Friday night on my home from office got parked up at a stretch of small stream club water and as I was getting gear organised another member appeared . He told me he was a new member on his first trip , he seemed a pleasant enough guy and told me at length how he had fished for salmon for years but wanted to have a go at this trout lark.

I suggested he work upstream from the bridge ( small water with very good clarity, trout are spooky ) I suggested to him the best approach and of he went. I walked downstream to the lower limit keeping well back from the bank and marking any rising trout. I started fishing back up and got a little way upstream probably I had been fishing 35 minutes when I spied same angler walking down the bank I was on Resplendant in white shirt under his waistcoat walking along the bank top so all the little fishes could see him. I stood and watched in despair and as he approached me he asked cheerily had I had anything mate...

Now my question is what would you have said because I am afraid that I was non to polite ? .

Andy

He was obviously a tool that hasn't fished too much before, or at least was not an angler proper. I would not have been too polite either (much much worse than you could imagine, fishing was ruined already so a good rant wouldn't affect the fishing).
Nothing to do with getting older, more to do with my space being invaded, and those around me messing things up for me.

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Sam

Hi Andy,
I would have over-looked his bravado at being a long-term Salmon angler, as you did! I would also have accepted his ignorance in disturbing the hunter in stealth mode pursuing his quarrie. There are other days/evenings for solitary fishing sorties; but politeness and friendliness cost nothing! We all have to learn.

What is it someone once said " Let he who is without sin cast the first stone " or somesuch!!!
Was there never a time when you did things that to others it seemed obvious why you shouldn't ?

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Previously known as molley
and
Don't call me "mate" .

As has already been said, it's not a case of him deliberately spoiling the fishing, he's a newbie and didn't know. Who of us hasn't been there / done that?

Personally, I don't see the need to jump into the deep end of the jackass pool by going off on the guy. What would that accomplish except make you look like an ass?

Instead, I'd have talked to the guy and slipped a couple of lines into the conversation about how spooky the fish are, if they see you they're gone, etc, etc. Couch it as general advice instead of criticism, in other words.

Grouse

Clearly a bit of a numpty but as already mentioned, everyone has to learn. Some advice following his misdemeanor wouldn't have gone a miss provided it didn't involve long walks and short piers.

I'm still amazed at the number of people who clearly have no respect for your space, anglers and non-anglers alike. Don't even get me started on dog walkers.

It's folk who almost sit on your shoulder at bank machines that get me

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Previously known as molley
and
Don't call me "mate" .

I think I made the post partly because I couldnt beleive how irritated it made me at the time. I think I also briefly wondered why he had only taken 35 minutes to fish a stretch that you can spend at the very least a couple of hours over. I just wondered what responses you guys would have given. As i did feel that I was perhaps overly touchy. But for me fishing time is precious and I like my own space when I am enjoying what time I have available.

What I actually said in answer to his question I said well I was doing ok and I was going to fish along the stretch you have just walked along but it would now be a waste of time. I also momentarily considered the polite explanation route but decided against it. I did consider saying that perhaps if he had waved a flag the fish may have seen him better , I did resist that temptation though. I Then walked of probably muttering and shaking my head and puffing on mi pipe. I did feel guilty that the guy cleared of after an hour perhaps if he reads this he will understand my reaction...

The brighter side was that as the evening wore on caught many small brownies on little black klink style emergers. probably a dozen or more all at close range often seeing the fish come up through 2ft of water and taking the fly. maybe only 10ft from me Nothing bigger than half a pound but all pretty little fish.

Andy

All was not lost then.

Coasty,

By your posts I think you are clearly frustrated at not having said something so maybe it's best to do exactly that next time. And there will almost undoubtedly be a next time

Dog walkers - remember a woman last August with her overweight son jumping into the river with her dog, colouring the water downstream to chocolate, asking me if I had had any luck!

I politely informed her that I hadn't, and explained the reasons why, and what rules they were breaking by doing what they were doing etc. Maybe fell on deaf ears but there's no point going home completely frustrated.