fishhouse freeloaders

[3littlemonsters]

How many of you have "caught" some one using your house? I can't believe people actually do this!!

[Esox_Magnum]

Lock it up tight or enter with a .44. I would think this is trespassing?

[waterbound]

It is trespassing and the fines can be up to $3,000 and they may have their fishing license revoked. If you find somebody fishing in your house without your approval you should call a Conservation Officer.

[minnbowhunter]

How many of you have "caught" some one using your house? I can't believe people actually do this!!

I used to have a perm. on a local lake that I never locked. I put a note on the door telling folks that they were welcome to use the house and to please pick up any mess that they made. Many times I could tell the house had been used but never had a problem. One day I drove to the house a found a guy with his young son fishing in the house. He said that he had used the house several times in the past, thanked me and started to pack up his gear. I invited him to stay and fish, turns out he lived on the lake within sight of my house. He kept an eye on the house for me and I let him use it once in a while, pretty good deal for both of us.

[JeffB]

A friend of mine left a small sign on his fish house door welcoming others to fish. He kept finding little thank you notes with $10 dollar bills wrapped in them from someone, but never met the guy. Then he came out to check his house because he was afraid it may flood after a big snow and it was already blocked up and surrounded by water.

[3littlemonsters]

Its good to hear of the positive experiences. Its nice that people welcome others to use their house, I'm sure they are grateful. All too often, you hear of destruction or theft.

[Farley]

A buddy of mine went out to his house one day and found a guy sitting in there fishing. My buddy asked the guy if he minded if he wet a line, the stranger said "go ahead". They fished together for 5 minutes before my buddy told him to "Get the **** out of my fish house!".

[MuskieJunkie]

I used to have a perm. on a local lake that I never locked. I put a note on the door telling folks that they were welcome to use the house and to please pick up any mess that they made. Many times I could tell the house had been used but never had a problem. One day I drove to the house a found a guy with his young son fishing in the house. He said that he had used the house several times in the past, thanked me and started to pack up his gear. I invited him to stay and fish, turns out he lived on the lake within sight of my house. He kept an eye on the house for me and I let him use it once in a while, pretty good deal for both of us.

Love it!

..and nice avatar

[CrappieNut]

Its good to hear of the positive experiences. Its nice that people welcome others to use their house, I'm sure they are grateful. All too often, you hear of destruction or theft.

i hear that, the destruction and theft thing is the only reason im not getting a perm. every time i decide to look for a perm for sale the seller discloses that it needs a new door and or lock because of the last break-ins. good to hear there are good people out there

[bogwalker]

It is trespassing and the fines can be up to $3,000 and they may have their fishing license revoked. If you find somebody fishing in your house without your approval you should call a Conservation Officer.

The lake is not private property. Trespass laws don't apply. The license you purchase for your ice fishing house gives you permission to leave your house on public property, but does not give you any exclusive rights. Criminal laws such as theft and vandalism apply. Not much legal recourse if somebody is using your fish house as long as they did not break in or intentionally damage anything.

[gurkster]

Whenever I left mine unlocked the only problems I had were empty beer/pop cans. When I locked it I have had the locks/door broken. Not fun.

[opsirc]

last time I had a perm, some-one broke in and took what little gear was in it. Now I just use a portable.

[MidCoast]

Originally Posted By: waterbound

It is trespassing and the fines can be up to $3,000 and they may have their fishing license revoked. If you find somebody fishing in your house without your approval you should call a Conservation Officer.

The lake is not private property. Trespass laws don't apply. The license you purchase for your ice fishing house gives you permission to leave your house on public property, but does not give you any exclusive rights. Criminal laws such as theft and vandalism apply. Not much legal recourse if somebody is using your fish house as long as they did not break in or intentionally damage anything.

This makes sense. I guess it must be like having a permanent deer stand on public land. Anybody can use it.

[hamms-scooter]

My buddys dad had a perm and came out to it all burnt up.Someone stole his rod and reels and torched it! Some guys out there put it out but it was to late. This is why i will never have a perm. Plus i like to stay mobile on the ice, like being in a boat in the open water.

