Fishing around private docks, etc?

[Jar11591]

1 hour ago, sully420 said:

 all water is public and property owners on the lake have the privilege to have docks and boats on public property as such there is a cost to having you property on public water people can fish around your dock and boat and any your property could be damaged that's the price of having your property on public land live with it or move. 

 

Glad somebody finally said it. 

[Choporoz]

16 hours ago, WCWV said:

In my home State there's a law that you can't fish within 20 feet of someone else fishing. I guess it would depend on local or state regulations 

 

I guess that's one way to keep your 'new friends' from begging you to take them on your new 19 foot boat 

[BaitMonkey1984]

I fall somewhere in the middle here. I generally give people their space. If there is a party, or lots of people on the beach/ dock I will generally pass right by it and return to it later. If there is one person on the dock I will generally feel the person out as I troll on over to it, only getting as close as need be to present my bait effectively. After saying hi and making a bit of small talk, if I get the feeling they are OK with my presence I stay, if not on most occasions I will leave after a few casts (except for my favorite few docks). Most people are very friendly that I encounter and enjoy talking to them about them fishing, sports, etc.

 

Now, as others have stated if there is someone who is skilled in placing their bait in tight quarters, skipping, flipping, etc although I may not like the fact they still may error and hit my boat I understand they have that right. In regards to individuals who are not skilled once they start getting too close to the boat, I generally ask them politely to guess what a bright new shiny wakeboard costs. When I tell them the cost, they usually get the message and give proper space due to their skills. 

[WIGuide]

Looks like someone bumped a dinosaur, but what the heck, I'll throw my two cents into the ring. I've lived on the lake all my life and have zero problems with people fishing docks including my own. The only issue I'd have is if I'm fishing off the dock and someone doesn't give me space or at least stop casting while they pass by. If I'm not have at it. I'm not worried about people hitting the dock with a bait as I've never seen any type of dock that will be harmed by any lures bouncing off of them. I don't store my boat in the water, or on a lift, but I know if I did, I do so at my own risk. Nobody is going through intentionally trying to make bad casts and hit my stuff, but I realize bad casts do happen occasionally. It's really not the end of the world if they do.

 

I think a lot of people need to be reminded that sharing means sharing and not claiming. If you're lounging on your dock and I'm fishing, neither of us are interfering with the other's activities so nobody should get their feathers ruffled. I can't complain too much about my area as people seem to feel the same way. I've actually had more people come out of their houses to see what I caught off their dock than I have had negative comments. 

[J Francho]

I usually say hello to people on their docks.  You'd be surprised how many invite you to fish their docks, or they reveal some special information.  There's one nut case on Conesus that's very entertaining, though harmless.  One thing you want to be careful of is in a marina.  Many people sleep on their boats, and even if the marina is open to fishing, you want to be quiet in the early hours.

[N Florida Mike]

I also live on a lake with a dock.I have a couple boats down there and chairs etc.If I was out there fishing or otherwise I would expect them not to get too close.But people rarely come down to my end of the lake unless its canoes or kayaks.They have to get through a big eel grass bed so most people turn around.If someone does get down where I am, I try to be friendly.Because of this ,I have met the one canoist/ fisherman that comes down to my place the most.I couldn't imagine being mean to someone in the water that was fishing or paddling around.

When the canoeist came last time,I was doing a little casting , he apologized for getting too close . But he wanted to tell me about the bed he saw down by his house.I told him basically,No worries mate . The only things   I can think of that would get me riled up would be if they were tresspassing or casting too close if I was out there.It wouldnt even bother me if they bonked lures off my boats. ( It'd be hard to hurt a bass hunter or jb !  )

[Looking for the big one]

lol...

 

boater problems.

 

[gim]

6 hours ago, sully420 said:

I respect people's property and I respect dock and bank fisherman's space boaters as well for that matter. In Minnesota all water is public and property owners on the lake have the privilege to have docks and boats on public property as such there is a cost to having you property on public water people can fish around your dock and boat and any your property could be damaged that's the price of having your property on public land live with it or move. I would gladly deal with those issues to live on a lake.

 

I think your missing the point.  You can fish AROUND the docks, boats, lifts, etc but damaging that private property is definitely illegal.  The price of having a nice lake shore property does not mean having to deal with inaccurate, bone headed fishermen that vandalize your personal property.  For that very reason, I avoid docks with people present.  I'm pretty accurate with my casting and have confidence about hitting my intended target, but we're all human and we miss.  One of these times a lake shore owner is gonna come out with a shotgun and start blasting.  No bass is worth that.

[Turkey sandwich]

I think most of the time decency and common sense prevail.  Usually when I run into folks on the water - be it folks on docks, in boats, other fishermen, etc friendly small talk follows.  Usually they ask how the fish are biting or for some advice on bait, location, etc.. I have no trouble being friendly and obliging.  On the other hand, anyone on a jet ski is open game.  I f'n hate jet skis. 

[Hawkeye21]

3 minutes ago, Turkey sandwich said:

I think most of the time decency and common sense prevail.  Usually when I run into folks on the water - be it folks on docks, in boats, other fishermen, etc friendly small talk follows.  Usually they ask how the fish are biting or for some advice on bait, location, etc.. I have no trouble being friendly and obliging.  On the other hand, anyone on a jet ski is open game.  I f'n hate jet skis. 

 

I have a feeling that hatred for jet skis is the one thing that all people on the water can agree on, except of course for the ones that own jet skis.

