Help From Fellow Canal Rats: Canal Etiquette Survey.

[Thunder Rod]

PJTsui brought up a good point in another thread about the common lack of personal Canal etiquette with regard to the increasing numbers of fishermen now roaming the rocks in the Big Ditch. Not through any intentional ignorance per se', just that no one has taken the time to pass along some of these common sense courtesy's to others. It's especially timely now with the return of the annual striper stocks which is resulting in more and more people fishing the Canal. Also, with the yearly Cash Cow/Striper Tourney set to begin, I figure the timing is right for a quickie, Bullet point article on Canal Etiquette, possibly to appear in Mark Cahill's Fishing New England. (Mark?);


Many of the old timers are already aware and regularly practice these manners, but many in the new breed obviously have never really given some of these items any thought. With your help I'd like to throw something together in print.

Now I know many of the Canal regulars I've conversed with over the last 4 years have since moved on, but I can think of a few who still remain like Bob G, BDowning, (various "squids blanks" and "blank brains" and the like) and the infamous "unknown" have all checked in in the past with courtesy issues.

Here's what I have already.......

> bait casting order in a crowd
> Jig/lure vs bait fishermen in a crowd
> "Fish on"
> squeezing in
> coveting thy neighbor's chum slick

Ok guys, what have I missed?

Thanks

-John-

[bob g]

john,
your on the right track, but all bets always seem to be off at the canal. whether it's just the bass itself, of just watching someone taking fish, when your not. it just always seems to bring out the worst in certain people.
i think due to it's proximity to major highways,and the fact that no 4wd nor boat is needed , the canal draws a real cross section of fishermen.

so ok, things i'd like to see covered:

1. respect homeowners rights. private property is just that, private. if you ask, and the owner denies you permission, that doesn't mean you sneak through their yard after dark.
2.repect the rights of those who got there first.
if you and your gang arrive at your selected spot late, and find someone already there minding his own business fishing,........then move on. don't think becuase your group outnumbers the one lonesome fisherman, tht the old "squeeze play" is permissable. IT'S NOT!
3. don't hesitate to get on your cell phone and report any, and all transgressions.(bourne police # 759-4453) this is your sport and your passion. don't just watch passively as others ruin your sort and your reputation.
4. lastly (for now), be careful out there. more and more of these guys are armed. i've seen several pistols in holsters last summer. i saw my first of the year in guys coat while getting herring the other night. remember, a female corps ranger, found a loaded .38 in the rocks at the herring run last spring. the gun was found right below the portable out house right at the run. the bourne police could not run the pistol because: it's serial numbers were removed!

[riptide]

I just had to post in because of an expierience I had last night at the canal regarding etiquette. I had my mind set on some fly fishing on a certain rock outcrop behind the Way Ho chinese resturant. When I arrived a guy was livelining off of the rocks. Instead of ****ing and complaining or pushing in beside the guy, I started talking with him. I told him I was looking to do some fly casting in the area. His resonse was "the fish are real close here I need to take a little break, why don't you fish here!" I greatfully accepted and made a dozen casts. He rebaited and walked out onto the rocks and waited for me to finish my drift. I held up and let him make a few drifts. This went on for a little over an hour. He landed 1 nice fish in the low 30" range, I wasn't so lucky. The point of this thread is that not only can bait and plug fisherman get along, but if you are reasonable with people you can even fit a flyrodder into the mix. This is just a change from the complaints that we all hear about the canal and I felt I needed to share it.


Capt. Terry Nugent<BR>Riptide Charters<BR>www.riptidecharters.com

[Thunder Rod]

Yeah Terry, I know that hole. Someone seems to be on it constantly. I haven't even gotten close to that one in 4-5 years. Your's is a great example of courtesy.

Personally, if trying to sqeeze into a popular hole, The Radar Station comes to mind, I always politely ask the closest guy if he minds. I've never been told no. Fact is that some of these holes can easily support 3 - 6 fishermen, sometimes more. Most of us "regulars" expect company at these more popular spots. That's where the etiquette (ie. common sense) comes in. Sometimes, despite "being there first", a little tolerance can go a long ways as well. With so many people around, we all cannot always have our own private hotspot. (too bad) I'm now actually surprised if I'm not crowded in at some of the hotter areas. (like the Mussel Bed), especially on the weekends. So, if I feel like being alone, I take control of that issue myself by trying lesser known (and often less fishy) areas.
:-(

Thanks for checking in as well, Bob. I knew I'd hear from you on this one. You're lucky, you at least have access through some of those private areas and can probably get away from the crowds a little easier than most. Your points are well taken, private is private. I'd be pretty ****ed if strangers were constantly cutting through my yard. I'll add a "consideration and safety" summary to the list which will cover some of your concerns.

(that is if someone agrees to PUBLISH it);

;-)