I’ve spent much time chasing steelhead with gear, now I prefer to fly fish for them. I try and look at it from both sides and it seems there is a lack of understanding between prefered methods. Here's my 2 cents-

When approaching a fly fisher his general intention is to fish the entire run down to the tail out, it is rude to cut in below. If you would like to fish the run, anchor and wait or if he is far enough into the run fish behind. If the river is large enough, you can usually float the opposite side of the river and fish the slot along the far bank, but it is very rude to float by and pitch your offering into the run he is fishing and boon dog through (it is rude to do that to anybody fishing).

When you float by a fly fisher it is usually preferred that you pass on the very opposite side of the river rather than passing from behind due to the back cast and by cutting back across to the main current you could disturb the run he is fishing.

If a fly fisher chooses to fish a terminal area or combat zone and expects etiquette it's just unfortunately not a smart thing.
[ 07-05-2001: Message edited by: Rich ]

[ 07-05-2001: Message edited by: Rich ]

[ 07-05-2001: Message edited by: Rich ]