Pet Peeve #4: LACK OF ETIQUETTE

The lack of etiquette exhibited by fly anglers always amazes me (not to mention ruin my fishing!). Last night's example was a classic example of the lack of BASIC manners; a downstream working fly angler not getting out of the water a sufficient distance away from an upstream fishing angler (me) and then getting below and continuing on. In this case, the fella comes around a bush into my path....as in 25'-30'!

I've come to the realization that 90% of the lapses in basic etiquette is that anglers are simply not aware of their poor stream-side behavior...it is not malicious. They simply have not been informed/educated by fishing friends, fly shops, schools or guides. The real jerks are the 10% who KNOW they are violating etiquette; they simply want to beat another to a spot or area. For the uninformed, it is an opportunity to educate, for "gamers"...one has to decide how to interact.