Bit of a Problem

[Danoinark]

Bill

I think most of us would have reacted just the way you did.

It comes down again to what all fishermen need to learn before they ever make that first cast. Ethics 101 and Etiquette 101

If one fails in these classes then the whole sport will not be as pleasurable. That guide should have explained why he was waving you on through, how the make up of the lake was and that this chute was really the only safe and easy passage. He could have been educating his clients to that fact as well.

Dano

[Thom]

Bill:

Every time I fish Taney I encounter what you described. I tried being polite by swinging way out on one occasion. It cost me a prop. It cannot be done in the stretch you described.

I can't imagine why anyone would be right in the channel fishing. I have much better results hanging out of the channel the water is so slow that there is not a drift. I just throw into the drops or a little longer cast to the bank. I am not that good a fly caster but I have no trouble reaching the productive areas and not setting right in the channel.

Needless to say I will not bend another prop for a thoughtless angler setting in the middle of the channel. I always slow down and say something cordial and excuse myself as I go by. Reasonable sportsmen will acknowledge that gesture other idiots cannot be satisfied anyway.

By the way I sometimes think that the bite is often better when a wake of a boat goes by, especially fishing under a indicator near the edges of the channel. I think the boat turbulances stirrs the bottom and gives some movement to the fly at the same time. Kind of a boat shuffler effect. OH! OH! I don't to open that can of worms especially in the restricted area.

[jcoberley]

I think Rich has hit it pretty well also. Another pet pieve of mine is the guys standing in the outlets snagging. A pile of split and a couple of size 12 scuds about a foot apart getting slammed into the outlet and snapped out after a 3 ft. drift is just about as sad as it gets.

Maybe they could start a season from March 15th. to May 15th. To coinside with the spoonbill season.

It happens from daylight to dark everyday, reguardless of flow. Sometimes its just hard to understand people.

Im sorry but I feel there should be a few places for us bank fisherman. After all boats can move around and get where thick brush or clifs stops bank fisherman. He is another fine show of GREED. People make room for others and quit being greedy. As far as spoonbilling I feel you should be contemp to just make room for a small amount of people for a few days per year. So My vote is stay out of shallow waters..... Thats my pet pieve.

[Rolan Duffield]

The areas Bill is referring to is near Fall Creek. Their is a narrow channel across from Fall Creek that is only 20 to 30 feet wide and deep enough to allow safe passage for average boats. Sometimes boats anchor or park in the middle of this channel and make it almost impossible for others to motor upstream unless you get very close to that boat.

Also above Fall Creek their is a big flat and shallow bar with a narrow channel on the south side deep enough to allow safe passage of boats. These areas are at least one mile below the preferred wading water. Even so, an occasional wading fishermen will fish from this bar when the water is off. I respect their efforts and pass by very slowly.

On my last trip to Taney, Their was a boat anchored in the upper part of this channel area and they stayed in the same area most of the day hampering normal boat traffic. I talked to them and they indicated they fished there all the time and they didn't mind other boats going by close to their boat. They didn't seem to understand that they were parked in a location that was the primary fishing area they should have been casting to.

Most boaters that know and fish the area respect others and allow or move over, even though they are fishing the main channel.

I have directed boaters back to the channel when I see they are going upstream in the middle of the bar area.

Their is a lot of bars, big rocks, logs, tree stumps and shallow areas above and below Fall Creek. Lots of good places to tear up your prop if you don't know the area.

Most of us neve go above the Lookout area when the water is off for these reasons. Their are a few boats with jet props that travel farther upstream.

I respect the wading fly fishermen that are often seen in the shallow channel above Lookout and stay away from their areas when they are fishing there.

I personally agree that motor boats shouldn't be allowed above the boat ramp whenever the water is off.

Rolan

[jdmidwest]

Thank you all for this info. It is good to know that there is more wadeable water other than the area up close to the dam in low water. The only time I was down your way, it was a cluster resembling a trout park on the upper river. I like my solitude and will look for the area around fall creek next time down. Or I will trip over to Roaring River for a different experience.

By the way, I thought it was dangerous to "anchor off" in a tailwater area. I thought it was frowned upon by the water patrol?

[brownieman]

In my opinion there just is too many fisherman and a lack of fishable water...you can't please everybody especially wade fishing.

The only way I have found to be "alone" on the river is to fish in the dead of winter, get there a little before daylite and hoof it upstream / downstream fast as I can to get away from the access...won't be long till someone pulls into the same access behind you.

During the summer months the same applies you just have a couple of hours at daylite depending on where you are fishing before the canoes come beating through.

Having spots that are extremely hard to get into helps...the less known honey holes to the general public and inaccessable unless you have a 4 wheel drive and are willing to take a long hard walk to the water...generally downhill...the walk back out when you're tired, well, that's the price you pay to have the water to yourself for any length of time.

Even with designated areas these problems can't be avoided...if you fish mainly in the summer months, good luck...during the winter months I have fished all day on certain stretches of a few rivers and have seen no-one all day.

Only problem is...if you slip and fall in the water, break a leg, etc...it can get you in trouble fast, even cost you your life because you're miles from your rig in most cases.

[perchjerker]

As a boater and a wader the lake is everyones and all are allowed to fish where they may. we have been blessed with a great fishery and even if someone steps on our toes out there we should remind ourselves how lucky we are,take a deep breath,smile, and get back to fishing as soon as possible.When on the water I hope I offend no one but if I do I apologize because I will never be perfect in manners or fishing. Thats what makes me Me.

[Danoinark]

As a boater and a wader the lake is everyones and all are allowed to fish where they may. we have been blessed with a great fishery and even if someone steps on our toes out there we should remind ourselves how lucky we are,take a deep breath,smile, and get back to fishing as soon as possible.When on the water I hope I offend no one but if I do I apologize because I will never be perfect in manners or fishing. Thats what makes me Me.

Well spoken perchjerker....Dano

[Thom]

Because of my bad knees I usually fish out of my boat. I respect the waders and will slow down when I see them in the water for what ever reason. There is so much good fishing on Taney I don't need to swamp anyone or fly by them as full throttle weather in a boat or wading.

There will always be those who totally disregard others. That's life in a free society. If I let a fool spoil my day fishing I am the one who suffers and my grand kids who are often in the boat fishing with me sees a bad example.

I have seldom been on Taney that I couldn't find somewhere the fish are biting and what was on their menu that day.

[Rusty]

You make it what it is.