Etiquette at the Ditch (a tutorial)

[Mr. Sandman]

The canal has a lot going for it. Deep water, riprap line shoreline, herring run, relatively easy access, the fish now migrate thru there every season, so it almost like you have a semi captive body of fish near by. Heck when you can cast from the road to deep water, that is relatively easy. It is not like boat fishing but it is more akin to pier fishing from a man made structure. This is why it attracts crowds.

I don't have a problem with folks fishing the canal if that is how they like to fish. It certainly is big enough to accommodate a lot of people. I tried it a few times and even caught a few fish. I found it to be an interesting place to be left to others to enjoy. But if it was in my back yard I probably would fish it often as well.
Be all you can be.
My previous post was kind of tongue in cheek and not meant to inflame anyone. You guys are really touchy about the canal.

peace.

[Piscator]

21 reply’s and 451 views and the only one that really had a good reply to the original post was tysdad115.

#1- If your not sure of what to do or when to do it- like casting in order with everyone else - when its ok to cast when someone’s on a fish, or if you think you might be too close-you are. Please ask, we would rather tell you how to do it instead of yell at you. We would much rather show you how to do it and have a good time fishing responsibly than piss and moan on-line.
#2- Please take your trash with you. This includes all wrappers, boxes and even any fishing line you may discard.

I haven’t fished there since I was a teenager, pretty much a boat guy now (I know, doesn’t count). I would probably only go fish down there now with friends I’ve met mostly through here, then again maybe not since it sounds like a soap opera down there. Boat guys and surf guys have similar issues that the canal guys have with disrespecting people, people with no common sense, crowded areas and guys who only care about themselves. Everyone shares info to some degree but how you do it and who you do it with is the key.

Original post was not a “where to fish the canal or how to catch fish at the canal”. It was “How to fish the canal without pissing everyone off” and out of 451 views there was only 1 reply to the subject.

[bart]

Originally Posted by Piscator

21 reply’s and 451 views and the only one that really had a good reply to the original post was tysdad115.

I haven’t fished there since I was a teenager, pretty much a boat guy now (I know, doesn’t count). I would probably only go fish down there now with friends I’ve met mostly through here, then again maybe not since it sounds like a soap opera down there. Boat guys and surf guys have similar issues that the canal guys have with disrespecting people, people with no common sense, crowded areas and guys who only care about themselves. Everyone shares info to some degree but how you do it and who you do it with is the key.

Original post was not a “where to fish the canal or how to catch fish at the canal”. It was “How to fish the canal without pissing everyone off” and out of 451 views there was only 1 reply to the subject.

Umm, did you not read my post? I posted specific directions as to how not to piss off the canal guys. Please do us a favor and stick to your boat because you clearly don't have a clue as to how things work down there...

[Piscator]

Originally Posted by bart

Umm, did you not read my post? I posted specific directions as to how not to piss off the canal guys. Please do us a favor and stick to your boat because you clearly don't have a clue as to how things work down there...

Nice #^&#^&#^&#^& head post
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[WESTPORTMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Piscator

Nice #^&#^&#^&#^& head post
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I love #^&#^&#^&#^&head posts! Btw boat fishing is for #^&#^&#^&#^&heads. We are launching tomorrow at 3:45 for some #^&#^&#^&#^&head boat fish that don't count. Lol
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[Piscator]

Originally Posted by WESTPORTMAFIA

I love #^&#^&#^&#^&head posts! Btw boat fishing is for #^&#^&#^&#^&heads. We are launching tomorrow at 3:45 for some #^&#^&#^&#^&head boat fish that don't count. Lol
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You better not be fishing on my numbers!
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[tysdad115]

Originally Posted by WESTPORTMAFIA

I love #^&#^&#^&#^&head posts! Btw boat fishing is for #^&#^&#^&#^&heads. We are launching tomorrow at 3:45 for some #^&#^&#^&#^&head boat fish that don't count. Lol
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Pudding head!
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[tysdad115]

Wow..you know it's bad if I'm the only one making sense! Talk about being bottom of the white bucket !
This was my favorite part of it anyways : "piss and moan on-line"

[The Dad Fisherman]

Originally Posted by tysdad115

Wow..you know it's bad if I'm the only one making sense!

I A-Scared

[Swimmer]

I have a new rule proposal, "no new #^&#^&#^&#^&ing rules".

[westhavendave]

I have fished the canal exactly once. I went with a group of eight guys, four novices to the ditch and the other half experienced. There was a great pencil bite that morning and all it took was one short lesson from the knowledgable guys to have us all casting in sync. It's not rocket science. By the time day broke and the bite started to cool the daytime warriors showed up and tried to crowd us, I think the guy in the yellow slicker and purple pimp hat scared them off though. As with any popular spot, it is all about common courtesy.

[Fiske27]

Please Dont Throw over my head,thats not right.

