My wife and I recently took an RV trip to Eastern Washington to visit family members; one in Ritzville, one in Wenatchee, and another in Cle Elum.
Looking for a central location between the three to camp (for free of course), I went to one of my favorite online resources, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) fishing access site. There you can find fishing access sites that allow free camping (with a WDFW Vehicle Access Pass).
Boondocking in Washington.
Looking at the choices I found one that was on a lake with year-round fishing, another that was on a lake that opened for fishing March 1st, and finally Martha Lake, which was near the intersection of the junction of the highways we would be radiating out from to our three destinations.
Martha Lake listed the dates open as “See regulations”. Unlike the other two lakes that didn’t comply with normal fishing seasons, I assumed “See regulations” meant that it opened on the opening day of fishing season in April.
Upon arriving at Martha Lake, I selected one of the spaces farthest from the freeway to avoid the din of traffic. I didn’t fully back into the space as I liked the view we had closer to the entrance, and didn’t believe this would be a problem to others as the lake was closed to angling.
Peace and quiet…before our neighbors arrived.
At 7:00 AM the next morning I heard a vehicle pull up and vehicle doors opening and closing. Looking out the dinette window of our travel trailer I saw the nose of a pickup truck next to mine.
My first thought was it was the game warden making sure I had my vehicle access pass displayed, but as I watched I saw several people walk to the lake shore with fishing gear in hand.
Either I was wrong about when the lake opened or these guys were poachers. Since I had used my WDFW regulation pamphlet as fire starter last fall (I thought I was done fishing for the year) I quickly consulted my smartphone and found the lake was the second most popular early opening trout lake in the region.
While I have written about boondocking etiquette and how you should avoid camping too close to another RV, I was wondering what the proper buffer is between fisherman and those camping along its shore? No sooner had I pondered that thought when one of the fishermen moved between our RV and the lake plopping down in his chair.
Had our awning been deployed I think he would have been under it! Since we would be leaving the RV and heading out in our tow vehicle I decided it better to not comment on his perceived bad manners for fear of retaliation while we were away. Luckily the fish weren’t biting from our lakeside campsite and the fisherman moved on.
Thinking we had regained our privacy, I stepped out to start our portable generator and was met with the barking of a small inconsolable dog. Looking around I couldn’t believe yet another fisherman had pulled into “our” space with a dog he couldn’t keep quiet. Deciding this was beyond reasonable, I started the generator in the “full on” (i.e. noisiest) setting rather than the quieter “economy” mode.
How close is too close?
I figured I was here first, and if you are going to bring your dog that won’t stop barking then you can listen to my generator in all of its glory! Oddly enough, the man and his dog had moved on when I went to shut the generator down about 10 minutes later.
So what do you consider proper etiquette in a situation like this? Even though all parties were on public land and I hadn’t pushed as far back out of the way as I could, would you pull into someone’s camp space at 7:00 in the morning?
Do you feel the guy in front of our rig was invading our personal space? Was I right to start our generator on high while the man with the dog was trying to enjoy a peaceful day at the lake? What would you have done in this scenario?
Between the first invaders dispersing away from their vehicle and prior to the second invader arriving, I stuck my head out of the RV to see the first invaders were the only people fishing and the many other access points between our RV and the freeway were vacant.
Pondering proper etiquette between campers and fisherman, just another adventure in RVing!
I would pack up and drive to another spot to avoid those rude people. You never know what they will do if you confront them…Its a scarey world now.
Kinda ruins the whole idea of getting away from it all, when others decide to bring their city manners with them to camp.
Reminds me of the same individuals who insist on parking their jalopy right next to you in a shopping center when you are parked way out in the boonies to avoid dinged doors.
IMO it’s a herd instinct, They can’t help themselves . Best to do what Kelly says……move.
I don’t know if what you did was right or not, but I can tell you this much.
1. They were wrong. Some people are just rude, some are just stupid.
2. I would have done the same thing you did.
F-‘n right! Rude a– people like that don’t understand basic courtesy, sorry to say, so gotta fight fire with fire.
