Dock fishing upsetting owners

[gritsnham]

I agree with the general common courtesy that others have stated. I wish more homeowners or the state would do something to allow lure removal. You here this as a common concern over dock fishing but then people also dont like people on their docks, which can make some hook removals very tricky.

Most of the time I fish docks weightless or with lighter lures. They skip much better and also dont present the damage risk of a large jig. Banging into a pontoon on accident sure makes a heck of a noise but it really is not going to damage anything.

An issue that will almost always be a concern especially as bass fishing grows can only be conquered by individual anglers showing respect and trying to make a positive relation with homeowners on lakes.

[Ufatz]

Docks are "...little more than semi-permanent litter." A great many lakes in MN and other states would be in tough shape were it not for the efforts of lakeshore property owners. Sure, they make improvements for their own benefit. But in many cases the stabilization they provide saves riparian habitat and increases weed growth. To make a statement like that displays an abysmal lack of understanding the tradition of lake shore cabins that has been going on in MN and other states for a couple hundred years.

Lakes are going to have docks on them. Who knows, someday maybe you'll have a little place "up north" and I'll bet it won't be more than a month or two before you build a dock.

Grow up.

[Superduty]

Ufatz,

I can't wait to have my own lake place with a dock when I retire. You're right, docks are here to stay. That being said, lakeshore development is without a doubt, the largest negative influence on shoreline habitat and shoreline erosion in our lakes. Please don't pat the lakeshore associations on the back for all their good deeds to save "their" lake. I've seen the weedrollers, emergent vegetation eradication, submergent vegetation raking and chemical treatment, use of public water for irrigation, lawn fertilizer abuse, 30' X30' dock platforms, sand blankets, water skiing off the dock... Face it, the public waters of this state would be in better shape without shoreline development. On a lot of lakes, most of the natural shoreline habitat is gone. The only cover left to fish is somebody's dock!

[scott b]

I have to agree with Superduty on this one. Ufatz. Can you count on one hand how many lake shore owners you see with the recommended 30ft buffer in the riparian zone? Most lake property owners mow right to the lake on their artificial rip rap shore line witch destroys the very same zone you are so fond of. Maybe it varies from lake to lake, but I fish big water (and these people have money) and could care less about the amount of Nitrogen and Phosphorus they let into the lake every time we get a storm.

Dock owners could easily place a small, well written sign, like: Fishermen.. Please get your lures off my dock. Good luck! Or: Fishermen. Please do not climb on this dock for any reason. Good Luck today! :Please don't cast around the boat. Have a great day!!!

[TurnUpTheFishing]

What Superduty said pretty much nailed what I was thinking when I read what was written, too.

Reminds of a time I was fishing a row of docks on Eagle lake in the west metro, hadnt so much as dinged a boat or pole within earshot of this guy, but when I get to his dock Im passing it by as I always do when people are in their yard, on the dock, in the water. This guy, unprovoked started giving me grief for fishing docks and operating a motor (trolling motor!!) within 100' of a shoreline, which according to him, that's against the law. On top of that he was pulling weeds from the water along his shoreline with a rake and had massive piles already on his dock. I just told him to keep manicuring his lake shore and call the authorities if he thought I was doing something wrong.

[walleye365]

Agree 100% look at BigTrout on the whitefish chain the lake trout are on the edge of dieing off do to nutrient loading from lakeshore activities its in the march 25 2011 outdoor news this is just one case.

[NTW]

Docks are "...little more than semi-permanent litter." A great many lakes in MN and other states would be in tough shape were it not for the efforts of lakeshore property owners. Sure, they make improvements for their own benefit. But in many cases the stabilization they provide saves riparian habitat and increases weed growth. To make a statement like that displays an abysmal lack of understanding the tradition of lake shore cabins that has been going on in MN and other states for a couple hundred years.

Lakes are going to have docks on them. Who knows, someday maybe you'll have a little place "up north" and I'll bet it won't be more than a month or two before you build a dock.

