etiquette

We always hear about the “tool” that anchors in a trolling pass or drift area, but what about when a caster anchors up on an small stretch of shoreline you have been dragging,3-waying, or cranking?

I usually do the right thing in this situation and just go around to the outside even if I was on the spot first.

I finally said whatever, and just went on straight through my regular pass, and got meanmugged pretty hard. I just chuckled.

Who’s right? Just interested on different opinions, I’m alright with hearing both sides of the debate, p4.

I grew up with a father that insisited on anchoring on the same point on a flat in the middle of Mille lacs everytime he fished . We took some angry looks over the years ! My thought is that trollers need to go around. Just my .02 cents worth…RR

I suppose it depends on who’s got the bigger barrel of whoopazz in his boat.
Just kidding.
I’d get pissed too, but I’d also leave it alone. If you let it, crap like that can just ruin a good day.

It happens every time I am sure most people are rookies on the water or just plain ‘ol excited to get out fishing and are oblivious to there surroundings

I think it depends. If there are a bunch of boats trolling, drifting, or dragging an area then you are a “tool” if you cram in and drop anchor. On the other hand just because you want to troll doesn’t give you the right to stake a claim on a area.
My biggest gripe is when you are casting and some “tool” sees you catch a fish or two and decides to vertical jig over where you are fishing.
I think the biggest thing is common sense! Treat other fishermen the way you would like to be treated.

It’s all about common sense but that isn’t too common anymore. I have been anchored and about run over and I have been dragging and had people anchor up right in front of me. It isn’t worth getting upset over. There is one older gentleman on Pool 4 that has a tendency of anchoring up between you and shore when he sees you casting to shore and catching fish. He comes about as close as anyone to getting a few words from me anymore. Don’t get me wrong—I’m no saint—it’s just when I go off on some pilgrim I usually feel worse afterwards. I was casting to shore one morning and catching fish when these two guys in a big boat pulled between me and shore and used their 90 horse to try and hold them so they could cast. I explained to them their basic family history including several relatives preference for livestock. When it was over they got out of my way but then I had to explain to my boy that Dad may have been a little rough on them. Not my proudest moment and I have tried to learn from it. It is a big river and I think I can find a spot to fish somewhere

There are lots of fish, all over the place.

It’s not worth getting upset about.

I’ve had MANY of my best days far away from the pack of anglers. Finding your own fish away from prying eyes is the best revenge.

And remember, 95% of the people with poor river etiquette will be gone soon enough. Once the lakes open up, the year-round river folk will have the place (and all the GIANT summer walleyes) to themselves again until November.

I had verbal confrontation last spring on THE river because the other boat had to go between my anchored boat and the shore to cast for what ever. I was there to get out of all the people in the area. After the debate was over the boat owner spoke with another boat owner and he too had to make his presence know to me by anchoring close by and utter little shots. NOW if I had kept my mouth shut the day would have been just great but the confrontation cost me a whole day of fishing enjoyment. I will have to post pictures of the guilty to see if you folks know them. I always carry a camera. Soooo It just ain’t worth it. When you let people get and keep you angry they are in fact controlling what you do and say.

If I’m there first I do what I want until everyone around me is doing something different…then I leave and go find another spot. My way of thinking is if you wanted to do something different then you should of got up earlier and beat me to the spot. Generally, I don’t fish in the crowds which alleviates having to “go with the flow”.

Its a big river. but if if were anchored and boat trolled through where I was casting I would be a bit ticked. I would say right of way to anchored boats. It can be a bit tough but the trollers are using there motors just go around and continue. Everyone has had this happen to them if not then they don’t fish much. There are fish everywhere one spot is not the answer. I does seem that curetisy is a thing of the past but a few bad apples can give the wrong impression. avoid the crowds and enjoy the day.

Another fisherman and I were anchored up last spring by 4:30 AM and as the day went on the river bacame busy people started to drift by. Well what they did not know was that one of our anchors was a ways out behind us and it did’nt seem to matter how close the drifters got they still ended up getting snagged on that darn rope. We had a large collection of jigs and plastics by the end of the day.

What gets me is the guys who are drifting are usually catching numerous fish while that guy that pulled up and anchored in everyones DRIFT sits anchored scratching his head wondering why everyone DRIFTING around him is catching fish and he is not Just makes a little sense why all those boats are DRIFTING in a line dont it I see this happen far to often but you can only look at the anchored boat and smile as you reel up another fish

P.S. did I get the point across that drifting vertically usually out fishes a stationary boat trying to vertical fish

There is a time and presentation for drifting and for anchoring. With the lower flow we have right now the draggers and vertical jiggers will stick some fish. In another month when the flow goes up and the big gals show up then the guys anchored up on the current seams will have their day. There is no real wrong way to fish the river because—–You’re fishing

I have to agree with Redneck. I like doing all the different techniques ,but I love to anchor, and I have a lot of success while anchored.There are a lot of different presentations you can employ also. Plus if I’m fishing with friends or family that are not avid fisherman or fisher-woman anchoring is so much easier for them.Also I can get real lazy,when anchored i don’t have to worry about boat control,and I can eat,which is one of my favorite things. If some one gets mad at me for that to bad. To me anchored boats always have the right of way.

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P.S. did I get the point across that drifting vertically usually out fishes a stationary boat trying to vertical fish

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And an anchored boat pitching to a shore line always gets the most big fish.

I understand the anchored boat pitching to shore gets the bigger fish not everyone knows that though and some dont have the patience for the big fish and I am not by any means knocking the anchoring technique as I have, do, and will use it just not in the middle of a 8-10 boat drift. However when you have 7-10 boats all drifting in a line and someone pulls up and anchors in the middle of them it tends to aggrevate a few people. I dont mind going around them so its not that big of a deal to me it just seems like there should be some common courtesy used when you see a bunch of people in a line drifting. Its pretty rare that when I am on the river you see me in those crowds however I do have my last resort days as well.

The point I am trying to make is that common sense and common courtesy can go a long ways , practice it, not only will you have better days so will everyone else

i really don’t see much to get upset about…unless there is some ordinance showing certain areas unanchorable water if fair game. if you aren’t in the spot, someone else might be sooner or later.

I try to put myself in other peoples shoes, but I suppose it will ultimately come down to sharing the river. I am not a pack fisherman, but everybody has those days where it comes down to having to join the crowd, and scrape up some saugs in the community holes- and some days you are LUCKY if this is even going on.

I guess I was expecting responses from casters like- “if that guy would quit buzzing around with his 3-ways or cranks on that depth and just drift and/or anchor and cast we would probably all catch more fish.”
…..when in actuality, there have been times that I have been through the fish casting-couldn’t get them to go, and started hitting fish on a different presentation in the same area.

Interesting topic, thanks for the replies, p4.

It is interesting; I feel pool 4 anglers in general are VERY respectful and have good ettiqute. Especially considering how boats can really get stacked up on each other certain times of the year. I try to steelhead fish around the Chicago / Milwaukee area and unfortunately the same can’t be said for all of these anglers.

“It is interesting; I feel pool 4 anglers in general are VERY respectful and have good ettiqute.”

I’d have to agree with that statement. Afterall, where else would a guy stand for another boat being two feet away from his own while fishing? It’s all good!