Posted on September 30 2024
It's six-thirty and I'm off the river and typing the report. There were bugs from when I started at 1:15 until just before I quit at 6:00. What kind? The usual suspects which haven't changed much in the past few weeks, olives of all sizes, isos, Hebes, the odd Cahill, and some fall brown caddis flying their way upstream.
Started out on the lower WB and was immediately confronted by a drift boat back rowing up the river that would have run into me if the sport hadn't told the guide I was there. Wasn't his fault as he had apparently drifted down in the time it took me to park and get down to the river. They had seen some fish and the guide was trying to give his sport another shot at them. He rowed across the river and fished down the other side. A few minutes later two younger guys walked down the shore behind me without saying a word and started fishing just below where I was. It was my intention to fish a couple hundred yards below them, so I walked down past them. While doing so, I was informed, that, among other things, I was what was wrong with the place, they were locals, and they knew what car I was driving, (profanity deleted). Was surprised that they didn't accuse me of eating their cat. For the record, I've probably had the fishing camp and been fishing the river since before they were born. I must admit I enjoyed landing seven fish while neither of them even bent a rod.
Went from the WB to two places on the EB. There were quite a few bugs and some rising fish. The first stop resulted in me hooking and landing three good sized fallfish. The second stop required me to make a short walk through the knot weed. When I emerged riverside there was a drift boat anchored not a hundred feet out in front of me with another boat rowing downstream towards us. Stood there for about ten minutes while the guide walked the boat from fish to fish, (there were four or five fish feeding and they looked to be good ones). Finally was able to wade out below them, cross over and walk upstream. The fish that were feeding had obviously been fished to. Got two ignores, three refusals and one fish, (perhaps feeling sorry for me), ate my fly. By six, it was over, hence the early return. The fish I caught were, all but one 11 incher, two and three year old's.
The drift boats come under the category entitled "Shit Happens", and are just part of life on the Delaware. Unfortunately, the two self proclaimed "locals" were discourteous, offensive and rude. It spoiled my day.
Sorry about the a-holes, but they are out there…
Had an experience on a SE PA stream this year. Small water. Saw a guy downstream when I arrived so I went up 2 pools to start my day. When I went back to my car I had a very “nice” handwritten note on the windshield basically indicating he owned all of the water, hoped I got blanked (I caught 6), and that “NJ sucks”….im from NJ. While part 3 is worth considering, I try to give everyone space, but nobody “owns” 1 mile of a small creek.
Glad you caught a bunch of fish in front of them.
Of the people I’ve met fishing, 99% are wonderful!! But that 1%….always makes you wonder.
Sorry to hear how your encounter with some trashy yokels ruined your day. Glad you were able to put them in their place with a perfect, seven-part reply.
The last time I had day spoiled by another angler was on the lower Beaverkill in April, when some bait-slinging Eastern Europeans showed up on the opposite bank and began casting their cigar bobbers far too close to our flies. My friend said something and was greeted with a string of heavily-accented profanity.
Even worse, one of them hooked a huge brown that he proceeded to drag over the rock shelf he was standing on before hanging it on a branch to slowly die. The poor trout kept flapping for an agonizingly long time. Completely ruined my day….
Sorry for what you encountered on the river. It is sad that we forget why we go fishing in the first place. I usually confront this type of behavior. If they go unchecked, they are emboldened. I know that I may run the risk of harm or injury, but there is a limit to what is tolerable. We can not lose our dignity to belligerent behavior. Disagreements are fine. but, blatant disrespect is not acceptable. These are public resources, does not matter whether you are a local or not.
Reminds me of a WB float trip with my dad 20 years ago when about 8 gunshots rang out from some hidden houses and bullets sprayed 30 yards away in pool we were fishing. Clearly not trying to hit us, but definitely trying to send a message. It worked we pulled up the anchor….a bit scary to say least! Better to not pick a fight!
It’s unfortunate we have to deal with nastiness and derision not only in everyday life but also on the stream..a nice tip of the hat to one of my favorite groups The Shirelles..tight lines everyone
Angler119- I’m with Dennis. There is no reason for people to be nasty whether they thought you were from out of state or not. They would be quite upset if they were treated badly. Sorry it ruined your day. Unfortunately everyplace has its share of idiots. Ed
That’s to bad some jerks ruined your day!! Envy is a terrible trait. Glad you showed them how to fish. Other than a run in with some A H it sounds like a pretty good day.
Keep showing them whose boss of the river!!!!