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Common Courtesy and the half way rule

Joe Fletcher said:
Paul you called this thread and I quote '' Common Courtesy and the half way rule ''
As you say the other bank belonged to another club . So by your own admission if the half way rule exist's and you cast beyond the half way line .
So in theory you could be accused of poaching another clubs water ? . So if that is the case then explain how you can take the moral high ground when you were placing your bait some where it had no legal right to be ?
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I'm taking the "moral high ground" as you call it because I believe that etiquette and decency should override your "legality" in this empty-river situation, And I thought it merited a discussion because of the grey areas involved, and because i think peoples stance on this issue probably says something about what kind of angler they are. I accept that people are different and people will act differently when faced with the same situation, as the comments on this thread show. And I'm not surprised to see people pontificating about 'the law' on an open forum because its forum culture for people to be blunt, contrary and controversial.

In truth no one obeys the half way rule on an empty river. No one. I've fished the Dove and if the holding area is far bank and no-ones fishing there then everyone casts there. You all know this is true, despite what you are posting.

So I stand by everything I've posted. Anyone who overrides manners for the sake of an unenforced and unenforceable law is a boil on the backside of our wonderful sport. We all know, of course, that there are plenty of those.
 
Silly bickering here lads !!!
The truth of the matter is that probably 90% of us would've told him to go forth !!!
Ok he has 'the right' but that doesn't make it right.........
What I would've said to him would have me moderating myself !!! Would I have moved ? No chance !! He'd have moved 1st I can assure you !!!
Had he approached along the lines of 'Any good mate ?' And followed up with a chat and a mention that he'd been pre-baiting the swim I MAY have offered to move on !!
It's all about the approach..........But then I'm a grumpy sod at the best of times !!
 
One last (?) piece of advice: if you are ever in the situation outlined in the first post and decide to get abusive and threatening, make sure you know the depth of the river and where the crossing points are, if you have any doubt whatsoever of your capabilities of 'handling' yourself. ;)
 
Paul Cahill said:
I'm taking the "moral high ground" as you call it because I believe that etiquette and decency should override your "legality" in this empty-river situation, And I thought it merited a discussion because of the grey areas involved, and because i think peoples stance on this issue probably says something about what kind of angler they are. I accept that people are different and people will act differently when faced with the same situation, as the comments on this thread show. And I'm not surprised to see people pontificating about 'the law' on an open forum because its forum culture for people to be blunt, contrary and controversial.

In truth no one obeys the half way rule on an empty river. No one. I've fished the Dove and if the holding area is far bank and no-ones fishing there then everyone casts there. You all know this is true, despite what you are posting.

So I stand by everything I've posted. Anyone who overrides manners for the sake of an unenforced and unenforceable law is a boil on the backside of our wonderful sport. We all know, of course, that there are plenty of those.
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Paul-I think if you are going to post a question on the forum you must expect to get a variety of responses. There are many people on here from different parts of the country, different walks of life and different life experiences. I think you got a good mix and balance of replies. I think that diversity of opinion you get is part of the forum's strength because it can make you look at things differently. Just because everyone doesn't agree with you doesn't mean it's a bad place.

Anyway, its a beautiful evening I'm fishing and my centrepin has just roared off so its all good.
 
Paul your analogy of a tescos car park is irrelevant mate, strangely enough though where ever I park in a car park (I usually pick a long way away from any store entrance) I do find that people are magnatised to where I park.!!!
 
Paul Matthews said:
Silly bickering here lads !!!
The truth of the matter is that probably 90% of us would've told him to go forth !!!
Ok he has 'the right' but that doesn't make it right.........
What I would've said to him would have me moderating myself !!! Would I have moved ? No chance !! He'd have moved 1st I can assure you !!!
Had he approached along the lines of 'Any good mate ?' And followed up with a chat and a mention that he'd been pre-baiting the swim I MAY have offered to move on !!
It's all about the approach..........But then I'm a grumpy sod at the best of times !!
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So what you are saying is that might is right. How would you feel if you had been looking forward to fishing your favorite swim all day and when you get there some gorilla who could rip your arm off if he felt the urge is poaching it from the opposite bank?

Don't answer that, I know what you are going to say. For the sake of the thread you will say you would shrug philosophically and wander off. However, I'd be interested to know what you would say if the angler poaching from the opposite bank was a little weedy bloke, I'm suggesting you might be a little less philosophical and might even give him the benefit of your interpretation of fishing etiquette.
 
Paul

You simply do not have a leg to stand on as I said on page 1

You was fully aware another club had the rights on the oppo bank , you was fully aware you had cast beyond halfway

That's the gamble , you lost .
 
Adrian, please stop trying to be provocative !!! I am a very reasonable person and if I walked to my favourite swim, only to find someone else there, I may mumble 'balls' or words to that effect under my breath, I may even exchange pleasantries with comments to enquire as to how he was getting on........... Had I been pre-baiting I may even venture a line along the tact of 'I reckon you'll do well here today, I've been pre-baiting this one' !!!!
BUT in no circumstances would I try to intimidate them and fish oppposite them, I was brought up to respect people and common manners to me say that fishing opposite another angler is not really cricket !!
Please don't judge someone you don't really know !! I am a big chap, but all those who know me will tell you I'm not kind of person you are trying to potray me to be, just to try and get a reaction !!
I respect everyone's views and if you feel you have the right to fish the opposite bank, then all well and good, just don't expect me to move or have a friendly chat.....
 
