Sorry to hear about your morning. But just because you're the first one (boat) to what sounds like is one of the relatively few bank angler access sites doesn't mean there isn't room for both bank and boat. You still could occupy the #1 boat slot as other boaters would have to yield to you.

As for the bankies throwing their gear over your lines, that was wrong as long as your gear wasn't dominating the fishable area they worked hard to access and you did what you could to share the spot. I don't think boaters need to pull anchor and leave entirely, just give a few feet one way or the other because us guys on the bank don't have that same option.

You did mention respect of our water so you must understand there's a difference between where we can fish and where you (boaters) can fish. I sometimes get so excited after hiking in to an area where I round the last bend in the trail, heart racing, hoping there's room for me to make a few casts. Most guys know the rivers they fish. They know the holes, they know, for the most part, who can access what area - bank or boat. There are "traditional" spots on every river I've fished, where bankies gather and if you want to slide in before day-break and occupy one of those spots, especially where guys have traveled some distance on foot, then in my opinion, you should be prepared to be willing to pull anchor and slide a few feet one way or the other. I've fished many a hole where everybody on the bank and in a boat coordinated their casts and all got along just fine.

Just think what would happen if all us bank fishermen went out and bought us a river boat. That might give a whole new meaning to getting to the hole well before day-break!

Give a little...take a little...and there will be enough for all!