Kelly said its a scary world and is right, but I would have to assume that being in the state of Warshington you had a firearm. Sure, never want to have to use it, but its nice to have a back up plan. Simply moving only reinforces to the offender that bad behaviors get rewarded/go unpunished. That’s how and why bullies continue to bully.
Sorry, but bringing up guns around an Rv parking spot, is just down right disgusting to me !
That is the problem with this societal issue of guns. I would sure be pissed if someone stole my chainsaw from my shop….but is it worth a life ???, not even close !! Life is precious, short, and special. My tool….its just a store-bought tool !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Boys and their guns…..a sad, nonsenceicle, no-win environment we live in..
I’m 73, a father of 4 and grandfather of 11; my teachings to my ‘clan’ is Love,, certainly NOT GUNS.
I see your point, Paul. Let me know when I can come by and get that chaainsaw…the one you apparently aren’t going to stop anyone from taking. Apologies in advance for pissing you off when it comes up missing. BTW, is it a Stihl? (Ha! Get it? Stihl/steal).
Thus proving three points:
Even the most hardened criminals wouldn’t usually kill someone over possession of a chain saw, much less a campsite, Out of anger? Yes. In fact that is what often turns people into criminals.
Lots of people who have guns for “protection” assume they will be the only ones shooting or at least that they will get to shoot first. .And they are often latent criminals waiting for the right circumstances to act out their fantasies of revenge.
X2
I think you probably could have parked further back, partially blocked access to the lake side of your trailer with the truck, and set out chairs to give others the hint your plot was staked out. However, these were likely regulars to the lake that considered the entire shoreline theirs, and this new guy with the trailer was an annoyance overnighting on a spot they normally had to temporarily park on. Probably right in front of what experience taught them was often a hot fishing hole.
This was not a normal camping situation… early in the year on a relatively deserted lake, and on a site that may commonly have been thought of by locals as a day-use parking spot. Although ignorant of that, you kind of asked for it. On the other hand, banging around near someone’s “camp” at 7 a.m. and plopping your chair down next to it when there’s a whole lakeshore otherwise available is indeed rude and unnecessary. Perhaps they weren’t even regular camping enthusiasts and had no empathy, but common sense should have at least played in.
Many foreigners are clueless – Russians, Asians, Latinos… they aren’t used to American common courtesies, or regulations for that matter. Countless times I’ve noted they are the ones swarming ponds and small roadside lakes looking for a piscatory meal, fishing much as they may have back home, and to heck with regulations and others nearby. I’m not being racist, I’m just stating what I’ve personally witnessed with chagrin over the last decades here in the Northwest. An example of the result is Sauvie’s Island north of Portland where the last couple of years has ushered in far more stringent fishing rules on its lakes and waterways; entire nonEnglish-speaking families were overwhelming the fishery, especially Sturgeon and others. The problem is there isn’t enough personnel to monitor the area, and they were fishing 24/7.
Sorry, off topic a bit. But I agree there are plenty of discourteous people out there ready to disrupt an otherwise pleasant RV outing.
Seriously???? Not racist????…there are way more Caucasian rednecks!!
So here’s a question. And it is simply that, a question.
Isn’t calling someone a “redneck” racist?
In Texas being called a Redneck is a compliment!
The way our “MAIN STREAM MEDIA” uses Redneck is a major insult.
That is why it is a compliment to be called a red neck by mainstream media.
So RIGHT!!!!!!
It is not racist. It’s not even ethnicity-bashing. Have you spent time in Asia? I have family who have; and we are friends with a family that immigrated to the USA from China. Based on those sources of information, I can say that Asians do have a different concept of personal space than those of us born and raised in the USA. Not every statement of fact is a racial or ethnic slur — sometimes, facts are simply facts.
….agree!
