One of the post in todays Solo/Group poll started by db posed an interesting question.

 It was mentioned about fishing in front of a occupied campsite or trolling by, interrupting others solitude or shore fishing.

  I doubt any one here would deliberately anchor off of an occupied site ( at least not that they would admit too)

But, I've inadvertently rounded a corner and right into a occupied campsite. This mostly has occurred when the weather is bad, and I'm riding the shoreline. I try to be a quite as possible on the water or in the canoe.

IF I hear noise up ahead, I'll try and move out from shore if possible, but if not, I cough or wave and let them know I'm coming by. I cough to give any Au naturel paddlers a chance to cover up or break it up

Depending on the looks I get, I'll either nod and keep paddling, or stop and chat for a few minutes.  Most of the time being a solo paddler I've found others, especially in groups wanting to ask questions as they "think" I must know what they hell I'm doing

I've only had one group give me the EVIL eye, most are very friendly, asking about fishing/where from/where you going/how long you in for?
Some have even invited me for dinner/coffee

 So what do you guys think?  Avoid others at ALL costs? Apologize profusely BEFORE you can gauge their mood? Or play it by ear, and respond accordingly?



 

I like big days so I usually paddle late. I also like to see stuff so I'm usually slippin around the shore real quiet like unless I have an agenda. 1/2 the time they don't even notice when I go by. Once in a while one person in the group spots me and invariably they seem surprised. I just nod and ease on down the road.

I wouldn't purposely fish in front of somebody's campsite though. For their benefit as well as my own.

Generally, I try to give anglers a wide berth. That said, in high winds I hug the shore and I wouldn't compromise the safety of my party for someone's possible walleye.

And, I also try to respect someone's privacy. If folks in a campsite wave, I wave back. If they ask how's the fishing, I try to answer. A few years ago I did ask campers as I passed how guys, one with a University of Michigan sweatshirt and one with an Ohio State sweatshirt, ended up at the same campsite.

Tim

I did fish in front of a campsite this past year.  It was located adjacent to the outflow from a waterfall and had a portage on the other side.

I would just continue my normal route.  I am not keen about fishing in front of someone's else's campsite because I figured it has already been fished.  If I am at my campsite, it doesn't bother me at all to have someone paddle by me.  If they are  close enough and want to talk, that is fine with me.  Besides I go in late May, enter from the north of Quetico and there simply aren't that many people that I have contact with.

Westwood