This past weekend I had a good reminder in fishing etiquette and manners. I was 100% in the wrong, though it was an honest mistake that I quickly apologized for and promptly corrected (more on that later), but given that this website is designed to help people new to the sport, I thought I’d write a bit about fishing etiquette to help you have happier times on the water. After all, no one wants what should be a fun family adventure marred by a bad experience or shouting.
Without further ado, here are some tips for being a respectful angler and following proper fishing etiquette.
Be Ready to Go at the Launch
Fishing etiquette starts at the boat launch. For the love of all that is decent in this world, don’t be “that guy” at the launch. Not everyone launches boats all the time and people will be reasonably understanding if you are being careful or having a little trouble backing up a boat – that’s one thing. What will get you the stink eye is if you aren’t ready to launch your boat when you pull to the ramp.
What does this mean? Well, before you back up towards the ramp, make sure to get ready off to the side. This means loading up your cooler and gear, taking off your tie downs, getting your kids’ life jackets on, putting in your plug, etc. away from the ramp, and letting others who are ready go in front of you. Ideally, all you want to do when you actually get to the ramp is back down and launch. The ramp itself is not the place to load up all of your gear for 10 minutes. You should strive to spend as little time as possible on the ramp itself.
The Early Bird Gets the Worm
Every lake has its “honey holes” or places everyone likes to fish. If you’re a regular there, you know about them and you probably dream about hitting them on your next trip. Well, so do others, and if they get there first, that’s that. Lakes tend to be very large and I promise you there are “more fish in the sea.” If someone gets to your spot first, hey, they made some sort of sacrifice (usually sleep) to get up and get there first. Let them have it and wait for them to move on.
Don’t feel as though the whole trip is lost if someone gets to one of these spots first, either. These are honey holes for a reason – they hold fish! Fish will come and go, get hungry and turned on and off. Just because someone fished it first doesn’t mean you can’t pull a few off a bit later.
Give Plenty of Space
The most basic rule of fishing etiquette is to give others space. There’s no need to fish right on top of someone. There are plenty of fish out there. Even if you’re fishing in a small area, such as a bay, try to give each other a respectful distance. If you’re both working a shoreline from opposite directions, make a wide berth as you approach each other so there is no chance of snagging each others’ lures.
Watch out for Planer Boards
Something you may not think of, especially if you aren’t used to fishing on northern waters, is that many fishermen troll with planer boards. These are devices that carry a lure off to the side of the boat so it can be trolled in fresh water away from the sound of the motor. Planer boards (and trolling runs in general) take a bit of time to set up and aren’t the easiest things to correct course on, so try and mind them and not get in their way. You don’t want to end up cutting off someone’s troll or worse, getting tangled in their lines.
This can get pretty tricky in tight areas so be careful. It might even be best to just go to some other areas if you know the salmon fleet, for example, are out and about.
Clean up After Yourself
This should go without saying, but clean up after yourself. Don’t leave trash or refuse out on the lake (and for Pete’s sake, leave the WD-40 off of your lures). People are going out there to get away from the deficiencies of mankind; not to be reminded of them. A good rule of thumb is to leave the place just as you came or better.
Don’t Cast Over Someone
Sometimes you can’t help but fish close to someone. For example, in states that have an “Opening Day” it is a bit of a tradition for all sorts of folks who don’t normally fish to go out (I avoid this day like the plague in Connecticut for this reason). You may find yourself fishing close to someone, but that doesn’t mean you have to leave your manners at home. Never cast over their line. The last thing you want is to catch it and create a giant tangle.
Likewise, if you’re fishing on the boat with friends, be aware of where everyone is fishing and don’t put your lure where they’re going to need to cast to. It can make sense to come up with a game plan ahead of time as to where everyone is going to fish so no one needs to be thrown from a boat.
Don’t Cut Off a Drift
If someone is working a shoreline, the polite thing to do is to pull in behind them – not ahead of them in waters they’ve yet to fish. However, if you are going to pull ahead of them, make sure you leave ample room between the two of you (the more the better).
If you see someone working a shoreline you wanted, don’t despair. They haven’t caught all the fish any more than you could. For all you know, they’re using the wrong bait or lure and aren’t presenting it right. Have confidence in your ability and try something else. You might surprise your self.