I’m sure the locals were just claiming “local’s” rights against your “squatter’s” rights even though you were clearly there first. Just how people are. They were probably trying to annoy you on purpose, that’s why the one guy “purposely”, in my mind, set up his chair right between your rig and the water line. He was trying to send you a message. I think it was the same for the guy and his dog. He wasn’t being polite and preventing his dog from barking on purpose as I see it. I think all 3 of you were clearly feeling in the right but not wanting to or afraid to confront the others directly so instead were all acting passive-aggressively.
SORRY, but I don’t believe it may be “foreigners” – it could have been, and probably WAS anyone who honestly doesn’t care about anyone but themselves! Going forward (camping more) we will ALWAYS carry a firearm; no intentions of EVER having to use it, but just to “feel” safer! The OP here, was clearly doing everything right – it’s just some dumbass people!!
Well my 2c worth…
I think the question is what is the primary use and reason for these facilities.
If it’s primary use is fishing, then as some have indicated, the fisherman(s) were likely looking to protect their turf. I would suspect that the fisherman’s blog on the same subject would likely consider the camper as being the rude culprit for sprawling along the water front.
On the other hand if the parks primary use is camping then the reverse is true.
One consideration is that you can set up camp just about anywhere, you do not need to be on the waters edge to enjoy your sport.
But the fisherman are limited and need water access to enjoy their sport.
In short, I would have politely moved and avoided a conflict especially when out numbered by what was likely locals.
GPG
Next time set up a couple of rods with just weights cast out into the lake like you ate already fushing that area…
I’d say the spacing in your second picture seems pretty normal to me… for fishing. I don’t actually know too many places in my neck of the woods that allow camping that close to the water’s edge. Since the water is primarily for fishing, it’s pretty normal for spots to fill up early, and pretty normal that fishermen have a different sense of proximity. Noisy and rude… that varies. My experience is the really early morning folks are usually the serious fishermen, and they will be quiet. Later arrivals are the ones for who fishing is an excuse to party.
It’s unfortunate that you were unaware fishing was open, but that’s part of the uncertainty of boondocking,
I generally would not camp so close to the water anyway- insects, smells, and animals are all good reasons (besides fishermen). Having a view of the water is nice, but the view is often better from 50-100′ away. Carry your chair and coffee to the water’s edge in the morning for the close-up experience.
????
I thought Jon’s response was clear and well thought out .
I have to agree, You sure took up a lot of space if you were concerned about being disturbed you could have parked your rv to the left away from the lake to be considerate and give the day use people access. How would you feel if that was 3 rv pull in campsites with picnic tables and the fisherman got there first and parked in the sites we have to be considerate and share or the next time some goes there they could be posted no rv camping.
John,
So true, having been brought up camping my hole life and now at 70 we are nearly full time I would have made coffee and gone out to chat and share with the locals. He missed a real opportunity to meet great folks and make amends for hogging their fishing spot.
It’s all about lifestyle.
Your RV pulling in, diesel trucks, and GENERATOR disturbs the peace of every hiker and tent camper within a mile (even on its quiet setting). You aren’t one to complain about invading the peace and natures sounds.
That’s pretty rude, that’s like saying the guy with the barking dog wasn’t annoying. And if you drove a car or truck to the trail head you are part of the problem, so get off your high horse.
A generator is always rude especially in a fishing area.
Adapt and overcome. We can only control our own actions and reactions.
I’m very disappointed in folks that think free camping gives you the right to anything! If you want your space then find it! If you think camping on the the bank af of a free public fishing lake gives you the right to anything you’re wrong. wtf You should respect the intended use of the lake and camp away from the shore 🙂
Agree!
Agree. I always approach my unfettered access to any free space as a gift, not an entitlement.
I’d say you were camped in the parking area for a fishing lake.
Exactly.
