Besides whiners, one thing that grates me is people stripping line off the reel as they false cast. OUCH!
I can't help but to think that ain't doing the line any good at all.
Any other pet grievances?

OPS !

We've all got pet peeves and likely plenty of `em. I'll stick to one. I cringe to see how some folk release a fish. Worse case: I fished along side a guy that didn't like bending over so he'd lift the trout out of the water and rest it along his arm like a loaf of bread. After poking around for his hemos, he whistled a bit and began removing the hook. Once the hook was removed, he lifted the fish up to admire it. I lost it when he landed his second fish which was a big one. I tried to ignore him, even though I too had a fish on. He cradled that lunker on his arm and then searched his vest pockets for a tape measure. He couldn't find it and he asked me if I had one. That fish was out of the water for an eternity at that point. I left the flat during a quality sulpher hatch while he resumed looking for that tape measure. I had 6 fish on 8-9 casts. I had to go because I was beginning to contemplate performing an act of sodomy on him with a rock!

Nothing really bothers me while fishing. I'm pretty fortunate to have the local streams to myself most of the time and don't have to deal with people that much, so that eliminates the people factor.

What bothers me is we have had some nice warm weather and the hatches were awsome last week with lots of trout being caught on Quill Gordons. This morning we woke up to 1/2" of snow on the ground and temps in the mid 30's.


Ron

Folks that come up within spittin' distance and start fishing upstream of me.
I try to keep a 50-100 yd minimum seperation myself, an etiquette thing my dad taught me when I was learning to fish.

With the fishing pressure these days it may be old hat but its still annoying...

D.

Hi Jackster...

The lake I usually fish is almost perfectly round and just short of 5mi. in diameter. It also is host to some largerl organized Bass tournaments and several smaller Bass tourneys.
Unfortunately, some of that crowd seem to think if they are having a tournament on a lake, they own that lake for that day or weekend. I don't agree with them and that has produced some annoying moments, specifically when I've hooked a Bass and before I can get it in I've had 2 or 3 tourney boats roar up on me and start casting the area I am fishing without so much as a "Hello". Starting my motor and letting it rev at about half-speed for a minute or so usually ges the point across but also usually brings some impolite language my more often than not. Have had them come over and reach to grab the gunwale of my boat to cuss me out too but, so far, they've all abandoned that idea suddenly.
Not how I like to have a fishing day go but I've never ruded any of them (first) so I'll be dogged if I'm going to stay home just because of some jerks on the lake.

Best,
5/0

At the Brazos river in Texas they let water out of the dam to generate power. This year it seems that every weekend the water get flowing like crazy making fishing unpredictable and for a 2 hr drive to find you can't wade can make a guy nuts. Also, in that river they stock trout. You see people early in the season taking 6"-8" trout - what's the point? I say there should be a size limit until later in the season.

I'm with Jim on the BASS tourneys, especially on Lake Istokpoga. I usually know ahead of time when there's going to be a tourney so I don't fish a tourney lake that day or week or however many days it lasts. There are other spots to go that are just as good or better. Oh well, the tourneys bring money to the county so I won't bark too loud . But what really drives me up the wall............dare I say it again? Well, you fellas know me by now. A real kook .

AIRBOATS.

But in this rare case, I don't think that not liking them makes me a kook.

Hi Dixieangler...

Agreed on the airboats. They are a perplexing problem.
I hate to tell anyone they can't use Public Property or enjoy the outdoors. Neither do I like the popular American habit of passing laws to punish and restrict everyone because of the misdeeds and lousy attitudes of a few. That approach does generate the maximum government revenue from fines and tickets, but we're all supposed to pretend we don't realize that's the main purpose of most of our laws.
But airboating (or any outdoor activity) somehow needs to be done without serious disruption of the right of others to enjoy the outdoors too. THAT is the line that is so hard to draw.
With airboats, my main objection is the incredible noise. Yet airboaters apparently resist all mention of installing mufflers or using quieter engines and, to me, that's just them being inconsiderate and selfish, and thus is not credible.
I also have to wonder about the impact of their boats when they drive through the shallows and I can see vegetation and lake-bottom being disturbed. But I know some airboaters who are very careful not to do that. I also know airboaters routinely volunteer their time and boats to do major lakes clean-up projects and they are a huge help in that respect.
Wish I had the answer to airbboats, but I don't.

