Didn't mean to stop the topic by responding to another's post. This topic received some comment several months ago, and I got called a 'low-holer' for saying its ok to walk in upstream or downstream of someone as long as your not crowding them (gear fishing, not flyfishing).

At the risk of being brandished again by some name caller, I'd like to provide these comments for the board to mull. Its very true that there are fewer fish and more anglers, but I think that both management and etiquette has responded to this, not necessarily by people getting ruder, but rather out of necessity of the fishing conditions.

Fewer fish means less aggressive fish. Theres nothing like a pack of 50 steelhead in a hole that make them very responsive to just about anything you put near them. Less than 1 dozen fish in the same hole and the chances of one traveling 3' to 6' to pick up your presentation is greatly lessened. Fish start to refuse colors or sizes; get very selective. Therefore, you have to make more casts in the same water using different stuff. Also less chance of fish being spread out through the entire drift.

When fishing a drift where I think there are fish, I'll work the entire drift, but I will sloooooow down where I've hit fish in the past, or move into very good looking water, unless I'm pushed. Thats why I'd rather have someone move in downstream of me, rather than push me, as long as I'm not being crowded.

As for crowds: On a river like the Sky, if everyone was required to walk in at the top of the hole, there literally would be lines at the top of some of the more popular drifts (I don't include Reiter in this). And each individual waiting their turn will have their own idea of how fast a person should work the water. You think there won't be an exchange of words?

I do not think this applies to flyfishing because fly anglers are more apt to get picked up by the most aggressive fish, so are at an advantage covering lots of water and being the first one through. There are also a lot fewer fly anglers than gear flingers, so this etiquette is much more feasible.

I'm certainly not advocating low-holing. But I think that common sense and politeness is more sensible and would enhance the fishing experience more than a rigid set of rules of etiquette.