“Heeer’s your sign”. “Stupid”. A lot of people are just that. If they wore their “signs” you would just have empathy for them and shrug your shoulders. I hate Fisher persons that come close to me when I’m fishing. And if your to close to a kid fishing, I’m stupid enough to tell you to move. That said, stay away from where I’m obviously camping. Maybe I’m one of the stupids that are “packing”. Heeer’s your sign!
maybe they were regulars and you were the interloper.
personnally, i would choose to jump out of the camper and say howdy offer them coffee and start a conversation. lol maybe they would have told you why they parked like that instead of assuming they were rude … maybe it was you unknowingly being rude, especially if they were locals. i find being friendly lends to a much more enjoyable time than copping a holier than thou attitude, but thats just the way i roll
I will never forget the time i pulled up to the boat ramp anly to find a number of campers set up on the ramp. Does no good if campers can’t read. I was told they drove 200 miles to camp and they were going to camp.
Gene
I like it. I’m gonna have some hot water ready to offer them a hot beverage. Better friendly than angry. And if they are going to shoot me I’ll at least have a cup of hot water to throw on them. Yeah, I’ll be dead but they will at least be burnt. “Here’s yer sign.”
Fishing etiquette stream side and in the parking lot are two different things. I imagine they assumed you were there to fish, and as such were up and out already doing so. The parking area looks small, it doesn’t look as though they had much choice as to where to park.
As for plopping down a chair withing feet of your rig, that’s not acceptable under any circumstances.
As for the dog, again, unacceptable for one party to not be considerate of all others when it comes to controlling their dog.
As for your reaction with the generator – I’ve done worse, but it’s never helped me. Public areas often become the domain of the lowest common denominator as such, and you may sink to their level in annoying a third party.
Best would probably have been to speak directly to the guy in the chair and to the guy with the dog and if your most courteous effort leaves you without remedy… leave.
All who commented about why are you camping in a parking space? Did you miss the sign that says “Public Fishing> 3 Day Camp Limit”!!! I don’t see much room for him to go further back.
Why park so close to the lake… it appears the only other option is to take over the whole parking lot.
Being an extrovert I would have probably spoken to them offered coffee…after running the generator. My dogs would have been barking at the barking dog
This is a tough one, but I think the fisher”men” had the “right of way.” I believe the rules of etiquette for “distance” are very flexible depending on many other factors.
In general terms, the shore-line on almost all public bodies of water is open for all to use. For example, along the coast of CA, landowners at the water’s edge must endure the fact that they don’t own the beaches…and many homeowners really don’t like this. But they don’t have any say in the matter. Anyone can use the beach as defined by local laws, but typically up to and perhaps beyond the high water mark.
In your situation, you setup by “intruding” on what appears to be angler parking. If you had backed fully into the site, positioned the RV at the farthest point from the water in that site, and then if you parked your TV more or less blocking the entrance to your site, the vehicle noise might have been reduced a bit. As for the encroachment by anglers on your site, perhaps it’s fair to ask how much your RV encroached on shore access. If your awning could reach the point where anglers on the shore were trying to fish, then, you’re pretty close.
I’m NOT suggesting you were wrong, but I’m suggesting the anglers were within not only their technical rights, but within the limits of reasonable behavior. There is a lake in Colorado called Tarryall Reservoir. It can get insane there. Campers are very close to one another, and the shore is crawling with anglers, the lake is packed with boats, and it’s hard to find a place to park. This photo…click the link…tells why. http://coastalanglermag.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/PIKE-FISHING-COLORADO.jpg
We refuse the camp there for that reason.
We do often camp on the shores of Lake Wellington. When the reservoir is “full”, there is no beach. The grassy sites end at the water, and everyone respects that. But if the reservoir is emptied a bit, there can be a 25′ to 50′ beach, and it’s fair game for everyone to use it…anglers, kids playing Frisbee, dogs on leashes, “screaming kids” and so on. The rules of etiquette are conditional.
There are many fishing streams/rivers in CO that also accommodate some camping. Campers must be prepared to “endure” fly fishers moving back and forth across the waterfront of “their” sites. Tubers and hikers add to the mix.
It’s important to remember that your expectations were also mistaken. You thought you were camping outside fishing season. In fact, you were not. That set you up for a surprise in the morning….a “rude awakening” so to speak. It’s just as likely the anglers were wondering about you and your “intrusion” on their space. Just as you considered generator retaliation, they may have made a point of enforcing their right of access.
