Fly Fishing Safety And Courtesy

[jdmidwest]

If the person seems to be unaware of my backcast, I put a little snap in it to wake them up a little, like cracking a whip. If that does not move them, then I shoot for an ear.

I almost nailed a jogger by accident at the park the other day with my backcast. There was a 20 mile wind and a nice tight pair of shorts going by on the opposite side that distracted me.

[Jack Jones]

Not sure what being a liberal has to do with carelessness and ignorance, AZ. I can honestly say the times I've had issues, I've never stopped to measure their ideology and they didn't share theirs with me. I just considered them asshats.

For example, while fly fishing at Roaring River I had a grandmother, grandfather, a mother, and her two annoying bratty children under age 10 pour out of a mini van covered with McCain/Palin and various religious bumper stickers. They proceeded to set up a chair right next to me, inches away, and then try to let the kids fish. I casually mentioned to the mother, that "Excuse me, I've been fishing here. I'd hate to see the kids get hit with a fly line." She advised they'd try to be careful. When the young boy got wrapped in my leader, and stuck with the fly, they finally moved. Cursed me the whole way.

Another time at Bennett involved a wonderful family setting up shop about 30-50 yards downstream and proceed to let their kids splash, and jump in the river instead of using the pool. Needless to say, it's tough to dead drift a nymph when it's going to run right into kids with floaties on their arms and the fish are spooked.

So....bottom line...there's many, many ignorant people who could care less about the sport. When they surround me after I've been standing there I just throw a few wild back casts, apologize, and say I'm new at this. I've found that almost hitting and almost hooking them tends to scare them away.

[flytyer57]

Not sure what being a liberal has to do with carelessness and ignorance, AZ.

For example, while fly fishing at Roaring River I had a grandmother, grandfather, a mother, and her two annoying bratty children under age 10 pour out of a mini van covered with McCain/Palin and various religious bumper stickers.

Sounds like undercover "liberals" to me.

[jdmidwest]

A person is responsible for his or her own personal safety in my opinion. You really can't rely on anyone else to keep you safe.

[eric1978]

I liken it to being a defensive driver...you have to assume that everyone around you is a moron until proven otherwise. When I pass behind a fly fisherman, I always announce "right behind you," and hurry past as quietly as possible. But I never expect anyone else to do the same when they pass behind me, because it's about 50/50 that they will. People are idiots, and you have to be prepared for that reality.

And the "liberal" comment is the stupidest thing I've ever heard. It's about as relevant as how someone takes their coffee.

[AZ_Trout]

Yeah the liberal thing was likely out of line --sorry.

I had used it as - no need to take personal responsibility -- everyone else in the world will look out for you. In my experience liberal means taking care of everyone regardless of their ability to be self responsible. Make me (take my money) to take care of everyone else.

Sorry if it was out of place. But didn't Missouri vote for the dead guy? thinking his wife would be an equal replacement?

[flytyer57]

Yeah the liberal thing was likely out of line --sorry.

I had used it as - no need to take personal responsibility -- everyone else in the world will look out for you. In my experience liberal means taking care of everyone regardless of their ability to be self responsible. Make me (take my money) to take care of everyone else.

Sorry if it was out of place. But didn't Missouri vote for the dead guy? thinking his wife would be an equal replacement?

They voted for the dead guy because they knew the other guy (Ashcroft) was a total idiot.

Edited: And guess who the idiot was that picked the idiot (Ashcroft) to be the Attorney General of the USA?

[eric1978]

I had used it as - no need to take personal responsibility -- everyone else in the world will look out for you. In my experience liberal means taking care of everyone regardless of their ability to be self responsible. Make me (take my money) to take care of everyone else.

That's a cliché, a stereotype, and quite frankly, an inaccurate interpretation of what liberal means. I'm a small business owner, a taxpayer, and a huge advocate of personal responsibility...and I'm a liberal. I could make some sweeping generalizations about conservatives that most likely wouldn't encapsulate you, right? You should pitch the tired old talking points in the trash can...they're clouding your perspective and making you sound foolish.

[FlyFishinFool]

Conservative?...Liberal?...I was asking about flycasting and spectators.

I would hope it is possible to have a discussion without attaching names/labels.

Unless you are talking about the morons who walk right behind me when I am casting!

[AZ_Trout]

Conservative?...Liberal?...I was asking about flycasting and spectators.

I would hope it is possible to have a discussion without attaching names/labels.

Unless you are talking about the morons who walk right behind me when I am casting!

Yep! They are so use to being taken care of--they can't look out for themselves.

The others only think about themselves, there are no other people in their world!