[lo n slo]

......and skiers. don't forget the skiers.

[IndianaFinesse]

11 minutes ago, lo n slo said:

......and skiers. don't forget the skiers.

Wake boarders (and skiirs and jet skiirs) are my nemesis.  Nearly been swamped by the massive waves from the dang wakeboarders driven by drunk idiots several times.  A general term for hated watercraft users is "pleasure boaters", but I call them something different that would probably be filtered out on here.

[gim]

5 hours ago, Turkey sandwich said:

I f'n hate jet skis. 

 

LOL don't we all.  Might as well throw pontoons, wake boarders, tubers, water skiers, and cruisers in there too.

35 minutes ago, IndianaFinesse said:

A general term for hated watercraft users is "pleasure boaters", but I call them something different that would probably be filtered out on here.

 

I call them riff raff

[Turkey sandwich]

The upside to jet skiers (on the note of casting accuracy) is that they're great practice targets for finesse baits like Super Spooks and Alabama rigs. 

[the reel ess]

On 4/11/2017 at 5:39 AM, Columbia Craw said:

There is one dock on my home lake where the owner takes issue of anyone being even close.  They put a large industrial sprinkler on it with a motion detector.  Get within 20 yards and the pump starts and it sprays out about 25 yards. It's to keep the " geese " off her dock.  Pretty ingenious actually.  You know that that white stuff is on the top of goose s**t ?  Yup, it's more goose s**t. .

I wonder if that turns the fish on in the summer, kind of like an aerator.

16 hours ago, J Francho said:

I usually say hello to people on their docks.  You'd be surprised how many invite you to fish their docks, or they reveal some special information.  There's one nut case on Conesus that's very entertaining, though harmless.  One thing you want to be careful of is in a marina.  Many people sleep on their boats, and even if the marina is open to fishing, you want to be quiet in the early hours.

This is true. Where I'm from a lot of people put something under their dock in winter to attract spawning crappie in the spring.A lot of them will tell you to flip under there.

4 hours ago, Turkey sandwich said:

The upside to jet skiers (on the note of casting accuracy) is that they're great practice targets for fitness baits like Super Spooks and Alabama rigs. 

Thy're the worst. My dad would always say's "I hope he hits a stump" when one came by.

[Jar11591]

5 hours ago, Turkey sandwich said:

The upside to jet skiers (on the note of casting accuracy) is that they're great practice targets for fitness baits like Super Spooks and Alabama rigs. 

 

[J Francho]

Casting targets?  I hit a jet skier, or I should say he hit me while cruising in my bass boat.  He's lucky I was only going 25 or so.  He just kept going.  Followed him to his cottage, found his parents, showed them the scrape on the jet ski, and my boat.  Needless to say, I'm glad he was alright, and that he was grounded from using the jet ski.

[RichF]

I've only had one negative experience fishing docks.  That was on Cayuga.  The owner sprinted down his yard yelling at me.  I didn't say a word, just moved along to the next one.  I agree that small talk goes a long way.  You'd be amazed at how far a simple "good morning" will go.  I think asking permission is also a courteous gesture.  I've never had anyone tell me I couldn't fish their dock if I asked.  Most people are cool.  I've even had people cheer and clap after pulling a nice one off their dock.  Told them "You mind if I take this one for a little boat ride?  I'll drop off this little guy in her place for now."  

 

I can understand the dock owners' plight though.  I can't say I wouldn't be ticked if I got senko hooks stuck in my hands while pulling out my dock at the close of the season or seeing big dings in my boat or motor.  If you're skilled enough and courteous enough..dock-fish-away. If not, maybe practice those things a little first.  

[papajoe222]

If you are pi$$ed because you were fishing at the time, you should be. If it's because they were fishing around your dock, you are among most dock owners. Not because they feel they own the water around and under their docks, but because for every angler that can put a lure exactly where they want it and never hit your personal property, there are 25 that will attempt to do so. You should have said something either way.

On a couple of lakes that I fish, dock owners run string, a few inches above the top and below the bottom of their docks in an effort to deter fishing. They have every right to keep you from trespassing to collect any lures that get entangled in the string, just as you have every right to fish the water around and under said dock (depending on local laws.

All it takes is one hot head on either side of this 'fence' to stir up trouble.  

[dwh4784]

On 4/11/2017 at 2:39 AM, Columbia Craw said:

There is one dock on my home lake where the owner takes issue of anyone being even close.  They put a large industrial sprinkler on it with a motion detector.  Get within 20 yards and the pump starts and it sprays out about 25 yards. It's to keep the " geese " off her dock.  Pretty ingenious actually.  You know that that white stuff is on the top of goose s**t ?  Yup, it's more goose s**t. .

I have something like that in my yard for the neighborhood cats that think a freshly tilled garden is a litter box. Best invention ever!

[Airman4754]

This topic is the "get off my lawn" of bass fishing.

 

Bass fisherman are going to fish docks, dock owners are going to get mad about it. Turn that music down, get off my lawn, tv will rot your brain. Old man yells at clouds. 

 

This is a topic where nothing will ever be gained by anyone.

[TOXIC]

I'll stop fishing docks as soon as the fish stop hiding under them.    As a guide, I have a lot of stories about docks and I have had a lot of conversations with dock owners.  Mutual respect goes a long way but just be aware, there are some people who will NEVER be courteous (on both sides of the issue).  You can only control you, so don't be one of those people.