Our most desirable locations are often crowded. I know this felt like an intrusion. And the yapping dog is a yapping dog under any circumstances. But “your” campsite ends at the shore access for fishing…especially at a well-known fishing hole. If you were at Tarryall Reservoir, the anglers might have joined you for breakfast. Grin and bear it. 🙂
P.S. I don’t fish…I do nothing but dry camp and use a canoe. So I’m inclined to see your side of the story. And I enjoy sleeping late, and all those “damned” anglers are up at the crack of dawn. 🙂
WTF , act like that around me … and you’ll end up in lake with your fishing stuff.
You go, Dave! WTF?! I agree!!
So, given enough time, discussion on any topic almost always goes over the edge.
Parts over the edge? Threats, comments on racism, insults. Yet we always seem to end up in the same place in any discussion involving personal opinion.
As others are fond of saying, dig out the popcorn.
To those who are capable of having a reasonable discussion, thank you.
Don’t be a jerk but park where you want. There are a lot (A LOT) of snowflake RVers out there who get bent by campfires, music, men, dogs, generators and beer. You cannot be responsible for their happiness.
This is my first time commenting in the forum, and honestly, I don’t know if there IS any rules/accepted standard in this type situation. I personally would have been LIVID, but then I’m one of the dying bred that was TAUGHT to consider other’s over self, a commodity that is becoming EXTINCT in society today! Being as you were on “public ” land and were there first, I DEF would have EXPECTED the others to have the decency to – at the VERY LEAST – given you a wide berth, so as not to disturb you/yours; but alas, those who believe as we do are fewer and fewer in number! Heck, hubby & I just spent a “month of Hell” in a PAID LOCATION (the ONLY DECENT PARK under $800/mo in the ENTIRETY of the SW of Houston area, where we have “lived” for the past 9 mos.) For those unfamiliar, in the Houston area of TX anyway, a great number of RV lots are rented by “itinerant” workers (construction, oil field, developers, IT folks for any of these industries, college students, etc.) For 7 mos everything was AWESOME, but beginning of mo 8, we had a crew come in, in the slot next to us, who “announced” their arrival by – the “boss/driver” – shouting/screaming/cussing at the top of his lungs because the other members of his crew – whom he had apparently instructed to tell him when he reached a certain point on the parking pad – because these poor souls had the “audacity” to TRY to tell the idiot that he was indanger of HITTING A 4 FOOT THICK TREE at the corner of the pad!!! To add to this, once he’d gotten their unit in place he then starts – LITERALLY – CHUCKING the 4 x 4 chalk/blocks AT his comrades!!!! This was only the tip of this experience! First you must know the owners of this park LITERALLY will do ANYTHING/EVERYTHING to keep their guests happy! They (owner’s) SUPPLY Tiki-hut type picnic tables; a CAST IRON fireplace/pit complete with elevatable grill top; concrete block 3′ x 5′ storage unit; AND two lawn chairs – ALL AT EACH LOT!!! YET, these ASSHATS (they were an oil field crew) IMMEDIATELY start attempting to DESTROY as much of what was provided as they could. They held “drinking fests” nearly ever week night, BLARING their music til at least midnight (THANK GOD, they went home on the weekends); they’d cook/buy food, throwing their discarded bones into the gravel driveway (DESPITE the owners talking to them about this as the owners have free-ranging dogs which of course these bones could kill!); AND these AH’S felt they could park as many vehicles as they wished AND ANYWHERE they wished, including across the front of our lot, which we have “decorated” so as to make it more homey & inviting (something the owner’s LOVE!). After several attempts by hubby (he’s far less volatile than I) to get them to remain in their spots (& only after they’d made vile comments about me – who had NEVER said a word other than a polite hello to them, which ALMOST set my husband into DESTROY mode); I went to the owners asking them to speak to these heathens. The owners had already gotten 6 complaints from other longer term residents, so they were not surprised. Once the owners spoke to then, the majority of the crew complied; however, the “boss” “wasn’t gonna have nobody tell him what he could/couldn’t do!”. He kept being a problem. I don’t know what happened exactly, but for an entire week, their unit was here, but NONE of them were; then one night we went to bed – around midnight – and got up around 9 a.m. to find the unit GONE!!! As they’d left behind a 25″ water hose, a 10″ “dog-bone” electric line and several other items of some value, we weren’t real CERTAIN they were gone GONE. I learned a day or so later that not only were they gone GONE, but they & their compadres two units further down (the REASON they’d have 8 or more vehicles at their lot – their compadres COULDN’T be bothered to WALK the distance between the their two units!!!) STOLE the lawn chairs provided by the owners!!!! So, you see, not much surprises me now!!!!
