I go fast through a hole in my sled and some bankies flip me off, others wave. I go slow through it without casting and get dirty looks or comments! Am I missing something here? I thought get the hell through it fast so they can continue to fish, Am I wrong?

G-Man,

Some what you to go slow, some one you to go fast, some want you in close, others want you far away as possilbe. Same sh!t different day, different river. As long as your in a sled your damned if you do, and damned if you don't. Just ignore em.. Be as courteous as possilbe, play it safe, and follow the rules. Shouldn't have to worry about anything but catching fish!!!

G- see my post for you at Killer zipperlip...shhh.

FJ...out.

i think they are just jealous that they aren't with you.there is no way you can ever make everyone happy. i say just smile and wave as you go by.

I think that fast through the hole means lots of noise, waves, and just plain inconsiderate. Slow with intent on getting through without trying to crowd us "bankies" works best. Quick story: Toutle mouth on the Cowlitz, springer madness, about 50 bankies on each side and this sledder comes whizzing down river, nobody could get a rock quick enough. Well, on the trip back up river, he got about 2 or 3 slinkies banged off the side of his sled and 8 or 10 others missed his boat. I almost died laughing. No wave, no 'sorry guys', no 'kiss my a$$' nothing. What an idiot I thought.

Haverod, what side were you fishing from and did you fish there for Silvers?

FJ...out.

Haverod, I have a flat bottom sled. If I go slow I will run you up the bank with the wake. It all depends on the design of the hull. Do you want me to go slow any way? Sometimes you just have to belive the sledder is doing the best he can.

If your runnin, then run! Fellow boaters and bankies will appreciate the smaller wake. Just don't rip buy 5 feet away. Nothing I hate worse than when I'm pullin plugs and a guy in a sled takes it down to 1/8 throttle when he passes me just to be "CURTEOUS" Dude, just goose it, please!

G-man, good post. I just bought a new 17' alumaweld today and need to get an idea on etiquette. Stay on plane or put out a large wake that is the question!

FJ...out.

Sled fishing is my new religion dammit!

FJ, Nice sled! It seems if you go slow enough you can throw one hella of a wake. Going through fast, does it really spook the fish or just move them around abit? Some good replies. Tell me guys if your a bankie or boater when you sumit your reply so I can get it from both sides. Remember some slots are only 10 to 20ft wide, I can't help but getting close sometimes. My sled is 17ft with 7 degree haul, 115hp. If that makes a differance.
At full throttle I throw a little wake, slow, I throw a bigger one.

G-Man...bankie here. Learn what kind of wake your boat will throw under different conditions. Then just motor on by me with a wave....no finger from me....even though I am jealous. Shoot if we ever meet stop on by and shoot the shait...even fish a little.

gooose

Personally, I love to hear the roar or a big inboard jet as it goes by. In fact, thats one of the things I like best about fishing the lower river.

If I want solitude I head up in the mountains where its just me and the fish. Im a bankie for now, my dad owned a sled a few years back so ive been up and down the river a few times.

G-man, this is America, Sledder or banker we all have the right to fish how we want and where we want. I think as long as everyone stays courteous and friendly fishing will remain one of America's favorite pastimes. I own a Willie Predator 19.5 w/175 sportjet. I hope I don't make anyone throw rocks at my boat!!

Fish Jesus: I was on the Toutle side, yup, fishing for springers, right at the mouth, looked like a Derby, huh?

BW: I guess that as long as an effort is being made to be considerate, fast, slow, doesn't matter.

I think the biggest problem is that you will never make everyone happy. I have been in all 3 situations...maggot, driftboat and jetsled.

I have watched rude bankies, rude driftboaters and rude sledders. I have also witnessed sledders go totally out of there way to give the bankie or the dude in the driftboat plenty of room and the sledder stills gets the finger.

If I am in a driftboat or fishing from the bank, you have no need to slow down. Just give me as much room as you safely can...and if you must cut it very close to me, so be it...eventhough I am jealous of your 22' Super V with your 225 Yamaha tiller, I do not want you to damage your boat and/or put yourself in danger to give me extra room. It is very kind but not necassary...

I am a bank angler and if I had my say I would have sleds come by me slow and close to shore if you have a big wake I'll move I'd rather walk backwards two feet than have a sled fly over my fish. I think common sense needs to be used if you had to fish the water you were going through in five seconds how would you run it. what ever you answer thats how you should do it. My experience is that sleds running through the hole I am fishing in medium rivers really puts the fish off.

I can say I'm a fisherman of shore, Driftboat and sled. But it really comes down to water height and time of year. If its summer runs and the river is low well I'll do the best I can to stay off the fish and away from the bankies, but safety comes into issue. I'm not going to beach my sled or suck rocks into my impeller over a bank fisherman and if I were bank fishing and a sled came through I wouldn't expect him to either. But do the best you can and personally I'd rather see a sledder go all out with little wake than acting like a tug.
Keith

I have never had the pleasure of fishing from a drift boat or sled, so maybe I am a bit jealous/angry when you are fishing "the only bank hole" when you have "the whole river" to fish.

But I do know that the river,conditions and area all effect how you pass the bankies. When I am fishing the Nasty some of us actually prefer a little boat action on the far side of the river to get the fish moving.

You will get no rocks/lead from me ever, but maybe a finger or harsh word if you are anchored in "the only bank hole".

I am with haverodwillfish. If the sledder is trying to be courteous, he will get a friendly wave from me. Even if he should have gone by with more or less speed, or closer or further away. If I can see the intent of courtesy, thats good enough for me.

F.J.
You got a new sled?....and haven't called me yet....I think our fish counts are going to go up alot now.