On Fly-fishing Etiquette

On Fly-fishing Etiquette

Flylab wouldn’t be serving its mission without at least some guidance on stream and angling etiquette. Not that fly fishing needs a rule book, nevertheless, some basic ethos should be followed in order to make the outdoor experience better for everyone.

Don’t jump in the same run that someone else is fishing. Same bank, opposite bank, whatever, don’t fish the same run unless you are invited to do so.

Assume another angler is working from downstream up. No matter how the person is fishing, you can figure that most good anglers will be moving upstream.

Looking at a river, you can usually see the runs where trout will be. It’s good form to leave any angler you encounter at least two or three runs above where you find him fishing, before you think about dropping in the river. In a crowded stream–say, New York’s Beaverkill on a Saturday in May–this might be impractical. At the least, give other anglers their space.

If you park at a public access area and don’t want to be crowded out, consider leaving notice of your intentions. Put a sign on your windshield–“I’m fishing upstream-down,” or “I’m fishing 400 yards downstream, then back up”–to give anglers arriving after you a fair warning of your intentions.

Don’t fish posted, private water. If you do so, you’re poaching.

And don’t make your comments and conversation a part of another angler’s experience unless he or she wants them to be.

Play by these few, simple rules, and everyone has a good time.

Also, check out River Etiquette While Fishing From a Boat with some common sense (rowing) advice for great days on the river.

More on wading etiquette from Tom Rosenbauer.