Question about private lakes

[ted4887]

Well I should start off and just ask, is there such a thing as a "Private Lake"?

Reason I ask is because there is a little farm pond that I used to fish all the time growing up, and it has some MONSTER panfish. Well, the previous owner whom I knew well and always loved watching me fish there has since died. The new owners I don't know at all, and would like to fish it a time or two this summer.

The only access to this pond is by a make shift tractor road to the fields beyond the pond.

Obviously I will talking to the new owners and just ask permission, but was just curious as far as state law is concerned.

Also, I cannot find the lake listed on the DNR's lake lists or on the Recreation Compass that they have. So it's never been surveyed or anything.

Any input appreciated.

[JohnMickish]

No, in Minnesota there is no such thing as a "private lake". Somebody may own all the land around the lake but the water belongs to the state. If there is public land (road ditch or other easment) you can access that way. Technically on a body of water that is surrounded by private land you can technically gain access by helicopter. No, this is not practicle but it is legal.

In your particular case it sounds like there isn't any public land in touch with the water so you are going to be much better off talking to the landowner.

[Crm7290]

Offer the owners some fresh fish, that might sweeten the deal for them. If they just allow you on no problem bring them some fish every now and then either way!

[JohnMickish]

Either that or a case of beer now and then.

[FM_Mike]

If you just like to fish, let them know that you are not planning on taking any fish

home just catch and release. Has worked for me on some occasions on so called "private lakes"

Might be an option.

Mike

[goblueM]

yeah i'd just approach them and tell them about your relationship with the previous owner, and that you don't want to be presumptuous but you'd love to keep fishing it occasionally

maybe even offer to take them out there or something. i bet they'll be pretty nice, especially if you complement them about their land

[ted4887]

Thanks for the help.

My plan all along has been to meet the new owners, because yes, that lake is a gem. I've never seen so many big sunfish in my entire life. It's all of about 20 acres(maybe not even) but is pretty clear for a lake of that area, and very, very deep. But there is no way i'd keep a fish from that lake. There is just way too much field runoff in that lake for me to feel comfortable eating anything out of it.

[MN BassFisher]

But there is no way i'd keep a fish from that lake. There is just way too much field runoff in that lake for me to feel comfortable eating anything out of it.

Well if you tell the new land owners that, I'm sure that would help your chances too. I guess if it were my gem of a pond, I would be more willing to let someone fish there who isn't interested in keeping anything, than to potentially let someone fish out the biggens.

[NBR]

Actually, some fish need to be harvested for a healty population. Sooner or later the fish population out grows the food supply.

[basssmasher*]

I had the same issue with a gravel pit in sw Mn. Land all around it was private but huge bass and pannies in it, not to mention a pike or 2. I finally asked the guy, and told him that i wasnt interested in any fish 4 the table, just wanted to catch. He agreed to let me go under 2 conditions, 1.. I provided him with a meal or 2 of fish, and 2, keep the "dumb geese" out of his crops (not the 4 letter word he used though..lol).. Needless to say it was a win-win for me as I love to hunt also

[MN BassFisher]

Actually, some fish need to be harvested for a healty population. Sooner or later the fish population out grows the food supply.

If the pond already has big panfish, its on the right track. If you take too much from it, you might screw with the predator prey relationships and food competition, which generally are big factors in stunted populations of panfish. Each body of water is completely different from the next, and it's very complicated. I'm not going to pretend I know what going on with them, but if there is already big fish there (in this small pond with no pressure), not taking them would seem like a good option to sustain the healthy panfish populations.

[mainbutter]

Actually, some fish need to be harvested for a healty population. Sooner or later the fish population out grows the food supply.

I'm sure nature did just fine before humans were in North America to practice selective harvest from the lakes. We don't HAVE to micromanage a lake for it to have a great fish population, especially if it's being left alone for the most part.

Just sayin'...