Anyone Ever Gotten In Trouble Or Aske To Leave A Pond?

[a1712]

Since when does no signs or fencing make something legal?  Brian.

[Penguino]

In Jersey, where I live, half of the retention ponds have signs that say it is illegal to fish in or the water is dangerous (total bs). And the other half have fences and signs claiming private property (while in reality, they are public ponds). Honestly, I don't mind any of these warnings and just fish wherever I want, unless the pond is actually on somebodys property. To this day, I still haven't gotten a warning or been reported for fishing in these areas.

[SirSnookalot]

In my part of Florida communities gated or otherwise are private property.  A pond less than 20 acres entirely on private property does not require a license to fish any where in Florida.  Property lines differ in various communities, some go right to the waters edge and some don't go that far.  In the case that the property line does not go to the waters edge that area is open to anyone living in that community, that's how mine is.  I'm free to fish behind any ones house where I live, not that I would do it at 6 am for fear of waking some one up.

[FishTank]

Sure,  at local golf course even though they were closed for good.  I get it but everybody fishes it.

 

A pond on a coal mines property.  This one was kind of an accident but it took two policemen and about 10 security guards to ask me to leave, which I did gladly.  I did however catch about 10 5lb+ large mouths before hand.  Awesome day of fishing.

 

The one that irritates me though... I fish and hike at local park all the time.  It's kind of a nice honey hole.  The land and water are owned by the city and the pond is on the DNR's list of family friendly fishing spots but a few people that live nearby think they own it, literally.  They have tried to chase people by banging pots and pans and yelling on blow horns.  I think the local park management has finally settled them down but they continue to be a nuisance.   They just ask people to leave.  I just blow them off but treat them politely. 

[cbass12]

In high school I had permission at a 3 acre pond in a subdivision that my best friend lived in. He and I had taken the time to speak to a few of the homeowners since it was techincally in the neighborhood right next to my buddy's. One of the homeowners was even a formal Royals player whose kid I knew from little league. They were all very nice and were fine with us fishing there, so needless to say we would fish around almost the entire pond everytime we went. One day I took a family friend's kid with me and as we made our way around, one of the homeowners who was foregin came out and started yelling at me to stop fishing and to put back the fish I had just caught. I politely explained to him that I had permission from several homeowners around the pond and that I do not keep any of the fish I catch. He continued to yell at me to stop fishing and to leave. I continued to fish and ignored him for a minute, until he started threatening to call the cops. I didn't really think it was worth the fight so I packed up my stuff and left.

[greentrout]

I respect private property and never fish a pond or body of water without permission. At work, meet folks find out they live in nice private communities get permission to fish no problem. Years back drove up to many a farm pond owner's home and asked permission to fish the water. Few told me to get off their property and don't come back. Most said no or yes politely. Always be neat and polite. Enough said yes to give me some of the best LMB fishing of my fishing  life.

 

Old school basser...

[SFL BassHunter]

I've only been kicked out once. It was up in Boca and this pond is in front of the community. My friend and I were catching a bass on almost every cast, we only lasted 10 minutes there. An old fart (I call him that cause he doesn't deserve being called an elderly gentlemen) drove by and saw us, came out of his car and started yelling at us using foul language and threatened us with calling the cops if we weren't packed up and gone within 5 minutes. He called the community security guard over who was nice enough and had seen us fishing but didn't care. But now he had no choice but to tell the guy, hey sorry I didn't see them from the security guard house, otherwise he probably would have got in trouble.He stood there and watched us pack up till we left. The crappy part was I had a major wind knot on my bait caster and was trying to get that sorted out when he showed up lol. I had to walk out of there with a bunch of line in one hand , my rods in the other.

[RSM789]

Since when does no signs or fencing make something legal?  Brian.

 

It doesn't, but what it does do is make the situation ambiguous. 

 

With fencing & signs, you eliminate the chance of people not knowing they are on private property.  Anyone who bypasses those measures to fish an area knows they are breaking the law and should be dealt with appropriately.

 

However, no signs or fencing means there is no differentiation between private or public property.  In that situation, well intentioned & law abiding folks can make an understandable error and end up someplace they should not be.

[flyfisher]

it is real easy to see if a pond is public or not, just look at the DGIF for your state.  if the pond isn't listed it isn't public.  And for anyone who says they just disregard the signs and fences anyways well, thanks for giving us law abiding fisherman a bad name.  

