|
|
Posts: 113
| Say you have noticed that you are having some success fishing a specific dock on the edge of somone's property. One day ( after you have fished this place a number of times) the owner comes walking down frm their cottage and asks in a rather rude manner that you not fish near their dock or even in "their" bay. What do you do? If I could post a video I would show you an incident that I would rather not have again...
Here is the clip.... not very good quality, i grabbed my digital in disbeleif and was trying to watch and the screen at the time and then the camera died.you can see how close he is to the back of my motor though...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0QJGjgQW5A
Edited by Will Dykstra 3/13/2008 2:01 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 2427
Location: Ft. Wayne Indiana | No reason to say anything, as you will lose that battle no matter what you tell him if he is that upset and irrate. I would simply ignore him and continue fishing. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 113
| That is what I did and a "gentleman" on LOTW hopped in his boat and ran circles around me screaming obscenities, coming within 18 inches ( no more than 18 anyways) of my motor......
Edited by Will Dykstra 3/13/2008 1:50 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 8781
| As a waterfront property owner, I admit it would frost me a bit to see someone repeatedly catching muskies casting at my dock. But the truth is that my property ends where the water starts. I own the dock, so tresspassing on it would be crossing the line. But nobody owns the water. The lake is for everyone, (unless of course it's private, which mine is not) and everyone is entitled to use it. That means catching muskies around my dock. If it were me, I might say something along the lines of "hey, I notice you have a fair amount of success fishing right here. I paid a lot of money for this property right here, and having a good spot right in front of my lot is something that means a lot to me. I can't tell you not to fish here, but would you mind keeping this spot under your hat?"
Now in your case, as the "offender" (relax, that was a joke) I would remind them that their lot line ends at the edge of the lake, and that you have as much of a right to fish that spot as they do. If that's not good enough for them? Well screw 'em. I have a friend who guides that encountered the same situation with a very irate property owner. I believe what my friend said in that case was "yeah, I heard 'ya. And if you don't shut the %^$& up I'm gonna come up there and beat your %^^ and throw 'ya in the $^%&$^ lake! How would 'ya like THAT?"
I wouldn't suggest that of course, but the guy did leave him alone after that.
Edited by esoxaddict 3/13/2008 1:01 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 2427
Location: Ft. Wayne Indiana | why would it make you mad if you saw somebody catching muskies from in front of your dock? If you didn't like it...get your boat out and catch 'em before somebody else does!!! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2378
| Sounds like Crazy Old Man Bay on the Goon.
I actually kind of thought that guy was going in the house to get his shotgun
I would ignore them and keep fishing. If that garnered the extreme response that you got...there may be a hookless Weagle upside the head. And then, we'd have a few "words" on shore |
|
| |
|
Posts: 619
Location: Verona, WI | This one actually hits pretty close to home. Waldo and I were on LOTW in July and were fishing an island that had a bunch of little bays like fingers on the NE side. We were just fishing (nowhere near their dock or anything - just in a bay on the island) and no one had said anything to us or us to them. All of a sudden the folks on the island run in one direction. Next thing, out of the neighboring bay came the people that lived on the island in a boat in an attempt to ram us. Just as I was getting ready to decide to jump they pealed off to miss us and then spent the rest of the encounter screaming at us to stay off their water and that they owned the lake.
We didn't talk much but came back and reported this incident. Depending on the area these can get dangerous.
Shane
Edited by ShaneW 3/13/2008 1:08 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 2378
| ShaneW - 3/13/2008 1:06 PM
Next thing, out of the neighboring bay came the people that lived on the island in a boat in an attempt to ram us. Just as I was getting ready to decide to jump they pealed off to miss us and then spent the rest of the encounter screaming at us to stay off their water and that they owned the lake.
WOW!!
