Manners

[flyguy]

As a long wand user, I find that courtesy pertains mostly to those using the same. Whether from a boat or beach, big stick users fail to consider the limitations of a flyrodder. Wind direction, current, space needed to backcast, flyuse and in general manners are forgotten when the bite is on. We, in general, don't argue, we just move cause it ain't worth it.:( And, there are plenty of them out there that don't give a rat's butt to manners and then get upset when u hook up and have to fight that fish. On the shore in one on one situations, things are great and "fellowship of the fish" is great with one type complementing another. Any feedback would be appreciated.

[RJ]

I too use the long wand but most for freswater or from a boat when saltwater is in play. It all comes down to who is there first I suppose.

If there is a caster or two on the jetty with the spinning gear, you probably can't expct them to be happy iif the fish are biting and you toss your fly in there and take 10 minutes to land a fish and everyone has to pull their lines to accommodate you...

on the other hand... if you are on the tip of the jetty first and a surfcaster comes along, he/she or I would fish the pockets and the back sides of you since you had the tip first and leave you room to cast ....however....what if you hook a decent fish, it takes you 10-15 minutes to land it AND you have to go to the beach to land it....

do you get the tip of the jetty back when you are done?:)

[flyguy]

Thanks for the reply. Wouldn't expect to return to original spot but in the past experience has shown they will fish on your casting side, usually downwind which puts them in danger if the wind picks up. If u have ever been salmon fishing at Pulaski, that situation has happened more than once.

[Stan]

flyguy I have come across that type of situation many times. All I do is send a fly very close to there head and they usually get the idea and will give you space. Most surfcasters just don't understand what it takes to cast a fly rod.

if the fish are biting and you toss your fly in there and take 10 minutes to land a fish and everyone has to pull their lines to accommodate you...
Rich what wt fly rod are you using? With my 10wt or even with my 9wt rod I can beach a keeper striper or big 10+lb bluefish faster than most surfcasters can. And that's no BS.

[RJ]

Don't expect to do that if you come to a spot and it is loaded with surfcasters already:D

[Stan]

Don't expect to do that if you come to a spot and it is loaded with surfcasters already Rich I've done it at Democrat Point at the bar a few years back. You know how crowded that gets and I had no problems there. But I would not do it now. I tend to fish areas that are not as crowded and are just as productive. But when someone tries crowding me in when the fish are in will get a fly coming within a foot of there face. When your good with a fly rod in hand it's easy to do without actually hooking someone.

[Jaiem]

Courtesy is definately lacking on the beach. Not just between flyrodders and casters but also between just casters too. And I've even encountered a few non-courteous fly casters.

IMO it's a combination of where you're fishing and who was there first. Some places, like at Montauk, while you can fly fish them, unless you have the place to yourself (like sometimes happens mid-week) don't try to "impose" the long rod on a traditional surf casting spot. That's like someone tossing a weighted bait line in the middle of a row of casters working plugs through a rip. :argue:

In other cases if you get a spot first with the long rod and later a regular caster shows up it's not right for him to try to muscle you out of the way.

And you're right. For some situations it just isn't worth the effort to argue. Show them you're bigger than that and move on. :angel:

[flyguy]

If you subscribe to one of the popular mags, checks out the March 04' article on manners titled "Please Don't Stand So Close To Me!"