[ProfessorM]

My 2 cents . I have fished the canal for over 25 years and all this stuff is nutin new. Herring fishing, talk about crowds, chumming and chunking, try getting near Keene street or 225 or 85 back then if you weren't in with the in crowd, jigging the cribbin area at nite, it has been very crowded when those techniques were in vogue. Plugging has taken over that nowadys but there were wars doing the other styles too. Granted the speed of the internet and cell phones has ramped it up 10 fold but nutin new guys. The canal is a crowded place to fish plain and simple you need to accept that and try to have a good time. Getting pissed off is not going to change it and will ruin your day. There are going to be people that have no clue and your job is to inform them in a nice a courteous way so they learn and can next time show someone else the correct way to have fun. Have some patience with one another. All everyone wants to do is have some fun fishing. It is always going to be crowded at peak times and info will always be shared and very quickly so relax. Its only fishing . See U tomorrow guys. I'm getting up early to steal your fav spot

[Sgt Striper]

Originally Posted by ProfessorM

My 2 cents . I have fished the canal for over 25 years and all this stuff is nutin new. Herring fishing, talk about crowds, chumming and chunking, try getting near Keene street or 225 or 85 back then if you weren't in with the in crowd, jigging the cribbin area at nite, it has been very crowded when those techniques were in vogue. Plugging has taken over that nowadys but there were wars doing the other styles too. Granted the speed of the internet and cell phones has ramped it up 10 fold but nutin new guys. The canal is a crowded place to fish plain and simple you need to accept that and try to have a good time. Getting pissed off is not going to change it and will ruin your day. There are going to be people that have no clue and your job is to inform them in a nice a courteous way so they learn and can next time show someone else the correct way to have fun. Have some patience with one another. All everyone wants to do is have some fun fishing. It is always going to be crowded at peak times and info will always be shared and very quickly so relax. Its only fishing . See U tomorrow guys. I'm getting up early to steal your fav spot

I hope my Ditch etiquette was up to the standards, and I had a GREAT time with you guys!!

[piemma]

Originally Posted by ProfessorM

My 2 cents . I have fished the canal for over 25 years and all this stuff is nutin new. Herring fishing, talk about crowds, chumming and chunking, try getting near Keene street or 225 or 85 back then if you weren't in with the in crowd, jigging the cribbin area at nite, it has been very crowded when those techniques were in vogue. Plugging has taken over that nowadys but there were wars doing the other styles too. Granted the speed of the internet and cell phones has ramped it up 10 fold but nutin new guys. The canal is a crowded place to fish plain and simple you need to accept that and try to have a good time. Getting pissed off is not going to change it and will ruin your day. There are going to be people that have no clue and your job is to inform them in a nice a courteous way so they learn and can next time show someone else the correct way to have fun. Have some patience with one another. All everyone wants to do is have some fun fishing. It is always going to be crowded at peak times and info will always be shared and very quickly so relax. Its only fishing . See U tomorrow guys. I'm getting up early to steal your fav spot

Great post Paul but I have finally figured out how to fish the Ditch without getting aggravated, don't go during prime time. My fishing is now restricted to vampire hours.
RIRockhound and I figured that metric out for Narragansett and SoCo about 6 years ago. We never saw daylight with a fishing rod in our hands. We caught tons of big fish and were alone 99% of the time. Rain, wind and a 2 AM high tide will thin the crowds dramatically.

[Jackbass]

Great post Prof!
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[JamesJet]

#1 sell all your old lures / equipment to me and only buy whats hot, because everyone knows only the newest hottest lures and bling reels and rods catch there
#2 find someone who is catching and stand near them and fish, you are bound to hook up
#3 Read 3 or 4 striped bass internet boards all day make it to the 1000 post club as soon as possible

Seriously, I am no pro, but fished it enough over the last 6 or so years to learn a thing or two and its really common sense and patience, just like anything else. All the top fishing spots with easy access get crowded, look at the salmon river, or Chatham during com season the past few years. Crowds aren't for everyone but if you like to fish there then embrace it and have a good time instead of knocking it. Sometimes you have to laugh stuff off. Complete googans will catch bigger fish than you and there will be days that you triangulate the sun & stars and baitfish patterns but still strike out only to find out you should have been at the cribbin etc. not to mention all the donations of plugs and jigs you will certainly make I agree with Andy's points completely. Keep a cool head, watch and listen before doing anything and pick up your and others trash. I'll add if you think your gear is under gunned it probably is. That place will have you thinking a 15lb fish is a 30 when its out in the current on a big tide. Not that you need to spend tons but gear up a bit if possible.

[J_T_R]

I would like to think that you at least "own" the rock that you are standing on and your casting radius. If someone is dumb enough to crowd me to the point where they will get hit with my cast, then they deserve it.

I think that you have first rights to any water that you can hit with a cast. Anyone should be able to fish the same water, but if they can't fish it without screwing you up, then they should move.

Regardless of who got there first, if you move, you give up all rights. If someone shows up 2 hours after you and is fishing 50 yards away, you have no right to encroach on them, just because you showed up to the body of water before they did.

