Dealing with rude fishermen?

[littlelimbs]

Had a weird run in fishing a small creek this evening. I was fishing a small hole when a father and son came up to the same hole. Son, by my best guess about 11 years old or so, walked right up next to me. Probably about 5 feet away from me, and threw his line right on top of mine. He then proceeded to ask me what flies I was throwing, what pound test line, and gave me some wonderful and very wanted feedback about how I was fishing incorrectly. According to him I wasn't using light enough line, I wasn't drifting with the current enough and I wasn't fishing the way I think he believed I should be. Little did he know there was a method to my madness for how I was fishing tonight;
I just recently finished reading Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout and was inspired enough to try out throwing larger flies on a sink tip and fish them by stripping line across and downstream instead of just drifting my flies.

He then had the gall to suggest I go fish somewhere else. Dad stood 15 feet away just ignoring us and fishing away.

I can't make up my mind if this was a choreographed song and dance to chase me away from the hole I was fishing as it was loaded with fish or if these folks were just ignorant of common courtesy and stream etiquette. The boy could have just been very excited about fishing, wanting to share his excitement and fish the water where he caught fish before. I'm trying be optimistic and lean towards the latter but the interaction just felt so odd.

I was a bit shocked by the way he crowded me and threw his line practically right onto mine and then suggested I go somewhere else. I didn't feel like being confrontational so I just left it at that and moved on to different water after a couple casts. How would you have handled this differently?

 

[Bamboozle]

I once pushed a kid in creek for similar behavior and have thrown rocks in a pool I was crowded out of...

...but that's me...

 

[GANGGREEN]

Well, assuming it was an 11 year old, I wouldn't have expected too much from him. It's the father that's responsible for the bad behavior and who knows whether it's a case of him simply not having any clue what the proper decorum on the creek is or if he's a rude bastard. Not worth losing any sleep over. Personally, I'd probably let them have the hole just to avoid having to put up with the kid.....

 

[poopdeck]

Perhaps the kid was following the other angler. Perhaps the other Angler had no idea who the kid was but was thrilled when the kid found another angler to help. I would have started screaming, “stop touching my junk” until the kid left in embarrassment.

 

[wildtrout2]

I would have started screaming, “stop touching my junk” until the kid left in embarrassment.

Yeah, then the kid's Dad comes over and puts a fist to your grill. Best to say nothing and leave. When I was about that kid's age, my Mom taught me to "consider the source" when somebody did something ignorant or disrespectful.

 

[Nymph-wristed]

The kid probably has a YouTube channel, so he's an expert and you should have taken notes. Was he rocking a Moonshine rod?

Honestly, I am with gangreen. Move along. Yes, it reinforces crappy behavior, which is too far gone on stocked streams (and Valley) but it is not worth the aggravation or the time to post here! I would rather enjoy my day.

That or catch 12 in front of them, which is what my younger self would have done

 

[Solitariolupo]

Next time bring some music with you and when he started to talk just played loud and ignore him.

 

[Steeltrap]

That's a tough one. The younger me would have likely told the kid where to go.....waited and intentionally cast so I could get the lines twisted and then cut his line.

The older and more mellow me would have not responded to any of his questions, reeled in and move to another spot.

I think today more than ever, you gotta be careful of who you're gonna pick your battles with. I carry anytime I go fishing or archery hunting anymore. I'm not looking for anything confrontational but ya just never know. My point is the kid's dad\uncle\whomever could have been carrying and maybe looking for a confrontation just to show he's a "bigger" man.

Two years ago I was archery hunting on 100 acres of private land. I heard the crunch of leaves coming towards me and turned to find someone's pet Pitbull marching towards me. I knew if was a pet as it had a collar on it. But, I'm disabled and that's a Pitbull. I yelled at the dog to stop and of course, it didn't. I actually pulled my revolver out as I didn't know what this dog was going to do. Now, I hoped for the best and expected the worse. (The last thing I wanna do is shoot someone's pet!)

