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[Eagleye]

A new season is upon us so I thought I would post this for everyone's benefit (including those that do these things already as bad etiquette can get on one's nerves).  Please feel free to add what you consider to be proper etiquette for BBing.  Please keep all negative comments about bottom bouncing in general for other threads.  This thread is meant to minimize the impact on stocks and to make the experience more enjoyable.

1.  When BBing for Springs while sockeye are present and whether or not they are open for retention (unless you plan on keeping whatever you catch within your allotment and then stop fishing) it is a good idea to have a pair of pliers/hemostats/forceps to release the fish quickly by grabbing the hook with them and turning it upside down while wiggling it to release the fish quickly and while still in the water (deep water preferably).  [font=VerdanaNever drag a fish you are not going to keep up on the shore.  It is good practice to offer to help another angler release or land a fish if they look like they could use a hand.


2.  Spots are first come first serve.  Don't try to take someone's spot when they are not looking or encroach on them by slowly shuffling them out of their spot.  Please respect the fact that this person had to wake up earlier than you to obtain their spot of choice.  Once an angler obtains their limit of oversized chinook and sockeye (when applicable) they may consider leaving their spot so someone else gets a crack at it as well as to pack in their fish and get it on ice to maintain optimum quality.

3.  If you are coming close to someone's waders while reeling in try pointing your rod directly in front of you instead of downstream.  It may be more difficult to reel in this way but it will help to clear the person fishing downstream of you. 

4.  Always be aware of where your hook is so as to not hook a fellow fisherman.

5.  Try to be cordial with your fellow fisherman.  Don't forget everyone is there to enjoy themselves.

6.  If someone has a spring on and is coming down river with it reel in or do as this person instructs you to do so if they lose their fish because of you it will be their fault not yours.

7. When possible try and time your cast with the person downstream (let them cast first) of you or cast at a time when your line cannot crossover theirs.  Don't cast over top of the person upstream of you this will just result in getting tangled and it will affect the response in both rods.  It is a good idea not to cast more than 45 degrees upstream and to try and cast far if others are doing so.  Short casting or casting too far upstream resluts in lines getting crossed.

8.  It is not a good idea to lay your rod down flat along the shore where people will be playing their fish.  It is the rod owners responsibility to make sure their rod does not get stepped on.

9.  Spacing and casting; If everyone is standing 15 feet apart and there is room for you to fish accrodingly that would be best.  During the heat of sockeye season the bars have much more pressure so anglers become more tighly packed.  It is basically up to your own discretion and the discretion of those on either side of you.  It is possible to fish with about 5 ft. of space between as long as yourself and the people beside you are casting in a way to avoid hooking one another.  To maximize the possibility of not hooking another angler it is best to not use a leader that is much longer than your rod (I use aprox 15ft on my 11'6" rod) this will keep your line managable and aid in casting. When getting ready to cast flick your leader back over top of your head so that it shoots out directly behind you in a straight line, use the bend in the rod the weight creates to cast out again quickly before you leader has a chance to travel downstream or go under.  It is a good a idea to quickly glance back to make sure someone is not there either before or after flicking your leader back.  Side casting should be avoided when the bars are crowded.

10.  To minimize hooking sockeye when they are not open for retention try fishing the faster flowing water and use a shorter leader.

[Morty]

2.b.  The "spots" start over at sunrise - you can't arrive late and 'grandfather' your spot from the day before, ( or any previous day ).

2.c.  If you've already killed your limit, your claim to your "spot" is questionable.

[younggun]

guy hooks a spring, GET YOUR GEAR OUT OF THE WATER, AND WAIT TILL HE LAAANNNNDDDSSSS!!!!!!!!! THE FISH. way to many instances where the fish is 30ft from shore and people start casting and then the fish takes off again and tangles in their lines, so aggrivating.

[Fish Assassin]

2.b.  The "spots" start over at sunrise - you can't arrive late and 'grandfather' your spot from the day before, ( or any previous day ).

Yup, and you can't "save" a spot for your friend, his friend and his friend's friends.

[Eagleye]

Spots are first come first serve.  It is courteous to let an angler whom is trying to take someone's spot whom you know is coming right back that the person has is not done fishing and therefore they will have to relinquish the spot upon their arrival.

[Gotcha]

If your fishing by yourself...... Help your fellow angler land their fish and then when your hook into one they'll in return give you a helping hand.

Good karma works both ways...

Gotcha

[odesseus]

Another point: When casting in a big line of anglers, don't be the guy who casts WAAAY up the river to get a bigger drift. Keep your casts at 45 degrees so you aren't casting over 10 different lines each time; this is a for sure tangle in the making.

[fish_on]

In 'crowded' areas, exercise extreme caution not to cast wide or sideway as the longer leader or the bb will/may hit the fisherperson next to the caster. 

[firstlight]

How about 1aa  Keep your leader shorter than 3 feet so that you really are bottom bouncing and not flossing.

[clarki]

Never, ever, put your rod on the ground. If it get's stepped on, IMHO it is not the stepper's responsibility.  Always lean it up against something or stick the butt into the rocks.

[Riverman]

2d when parked in a honey hole during sockeye season and you get your spring get out of there and let someone else have the chance.Sock's can be caught almost anywhere on the river at this time.I hate to see beautiful fish rotting in the hot sun while some guy plays sock after sock.         Also always look behind you before you cast.This accomplishes 2 things 1.keeps other fisherman and you safe from your hook.2.it will save many a backlash caused by excessive leader in the water as well as unintentional hooking of anything else.                                                                           

[Scott]

Another question: how close is too close?  My friend had someone come up and stand a few feet away from him and start casting.  Is there a 'buffer zone' of at least 10-15 feet?

[Eagleye]

IMO it depends on the number of people at the bar and the space for them to fish.  If everyone is standing 15 feet apart and there is room for you to fish accrodingly that would be best.  During the heat of sockeye season the bars have much more pressure so the fisherman become more tighly packed.  It is basically up to your own discretion and the discretion of those on either side of you.  It is possible to fish with about 5 ft. of space between as long as yourself and the people beside you are casting in a way to avoid hooking one another.  To maximize the possibility of not hooking another angler it is best to not use a leader that is much longer than your rod (I use aprox 15ft on my 11'6" rod) this will keep your line managable and aid in casting. When getting ready to cast flick your leader back over top of your head so that it shoots out directly behind you in a straight line, use the bend in the rod the weight creates to cast out again quickly before you leader has a chance to travel downstream or go under.

[HOOK]

i have had people literally casting over my head while standing behind me  that only lasted a couple casts before i actually noticed.


another good rule is to get your fish in ASAP !! even with springs you need to hammer down on them and not take 20mins(or longer) to bring it in.

[steelhead]

Never, ever, put your rod on the ground. If it gets stepped on, IMHO it is not the stepper's responsibility.  Always lean it up against something or stick the butt into the rocks.

What  ?   It's only the walkers responsibility.............   The walker Has to watch where he's stepping,,,,,,,, the fisher is busy with a fish , cleaning up something , or helping a friend ....................