I would let out my two St Bernard’s on long leashes. That would take care of the space issues. Lol
My opinion, though repetitive: you were obviously in the (small) parking area of a public access site. Looks like the other folks would be close to you, no matter what. No foul here, you have your little space for your rig and they’re fishing around you. Everybody looks like they have what they need, really.
Etiquette? We have spent months camping this year and I’m certain people are ruder, selfish and self-centered more than in any other time in my 51 year’s of life. Especially, older generations. Am I the only one? Dogs urinating on our hoses, tires and cables, owner not picking up their dogs poo on our paid site, cigarette smoke forcing us inside and dogs that bark for hours on end. Kids screaming, fighting while the parents have their heads down in their phones. Is this you, the readers of this reply? Camping is not what it used to be. Ill mannered bikers who believe they have the right of way on a side walk full of elderly and children. Does anyone have manners or care about their neighbors, let alone the campers right next to them? We can’t be the only lucky people of these experiences.
I’m a full-time RVer, but I tend to see this one from the point of view of the local fishermen. Your mistakes (1 – that fishing season wasn’t open, 2 – that not backing in as far as you could have was OK, 3 – that your preferred view was a compelling reason to set up as you did, 4 – that your getting there first established some sort of “squatters’ rights”) put you in the position in which you found yourself.
Your starting and running your generator on its loudest setting was a hostile act – something you did to retaliate against a fisherman with a barking dog, thereby ruining the peace and quiet of not just that one person, but everyone else in the vicinity.
I get that boondocking generally implies that a person wants some space, but humans are herd animals. When you ask how much space is enough, I think the only correct answer is, “It depands.” Around Quartzsite, there are thousands of open acres to set up in, but as soon as one person sets up somewhere fairly isolated, you can count on someone else deciding it’s OK to also set up nearby. It’s baffling, to me.
The person who said if those fishing did as they did in your case around him, then they’d end up in the lake with their fishing stuff is clearly either ignorant of the consequences of doing so, or just likes to give the impression that he (or she) is willing to act like a vengeful idiot and damn the consequences, He/she would quickly find him (or her) self sitting in the local jail for his/her criminal actions . . . he (or she) might even discover that the locals sitting in judgment of those actions don’t take kindly to outsiders violently asserting their self-granted “rights.”
TJ
If the nay-sayers would enlarge the picture, they could clearly see that you were parked as far back as possible. The signs CLEARLY permit camping for 3 days. You were clearly not intruding on anyone! Some people are just selfish, egocentric losers, with no common courtesy. There are sportsmen of every stripe, who see themselves as being entitled to whatever their desire may be. They are also likely to be the vindictive bullying type of troll. Your tactics appear to have worked, but starting the generator then offering coffee would have been a good idea. One of these days, they may show their fanny to a capable person who will teach them some manners (if the rest of the world is lucky). I have been a fisherman, boater, and camper almost all of my life. The behavior of these fishermen would never be tolerated in the South.
As far as I can tell the fishermen didn’t do anything to interfere with someone camping there. The fact that you can camp doesn’t mean you have any right to privacy. And if you DO want privacy, it would behoove you to choose the most out of the way spot in the place, not center stage.
