Fly Fishing Etiquette & Best Practices: Sharing the Good Water

My friend Kevin and I try to get out on the river every week in the winter after duck season, weather permitting. We did not expect much in the way of competition out there on a weekday in late January, but we still got up relatively early for a winter outing.  While driving the 50 miles (65 for Kevin) to the river, we discussed our options.  We came up with plan A and plan B locations based on the weather and our objectives.  Of course if someone was already at one of our planned spots, we’d need to go with plan C.  Drive around until we found an open spot with decent water.

Learning to Fish Together

When we got to the river, it was 29 degrees and extremely windy.  Plan A was right in the wind zone, so we went with plan B.  Seeing no fresh tracks from the parking area, we headed on to our chosen spot where despite the wind, we could easily fish.

We each #fishdifferent

Kevin took point at the top of the shelf to high stick a new creation he’s dialing in.  During the week, he’d tied a whole progression of flies to work through.  He is on a mission to figure out the best possible midge larva and pupa patterns for winter nymphing.  On the second cast, he was on.  Yep, his first little #24 midge larva creation was money.  He gets off on that stuff... on to the next fly.

I stepped in below Kevin to swing down the run with a new two hand rod.  For me, it’s more about the set up.  I’m always playing with a variety of rods, heads, tips and leader combinations.  I tied on a #6 confidence fly.  After a couple swings, I felt a jolt.  Yep, the setup was good.

Kevin will work a good spot where he knows the fish are seeing his flies.  His goal is to crack the code on what they are eating.  He wants to feed them the way they want to be fed.

I like to cover water, looking for active fish that will eat whatever creation I feel like swinging.  While my fly is somewhat important, it’s more about searching for the perfect swing and finding the receptive fish willing to play the game I want to play.

Kevin and I each approach the water in our own way.  The river is our laboratory and every trip brings new discoveries.  Kevin’s been fly fishing Montana waters for far more years than I have, but every time we go fishing, he’s working some new theory or puzzle to solve.  I’m usually reviewing and tinkering with new gear.

This spot is taken.

We’d each gotten into fish right away and were feeling pretty good about our prospects for the day.  I’d worked my way down a hundred feet or so below Kevin, when a drift boat carrying four anglers came down through the riffle right above us.  They managed to get around us ok, but then pulled ashore right in the path of the water I was swinging.  Pretty soon, anglers were waist deep in the water flogging with big indicators and blocking my movement.  They low holed me big time.  I was totally swing blocked.

I’m not going to lie.  Initially, my internal dialog was not kind.  It’s a good thing they were not privy to my thought bubbles.  After seething for a few minutes, I talked myself back down.  The guys were clearly good friends.  They were loud talking and boasting to each other and obviously sharing a fun outing together.  I’m sure they were oblivious to the impact they had on my experience and my intended fishing plans. How could I be upset with guys doing exactly what I love?

While they flogged the water and disturbed it to the point that no fish was going to be catchable for the near future, I put down my Spey rod.  Fortunately, I’d carried along another rod with a nymph set up.  Since I could no longer swing down the run, I moved up to the shelf below Kevin and sheltered in place with my nymph rig.  An hour or so later, the guys pulled out.  One of them had managed to land a fine limb cod, but other than that, they got blanked.

Kevin and I were once again free to fish the way we’d intended.  I dropped in below the water they’d disturbed and proceeded to do my thing with the two-hander.  Kevin had free reign over the top of the run to work his magic with his tiny nymphs.  After another hour or so, we packed up and walked back to the truck.

Sharing the good water

Things could have turned out much differently if the guys in the boat had changed their approach.  I’m sure we were sitting right where they had intended to fish.  They could easily have parked above us or well below us and walked over for a chat before wading in.  Kevin was right in prime Nymphing water.  After a few fish, he’d have been happy to share the good spot.  He probably would have set them up with a juicy fly, or two, and been happy to instruct them on how to present it.  They would have caught fish.

I would have explained that I was intending to swing down the run through the slower flat water where it’s ok for swinging, but not ideal with a nymph.  I would have been glad to let them fish the better Nymphing water above me, instead of the marginal Nymphing water where they parked.  We might have shared a beer and some good conversation.  We could have schemed a way to make everyone happy. We probably would have become river buddies.

Approaching other anglers

If you are anti-social and don’t care to interact with others that’s ok too.  When approaching others fishing, take stock of what they are doing.  If your goal is to fish nearby, you need to give them plenty of space and make sure you don’t block them from working the water properly.  If they are Nymphing, you can generally determine that they will likely work a particular zone.  Don’t crowd that zone.

If you see someone fishing a streamer, especially on a two hand rod, you can be pretty sure they are moving downstream from their current position.  Do not stop below them.  It’s better to stop above.  Give them some time to move downstream before you step into the water well above their position.

Have some patience

In the big picture, the guys in the boat only ended up spoiling an hour or so of what still turned out to be a fine day for us.  I’m sure they had no idea that a little polite conversation might have unlocked a day changer for them.  We would have been happy sharing the good water after some friendly introductions.  Besides, after a couple hours, we packed it back to the truck for some fried chicken and a good thawing out.  They could have had the good water all to themselves with some new flies and some new perspectives on how to fish it properly.  I hope they found some fish somewhere.

Want to read more about the good water? Check out the latest N40 Fly Shop eMag here.