Help me get fishing decriminalized on my local lake

[Yazman]

Fellow anglers,

 

I have an 18-acre lake by my house that used to be filled with bass and other fish but has been taken over by carp. The DNR is willing to stock the lake for free, but the only thing standing in the way is the anti-fishing policies of my city. All I need to do is convince the city to allow fishing on this lake, and the DNR will stock it for free. Even if you don't live in Cleveland or even Ohio, please consider signing it to show your support!

 

http://chng.it/dZ5bzCck

 

If you would like more info, there's more info on the petition page about specifics. 

 

Thank you!

[huZZah]

Ummm....why no fishing? 

[Yazman]

The lake is managed by two cities, and one city is cool and allows fishing but the other does not. They cited potential trash and injuries to humans. The local fisheries biologist thinks their concerns are unrealistic, but the city is unmoved. In reality, the side of the lake in question is surrounded by homes that are close to $800,000 in value. A lot of those people just don't want to see people sitting on buckets and fishing.

[TnRiver46]

Leave this city immediately and don’t look back 

[Yazman]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

Leave this city immediately and don’t look back 

A lot of great people here, but the city is not listening to us. Cool place to live but run by bureaucrats. This petition is a really positive movement though. For the first time since I've lived here people are really getting involved in the community level to advocate for something they care about. This has been a cultural touchstone and a big positive for our city. Any signatures, even from those outside the state, would help a lot.

 

Today it's my city, but tomorrow it could be yours. Please take a stand for fishing rights everywhere!

[MN Fisher]

22 minutes ago, Yazman said:

Today it's my city, but tomorrow it could be yours. Please take a stand for fishing rights everywhere!

I signed the petition - but our state enshrined the right to hunt/fish in the constitution. Cities have to prove to the state that restrictions are for 'the common good' - several have tried, none have succeeded.

MN Constitution - Article 13 Sec. 12. Preservation of hunting and fishing.

Hunting and fishing and the taking of game and fish are a valued part of our heritage that shall be forever preserved for the people and shall be managed by law and regulation for the public good.

[TnRiver46]

When people start telling me I can’t get my food out of the river, I start telling them to kick rocks 

[Bankc]

If it's a city thing, go to a town hall meeting.  Or set up a meeting with the mayor or whatever.  Explain to them that they can charge a usage fee or a fishing license fee, and it's costing them more money to not allow fishing.  Then remind them that more people fishing on the lake will reduce the amount of crime on the lake, as criminals tend to like to congregate in places where no one visits.  Instead of presenting it as an issue where you're asking them to do you a favor by letting you fish there, present it as an issue where they can improve their city, generate local business, increase revenue, and win votes.  Give them what they want.  If they balk that the costs are too high or whatever, remind them that many cities just put a little lock box on the ramps or parking lots, so you could do it with as small of an investment as a metal box, a pole, a bag of concrete, a pad lock, and someone to go empty it once a day.  Remind them that fishing is exploding in popularity and this is their chance to cash in on it.  

[throttleplate]

a bunch of karens living around the lake with money and next will have a save the fish rally.

[Jigfishn10]

Between the Browns and Indians, have you not suffered enough?

 

Man, that puts a birds nest in my reel!
 

Where do I sign?

 

Never mind, consider it done.

[MAN]

I'm curious...what are the consequences if caught fishing?   

[Yazman]

2 hours ago, MAN said:

I'm curious...what are the consequences if caught fishing?   

It's completely allowed on one side of the lake and there is a "soft ban" on the other. I fished there a ton and no one ever bothers me. However, there used to be a ton of big carp the kids liked to fish for, but there is nothing left now. I just can't believe the DNR wants to stock it for free in the city is saying "no"

3 hours ago, Jigfishn10 said:

Between the Browns and Indians, have you not suffered enough?

 

Man, that puts a birds nest in my reel!
 

Where do I sign?

 

Never mind, consider it done.

Thank you so much! One thing I love about fishing community is how much we support each other. I truly appreciate it.

 

And also, we enjoy watching the Browns and Indians lose ?