Stay Quiet so as to be a Respectful Angler
Fish can spook fairly easily, especially in clear water on a calm day. If you’re fishing in an area near other people, try to stay reasonably quiet. Don’t be the guy blasting the radio in a bay full of folks trying to get away for a bit. In that same respect, don’t just blast into a bay full bore – ease into the fishing area on your quieter trolling motor.
It’s Proper Fishing Etiquette to Yield to Shore Fishermen or Kayakers
It’s important to remember the pecking order if you’re aiming for proper fishing etiquette. If you are fishing from a boat, it means you have the ability to access waters shore fishermen can only dream of. They have limited options and can’t move from one to another easily, so if you see someone fishing from shore, give them the space.
Likewise, if you’re in a motor boat, give the people in the row boat or kayak a break. They don’t have the range you do and have to hustle for it. Don’t crowd them.
Respect Landowner’s Property
I own property on a lake and I’m going to be very clear about something: I own up to the high water mark. I have absolutely NO right to get upset if someone is fishing near my dock or shoreline. A lakefront owner complaining about people fishing their dock is like buying a house next to a school and whining about the bells. People are entitled to fish there and you should feel free to.
HOWEVER, if you’re going to fish near someone’s dock (and you should, because it’s prime fish habitat at times), please follow a few common sense rules:
- Don’t fish docks people are actually sitting on/actively using at the time.
- Be very careful not to actually hit the dock, boat, or any other property with your lure.
- NEVER actually go onto another person’s dock, boat, or property without the owner’s express permission.
It basically boils down to just don’t be a jerk. Some people get upset that you’re fishing their dock at all, and that’s a poor reflection on them. They have no right to tell you not to. On the other hand, you have no right to damage their property so be careful where you cast. Finally, try not to barge in on someone quietly enjoying their space. Pulling up to a dock someone is sitting on is akin to them motoring right over to a honey hole you got to first.
Be Respectful of the Fish and Wildlife
Fishing etiquette isn’t all about how you interact with other anglers; it’s also about how you interact with the fish. Make sure that you respect local fishing laws and don’t take fish out of season. When you catch one, land it safely and return it to the water unharmed whenever possible. Don’t leave excess line out there or such that wildlife can become entangled in it. In short, be a good steward of the environment.
Don’t Make Waves
Be a respectful boater as you motor past others. Don’t be the guy who blasts past a kayak, swamping them. Slow down and reduce your wake and put past – you have all day and don’t want to be the reason someone else loses gear or gets hurt. Likewise, try not to blast off and zoom down an entire shoreline someone is trying to fish – give it a wide berth and head to open water.
When fishing in northern waters with trolling fleets, make sure you’re careful about how you go around them so you don’t entangle their downriggers or get too close to the front of their troll. As with all fishing etiquette, treat others how YOU would want to be treated! Manners matter in fishing AND boating!
Fishing Etiquette Mistakes Happen! Apologize and Correct!
Remember how I started this article by telling you I was 100% in the wrong this past weekend? Well, I was. I wanted to go to a specific spot, and was actually trying my best to be respectful of a fleet of salmon fishermen with downriggers. I was watching them so intently that I didn’t see a well-camouflaged bass boat that was making its way down a rip rap wall and I ended up pulling up right in front of them and cutting off their drift.
To their credit, they kept their cool and didn’t say anything, but as soon as I noticed them, I immediately apologized, and explained that I had simply missed them as I was concentrating elsewhere. I moved away from the spot (it’s a great spot). We then sorted out which way they were fishing and I agreed to go the opposite direction rather than cut them off. It was friendly, amicable, and left no hard feelings because I knew I was in the wrong, I apologized for my wrongdoing and I corrected my action.
That’s all it takes. No one is perfect – we all screw up from time to time. All we can do is learn from it and move on and do better the next day. So if you happen to make a mistake discussed here, apologize for it and do your best to make it right. And, importantly, if someone else makes a mistake – give them a chance to realize what they did and apologize. After all, fishing is so much fun it’s easy to get caught up in it and just not notice something! No need to let it ruin the day!
Thanks all,
John Paxton
