OMG Clarki sounds like a serious situation.

All is well; we are just travelling abroad with friends. The other individuals in the group are not anglers and my vote to not travel in October was easily overruled😕

I am dumbfounded as to why people insist on walking downstream when fighting a spring or chum. I see it all the time.  Fish on! Followed by...Coming down. Absolutely unneccesary.

Coming down. Going up. Rod up. Rod down. Rod left. Rod right. Line weight. Rod action. Reel drag. = ANGLING.

Btw I am unable to fish the entire month of October, so good luck out there!

OMG Clarki sounds like a serious situation. FWIW I did not fish at all this year until 3 weeks ago. Having a great fall season so far.

In typical C/V congested fishing conditions, in most cases I think walking downstream to keep a shorter line on the fish is the respectful thing to do.

However I also think that many anglers who, in walking downstream, fail to keep a big bend in their rods and to put the boots to the fish. That in turn just prolongs the fight and inconveniences more anglers as a result.

I also think sometimes walking downstream yelling “fish on” is more about showmanship 😀

Btw I am unable to fish the entire month of October, so good luck out there!

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if there's an open area downstream I may do it to get out of the way asap so others can keep fishing without having to wait

yes. Best I recall from back in the day that was the idea.

Dave C, not all big fish run. MY PB was 57lbs from the chuck and just circled the boat or pulled it in circles , for 45 minutes.

I get what you are saying but in my day the idea was someone with a fish on had priority and if necessary everyone else pulled their gear in until they either landed or lost the fish or moved out of the way.

Actually its possible to fight without moving anymore than about 10 fish. Im talking canaI. When hooked up its just not necessary to walk in front of 20 people and affect their fishing. Yes if foul hooked u r going for a walk. I use 20lb main and 15 leader and brought in my P.B. 47lb spring on cp during the fight moved maybe 15ft to access nice landing area.

Nope. Salmon almost always run upstream when hooked in a river, unless they're hooked in the tail. Most fish tend to run in the opposite direction of the pressure you're applying.
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Nope they do not. IME they seldom do. Most often they don't run in either direction. When they do it's downstream, the way they came. They also seldom leave the pool. Side pressure has it's benefits so I agree there. It keeps them off balance and provides pressure on the fish and less on the angler. But that issue was not the question.

Again the question was not which way do they go but why do some anglers move the fish downstream. Like I said it's the easiest direction to go.