7 hours ago, throttleplate said:

a bunch of karens living around the lake with money and next will have a save the fish rally.

This is so, so true. There are Karens that literally watch out the window of their $600,000 houses just waiting for someone to try to put in a kayak or throw a line in, then they call the police and scream. They think they own the lake just because they live next to it. The city bends over backwards to please them because they pay the lion's share of the taxes.

[Yazman]

I wish you guys could have seen the city council meeting where they read 90 pro-fishing comments. City council literally laughed as they read the comments and mocked them. A ton of council members either muted their video or just plain logged off. It was extremely disrespectful and anti-sportsman. These big city bureaucrats think fishermen are bums that can be brushed aside and ignored. Let's see if they ignore 1000 signatures!

[TnRiver46]

3 hours ago, MAN said:

I'm curious...what are the consequences if caught fishing?   

Filleted and deep fried! 

[throttleplate]

1 hour ago, Yazman said:

I wish you guys could have seen the city council meeting where they read 90 pro-fishing comments. City council literally laughed as they read the comments and mocked them. A ton of council members either muted their video or just plain logged off. It was extremely disrespectful and anti-sportsman. These big city bureaucrats think fishermen are bums that can be brushed aside and ignored. Let's see if they ignore 1000 signatures!

 

there will be a time in the future where fishing reels that can hold over 120 yards of braided line will be banned along with all lures with treble hooks.

 

[jbsoonerfan]

Signed, good luck!

[Bass90]

Signed. Hope it works out

[islandbass]

15 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Leave this city immediately and don’t look back 

Or be turned into a pillar of salt, lol. “Fly, you fools!” (LOTR reference) 

 

To the topic, would there be a way to know we aren’t local?

Update: They will know I’m not local. Hope it doesn’t matter. 

Edited April 21, 2021 by islandbass
Update.

[islandbass]

15 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Leave this city immediately and don’t look back 

Or be turned into a pillar of salt, lol. “Fly, you fools!” (LOTR reference) 

 

To the topic, would there be a way to know we aren’t local?

 

Signed. It was at 95 before I did and by the time I finished, it bumped up to 102. 

[NavyVet1204]

Signed my friend!

[Ski]

Signed.

 

[huZZah]

10 hours ago, Yazman said:

A ton of council members either muted their video or just plain logged off. It was extremely disrespectful and anti-sportsman. These big city bureaucrats think fishermen are bums that can be brushed aside and ignored.

Just to be fair, that does describe most of the fisherman I encounter. Throwing trash around, cigarette butts everywhere, parked right at the water under the sign that says “no parking,” keeping anything they catch, fishing without a license, cleaning fish and leaving all the guts and skeleton right where they’re sitting, playing loud music, cursing at everyone else trying to fish, throwing things into the water...yeah, they act like bums and I brush them aside and ignore them. 
 

So I understand why people wouldn’t want those people around them. I don’t even want to be around them, and I teach most of their children. 

[the reel ess]

6 hours ago, islandbass said:

Or be turned into a pillar of salt, lol. “Fly, you fools!” (LOT reference) 

 

If Lot lived in the present day South Carolina he would have a SALT WIFE sticker on the back window of his pickup.

[TheBasslayer]

20 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

I signed the petition - but our state enshrined the right to hunt/fish in the constitution. Cities have to prove to the state that restrictions are for 'the common good' - several have tried, none have succeeded.

MN Constitution - Article 13 Sec. 12. Preservation of hunting and fishing.

Hunting and fishing and the taking of game and fish are a valued part of our heritage that shall be forever preserved for the people and shall be managed by law and regulation for the public good.

Michigan says the same thing in our legislature, and I signed the petition a while ago. It would help to let fishing be available to anglers everywhere, even if they are in different states.

[Yazman]

6 hours ago, islandbass said:

Or be turned into a pillar of salt, lol. “Fly, you fools!” (LOTR reference) 

 

To the topic, would there be a way to know we aren’t local?

 

Signed. It was at 95 before I did and by the time I finished, it bumped up to 102. 

It's ok if people aren't local; I doubt city council will even take the time to read the addresses. Thanks for your support!