What is WRONG with these people? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 113
| anyone know how to post a video? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 720
| People are really stupid sometimes. Makes you wonder how some of these crazies make it through the day standing upright. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 332
Location: Michigan | If a scenario happened to me like that in my home state of Michigan, I would report them under the angler harassment law. Not sure what other states or the province of Ontario has something simular. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2378
| Will Dykstra - 3/13/2008 1:16 PM
anyone know how to post a video?
put it on YouTube and link to it |
|
| |
|
Posts: 71
Location: Waukesha, WI | Esoxaddict- I think you are wrong on two of your points. You are correct that your property ends at the shore line. You do not own the property beyond that. Therefore, if my lure lands on your pier, I have the right to walk on that pier to recover my lure. The pier is over the publicly owned space-the lake. I would never do it, but I believe I have the legal right to get off my boat and sit on your pier and fish. Then the comment about the private lake. Let's assume that there is a stream that comes through your property and I canoe the stream or walk the streambed, I can fish "your lake". If you have a large lake that is landlocked, I think I can land my seaplane on the lake and fish. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 8781
| Well, Mike... (Hulbert) its a combination of things, actually. $1600 a month for one. And the fact the reason I bought it was to be far away from the madhouse that urban lakes become, in a place with great muskie fishing and not many people. The idea that I can walk out on my pier and catch a 30 pounder is priceless. It's why I work for a living. Seeing someone right in front of my dock, catching a bunch of muskies? Yeah, that's gonna bug me. Not mad at THEM necessarily, they're just a bunch of guys who probably love to fish as much as I do. But dang, can't they go somewhere else, like 219' West? Or East?
Chances are if it ever happens it will be somebody I know anyway, so I really won't care. Knowing that I can fish there and catch fish while they're 200 miles away at home wishing they had a place on a lake? Well, that makes it better. Most I would say would probably be "nice fish!" and leave it at that. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1764
Location: Ogden, Ut | BALDY - 3/13/2008 12:04 PM
Sounds like Crazy Old Man Bay on the Goon.
I actually kind of thought that guy was going in the house to get his shotgun
I would ignore them and keep fishing. If that garnered the extreme response that you got...there may be a hookless Weagle upside the head. And then, we'd have a few "words" on shore
That was my first thought too. Fun times. He sure carried on for a while.
S. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 8781
| L.H.: I believe I also own anything that is physically attached to that property, which would include my pier. Pretty sure you'd be tresspassing if you set foot on it to get a lure. Not that I'd expect you to leave it there or anything, you paid $20 for it after all. Sitting on the pier and fishing? Well, I'd have to draw the line there. Unless you asked of course. As long as I'm not there, somebody might as well use it. |
|
| |
|
| EA, I don't get why it would bug you if other fellow musky fishermen would catch muskies in and around your pier?
Having a place up north too, I would get a kick out of it and it would not bug me in the slightest, in fact I would actually LIKE to see guys catching muskies near my pier. What a hoot that would be to sit on the deck drink a beer and watch a musky dude catch one by your pier.
If anyone came down to the pier and razzed me I'd laugh at him and tell him to lighten up.
Most of the time when fishing shallow in and around docks people come down to talk about the fishing and the crazy lures we toss and the to just banter. Haven't had anyone get ticket yet. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 113
| s
Edited by Will Dykstra 3/13/2008 2:01 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 97
| I have run into this situation a few times. For the most part I ignore them, and usually I get out of there pretty quick anyway. However I did have a situation where the landowner made a treatening remark towards me, and this guy got to the point where he did step over the line. He then invited me to come onto his property so he could attempt to carry out his threatening remark. I did take him up on the offer, it didn't work out the way he had planned.
The way I looked at it after the fact was this guy probably has been intimidating people for awhile (he did look a little crazy) and he needed to be taught a lesson.
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 332
Location: Michigan | Man thats bad! I would feel my life was in danger and protect myself at all costs by killing him. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 97
| Wow....just saw your video. That guy needs a lesson.
What sucks about that is I'm sure it put a damper on your trip, if not for at least the rest of the day. Thats is not what we go up to places like that for. Too bad there wasnt a reef there. |
|
| |
|
|
In MN, you do not own the "area" of water that your dock covers.
Legally, it is not tresspassing to be on someone's dock. The only way it would was if you dock had no supports, or legs that went into the lake. If the dock only touched your property, and extended out into the water than I wouldn't have legal access to it.
Swimming rafts, same deal. Anyone can use a raft in the lake.
It's much like putting up a deer stand on public land. You might own the stand, but anyone can climb up in it, and you can't do a thing about it.