So, as he got about ten yards away I grabbed my walking stick (aka cane) and slammed it down a few times on the brush that was beside me. The dog then cowered down as it apparently thought I was going to hit it with my cane. I knew then the dog was harmless and likely looking for a "treat" from me. Of course, I had nothing to give the animal so I slammed the cane down again and yelled at him to "GET"! The dog complied and trotted off......likely looking for another hunter to give him a treat!!

 

[wildtrout2]

I carry anytime I go fishing or archery hunting anymore.

Hopefully, not in Penna. Last I checked, you can't possess a firearm while archery hunting in Penna.

 

[phiendWMD]

I'd probably tell the guy it was my day off, I was trying to fish, and if I have to entertain/babysit his kid, it'll be $200 an hour.

 

[STONEMAN]

I somehow got in the habit of asking someone who decides to fish right next to me if he wants to “sit in my lap and fish?” After a confused look, they walk away muttering. But after my most recent incident on the Breeches, I will reconsider. I was called every name in the book. Then the race card was played and it started to get really ugly. I was shaken. Will walk away next time.

 

[DomR]

I'd take the tact that the kid was probably excited and being young, a know it all. Also how far away was the adult, was the stream noise in the area more than light? Reason I ask that is I suffer from some hearing loss that isn't noticeable to others but in the case that's describe being 15 feet away, on moving water with other background noise, I wouldn't have been able to hear my son clearly to discern if he was being annoying to another fisherman or just talking to them.

Of course I know better than to let my son crawl up on another fisherman, we would have moved along until we found our own riffle, run, or pool to fish.

 

[AngryViking]

I have had younger kids come up and ask me a bunch of questions. Sometimes I answer and give advice (especially if I already fished the spot and pulled out a few) maybe even toss a few flies their way. Other times I'm there to just relax and don't feel much like talking so I reel up and move on. Really the Dad should have said something and should teach proper etiquette to not stand right beside someone who was there first, teach the kid to ask which way the person is fishing (upstream or down) and then head the opposite way.

 

[Bamboozle]

Hopefully, not in Penna. Last I checked, you can't possess a firearm while archery hunting in Penna.

I BELIEVE, (but I'm not an expert) that if you have a PA Sportsman’s Firearm Permit or are carrying open with no permit, you are prohibited from possessing a firearm while bow hunting, among other restrictions like carrying a loaded weapon in a vehicle.

If you possess a PA CCW Permit, AKA a PA Licence to Carry Firearms Permit, you are exempt from that regulation.

 

[joebamboo]

I always ask someone who starts to crowd me out if I am in their way. Usually they get the message.

 

[wildtrout2]

If you possess a PA CCW Permit, AKA a PA Licence to Carry Firearms Permit, you are exempt from that regulation.

This is accurate, I stand corrected.

 

[krayfish2]

I've asked "Do you want to use my fly rod?"

They usually respond with a 'no'.

I then ask, "if you don't want to use my rod or flies, why are you so close?"

Moment of silence and then they slink away mumbling. Point delivered 😁

 

[Steeltrap]

I BELIEVE, (but I'm not an expert) that if you have a PA Sportsman’s Firearm Permit or are carrying open with no permit, you are prohibited from possessing a firearm while bow hunting, among other restrictions like carrying a loaded weapon in a vehicle.

If you possess a PA CCW Permit, AKA a PA Licence to Carry Firearms Permit, you are exempt from that regulation.

BINGO! Yes, you are, with a cc permit, allowed to have a loaded firearm for your personal protection while hunting in any season with any other firearm or non-firearm weapon.

In today's world it's best to just move on. You don't know the temperament of "the other guy" and nobody want's to get into "The gunfight at OK corral". Hey....it's just fishing.

 

[CRB]

I just turn away and move on down the stream.

 

[rrt]

I'm too old to really do anything. If the person is close enough, I usually say, "I would not have done this to you," and I then leave and try to find another place to try.

Having said this, I try to avoid well-known waters when I suspect they will be crowded. I fish elsewhere, catching fewer and smaller fish but avoiding run-ins. If I have an encounter on a stream of this type, I just go home and watch TV or read.