Asking Permission in upscale areas

[JCrzy4Bass]

Hey guys. I have this pond literally 2 minutes down the road from my work once I get in my car. I found it on google earth. It probably has about 25-30 homes that surround it. Most of these homes are probably my guess are around 500,000 to 600,000 dollars. Nice upscale homes in a secluded residential area off one of the busier roads in the city by the college.

I haven't seen anyone on this small lake when I drive by. However, there is a small cul de sac that is by a private drive and there are no "no parking" signs or "no trespassing" signs. There is no given path down to the water so I assume all the shoreline is private.

I think some of the homes have security systems set up so I'm afraid to go knocking on doors asking permission. But the lake looks really good and I'm sure it holds fish.

How would you guys go about getting permission?

I have another lake 15 minutes down the road but by the time I get there walk to one of the better spots and fish I only get 25 minutes fishing time. If I got to fish this pond I'd have over 45 minutes of fishing during my lunch break at work (hour long break)!!! Best part is I wear jeans tennis shoes and a t shirt to work so I don't have to worry about getting nice clothes really dirty, a stain or dirt mark here or there is ok.

I was thinking about saying how I am an avid catch and release bass fishermen and that I don't keep any fish.  I was also thinking of telling them that I will not bring any food/drink around the shoreline and will not litter at all and will clean up any thing I bring along with me as far as tackle and so forth before I leave checking to make sure nothing is left behind.  Also I was going to say I always have two rods so if they'd be interested in learning or watching I could show them some of what I know.

So... whaddu you think?

[Raul]

The worst thing that could happen if you ask for permission is that you don 't get it, but you don 't ask you 'll never know for shure. But on the other hand, the fact that there are no signs saying "no parking" or "no trespassing" doesn 't mean it 's fair game and anybody can enter, that shure is a way of getting into trouble.

The problem with that type of communities is that everything is handled by a home owners association and like always, when several people have to agree on something it 's the mayority the one who wins but doesn 't mean those who disagree will be satisfied with the decission if the association grants you some priviledges.

[JCrzy4Bass]

Hey Raul, if one said no, would you keep on going down the line trying to obtain permission from another?  I don't want to be known as "the fisherguy who annoys the community" and suddenly have the cops called on me for bugging the different home owners.

[Bassnbrett101]

I think if you rationally explain the the people that own the land to the shoreline they should really have no opposition to you fishing there.  I would say ask the first or second person if they knew who owned the lake itself, and if theres someone who actually owns the lake ask them.  I have a dispute over a lake I fish thats only a couple minutes from my house, the landowners on the lake don't want me to fish there but since I'm friends with the owner of the lake it doesn't matter.  They have called the cops on me and once the cops got there they couldnt do anything to me because the lake owner said I could.  As long as you don't harm the environment or litter it really doesn't matter to most people, i stay away from the land where the owners called the cops on me though i don't want that to happen again.

[GobbleDog]

We had this discussion once before and it ended badly. I think ole muddy is still ticked off at me.  

permission vs forgiveness  

[SPEEDBEAD.]

I know when I was really into fly fishing for trout, some of the best areas ran through the farms around where I grew up.  Most of the time, if you present yourself as a respectful, responsible person, the people who owned the land would grant you access.  I am a catch and release guy (trout included) but I always offered to bring them some if they would like.

A few things:

1. Dont drive on their grass.  Specifically ask where you can drive and park.

2. Pick up after yourself.  Sure fire way to never gain access again is to leave your junk on the ground after you leave.

3. SAY THANK YOU SIR (MA'AM), whether the answer is "yes" or "no". Just by doing this, I have had a "no" magically turn into, "Well, I suppose you can go ahead and fish.

Politeness goes a long way with property owners (and a lot of other people), show respect and you will likely get it in return.

Wayne

[Guest muddy]

I can add one to that Once given permission, bring a small plastic bag and clean up after others who don't respect the place like you do.

