Correct.
That's why after waiting a reasonable few minutes I ask him if he is going to move down or not.
If I get a rude "That's none of your business - I just proceed to fish 20-30 yards below them.
If I get a clear indication that the guy is comfortably glued to his spot, I proceed to fish a few yards below him.
If I get a polite reply in the lines of "I am working the run", I will wait for the guy to move a bit downstream and then fish above him.
If, on the other hand, I encounter an inconsiderate individual who attempts to low-hole me at the run I am fishing, I pick up a nice big boulder and toss it in the water just before his first cast.
"WTF?!?"
You should see the looks on their face. But it does send a clear message.
I just have no time and patience for stupid and/or rude people anymore.
so let me get this right, if you think someone is fence posting you'll proceed to fish a few yards below them, but if someone attempts to low hole you...you'll toss a boulder in the water just before they cast? why? sounds like you have a case of entitlement.
a few weeks ago my brother and i walked into a run thinking we had the hole shot...but quickly realized, two guys were already working their way down from the run above....we waited and after about ten minutes they got to where we were and they indicated they wanted to continue down so we cordially stepped back and allowed them to proceed...not more than 3 paces from where i stood, one of them hooked into a wild steelie..after a brief battle, he landed and released the fish and continued to work the water until his buddy hooked and lost one himself...next thing we knew they planted themselves and no longer had the desire to move on.
so tell me, should i have gotten upset?...well of course i felt a little beeked out, but you know what? the reason why people work the river is to find the fish...so naturally, when they do, their tendency is to stay put... i've experienced that situation at least three times this past season...ironically, i found myself doing the same thing a week ago, when i kept getting hits, but had problems with my hookset
...i was at that spot for over an hour and didn't even realize it.
sometimes, it's best to let by gones be by gones.