and farther on down. Shortly after moving down river I hooked and landed a nice chrome 15# native (largest steelhead I’ve caught), took a picture a let him go. It must have been only 20 minutes later I hooked 10+# native with a little color, took a picture a sent him on his way too. By that time the other guys gave me some pissed off looks without saying anything. My first thought was do these guys think they own the river after all I gave the plenty of room and waited until move off the river to fish farther down river. Did I use proper river etiquette?

Thanks for your opinions...

I still had a blast and wont forget it any time soon....fish on

crazy,

Nothing wrong with what you did in my book. Probably just pissed them off that they either:
a) Weren't skilled enough to hook the fish you did,

b) gave up too quickly and then got bent when you stepped in and hooked fish.

Either way I wouldn't worry about it. No etiquette violation for you

Fish on............

Ditto from me ... as much as we'd all love to have the whole river to ourselves, it's not realistic.

One way to look at it is to ask yourself "Did I affect their chances by doing what I did?" Nope, no harm here except perhaps a bruised ego for them!