[LakeDocktor]

Originally Posted By: waterbound

It is trespassing and the fines can be up to $3,000 and they may have their fishing license revoked. If you find somebody fishing in your house without your approval you should call a Conservation Officer.

The lake is not private property. Trespass laws don't apply. The license you purchase for your ice fishing house gives you permission to leave your house on public property, but does not give you any exclusive rights. Criminal laws such as theft and vandalism apply. Not much legal recourse if somebody is using your fish house as long as they did not break in or intentionally damage anything.

I couldn't disagree more. Your shelter license entitles you to leave unoccupied private property on a public lake. If I left my truck parked on a public street unlocked, that doesn't give anyone the right to enter my vehicle just because it is unlocked and on public property. If this were also the case, COs would be able to enter your fish house without permission. Though I don't think it would violate any trespass laws, I would imagine that it would be burglary.

[jd524]

Whether it's on private property or not isn't an element of the criminal trespass statute. A fishouse would fall under the definition of a "building", and would allow for someone to be charged with trespass.

A charge of burglary might also be applicable depending on their intentions once inside of the fish house. An element of the crime of burglary is that they entered the building with the intent to commit a crime once inside.

[H2O Milfoil]

Unauthorized use of a private fish house is definitely trespassing. If I leave my boat in the marina overnight, does someone have the right to climb in and use it? Or use my fishing tackle? Of course not! Police departments and the courts have been prosecuting this illegal activity since day one. There is no legal protection for the scofflaws.

[Burnham]

honestly, i do not see a problem with someone using a permanent that they dont own, as long as they leave it in as good or better condition than they left it in. nothing bad will ever occur from that, only good. do i understand why people do not like this, yes, you cannot trust society anymore. when i got into ice fishing before i had a house i considered using a house that wasnt mine because i was freezing my nuts off. i was too young to have my drivers licence and my parents were an hour or so away from picking me up. did i have the guts to do it? no. but i think that if people did allow others to use it and those that used houses they didnt own treated them well, we as an ice fishing community would be better off as we would look out for each other. that is being an idealist though, as people are bound to leave trash in others houses and such.

[chris63]

Peoples property is just that.Their property.If they leave a note stating others can use it fine.If not an emergency stay out/off of others property.Simple.It seems to me that this is just plain common sense/respect for others and their property.c63

[jblabsnduck]

I built a perm this year but did not put it out this year. I will be putting it out on a little south metro lake next year. It will not be locked and will have a sign that says please feel free to use but if I show up to fish you have to make room for me.

[JeffB]

Peoples property is just that.Their property.If they leave a note stating others can use it fine.If not an emergency stay out/off of others property.Simple.It seems to me that this is just plain common sense/respect for others and their property.c63

Well said!! I wouldn't even approach another fish house if the owner isn't in it.

[tcroz]

Would this differ from the duckblind laws? If you have permanent duckblind on public water, it is first come first serve correct? Not sure if this would apply to fish houses or not.I have no idea just curuious.

[pulleye16]

Originally Posted By: bogwalker

The lake is not private property. Trespass laws don't apply. The license you purchase for your ice fishing house gives you permission to leave your house on public property, but does not give you any exclusive rights. Criminal laws such as theft and vandalism apply. Not much legal recourse if somebody is using your fish house as long as they did not break in or intentionally damage anything. [/quote']

You may want to look into this some more...I know no one can jump into my boat on a public dock and use it, or take my parked car running on a public street. I also believe someone CAN'T use your portable deer stand in public woods if you ask them to get out. Fixed deer stand yes as you can't OWN anything permenantly attached to a tree. I think a CO officer even needs a search warrant to leagally search your fish house, leaving my the idea that it is consider YOUR property. I'm speculating on all this of course but it only makes sense to me.

[pulleye16]

Maybe I should read all the threads as someone has alsready stated what I just said....LOL

[slurpie]

If i had a stationary house out i might be a little upset if someone was fishing in it. I spent 10,000 on a house and your just gonna use dont think so. If someone was to leave some change would be nice but they would burn more than that in gas and would be out when i would want to fish.