Although river etiquette seems sometimes non-existent anymore, I have a question regarding the proper way to float a stretch that bank fishermen are fishing What is the proper –or most polite way- to get past someone fishing from the bank? It seems no matter what approach is taken, the people in the boat receive the look of death, and it tiring to say the least. I always try to avoid the actual run or holding area where the fish would be, but sometimes that takes you to the near side of the bank (close to the fishermen), and sometimes it’s the far side.

Any suggestions?

Thanks, may you all have numerous strikes!

If there is enough room I pass behind them, if not pass resonably close to them, stay off the fish holding water, and don't boondog past them. This approach usually keeps em happy.

Driftwoods description reflects the fisherman he is! Thumbs up!

FJ...out.

Hey FM,

Drifwood is pretty much dead on with his interpretation though occasionally ya just can't please some people. I had a guy hollering at met because I passed too close to him when he was fishing the far bank

If I have a question as to what they're doing I'll ask where they would like me to go. That way the ball is in their court.

Driftwood is right that is what I do. Some guy started yelling at me on the cowlitz because I floated to close to him. I asked him "would you rather have me float over the hole?" That shut the guy up cuz he didn't have aclue how to respond.

I have seprate question:
When coming up on a hole and it is about 60 yards long and a boat is parked at the top of the hole, where can I fish that hole cuz I don't what to down hole him but is there anyother option???

Personally I don't care how close below me you fish as long as I can't snag your line or anchor rope, and you are not parked on the fish. As far as keeping others happy, Good Luck!!! There is no shortage of jerks and morons on our rivers. I try to stay close to where someone is standing or anchored so I don't go over the water they're fishing but I've been yelled at plenty for it.

I try to make a demonstative effort to avoid his fishing area. Asking the fisherman what he would like for you to do is excellent approach. It's not that important. My problem is if you go through all this to make them happy and they act inappropriately, I go postal!

I agree asking is sometimes the best.

Fly fisherman on the bank will be fishing (sometimes) different water than a drift fisherman. When in doubt ask, "Where do you want me to pass?" Couldn't hurt, and I think it shows class.

Drifting the Elk three weeks ago, a guy with two others in the driftboat tried to edge between me and a boat anchored below me about 50-60 feet. He got way too close to the anchor rope of the boat below and tried to over-compensate, lost his balance completely, and all of a sudden he's gone- all I see are a couple of red rubber boots and orange gloves sticking up. He had fallen over backwards, probably because his "fish gloves" were a little too slippery in the early morning dew. His boat ran into the other guy's boat as his passengers attempted to maintain ramming speed. It was hilarious.

KORE,

True fishermen aren't supposed to talk. We have to give each other dirty looks. You are asking too much.

I agree with you guys about just tactfully asking the bankie where he'd prefer you drift past. ... As for those fishermen that seem to have to 'lay the brow' on other fishermen for no reason I think it's pretty primative - and funny even. One of these days I'm going to turn toward a guy with the 'get the hell out of my river' scowl on his mug and just growl visciously like a wolverine while showing as much teeth as possible.

I always try to stay out of the holding when Im passing a bank angler. I either go to the other side of the river ar get as close to them as possible. If there is enough room I go behind them. I noticed on certain rivers when you groups of anglers, ther is always one dumb a$$ that acts if your boat is not there and proceeds to keep casting. These guy piss me off to no end.
The rule I use when fishing a hole that already has a boat it. I never anchor any closer than I would want someone to anchor to me. This has worked most of the time.

I think it's interesting that we have heard from the boaters on this topic, but little from the bankies. Guys, how about it? We'd like to be courteous, how about telling us what you'd like? Though rowing upstream at planing speed is not liable to be on the menu...

I think what we really want is to be invited onboard to drift for a couple of miles, reach some of those spots we can only covet from afar.

