Fly fishing Etiquette is our subject this month. ETIQUETTE from the French word meaning: Don't float through my water, or the German interpretation: leave me alone I'm fishing. I can deal with the recreational floaters, drinking and giggling their way to Melonomaville, my only request is that they curb the littering. Littering is bad, stop it. No the folks that get my goat are some of the anglers in boats or assorted blow-up watercraft.

The custom since the time of Caesar Augustus is that the bank angler has the right of way, after all boats have access to the entire river. The boat pilot upon spotting the bank angler should back out into the river leaving the bank mans water unmolested. But how many times have you had them float and cast right through your run? This is rude, stop it. It can make even a mellow old troutbum like me boil, for years I would engage these people in loud conversation explaining the in's and out's of river etiquette, I've had some colorful responses. Finally I figured it out. These folks just don't know any better. It's not personal. However some fly fishing etiquette is very personal. It's probably better not to pick up another anglers rod and reel without being asked, much like fondling a strangers Harley Davidson, not the best idea. Please don't ask to see into a troutbums flybox, this is where we keep secret deadly one of a kind flies. If I want you to see the box, I'll show it to you. Its not necessary to ask if we've been fishing (hello) or how many we caught or where exactly we were on the river. Most troutbums would lie to there own mothers when asked these questions. As a general rule its best to treat your serious troutbum like a skunk, give them lots of space, room to escape.

Ultimately the lessons that fly fishing teaches are patience, observation, cunning, humility and grace. These are some of the differences between a troutbum and a troutbozo, now you know.