JS |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1287
Location: WI | I had someone run circles around me in their pontoon last summer in NW WI. They even followed me to the boat launch to try and fight me! Apparently they owned the whole lake. I called the DNR tip line and the town constable. Not sure what happened after that.
I would keep fishing wherever I wanted, I would just do it really early in the morning or later at night when they're not around or sleeping.
My inner smarta@@ wants to shoot a flare gun at them. |
|
| |
|
| You have 3 options.
You can leave well enough alone and never return to that spot,
You can ignore him and continue fishing and hope it never turns to blows,
or (my personal favoritie) you can scan in a map and mark the location of you new friend and encourage everyone on the boards to fish this area. |
|
| |
|
| You have 3 options.
You can leave well enough alone and never return to that spot,
You can ignore him and continue fishing and hope it never turns to blows,
or (my personal favoritie) you can scan in a map and mark the location of you new friend and encourage everyone on the boards to fish this area. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | Hoop - 3/13/2008 3:35 PM
You have 3 options.
You can leave well enough alone and never return to that spot,
You can ignore him and continue fishing and hope it never turns to blows,
or (my personal favoritie) you can scan in a map and mark the location of you new friend and encourage everyone on the boards to fish this area.
I like option 3, have everyone pick a day and just have a Ranger, Tuffy, Crestliner, Lund parade. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 8781
| Funnier still would be to take a bunch of pictures of his pier and then photoshop everyone you know holding a fish with his pier in the background. Then you could post them all here. 27 muskies in the same spot in one season? That's AMAZING!! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2427
Location: Ft. Wayne Indiana | That clip reminds me of fishing in Indiana on a daily basis!!! LOL |
|
| |
|
| john skarie - 3/13/2008 2:08 PM
In MN, you do not own the "area" of water that your dock covers.
Legally, it is not tresspassing to be on someone's dock. The only way it would was if you dock had no supports, or legs that went into the lake. If the dock only touched your property, and extended out into the water than I wouldn't have legal access to it.
Swimming rafts, same deal. Anyone can use a raft in the lake.
It's much like putting up a deer stand on public land. You might own the stand, but anyone can climb up in it, and you can't do a thing about it.
JS
Under your theory, I could just hope in your boat, the same as using the swimming raft. You sure you don't mind me taking it out for a spin? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 556
| i have this happen to me just about every day in the summer when i am bass fishing i have to walk buy a chirch camp swimming beach to get to a favorite weed bed of mine. If there are kids in the swimming are im not gonna throw into them so i walk out side of there little bouys. (by the way i am in the water not on shore) but if there are not kids in there i cut right through it and every day a differnet person yells at me for being inside there swimming area. And i just wave and keep on casting but sometimes they get really into it as running into the water but stopping short as like a threat but i just keep on fishing. I think that some people just need to chill life is too short to worry about people catching fish by your dock or cutting through a swimming area at a small bass lake. |
|
| |
|
|
A boat isn't considered a "fixture", such as a dock, or swimming raft that is placed in public water.
Neither is a fish-house. The liscence you buy for a fish house makes it "yours".
Keep in mind this is refering to trespassing. You still can't damage someones property if it's on public property.
Legally, you can walk around a lake if you stay in the water. If you step on someones dock, they can't charge you with trespassing.
JS
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 52
| When someone buzzes you that way or attempts to ram you I say it is assault with a deadly weapon. Same as a car. I believe if they are threatening you in that manner you are obligated to get the cops out there. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 431
| I am not familiar with the law of MN, but seems to me that if you step on a dock, you are stepping on private property. In Missouri it is trespassing to step on docks. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1184
Location: Iowa Great Lakes | Here in Iowa docks are public property owned and maintained by a private party. I can by law tie up to any dock I want on the lake. I cannot however walk across your property to fish that same dock unless I have your permission. |
|
| |
|
| You are stepping on someone's personal possesion, that they have on public property.
A dock is not property, it's a possesion.
It it were property, than your property taxes should reflect your dock size.
