Private Lakes - DNR Stocked - Fishing Rights

[Bartableman7]

I was talking to a friend of mine who lives on a private lake with homes all the way around except on the dam end.  He told me that they (home owners)  used the DNR to stock the lake with bass and bluegill.  Because of the DNR stocking, the lake must be open to the public for one day a year.  He said they picked New Year's day (so it would be too cold for anyone to show up).  They also never say a word about this rule.  Anyone think this is possibly true?  Or is he full of do-do?  

 

[OldManLure]

Sounds fishy.

[Bluebasser86]

Why not contact the DNR and ask them?

[Bartableman7]

That will be on my "to do" as well.  Hope someone here has has experience with it.  I'm thinking the DNR would be tight lipped.

[Jig Man]

I contacted our Missouri Conservation Department about stocking fish in some of our ponds.  They said if they did then I would have to let the public fish them.  But it wasn’t just one day per year it was whenever someone wanted to.

[cyclops2]

You would need a FULL  copy of the DNR requirements.  You MIGHT become sued for any type of injury or lawsuit.  Thank you DNR.  But no thanks.  They get the nice guy praise. Owner is in court because a toddler drowned.  No thank you.

[Bankbeater]

10 hours ago, Jig Man said:

I contacted our Missouri Conservation Department about stocking fish in some of our ponds.  They said if they did then I would have to let the public fish them.  But it wasn’t just one day per year it was whenever someone wanted to.

We have some parks in the area like this.  The city owns everything in the park, but the lake, because it is stocked by the conservation dept.  Conservation dept. rules apply to the lakes they stock.

[MN Fisher]

9 minutes ago, Bankbeater said:

We have some parks in the area like this.  The city owns everything in the park, but the lake, because it is stocked by the conservation dept.  Conservation dept. rules apply to the lakes they stock.

Same here. City of Chaska (sw of Minneapolis) has a park with a pond. Normally, only city residents can use the park, but as the MN-DNR stocks trout in the pond...it's open to anyone to fish.

[JustJames]

I live in private lake as well, the last time POA stocked, bass bluegill and crappie using POA money (from home owner) by recommendation of those hungry bass club. On the other hand POA limited our shoreline  fishing spot again by the bass club and the reason is for our safety. 

[GaryH]

In Pa. If the fish and boat commission stock it then it’s open for public use. Unless it’s posted as hatchery waters.

[Basstagger]

I was personally responsible for stocking our 200 Lake in South Carolina in 2013. I reached out to the DNR and they said because our lake of 200 acres was not opened to the public, they could not get involved. They did however give me clear guidance as to what should be stocked in the lake and how many of each species . It cost the HOA over $16,000 in 2013 and it was well worth the money as the population of fish is very healthy. I have the list of fish species and how many of each we stocked if it would help anyone, I can post the numbers.

We invited the DNR to our fish Club meeting and He answered questions ranging from fertilization of the lake, what structure to put in the lake and where, and even gave us a 1 year, 3 year and 5 year plan.

We have shown the DNR  the spider blocks we are going to sink in the lake (made from from old orange fiber optic pipe), and they told us they will last almost indefinitely and we never have stock the lake again,  once the structure is added.

 

I have started to tag all the largemouth bass I catch, and the DNR said they will work with me to determine what size fish and how many should be removed each year to grow bigger bass, which is our main goal. So far I have tagged 65 Bass and most of them are in the 1-3 pound range.

 

If you get the right DNR person, they can be a wealth of guidance and knowledge and it's free.

 

Good Luck