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Other – Up or Downstream?

Articles on this site are out of date since some go back to 2006. Regulations and property ownership may have changed since publication. It is your responsibility to know and obey all regulations and not trespass on private property.

With high anticipation, you make the final turn to bounce along the rough road leading to the parking area at the stream.  As you wheel around the last curve and enter the lot, you realize you have one of two problems:

  1. There are one or two cars already there
  2. The parking lot is jammed

In the second case, you quickly do the mental calculus:

  • Do hikers use this as a trailhead?
  • Anybody ride horses around here?
  • What about kayakers?

The answer pops in your mind… you make the next decision… stay or go?  If you stay, do you go upstream or down?

And it’s the last decision that is common to either scenario.  Even if there is only one other car there, you have to decide on a direction.  If you make a mistake, you risk either fishing on top of water that is stirred up or actually running into the other guy and having to make another decision regarding the whole stream space-time continuum (now… there’s a word I never thought I would work into an article on fishing).

So, here’s the proposal.  Each of us should leave a card or a piece of paper in the dashboard that simply says “Gone Upstream” or “Gone Downstream”.  If we did that, then the math would be easy on which way to go to enjoy more space and not risk stacking up like a bunch of legos.  In addition to warning off other fishermen, this has the side benefit of safety.  If they ever have to come looking for you, it would make your rescue quicker if the team knew which direction to search.

In fact, why not combine this with the poacher card we discussed in an earlier post?  Leave both.

I am going to implement this strategy this weekend.  Hope others do as well.

It’s a tough decision when there only a few other cars

When it’s a flock of cars, you are screwed no matter which way you go

Unless stated otherwise, this article was authored by Steve Moore

Disclaimer and Warning:  The contents of this site reflect the opinion of the author and you, the reader, must exercise care in the use and interpretation of this information.  Fishing is a dangerous sport.  You can slip and fall on rocks and sustain severe injury.  You can drown.  You can get hooks caught in your skin, face, eyes or other sensitive places.  All sorts of bad things can happen to you when to go into the woods to visit the places documented here.  Forests, streams and lakes are wild areas and any number of bad things can happen.  You must make your own judgment in terms of acceptable behavior and risk and not rely on anything posted here.  I disclaim all liability and responsibility for any actions you take as a result of reading the articles on this site.  If you do not agree with this, you should not read anything posted on this site.

Disclaimer and Warning:  The contents of this site reflect the opinion of the author and you, the reader, must exercise care in the use and interpretation of this information.  Fishing is a dangerous sport.  You can slip and fall on rocks and sustain severe injury.  You can drown.  You can get hooks caught in your skin, face, eyes or other sensitive places.  All sorts of bad things can happen to you when to go into the woods to visit the places documented here.  Forests, streams and lakes are wild areas and any number of bad things can happen.  You must make your own judgment in terms of acceptable behavior and risk and not rely on anything posted here.  I disclaim all liability and responsibility for any actions you take as a result of reading the articles on this site.  If you do not agree with this, you should not read anything posted on this site.

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