[Pete F.]

My rules for crowded fishing, applicable at Halladyne Run, the Ballfield, Under the light at Montauk, Any breachway or jetty, the river near my house and the Canal.

1. Have fun
2. Talk to the guys next to you
3. If someone is not having fun and is ruining your fun ask them to go away
4. Have fun
5. When you tangle with someone, say you are sorry or accept their apology gracefully
6. have fun
7. Don't take it too seriously

I have fished with a friend of mine on the Salmon River, in a spot that they have fished for probably 30 years now. It is on one of the most crowded sections of the river. They have fun and if you are being obnoxious THEY will ask you to go away, nicely. They can handle raw beginners and show them the ropes with a smile, sometimes even make friends. It's hard to believe that people go fishing to not have fun, but some just like to beotch.

[Rmarsh]

[QUOTE=Pete F.;945512]My rules for crowded fishing, applicable at Halladyne Run, the Ballfield, Under the light at Montauk, Any breachway or jetty, the river near my house and the Canal.

1. Have fun
2. Talk to the guys next to you
3. If someone is not having fun and is ruining your fun ask them to go away
4. Have fun
5. When you tangle with someone, say you are sorry or accept their apology gracefully
6. have fun
7. Don't take it too seriously

I have fished with a friend of mine on the Salmon River, in a spot that they have fished for probably 30 years now. It is on one of the most crowded sections of the river. They have fun and if you are being obnoxious THEY will ask you to go away, nicely. They can handle raw beginners and show them the ropes with a smile, sometimes even make friends. It's hard to believe that people go fishing to not have fun, but some just like to beotch.[/QUOTE


I wish more guys would adopt this type of attitude. Good post Pete.

[Jackbass]

If you happen to catch a fish somewhere in the high 20's to mid thirties with a giant magic swimmer in its mouth and about a foot of leader say thank you to me if you see me.
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[afterhours]

treat other fishermen as you want to be treated.

try to help and educate noobs.

iffin' a nimrod or two set up on you and he/they can't take subtle and not so subtle hints just move- life's too short.

have fun.

[Mike P]

Here's a new rule. Do what the law requires and take your fish home to clean. Or, at least, throw the #^&#^&#^&#^&ing racks in the #^&#^&#^&#^&ing Canal, instead of leaving them on the rocks or tossing them in the bushes or woods.

There are 3 or 4 spots on the mainland side that smell worse than the New Bedford waterfront smells during a 3 day heat wave. And one of them is in a place where the residents regularly complain to the Selectmen about fishermen making noise and leaving a mess.

Hey, no skin off my ass. I can walk to the Canal from my house if I have to.

[MAKAI]

Taliban fishing.

[Cohenfishin]

Originally Posted by Mike P

Here's a new rule. Do what the law requires and take your fish home to clean. Or, at least, throw the #^&#^&#^&#^&ing racks in the #^&#^&#^&#^&ing Canal, instead of leaving them on the rocks or tossing them in the bushes or woods.

There are 3 or 4 spots on the mainland side that smell worse than the New Bedford waterfront smells during a 3 day heat wave. And one of them is in a place where the residents regularly complain to the Selectmen about fishermen making noise and leaving a mess.

Hey, no skin off my ass. I can walk to the Canal from my house if I have to.

I was at one of those spots last night, it smelled like there was a dead body in the bushes. WTF.....
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[jlnel]

Hey, i have deeds to many of the prime rocks along the canal. If anyone is interested in "claiming" their spot, let me know. It's $500 first year and $99 a year after that on a self renewing lease. There is a " rockowners association" that you must obide by their rules, and NO mobile homes allowed!! I feel this is a great deal if you are worried about loosing your favorite rock.
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[WESTPORTMAFIA]

Or if you decide to toss an eel that is over 3 feet long and weighs a good 2 pounds with a 3/0 Gami and for some strange reason don't catch a 100 pound bass. Take your MAN EATING EEL HOME OR THROW IT IN THE WATER not at the top or the herring run for everyone to see and smell. Taking the hook out of its head would have been a good idea too.

[clcharette]

Originally Posted by WESTPORTMAFIA

Or if you decide to toss an eel that is over 3 feet long and weighs a good 2 pounds with a 3/0 Gami and for some strange reason don't catch a 100 pound bass. Take your MAN EATING EEL HOME OR THROW IT IN THE WATER not at the top or the herring run for everyone to see and smell. Taking the hook out of its head would have been a good idea too.

There was a time 30 years ago that we would catch our own eels and we wanted the biggest we could catch up to the point that they were near impossible to cast can't tell u how many really big fish we caught but still have the memories burned into my head.
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[AL617]

Is that the big river on the way to the vineyard??
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[Chris The Greek]

for me I practise the same etiquette anywhere ... it starts with self respect and then respect towards other people. I do not do what I do not want done to me - regardless of the "excitement" level.