Jiggy With It Posted March 20, 2015 Posted March 20, 2015 Well fishing one of my golf course honey holes I found myself face to face with one of the Pro-shop guys... Normally, this is a non-issue because I work for the Company (not specific course) and have fished with some guys that work there. I've never had an issue because I fish off-hours and respect the course (cleaning up after myself & others, stay wayyy off to the sides, ect..) So fishing today in a misting rain, with nobody on the course at 6pm on a Thursday afternoon, this young 20-something kid walks down from the pro-shop and immediately starts laying into me about how I'm trespassing and "I've seen you out here before why do you keep coming back".. Fortunately for him, I was on a hot streak and was soaked so I didn't even bother arguing with him- I'd caught enough crappie for a fish fry (the whole reason I was out there). I guess me walking away from him as he was trying to scold me (another grown man?) made him even more agitated and he began lecturing me on how he had to stop what he was doing to walk down and tell me to leave and if he ever saw me again he would call the police on the spot, yada yada yada. I never bothered to tell him that I work for the Company, that I have friends & family that are Police Officers in the department he would call on me or the fact that I fish with his boss. BUT I heard rumors that the spot I was fishing is owned by the county due to some ruling regulations.. After some digging on the County Tax Assessors website I confirmed that the area I was fishing & the ponds I was fishing in are indeed owned by the County! Guess where I will be at 5pm tomorrow with the printed tax assessors map, my Drivers license and Fishing license! Ol' buddy shoulda shown some respect, because it ain't illegal to cuss someone out in front of an officer!!!
Super User Angry John Posted March 20, 2015 Super User Posted March 20, 2015 Why let another ruin your peace. I fish to get over bs not cause more. 3
georgeyew Posted March 20, 2015 Posted March 20, 2015 Please get a video, I'd love to see his face when he is eating crow. 6
Jiggy With It Posted March 20, 2015 Author Posted March 20, 2015 Why let another ruin your peace. I fish to get over bs not cause more. Agreed, which is why sticking it to him will feel even better!
Super User A-Jay Posted March 20, 2015 Super User Posted March 20, 2015 I'd encourage you to do it all with a big happy smile and with the most pleasant & kind demeanor you can muster. Be the nicest guy you can possibly be during the entire process - no matter what happens. Even introduce yourself & shake his hand as soon as he approaches. And Yes - a video would be nice - if nothing else, just for our viewing pleasure. Good Luck . . . . . . .with the fishing I mean. A-Jay 5
Super User Montanaro Posted March 20, 2015 Super User Posted March 20, 2015 Nothing solves an argument like making the other guy feel insulted Be polite and diffuse the situation and he won't have a reason to harass you. Hope he leaves ya alone 1
Jiggy With It Posted March 20, 2015 Author Posted March 20, 2015 Nothing solves an argument like making the other guy feel insulted Be polite and diffuse the situation and he won't have a reason to harass you. Hope he leaves ya alone The problem is he keeps pressing me, where as I had mutual understandings with the gentlemen who worked before him. They would tell me something along the lines of "I'm sorry to bother you sir but you're going to have to leave, next time you choose to fish here come when we aren't busy." It's not like I'm the only one either.. I've had conversations with MANY other golfers and residents (because I live in the neighborhood) about how good the fishing is in these ponds. It's a mutual understanding to fish later in the evenings and not on the weekends, or WAS.... I just feel disrespected honestly, it's one thing to ask me to leave (politely) but to blatantly tell me to "leave you are trespassing" is putting it cold, in my opinion. Not to mention threatening to call the police, or to tell me that I am "destroying" the course...? I'm going to bite my tongue and be as respectful as possible, but if he calls the police on me like he claims he will I will share some choice words with him. He works behind the counter at the pro-shop, it's not like people are complaining or he is the "Boss". Sorry about the long posts, as you can tell I'm upset about this. Hopefully we can come to an understanding as adults, like I have with the gentlemen before him. 4
Super User Lund Explorer Posted March 20, 2015 Super User Posted March 20, 2015 Choose your windmills wisely Mr. Quixote. A ten minute conversation with management of the course may not satisfy your argumentative side, but would go a long ways towards your future enjoyment of ponds that you state are yours to enjoy already. Or, continue on with your plan to collect your pound of flesh. I'm sure the LEO's forced to respond don't have anything better to do than help you in your quest. I'm sure that management of both the course and the company you work for won't mind either. 3
Super User SirSnookalot Posted March 20, 2015 Super User Posted March 20, 2015 Fish some where else until you go with his boss. Right or wrong hassles aren't worth the effort over a fish. 3