[Raul]

Hey Raul, if one said no, would you keep on going down the line trying to obtain permission from another? I don't want to be known as "the fisherguy who annoys the community" and suddenly have the cops called on me for bugging the different home owners.

You are not going to ask knocking at every door, I would go and knock on the first door and POLITELY ask who the homeowners association president is, then I would talk to him and ask if there would be any problem to submit my request to the homeowners association and you start from there and be ready to cultivate something that 's very hard to cultivate: patience. It may take a very long time before your request is accepted or denied.

But you 're not in a rush are you ?

You 've got more to gain than to loose.

[moloch16]

The most valued commodity to these people is probably time, since they most likely work like crazy to afford such a home.  Offer to cut their grass, wash cars, look after their kids, teach their kids how to fish.  Basically, trade doing a favor for them for getting to fish the lake.

[TruflShufl]

We live in a nicer neighborhood (not quite upscale like you're describing but same idea) and we have a pond out behind our house. Quite a few folks pull up and fish without permission, not a *huge* deal to us as long as we only see them C&R. Asking permission would get em a definite yes as far as I'm concerned, as long as they clean up after themselves. Especially if they pick up any trash they happen to come across.

Reminds me of a funny story. My mom's friend was stocking some fish in there that she was catching from other impoundments last year. She put in a couple big ol' pregnant catfish. A few weeks later my mom saw this fella pull one of the pregnant mamas out and put it on a stringer. She went down there and said a few choice words. He'll think twice before bringin the stringer again  ;D

I'd say just go up and ask em, worst they can do is say no...  8-)

[JCrzy4Bass]

So get this... I go during lunch. I go to one side of the lake and knock on the first door around the corner. How bout' my luck? President of the Home Owner's Association lol. Anyway he begins to tell me he can't give me permission after I ask politely. However him being an avid fishermen himself points me to a pond that is NOT on google earth across the next road over where there "are" fish. He said people there grant permission to their pond on occassion. So I figure I'll try.

I go over there and knock on the first door on the cul de sac on that road. The lady is nice and on the phone when I first knock. I apologize for interrupting her call and begin to tell her about how I work up the road at a community college and I'm just looking for a quiet place to fish during my hour lunch break. I tell her I don't bring anything other than one pole and my tackle bag with all artificial baits. I tell her I clean up all my surroundings and so forth. She grins and says "I used to let people on here but I've had things stolen in the past, but you seem respectful enough to come and ask permission and so forth so go ahead". Or something of that nature.

So anyway I fish, ton of boxed turtles run into the water when I get to the shoreline. Ton of them sunbathing. I see one small bass while I'm there run across the somewhat stained water of the shoreline. One catfish about the size of my arm by the dock, but no hookups.

I thanked the lady for letting me fish and told her if she ever needs anything as far as help at the college, her family/sons/daughters etc to look me up and gave her my name. She thanked me and invited me back if there are more nice days like this. All I have to do is knock and let her know. Sweet deal!

She even has a private dock and some nice laydowns right beside it.  I tried a Mann's today, maybe next time I'll bust out the shakey head or senko.

Muddy good idea on the cleaning up after others.  This place was SPOTLESS though.  Yards incredibly well kept with different companies out there doing work and so forth.  If I see anything next time though I'll keep that in mind!

[Raul]

but you seem respectful enough to come and ask permission

We were right weren 't we ?  

I told you, you had nothing to loose and a lot to win, who knows, maybe your next PB is lurking in that little pond.

[roadwarrior]

Man, this has become a GREAT thread.

To all contributors, thanks you!

8-)

[fishinfiend]

I would suggest that you try to sweeten the deal. Tell that ol' lady that you will cut her grass  2x a month if you can fish there everyday.   ;D

[senile1]

Congratulations on your success.  Always ask permission, even in less well-to-do neighborhoods.

[Shad_Master]

I have a similar situation near my work - what I did was ask around until I found someone who knew someone who lived on the pond - I then wrote up a permission letter and asked that the first someone ask the second someone to sign it.  No problem.