It's the bloody canoeists on the ribble that p*** me off but did have a chat with one who did respect our hobby and came right into the bank for a chat and lessen the disturbance in my swim, also turned out to be Carl fogarty :)
 
If either party escalates to threatening, abusive or disorderly behaviour it has gone too far, the niceties over etiquette, civil rights or rules would be irrelevant. Have your view, have your say but know when to walk away!
 
Paul Matthews said:
Adrian, please stop trying to be provocative !!! I am a very reasonable person and if I walked to my favourite swim, only to find someone else there, I may mumble 'balls' or words to that effect under my breath, I may even exchange pleasantries with comments to enquire as to how he was getting on........... Had I been pre-baiting I may even venture a line along the tact of 'I reckon you'll do well here today, I've been pre-baiting this one' !!!!
BUT in no circumstances would I try to intimidate them and fish oppposite them, I was brought up to respect people and common manners to me say that fishing opposite another angler is not really cricket !!
Please don't judge someone you don't really know !! I am a big chap, but all those who know me will tell you I'm not kind of person you are trying to potray me to be, just to try and get a reaction !!
I respect everyone's views and if you feel you have the right to fish the opposite bank, then all well and good, just don't expect me to move or have a friendly chat.....
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I am in no way trying to be provocative, I stand by everything I have said. The op was in the wrong and if we are talking etiquette should have held his hands up and moved out of the swim when it was clear the other angler wanted to fish it.
However, we all know that reality is not the same as sitting in front of the telly with the laptop by your side, in reality if I were the second angler I would wander off and find another swim. However (and this is crucial to the difference between someone with real manners and a sense of fair play not to mention regard for the law and the majority of those who think the OP was right) If I had been in the OPs position and it was obvious the other guy wanted to fish the swim I would have offered to move as that would be the right thing to do, I would not feel comfortable remaining there knowing I was poaching a swim a paid up member wanted to fish.

As an extension to this, how do we all feel about the teams of carpers who turn up on a smallish lake and effectively stitch the thing up by casting to far bank margin swims?

I have lost count of the amount of times I have started to set up in a swim only to hear a shout from 100yds across the lake, "Oy mate, I'm fishing there", I find it bloody irritating and normally play deaf.
 
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Alex Gowney said:
I'm a diabetic too Kevin, does that mean I can night fish BAA waters without getting kicked off? :D
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Diabetic aside the rules on BAA are firm, unless you have a night ticket in an appropriate place you may not fish after dark, now dont take the pee!!!:D
 
Adrian Williams said:
I am in no way trying to be provocative, I stand by everything I have said. The op was in the wrong and if we are talking etiquette should have held his hands up and moved out of the swim when it was clear the other angler wanted to fish it.
However, we all know that reality is not the same as sitting in front of the telly with the laptop by your side, in reality if I were the second angler I would wander off and find another swim. However (and this is crucial to the difference between someone with real manners and a sense of fair play not to mention regard for the law and the majority of those who think the OP was right) If I had been in the OPs position and it was obvious the other guy wanted to fish the swim I would have offered to move as that would be the right thing to do, I would not feel comfortable remaining there knowing I was poaching a swim a paid up member wanted to fish.

As an extension to this, how do we all feel about the teams of carpers who turn up on a smallish lake and effectively stitch the thing up by casting to far bank margin swims?

I have lost count of the amount of times I have started to set up in a swim only to hear a shout from 100yds across the lake, "Oy mate, I'm fishing there", I find it bloody irritating and normally play deaf.
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Pardon?!:p
 
Hi men,

Legal or not , I won't pitch up opposite anyone else , even with the law on my side , so the law don't come into it , that's my law !. 270 days you can fish rivers , sometimes you should shrug your shoulders , and join the club opposite :p

Hatter
 
Exactly Mark !!
If I were THAT desparate I would set up a swim or 2 above him and fill it in..........
However, it all reality, I would walk on and fish elsewhere........
If you drop in opposite someone already fishing I'm afraid you should expect the inevitable !! As I've said I wouldn't move !! I may fish 1/2 way, but sheer bloody mindedness would make me stay !!!
 
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Paul Matthews said:
Exactly Mark !!
If I were THAT desparate I would set up a swim or 2 above him and fill it in..........
However, I would walk on and fish elsewhere........
If you drop in opposite someone already fishing I'm afraid you should expect the inevitable !! As I've said I wouldn't move !! I may fish 1/2 way, but sheer bloody mindedness would make me stay !!!
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Paul It would actually be interesting to see who gets there string pulled first in that scenario, hopefully the bloke who was there first. But would that be enough to put the nail in the coffin of the peg shadower?:rolleyes:
 
Paul Matthews said:
Exactly Mark !!
If I were THAT desparate I would set up a swim or 2 above him and fill it in..........
However, it all reality, I would walk on and fish elsewhere........
If you drop in opposite someone already fishing I'm afraid you should expect the inevitable !! As I've said I wouldn't move !! I may fish 1/2 way, but sheer bloody mindedness would make me stay !!!
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I moved on because I don't go fishing to stare another angler in the face all evening, and resisted the temptation to ruin his fishing, but I told him what I thought of him. But I definitely had the last laugh because he was shouting and challenging me to a fight whilst scaring every barbel for miles around. And I found another swim and caught three barbel.

Occasionally justice does prevail.
 
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Chris Avis said:
Diabetic aside the rules on BAA are firm, unless you have a night ticket in an appropriate place you may not fish after dark, now dont take the pee!!!:D
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At the risk of going off topic I once had my license checked by a BAA bailiff late afternoon who then started fishing two pegs above me. I thought he would say pack up at dusk but he didn't so I carried on. I left by moonlight and he was still fishing.
I guess he also put etiquette above rules :D
 
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