Jiggy With It Posted March 20, 2015 Author Posted March 20, 2015 Choose your windmills wisely Mr. Quixote. A ten minute conversation with management of the course may not satisfy your argumentative side, but would go a long ways towards your future enjoyment of ponds that you state are yours to enjoy already. Or, continue on with your plan to collect your pound of flesh. I'm sure the LEO's forced to respond don't have anything better to do than help you in your quest. I'm sure that management of both the course and the company you work for won't mind either. After working out and relaxing I finally realized that it's not worth it. If I REALLY want to fish this spot I can go late (after they close) or meet up with Boss Hawg and have a little conversation. The fishing there is awesome, but not worth the potential risk of trespassing fines & burning bridges. 2
Super User Lund Explorer Posted March 20, 2015 Super User Posted March 20, 2015 After working out and relaxing I finally realized that it's not worth it. If I REALLY want to fish this spot I can go late (after they close) or meet up with Boss Hawg and have a little conversation. The fishing there is awesome, but not worth the potential risk of trespassing fines & burning bridges. BINGO! 1
Super User A-Jay Posted March 20, 2015 Super User Posted March 20, 2015 After working out and relaxing I finally realized that it's not worth it. If I REALLY want to fish this spot I can go late (after they close) or meet up with Boss Hawg and have a little conversation. The fishing there is awesome, but not worth the potential risk of trespassing fines & burning bridges. Perfect. A-Jay
Super User WIGuide Posted March 20, 2015 Super User Posted March 20, 2015 You should go back again, but go with his boss. I wonder how he'd respond when he comes running out trying to chase you off again and he's standing face to face with you and his boss. Then you don't have to worry about any police or legal issues. You will still get to watch him eat crow, but there shouldn't be any negative repercussions. 1
Super User Master Bait'r Posted March 20, 2015 Super User Posted March 20, 2015 The solution is simple. The next time you go there, go when you know he will be working and go with your friend/his boss. Say nothing. Do nothing. The situation will fix itself instantaneously and you will not have to say or do a thing. 1
DocNsanE Posted March 20, 2015 Posted March 20, 2015 I'd encourage you to do it all with a big happy smile and with the most pleasant & kind demeanor you can muster. Be the nicest guy you can possibly be during the entire process - no matter what happens. Even introduce yourself & shake his hand as soon as he approaches. And Yes - a video would be nice - if nothing else, just for our viewing pleasure. Good Luck . . . . . . .with the fishing I mean. A-Jay I once scouted a lake nearby and found what seemed to be an abandoned and decaying dock next to the main road. Not too far from there there was a house with people outside. I made my way out onto the dock and waved at them and they didn't seem to care so I proceeded to fish the area. About an hour and a half later, someone parks on the main road and comes straight for me. He looks like he is ready to punch me in the face. He starts lecturing me about how this is private property and that dock belongs to him and he's super ticked about my trespassing. I just did exactly as you described A-Jay: put on my most pleasant demeanor, explained to him that I had already picked up litter on the spot and would be leaving it nicer than when I arrived, explained that I thought it belonged to that other family and they didn't seem to mind so I thought I was okay. I remained hyper polite the whole time. Meanwhile some other guy shows up in a boat and I quickly understand that this is the first guy's friend and he's the one who called his buddy to tell him someone was trespassing on his dock. He's also looking for a fight from his attitude but I just remain calm and super polite and eventually the guy tells me I can fish from there today but never to come back. Being super nice and smiling really disarms someone who is looking for a confrontation, it's even better when you know you are 100% in the right like in your case OP. Best of luck! 3
Super User F14A-B Posted March 20, 2015 Super User Posted March 20, 2015 The young lad simply doesn't know better, I would have at least engaged him Initially.. (communication) is vital, I feel you could have diffused it at that point, possibly. However, I do agree with several posters here.. Bottom line, it's never, ever worth fighting, police involvement or a restoration of hurt pride over a fishing spot.. Some things in life are worth fighting for ( literally) Somehow, I don't see this as one of them... Best wishes though... 2
Super User Montanaro Posted March 20, 2015 Super User Posted March 20, 2015 I said that to my wife once... Keyword: "once" 1
frogflogger Posted March 20, 2015 Posted March 20, 2015 I know golf course ponds have some very good fishing but I would be very leary of eating anything from them.
Super User J Francho Posted March 20, 2015 Super User Posted March 20, 2015 I guarantee that you drag police, the owner, the kid at the pro shop and your Aunt Martha over to the pond for a debate, it will end with no one being to fish that place. When it comes to private property and legal issues, we err on the side of caution. Not much more discuss here. 3
Recommended Posts