JS |
|
| |
|
Posts: 552
Location: WI | Not being in the situation yet, I would have to say I would just ignore the guy, some idiot on shore yelling at me about fishing by his land doesn't really warrant a response. I understand a guy works hard for their cabin on the lake, I myself would love to own one some day(and I would love to see people catching giant muskies by it), but sorry, the $80,000 you paid for that half acre of LAND stops at the shoreline. If the guy becomes threatening or starts coming at you w/ his boat, then it's time to jot some numbers down and get the authorities involved b/c that's just ridiculous. As much fun as it would be to tell the guy what you truly feel about him and owning the lake, it's better to have one guy looking like the jacka** than both. |
|
| |
|
Location: Sun Prairie, WI | I think I'd laugh out loud at the guy for a few minutes, then tell him politely it's not his lake. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Hoop,
Now THAT is funny. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2691
Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin | I like this "or (my personal favoritie) you can scan in a map and mark the location of you new friend and encourage everyone on the boards to fish this area." Just to make a pass to piss him off.
I would ignore him at first and keep fishing.
If it got dangerous, I would honestly getting closer to shore so he could not get so close and if he stopped we could settle it on our feet in the water. No ones land. A few lumps on his head might knock some sense into him. Everyone has a boiling point. Disregard for safety is mine.
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 3480
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | I don't know everyone...sketchy at best what to do in a pinch, but in MN, I would be on the phone with details to the DNR. Get the DNR out there to witness the act somehow, or if you are like many, video tape it for evidence. It's called harrassment and it is against the law.
I think overall I would continue to fish it just to get a rise out of the owner, but that's just me... Let him call me names and such and I would just say thank you... smile and say have a wonderful day and continue fishing. Honestly, they hate that more because they are not getting the confrontation they are looking to get...
Steve |
|
| |
|
| I fish Lotw most of the year. I would like to know where this event happened so I could avoid the area or not. Do you have GPS coordinates. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 676
Location: Wisconsin | On Lake Melissa in Minnesota, I had two different situations come up while we were bass fishing. And it was handled two different ways....
First, we came up to one dock and caught a bass on it. This lady came down and asked us how we were doing. After that she said that those bass were "pets" and they feed them. I told her that we weren't keeping any of the fish and that we would return any fish we caught right back into the water. She was happy with that and told us good luck and walked away.
Second dock, just down the lake. We are bass fishing again. Lady comes out and tells us *first* politely to not fish there because those were "HER" fish and that their grandchildren fish for the panfish under the dock. I explained that we were bass fishing first and that we were not keeping any fish we caught. She continued to threaten us by telling us she was going to call the Sheriff and that , that, was her water. I calmly explained that she could more than happily call the Sheriff and that she did not own the water. She then marched down to the dock, walked out on the dock and jumped up and down and thus scaring all the fish away. My buddy and me had to hold it in from laughing at the spectical of watching this. Given that there are about a thousand docks on this lake, we certainly didn't care and could move on.
Now, when I dock fish, I have much respect for that dock. I don't cast up onto boats or lifts and I don't get too close. I am also very quiet and if someone is on the dock or a family around the dock or land, I don't fish it. BUT, this lady that got me riled up.....
The next day, we came back and we both got our limits of bluegills. I paid my license, those were my fish first. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 7
| We've had guests harassed by ignorant/arrogant property owners and even had a couple of guests threatened by one particularly ornery property owner. After speaking with an OPP officer, I was encourage to report these incidents in any case where any threats were made and then followed by aggressive action. Certainly the video link showed a perfect example of when the authorities should be contacted. If for no other reason than to establish a pattern of behavior by this property owner. Do you best to get boat registration numbers in any other circumstances like these happen out on the water where you can't point to a cabin or something else to connect to the boat to an owner.