I'm a bank fisherman during most of the steelhead season and have watched a lot of boats go by.
I have rarely experienced any inconsiderate boaters on Olympic Peninsula rivers. Regardless of the river size they usually just ship the oars and drift on by putting baits/plugs/whatever again after they have cleared my water. This works very well. Thanks to all boaters who handle it this way.
On some Puget Sound rivers my experience has not been nearly as civilized. I have seen jet boaters back plugs down through the water i'm fishing, hookup, land the fish and then slam the gas to the jet and plow right back up through the drift. These guys have no thanks coming -- and do receive a glaring stare.
This is an issue that needs to be addressed however because we are in the next few years experience:
A. An increase of angling pressure (bank & boat) due to the increase in population that we know is going to happen.
B. An overall decrease in habitat and access and river bank which will be the result of "A".
While this population increase is going to be primarily in the Puget Sound basin, it will spill over to the Olympic Peninsula, Southwest Washington, etc., because more and more anglers -- and guides -- will move into these less traveled areas in an effort to find better fishing conditions.
This is not a complaint. I'm just stating the facts and the need to address this critical issue sooner rather than later.

Les Johnson

I’m a bank fisherman. Only been in a boat on the river one time, which just happened to be this last weekend. You guys with the boats are lucky this was one of the most pleasurable fishing experiences I have had. Drifting down the river is totally cool and I will soon be getting a drift boat.

I have not really had any bad experience with the drift boaters. Usually they are nice and I try to talk to them a little as they go buy to keep up good relations. Sleds on the other hand have irritated me a couple of times. When wading into the middle of the river to fish the deep slot on the far bank, I have had sleds come up and beach their boat right were I was casting to start my drift. If I were to move down river and cast below the boat I would be out of the slot by the time my lead hit the bottom. Frustrating when I spent 20-50 minutes to walk into this hole.

As a banky I learned something knew by being in a boat this weekend. I have probably pissed a few drift boaters off before I learned some etiquette this weekend from the guy I drifted with. If a drift boat is pulling plugs and working his way slowly down river, as a banky just arriving to the river, I should not fish below the boats plugs until he has passed by me because he is slowly pushing the fish down river until the fish get ticked and strike the plug. Since I had never plugged fish until this weekend I admit my ignorance to this but will be more aware of the drift boats in the future.

Sometimes the bank fisherman get to easily upset by the boaters, and sometimes the boaters get to easily upset by the bank fisherman. This has been my experience on the Snohomish river system, which are basically the only rivers I fish.

I fish mostly from the bank - and as long as the boater attepts some curtisy - I have no issues. Usually this simply means drifting quietly by. I'm usually not too concerned about where he passes.
Now for jet boats - it would be nice if they slowed down a little - but on a crowded river - they'd be constantly working the throttle - and I'm sure it's just easier to pass by quickly and let everyone get back to business.
No bankie likes to share his hole with a boat, but on a large river, some holes are quite easily shared. I would hope that unless this is the only (or best or whatever) hole that the boater can or plans on fishing, that he would just move on to the next one. The bankie is usually very limitted in the amount of water he can cover in a day -where a boater really loses nothing by passing by an occupied run.

Hey Boys,

How about a "Take a Bankie Driftin' Day"? I'll bet there are some Bankies on this board that would like to take a trip down the river. This would,no doubt,improve relations and let some of us meet that normally would not. I'm always up for meeting new fisherman and most of the people on this board seem to be squared away.
I already have AKkings and Sparky on my list to drift the Sky,but
I could take others too.What do ya say fellas? Don't you have it in your heart,this holiday season,to help out the less fortunate?

[ 12-11-2001: Message edited by: Bigdog2250 ]

Since I fish on the bank about as much as I do out of a drift boat I will add to the bankes perspective. If the boater can safeley get out of the holding water and off to the side I would like to see him do that. If he cant do it safely I lke it when they just float quietly over the hole. If I am fishing an area that is big enough for a boat and a bankie I will tell the boater to fish here if they would like. About the only thing that gets me pissed off is when some pulls plugs or boondogs through the water Im fishing. That will earn the boaters some harsh words or other corrective actoins

I have never really had any problems with sledders. I woul rather have a sled go by me on step than slow down and throw a big wake. If the sled can go by at a real slow speed I would rather they do that. I know a lot times its easier and safer for a sled to go by you on step.

BigDog--How cool are you! Here is one banky that would love to take a drift...I'll bring the refreshments!
RSVP if you have a spot some day.
Thanks,
Dan