Best,
5/0

At the moment it is:

1) Ebay purchases that are in much less condition than described!!!

and

2) Pelicans on small Colorado lakes!!! I can't catch a fish for anything in a lake where I couldn't keep blue gills, crappies, and sunfish off the line. Now it is nothing and the fish-eating birds are gone too.

CG

Fortunately, I don't run into a lot of other anglers where I choose to fish and if I do go to a spot with a lot of people or on a wkend, I just grin and bear it.... I did run into some shiite heads who felt the need to do cannon balls about 25 yards from me into a very productive part of the Kings river last season... I try not to get too upset about it. That particular stream has so much incredible scenery that it doesn't take long to forget about the a- h*les that do there best to be, well.. a- holes...

I'll second the pet peeve on people who release their fish the wrong way. I really hate it when you try to help them but they look through you and say something like, "I'm not getting my hands wet before I throw the fish back in!" or "Look, the fish is swimming away unharmed" as they wipe the fish's scum from their hands on a towel or their pants. I just love fishing the area afterwards with many dead fish belly up on the bottom!

I catch and release unless I want to eat the trout that night or the next day,or if they are bleeding real bad or if someone ask me to keep a couple for them.

What aggravates me are fisherman that keep everything that they catch and then ask people if they want them,if THEY don't want them then why the hell do they keep them?

Hi DBuck...

Will second your motion on that one, DBuck. I appreciate a small gift of a few fish once in a great while, but that's different from someone going oout and catching three legal limits and then dumping a bucketful on me because they don't want to get caught or to clean them.
Never ceases to amaze me the gall, or ignorance, of some folks. Had one guy come by wanting to "give" me almost 50 Crappies - his idea of "generosity" being I could keep half if I cleaned them all and gave half back to him. Jerk acted indignant when I told him "No Thanks".

Best,
5/0

Negative Experts! They come in all types and sizes; but, they are certain that whatever the suggestion or new technique, it's wrong. Lately, it seem like they're coming out of the woodwork! Recently, I've seen too many negative responses to folks legitimate questions (no one this board). And recently, I've seen some very negative writing in the national fly magazines. Why?

It's a shame. Life's too short...you can have your way...but, me, I think I'll try to keep an open mind and try lots of ways! Fly fishing is supposed to be fun, some folks seem to think it's their pulpit!

I learned my lesson on the "too many caught" at an early age...When I was maybe 10 a friend and I went out and came back with 20 or so bluegill. BIG smiles on both kids faces until my dad called his dad over and they yakked for a few minutes then the hammer came down "You catch them, you clean them..." Never again... if Im not eating them that night, they go back. They also go back if they're over 14" (trout) out of principle.

D.

I said one...you're getting another peeve.
For all you folk that take your dog(s) fishing with you:

1) Contrary to what you may believe, I may smile but I'm NOT
happy when your pouch paddles out through the flat I'm fishing so I can pet it.
2) Landing a fish isn't a joint venture I want to share with your dog. I DON'T think it's "funny" when your fleabag jumps in to chase the fish I'm trying to land.
3) No one I know enjoys having dogs running up to them barking while they're out fishing, nor are many of the folk I fish with entertained by having a dog jump up on their breathable waders while they're holding their favorite rig out of harm's way.

I've also seen plenty of dogs that are well behaved. I'll stop to pet `em etc. and have no qualms. Kudos to those of you that took the trouble to train your dogs properly and a curse on the rest of you that don't care or can't discern the difference...

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Hi All...

Hadn't thought about it but I agree the dog thing is a major exasperation.
There is a way to handle it though - just not a very polite way.
Tie on a popper or big topwater on and show the owner how you can make the dog go after it and they'll quickly figure out you can also let their dog "catch" that hook anytime you want to. You'll get cussed out and threatened, especially if the owner is a woman. But they'll leave. Been there, done it. Sure wish people weren't such jerks sometimes, but they are.

Best,
5/0

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...I recall something about alligators.

Hi Scud-Dog...

LOL! If the newspapers are any indication, folks aren't getting smarter about the gators very quickly. Have always thought the Fish & Game girls should put out a bumper sticker that says "Gators (heart) Dogs" to keep the message visible for the Bambi-types. Tourism Dept. would probably pitch a fit though.


Best,
5/0