I try not to fish in front of cabins when people are at their property unless I know them. It does irritate me a little when people from other parts of the lake come and and cast around our resort docks. But that is more a case of having people coming and going and it creating a bit of a safety issue or disrupting our guests trying to come and go as they please. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 53
Location: Tomahawk, WI | I've never had anything like that happen and hope I never do. If it does, most likely I'll just ignore and keep fishing, if I'm feeling hornry, I'll wave and ask if they've had any luck. When someone goes past my dock fishing I just watch to see if they catch anything. If I'm on the dock or doing something in my boat it's just the usual BS between fisherman. They stop casting when they get close and don't cast until they get a few feet past so that there isn't any chance of splashing me, the normal courtesy, and sometimes info is traded. Just the same as if we were on the water and had to pass one another. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 250
Location: Pittsburgh, PA | I'm not used to fishing on lakes and have never been in a situaiton like that before but if it did happen id probaly be pretty mad and tell the guy ill fish anywhere i want but id probaly say it in a different tone |
|
| |
|
Posts: 742
Location: Grand Rapids MN | I haven't read all of everyones else responses but I do have to say since I have my family (3 young kids) in the boat most of the time I don't take things like that lightly. I know this isn't the right thing or the best thing to do but if the opportunity presented itself (such as landing at the same time) I would have to confront them. I'm a respectful, reasonable, and considerate person (so all it would take is someone just talking to me about my intrusion) and those who know me know that it takes a lot to provoke me but put my families health at risk and I will take yours. I avoid situations like that and conflicts but some people just don't now when enough is enough. I'm sure some don't agree with me but it's how I feel. But in most situations I would just report them if it seems that is the end of it but if our paths crossed I probably couldn't help myself.
Edited by Targa01 3/15/2008 7:31 PM
|
|
| |
|
| in a situation like this i try to remember to ask myself: is my response going to make this situation better or worse? i have an uncanny ability to say just the right thing to make things worse in situations like this, so i try to remember to defuse things instead. i'm not always successful... 
no spot on any lake is worth the stress. if someone wants to get belligerent, i can move on and at the end of the day it doesn't really mean anything to me. that's the best way to keep myself, my boat, and my family safe.
i'm not one who tolerates bullying, and having seen enough to know, i'm not one who backs down to those who believe they're tough. but over something like a fishing spot? smile, move on, and enjoy my day on the water.
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 76
| Throw out an anchor, set up shop, and enjoy the show. I have never had something like this happen but I imagine it would be quite amusing.
How could you not mess with a person this dumb. Shoot em the moon. You'd have to do a little antagonizing. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 742
Location: Grand Rapids MN | Lambeau said it much better than I did and I don't know if he was responding to my response about being a 'tough guy' but that's not my point. Point being there is a line where it goes beyond what the situation ever calls for, example being a guy playing chicken with my boat and family in it. I don't look at it as bulling when provoked by putting ones family in harms way. Wrong or right it's a natural response.
Your right now spot is worth it and if I can get out then I do but there are times that it doesn't stop at that. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 335
Location: Minnesota | I agree that the law is on your side in all of these situations and should be called in as soon as possible.
I also agree that the laws in MN do allow someone to go onto a dock that is on public waters just the same as a deer stand on public land. No - you can't go into their boat and "take it for a spin". It is a licensed motorized vehicle and would be treated the same way as your vehicle parked at the public access on public land.
I have had a similar situation where a property owner came down screaming at us to get away from his docks and quit fishing so close. We just waved and said good morning and kept on fishing our way down the shoreline and that was the end of it. I hope that everyone would do the same and not provoke these idiots. That is what they are looking for so why play their game? |
|
| |
|
| Never have I been subjected to that. I would have called the poilce & pressed charges for assault with a deadly weapon after seeing the video.
Last year I had a lady come out with a tray of cookies for us. We were fishing the shorline in front of thier beautiful cabin & this sweet old lady came out with homemade cookies for us. She was so nice & told us stories about her sons catching fish off their pier. We talked for an hour at least...
I'll never forget that & if I see anyone fishing by our pier this summer. I will remember that.
Can I get in trouble if I give a guys beers on the boat? We close on a cabin on lake Nokomis in Tomahawk WI on the 30th of this month & I hope to see people fishing our pier. If I see something go in the livewell, I will be very nice & remind them about the catch & release efforts all the local clubs work on.
First thing that goes up is a big sign that say's support catch & release programs on a tree that is close to our pier. |
|
| |
|
| well if you are going to be giving free beer out from your pier, I'd suggest being aware that you might have a lot of people fishing by your dock..once the word gets out |
|
| |
|
| As an ex-bass fisherman (hehe) I got that alot. I actualy had guy threaten to tip my canoe when I was 12 years old. Guys like that dont care about anything that you would try to tell them. So all you can do is move on.
Tommy Boley |
|
| |
What do you do if....