[a1712]

it is real easy to see if a pond is public or not, just look at the DGIF for your state.  if the pond isn't listed it isn't public.  And for anyone who says they just disregard the signs and fences anyways well, thanks for giving us law abiding fisherman a bad name.  

I always felt if it's not mine it's someone elses and I should ask permission or find out first. Brian.

[HoosierHawgs]

It doesn't, but what it does do is make the situation ambiguous. 

 

With fencing & signs, you eliminate the chance of people not knowing they are on private property.  Anyone who bypasses those measures to fish an area knows they are breaking the law and should be dealt with appropriately.

 

However, no signs or fencing means there is no differentiation between private or public property.  In that situation, well intentioned & law abiding folks can make an understandable error and end up someplace they should not be.

Yup... This right here sums it up.

[ABW]

This past summer I was fishing with a friend in a local park, and a kid that is doing community service tells me that I'm not allowed to fish. (It's legal to fish here and I wasn't littering or anything.) Then, he threatened to call the DNR and get my "poles taken away". I said go ahead sarcastically and he told me that he was going to punch me in the face.. 

 

Another time I was fishing alone when some kids nearby started yelling at me asking me if I had my license, and that they were going to get me arrested because I didn't respond. (I'm 16 so I don't need one here, but I'll be sure to get one when I'm 18.

 

So not really getting in trouble, but I thought I'd share. 

[SirSnookalot]

Addressing only the area of South Florida where I live, it isn't difficult to know if you are on public or private property, signs or no signs.  There are private spots where you just know that isn't the place to be and other private spots that probably won't pose a problem.  A little common sense goes a long way.

 

As invader we think that we are causing no harm, why should people care.  On the other side when people come into my community I always don't like it for a variety of reasons.  Being human I flow with the opportunities that favor me, you bet I'm selfish and I'm not the only one.

 

last week I wanted to fish a community that I know holds peacocks, I even have a friend living there but I didn't want to bother her.  I drove up the gatehouse and asked the guard, he was nice but declined.  I did have to respect the fact that it's his job not to let anyone in that doesn't belong there.

[Bankbeater]

If it is posted "No Fishing" or "No Trespassing" I don't go there, plain and simple.  There is usually a reason why those signs are up.

[LunkercityVB]

Private property as in farmers pond or local home owners property i always stay away from unless i have permission, but for some reason here in VA every pond that says NO TRESSPASSING or NO FISHING usually has the biggest fish and I take my chances. Most of the time people dont really care, and 9/10 they are just gonna ask you to leave. I do have a friend that fishes a a local small lake here that brings a trashbag and cleans up trash for about a half hour before he fishes which seems like a great idea. --tightlines

[flyfisher]

Knowingly disregarding the law and people's wishes on their property is what gives fisherman a bad name.  If you take your chances, why not take your chances by asking permission.  I have been denied permission on a few lakes where they specifically stated that too many people already fish there without permission and they have to run them off so they do not want anyone to fish there to prevent any possible misconceptions that it is perfectly ok to fish there without permission.

 

So to you, i say thanks for making my permission obtaining more difficult by knowingly ignoring laws and people's wishes.  

 

Private property as in farmers pond or local home owners property i always stay away from unless i have permission, but for some reason here in VA every pond that says NO TRESSPASSING or NO FISHING usually has the biggest fish and I take my chances. Most of the time people dont really care, and 9/10 they are just gonna ask you to leave. I do have a friend that fishes a a local small lake here that brings a trashbag and cleans up trash for about a half hour before he fishes which seems like a great idea. --tightlines

[LunkercityVB]

"hawg" like i said before...personal property is different. The property im referring to is usually city or state property and even in some cases shopping center ponds and in those cases there's not just a door to walk up to and ask. Most of the people that control the laws on these areas are city cops and the few that I've ran into are actually just curious to see if anyones catching fish in these ponds and never ask us to leave. Don't think for a secong im a disrepectful fisherman that gives other saints like yourself a bad name. If im asked to leave I'm always polite and leave, its kinda like speeding. Everyone does it, but if I get caught im not gonna act like its the officers fault, accept the ticket and move on.

[SirSnookalot]

I've fished some of those Mall ponds.  A mall is private property, some company owns the land and leases to the stores.  I've been left alone for the most part, once in a while security will ask me to leave.  I don't often park at a strip center, the parking spots are vital for the businesses.  Most larger malls should pose no real problem, the ponds are usually a good distance from the stores.