How to fish a river

It would be hard to find something more relaxing than walking along, in or sitting on the bank of a river casting a fly, lure or bait. While all rivers require slightly different fishing techniques there are many techniques that will remain the same.

How to fish a river
Whenever you are fishing it pays to think like a fish and this is no different when fishing a river. Remember that the food will be flowing past the fish very quickly and they will not have much time to decide whether to eat it or not. Whether you are fishing with bait, lure or fly remember to make your presentations look as close as possible to the natural food sources in the river. Sometimes fish will prospect with their mouth (they don't have hands after all) eating everything that flows past, they swallow the food and spit out the rest. When the fish are in this mood you will need to be aware of any indications of a bite and strike early. When the fish are not feeding you can try to annoy them into biting with repetitive casts over the same area.

Upstream or downstream
You can fish upstream and move downstream or downstream and move upstream and your choice will probably depend on the river you are fishing. Talk to local anglers and tackle shops for a bit of advice or just sit and watch some of the locals for a while. It also pays to learn and remember the following fly fishing ettiquette rules for upstream and downstream fishing:

• If a pool is being fished downstream by wetfly anglers, start upstream of them.
• If a pool is being fished upstream by nymph anglers, start downstream of them.
• Start your angling in the opposite direction.
• Don't start fishing a pool downstream when someone else is fishing it upstream
• Don't start fishing a pool upstream when someone else is fishing it downstream
• If in doubt, ask where to fish so as not to cause a disturbance.

Other river fishing etiquette
Nothing spoils a relaxing day like someone having a go at you for doing something wrong. Unfortunately not everyone is patient with new anglers so it is worth learning the following river etiquette tips to avoid this kind of trouble:

• Respect other anglers already on the water.
• Enquire politely about their plans.
• At stream mouths, join a line of anglers at the end unless there is a large gap.
• Ask if it's okay to join an already occupied pool.
• If a pool is full, wait on the bank or move somewhere else.
• If you join others fishing a pool, don't fish the water someone is just about to fish.
• Do not monopolise a stretch of water, even if you're catching fish there.
• Move upstream or downstream with every few casts unless you are alone.
• When sharing a pool, accepted practice is to take a step every time you cast.
• Leave plenty of room for your neighbour to cast, and to play and reel in a hooked fish.
• Do not fill a gap left by an angler landing a fish - let them return.
• If other anglers offend through inexperience, have a gentle word with them

Fishing Etiquette

I had a really great question from one of my readers recently about cast netting etiquette that got me thinking (again) about fishing etiquette. Where I come from it is very impolite to fish within 50 meters or so (without asking) of another boat. Last trip the old man and I were fishing a small (read very small) wreck with our anchor over one side we were sitting just off the middle. Another boat came along and was sounding around trying to work out what we were on - they got so close that they almost ran over our anchor line. However, this was not the worst, when they realised we were on a wreck (and they wanted to be there too) they anchored over our anchor line and finished up within spitting distance of our boat - rude! Lucky I am a calm person - lets face it most people go fishing to get away from it all not to join a crowd.

Here are some really good fishing etiquette tips to follow I have collected from all over the Internet:

• Treat other anglers, boaters and other people we might meet in the field with courtesy and respect.
• Obtain permission from landowners and never trespass on private lands or waters.
• Respect the space of other anglers when fishing from the shore or in a boat and give room to all anglers playing a fish.
• Keep no more fish than needed for consumption and legally allowed and never waste or discard fish that are retained.
• Practice conservation and use proper release methods for fish not retained.
• When fishing never leave trash behind, including worn or discarded line, old hooks and bait.
• Never use as live bait fish that do not normally reside in the waters we are fishing, and never introduce exotic species that may survive and reproduce into fishing waters.
• Do not spill gasoline, oil or other pollutants on land or into the water.
• Observe your speed, wake and wash, while keeping a safe distance from jetties, water/shore-based anglers and other watercrafts.
• Take the time to educate fellow anglers, especially new participants about fishing ethics and be patient with beginners.

Of course there are many more and I welcome any suggestions via the comment form below.

I would also like to hear any fishing etiquette horror stories!