I read all the responses to my question on "fun-fishing" spot etiquette and put together 7 "rules of etiquette for fun-fishing" that summarizes the points made in the posts. They appear to be widely held views.
Rules for "YOUR" spot:
If you tell someone of your spot and don’t ask them not to share it with others, then expect them to tell others and expect to find them and all their friends and relatives fishing your spot.
If you tell someone of your spot and do ask them not to share it with others, then expect them to tell no one but expect to find them on your spot. (Unless you tell a woman, telling them a secret is a green light to tell their friends! :roll: )
If you are aware that someone, regardless if they are a friend or acquaintance, has seen you fishing a spot, then expect to find them on the spot.
If you are aware that someone has seen you catch a fish on a spot, then expect them to join you, but also expect them to do it quietly and not too close.
Rules for SOMEONE ELSE’S spot:
If someone tells you of a spot and doesn’t ask you not to share it with others, then you can fish it and tell your friends/relatives but don’t give it up on the Internet.
If someone tells you of a spot and asks you not to share it with others, then fish it but don’t tell anyone and don’t give it up on the Internet.
If you see someone fishing a spot, or catching fish on a spot, then you can fish it later or you can quietly join them but don’t crowd them.
My confusion was I knew of other’s spots either by word of mouth or seeing them on it and stayed off of them, I expected others would do the same for me but it wasn’t happening. This likely stems from my enjoyment of finding my own fish. (Skunked, feel free to provide your own analysis of why I did this.) I’ll change my expectations of others but not necessarily my practice of staying off other’s spots. Thanks for the help everyone
Rules for "YOUR" spot:
If you tell someone of your spot and don’t ask them not to share it with others, then expect them to tell others and expect to find them and all their friends and relatives fishing your spot.
If you tell someone of your spot and do ask them not to share it with others, then expect them to tell no one but expect to find them on your spot. (Unless you tell a woman, telling them a secret is a green light to tell their friends! :roll: )
If you are aware that someone, regardless if they are a friend or acquaintance, has seen you fishing a spot, then expect to find them on the spot.
If you are aware that someone has seen you catch a fish on a spot, then expect them to join you, but also expect them to do it quietly and not too close.
Rules for SOMEONE ELSE’S spot:
If someone tells you of a spot and doesn’t ask you not to share it with others, then you can fish it and tell your friends/relatives but don’t give it up on the Internet.
If someone tells you of a spot and asks you not to share it with others, then fish it but don’t tell anyone and don’t give it up on the Internet.
If you see someone fishing a spot, or catching fish on a spot, then you can fish it later or you can quietly join them but don’t crowd them.
My confusion was I knew of other’s spots either by word of mouth or seeing them on it and stayed off of them, I expected others would do the same for me but it wasn’t happening. This likely stems from my enjoyment of finding my own fish. (Skunked, feel free to provide your own analysis of why I did this.) I’ll change my expectations of others but not necessarily my practice of staying off other’s spots. Thanks for the help everyone