I agree w Deb! A friendly smile, sincere attitude and you are off to a good start towards gathering information, learning about the area and possibly other private/scenic places to park. Talk about your circumstances, inquire about the lake and WALLA..you’ll feel more like coming back here in the future. Spread peace and friendliness..lets make it a better world.
You are camped in the fishing access parking lot. You should have moved.
There are people who think if the rules allow it they can do it. There are people who are polite. Some people park right next to the lake where everyone has to look at them and blocking both views and access to the lake. Then they complain when people don’t respect their “privacy”. Someone’s barking dog becomes an excuse to crank up their generator nice and loud, I suppose the next guy should feel free to crank up their tunes to drown out the generator and the dog. Pretty soon there is no nature left and we need regulations to restore it.
I think the camping is allowed there so people can stay and fish. If you aren’t fishing, you probably don’t belong there. So once you discovered the lake was open to fishing, the polite thing would have been to find a different campsite. As it was, you were taking up a lot of lakeshore and you didn’t even have a pole in the water. I don’t fish, but I would be annoyed if someone parked at a trailhead that way. The parking is there for people to use the trail, not to provide a free, unregulated campground. And having someone set up housekeeping kind of takes the nature out of the place. I suspect if you had arrived to find a group with tents and tables spread out over that same area you would felt the same way.
And its not “rude” to give an honest answer to a question asked.
“IF YOU AREN’T FISHING< YOU PROBABLY DON'T BELONG THERE" – Seriously, dude?! YOU are part of this sort of problem!! What the hell does fishing there, have to do with being able to CAMP there?! IDIOT!!!
“! What the hell does fishing there, have to do with being able to CAMP there?”
Nothing, that’s the problem. You shouldn’t decide to camp at a prime fishing spot and then complain about people wanting to use it to fish. You will notice, I said nothing about whether you are “able” to camp there, but whether you should.and then complain when others don’t treat it as a private camp site.
I like to fish. Sometimes, there are parts of a lake or river that have better fishing. And fishing is always best early in the morning and at the end of the day. It’s entirely possible that you parked right smack in the middle of the best fishing spot in the entire place, and maybe they thought you were the interloper. See? It all depends on one’s point of view. They could have been grousing about that rude RV guy who decided to park right where they usually do.
In general, I’ve found that it’s a lot easiier to assume good intent, especially when camped in areas where others may like to recreate, too. Yes, it’s always nice when people keep distance between one another and are thoughtful. Your fishing brethren went on about their day and enjoyed themselves. You’ve stewed about it, and written a post with pictures. Is it worth it?
Since we started full timing, dogs have become a serious PIA to me and I feel very sorry for most of them. I know, I know, your dog rarely barks, when he does, it’s adorable, and you always pick up the poop.
I lived and worked 12 years in the Seattle area and I can vouch for the personal space differences.
They had every right to park and fish . this is not a campsite with dedicated sites . But a public lake open to all with camping . you want privacy stay away from these areas and go where other don’t . now to be whinny about it you look like a selfish person that thinks the world should revolve around him . I camp and fish at a similar lake in Colorado . get your spot by the lake to park and right next to you is still open for others to come and park or camp and fish . you don’t own the lake front .
I won’t get into where parking becomes a problem, except to say if you park right next to the landscape attraction (your pop-out close enough to shade a shoreline fisherman) and somebody else comes and parks next to the attraction which may also be really close to the attraction, you’re both sides to the same coin. “I’m an American and I can park wherever I want. See where I parked my rig? See my big tires? See my 4×4 setup? I was here first. My taxes paid for this access road.” I’ve heard and see it all. Ya know what? You probably missed a chance to become friends with someone who likes going to the same places you do. You probably have more in common than you think.
Charity starts at home. I was taught to not chew with my mouth open, or talk with a mouthful of food. That was some of the parental guidance I was given when I was young. (More than six decades ago). I think you’re talking about courtesy and manners. Some people got’m. Some don’t care. You don’t have to swap spit with them, but you can still be friends, …and maybe, just maybe talk about a little courtesy.
Remember, you’re the one that got there and hogged the best spot to park. Charity starts at home and home is where the heart is.