etiquette question

there was a question asked in another thread that i was hoping to get some feedback on but didn't want to hijack the thread... here's my question/questions:
 
i'm fairly new to steelhead fishing.  i've noticed there are things that are common on the erie tribs that you don't often see on a normal (non first day) trout stream... mostly regarding crowds and starting to fish a hole/run that someone is already fishing.  is there a space between fisherman guideline?  number of fisherman/hole guideline?  are those answers different based on section of stream or how crowded in general the stream already is?
 
as a newb, i'll avoid fishing a spot because i don't know what's "proper"... but i feel i may be missing out on some opportunities by not stepping in and fishing a hole that someone is already fishing.  for example, a regular (someone with experience) may walk up to the "xyz" hole and see "x" # of people already fishing it and start fishing because they know that hole holds x # more people.  a newb might walk up to the same hole and think, that hole is overcrowded and move on.
 
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here's the other thread and how it was posed:
http://forums.fishusa.com/Message/548586-amundson-savvy-edge-centerpin-combo-review/
not trying to be ignorant, but I have an etiquette question.  I know it's irritating when people try to cram into an already over crowded spot, but is it rude to step in on pinners?  Last year on a popular stretch of Elk that comfortably fishes 6 to 7 guys, I really wasn't sure if it was ok to walk in on 2 pinners monopolizing that entire stretch solely due to the type of equipment they were using.
 
 
 
 
 

Gosh...... I love fishing and I can feel the excitement even though I'm not there but, fishing shoulder to shoulder, I think I'll pass and give somebody my spot.

Tight lines to yinz...... Oh, and send pictures.

BeenThereDoneThat.
 fishing shoulder to shoulder, I think I'll pass and give somebody my spot.

This we can agree on. 

Welp, let me try to 'splain why I tolerate shoulder to shoulder conditions sometimes.
 
The more important things I've got going on in my life limit my hunting and fishing opportunities.  I get about 5 or 6 chances a year to chase steelhead with my 10 year old son, and it's probably our favorite thing to do together.  
 
So, when we get a green light to go to Erie we go.  We went Monday since he didn't have school or football practice, with one of his best friends and his dad.  Knew it would be a zoo given the current conditions, time of year and a holiday weekend (for some).  Fished the Trout Run conga line in the AM and had a lot of fun.  No tangles.  No crossed lines.  Everybody enjoying themselves.  Found some stacked fish on lower Walnut mid-afternoon and the 4 of us shared a drift with a few other folks who came and went until dusk.  We all caught fish, had fun and didn't have to untangle too many lines.  Everybody had fun and we all left the stream on friendly terms and helped each other out and gave another youngster and his dad a chance to fight and land a few who were near us and weren't catching anything.  
 
We taught our boys how to share and play well with others.  We taught our boys to help people out when you're in a good position and they're not.  We laughed a lot and made some life-long memories.
 
I'm sure we'll find some more solitude when we come mup in November and the fish are spread out and the water's up a little bit.  And we'll laugh a lot and make some more life-long memories.   
 
Know it's not for everybody, and I'd certainly take some solitude over what we were doing Monday.  It's like a lot of other things in life - gotta have the right attitude and perspective as you learn to deal with all kinds of different people and situations to do the things in life that bring you joy.  

I saw one comment that explains early season Steelheading. "If your going to the circus, there's going to be clowns."

I AGREE VERY GOOD POST DRod I WAS AT THE CIRCUS AT
TROUT RUN ON MONDAY AND YES THERE WAS ALOT OF 
FISHERMAN SOME MORE FORGIVING THAN OTHERS, I LIKE
TO FISH TROUT RUN BUT SOMETIMES FIND IT DIFFICULT TO
DO SO DUE TO 3 FOOT SURGERIES IN THE LAST YEAR AND 1/2 I
CANNOT GET WADERS ON SO I AM FORCED TO SHORE FISH WHICH
UPSETS ALOT OF GUYS DOWN THERE FORTUNATELY THIS YEAR I HAVE
BEEN NEXT TOO SOME PRETTY NICE PEOPLE THAT HAVE MOVED OVER TO GIVE ME ENOUGH SPACE TO FISH BUT MOST OF THE TIME YOU CAN SEE THE BY FACIAL EXPRESSION THAT MOST ARE NOT TOO HAPPY WITH ME BUT I DO THE BEST I CAN, AS I WAIT ALL YEAR TO GET AFTER THE
STEELHEAD AND ONLY HAVE 5 OR 6 CHANCES TO DO SO.WOULD IT BE EASIER IF IT WASNT SHOULDER TO SHOULDER OF COURSE BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF THESE GUYS ONLY HAVE LIMITED CHANCES TO GET UP THERE LIKE MYSELF SO EVERYONE HAS TO BE
MORE TOLERANT TO CROWDS

No........... Thank You. I don't fish my local trout streams when it's elbow to elbow.

It's a feel thing for me, I don't like the crowds either so I try and move away from them. But I have and still do fish the lower sections joinging in the "circus" from time to time. I like to leave "enough" room as to where if you time your drifts correctly you will not adversely affect the fishermen on either side of you. But that is Erie, 80% of the fishermen within 500 yards either way of the parking area.
My best advice is to download the stream maps from this site, put them in a sheet protector and put them in a binder. Take a day and just explore, do not fish. Drive around to all the streams. Mark on the maps spots you like, spots that have "legal" parking, spots that are posted. Once you finish marking all the laps, lamoinate them to help pprotect them. This way if the "circus" on the lower sections is too much,you now have options. I did this in the summer one year and I still carry that binder every time I go to Erie. If new waters get posted or you need to add anything to the map, just make a color copy and add your new information and repeat....
    

Gotta get me one of those hats!
 
L13

from formerguide, a former member..........
 
http://forums.fishusa.com...d-the-upcoming-season/

Leme ask yall this one..

I done know if somebody hooks a fish, and goes off to fight it an' land it and all, youre supposed to stay outta their spot, an' let them come back to it when they are done. But, if him and his buddy done take their fish on the bank to rope it, and then stand there talking (not fishing) for 20 minutes, it's not their spot anymore.