Erie Etiquette...

[Lucky Craft Man]

...or lack there of.  I fish in Erie, PA quite a bit (both on Lake Erie and in the Tribs. for Steelhead) and I have to just vent a little about the lack of fishing etiquette that exists.  This weekend was a prime example of the lack of etiquette.  We were fishing on the main lake and there were about 7 boats in the general area, but you could still get a good drift in as there were about 100 yards between each boat.  We located a nice hump, narrowed our drift, and caught a few ok fish off of it (nothing big by any means).   Well, within about 15 minutes, those 7 other boats were no longer 100 yards away.  They all literally converged onto that hump and you couldn't get a drift of more than 50 feet without having to maneuver around another boat.   It was insane and I just can't believe people think this is ok.  I know people travel a long way to fish Erie and they want to catch fish.  I get that.  What I don't get is that normal fishing etiquette goes out the window in order to achieve that goal of hooking up.  I never found it appropriate to squeeze in on a spot because someone there was catching fish and I was not.  Unfortunately, Steelhead fishing the Tribs is even worse.  Guys will front end you or storm right into your hole.  It just seems to be the norm up there where other places I have fished, not so much.  Granted, Erie is about the only "major" fishery I fish and maybe this is a problem on other big name lakes around the country, but it certainly is annoying.  Sorry to vent, but I just had to voice my frustration.    

[S Hovanec]

If there ever was a fishery that defines the 'bent rod' pattern, Erie is it. 4 miles off shore with 3 boats in the vicinity....catch a 5#er and you can now hit the other boats with a cast.

[Master Bait'r]

I'd strip naked and have a cannonball contest with everyone in my boat.  

 

 

If you can't beat 'em...  Flash 'em.  

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Shoulda just yelled, "Get off my hump, Hottle!"

[Dwight Hottle]

Shoulda just yelled, "Get off my hump, Hottle!"

 

Nice one Wayne!

[Lucky Craft Man]

Shoulda just yelled, "Get off my hump, Hottle!"

Hahaha! Dwight was smart and avoided the crowds. Unfortunately, I don't have the knowledge of Erie like Dwight, so the spots I do know are known by others. Plus, I don't mind other fishing around us (if proper space is given). It's the purposeful encroachment after you land a fish that drive me nuts.

[ColdSVT]

That would be called the "Erie Shuffle"

Ya think thats bad try tarpon fishin in a drift....sail one tarpon and all of a sudden you can walk from boat to boat

[Dwight Hottle]

...or lack there of.  I fish in Erie, PA quite a bit (both on Lake Erie and in the Tribs. for Steelhead) and I have to just vent a little about the lack of fishing etiquette that exists.  This weekend was a prime example of the lack of etiquette.  We were fishing on the main lake and there were about 7 boats in the general area, but you could still get a good drift in as there were about 100 yards between each boat.  We located a nice hump, narrowed our drift, and caught a few ok fish off of it (nothing big by any means).   Well, within about 15 minutes, those 7 other boats were no longer 100 yards away.  They all literally converged onto that hump and you couldn't get a drift of more than 50 feet without having to maneuver around another boat.   It was insane and I just can't believe people think this is ok.  I know people travel a long way to fish Erie and they want to catch fish.  I get that.  What I don't get is that normal fishing etiquette goes out the window in order to achieve that goal of hooking up.  I never found it appropriate to squeeze in on a spot because someone there was catching fish and I was not.  Unfortunately, Steelhead fishing the Tribs is even worse.  Guys will front end you or storm right into your hole.  It just seems to be the norm up there where other places I have fished, not so much.  Granted, Erie is about the only "major" fishery I fish and maybe this is a problem on other big name lakes around the country, but it certainly is annoying.  Sorry to vent, but I just had to voice my frustration.    

 

 

You are absolutly correct. It is frustrating for most. Many people haven't a clue. Over the weekend A-Jay & I had a arsehole snag my line while we were drifting with his large board run off a mast. I gave him what for & picked up his board before he could cut me off. We had previously yelled at him that he was too close but he did not steer off quickly enough. The major holidays are always the worst.