Grow up.

The "traditional" lake shore cabin is a positive to the ecosystem of a lake? You have a strange point of view my friend. I have read books and studies and have yet to find positive data about the tradition of lake shore cabins.

I do have a place on Leech...with a dock...feel free to fish it. I take my boat out of the water each day when I am there because I recognize that I don't own the lake. We also left the shoreline as it appeared when we bought the land. (ok minus two dead trees)

[BassKnuckles]

The story about the woman running out with the camera...Wow at first I thought you were going to say that she ran out and asked me to join her and her girlfriend in a photo shoot. That would be sweet...Unless it was the landlord from Kingpin.

This is a great topic and something that I've always wondered. I've never been approached by a dock owner yet but I'm sure the day will come. I heard Minnetonka owners can be fun to deal with.

[Craigums]

I heard Minnetonka owners can be fun to deal with.

Thats the only place I've been confronted. I was filming a fishing show with a local tournament angler. As he pulled up and skips a jig under this dock a guy comes out red faced yelling obsenities at us telling us to get away from his dock. The angler im with tells him its public water and this sets the guy off he walks onto his dock threatening to kick our rears.. We just smile and say go ahead...cameras rolling

[IcePro]

I am on a lake that has a tournament almost every week. What I find very amusing is watching the tournament fishermen pounding the docks on a regular basis. One boat moves out another boat moves in, etc.

Since I have owned my own dock I have become more respectful of other peoples docks. Yes it does bother me when I hear something bouncing of my dock or boat; the same way as someone throwing eggs at the house.

I do feel the lakes are public property but as a dock owner you want to protect what you own. It is a catch 22 situation.

“If there were no docks in the lake where would some of these tournament guys fish”.

This whole thread reminds me of the threads in the ice fishing section. “Someone drilled a hole right next to my permanent house when I was not there”.

[LightningBG]

Stinks that people have caused so much damage to your property over the years. They ought to show more respect and remove their hooks/be more careful!

But I don't agree with your analogy. If the water was a hotspot for bass (or even worthy of a cast) before someone buys the land in front of it, you don't have much right to take that spot away from fishermen. IMO private docks are not much different than semi-permanent litter.

+ Trying to put a lure where a fish will strike isn't much at all like throwing rocks towards vehicles in a public parking lot.

It doesn't seem you were complaining about people fishing by your dock but rather pointing out that some "fishermen" aren't considerate of your property. I get your point

We learn to deal with it. We crank the boats so high up into the canopies that you can barely even see the hull. Tears in the canopies and covers...not much we can do about that.

The cabin has been there since the 50s with a dock the whole time, so "we" didn't convert anything.

I don't mind if they fish near us. We purposely leave 90% of the weeds to hold fish and only clear out a tiny portion (10ft wide, 10ft out) for the kids to play in the water.

I just dont want 7 year old Billy running into the cabin screaming because Susie his 4 year old sister got a hook in the foot and is balling on the dock. Ever try to push a hook through the foot of a child so you can clip the barb? Not fun.

Kinda funny that a private dock is litter, but a public dock or pier is an asset.

As far as lake homes. They aren't necessarily a benefit to the lake, but often the owners association is. Our association has paid for bouys to mark rock piles, stocking efforts, ramp improvements, shoreline restoration (back to natural), pledges to leave shorelines natural, lobbying efforts to put in no wake zones, etc.

Also, we have never used fertilizer, weed killer, or irrigation. Its a cabin, right?

Where we are, many businesses only exist because of cabin folks and the local tax base is made up almost entirely of seasonal properties. It would be a pretty desolate area if they weren't there.

[TR21HP]

The few times that I have broke off and had a hook in a rope or part of the dock I have always beached the boat and gone up knocked on the door and told the owner what happened and ask him if I could remove the hook. In both cases the homeowner was home thanked me for removing the hook. I would never leave a hook that could cause problem for a pet or person. I've actually had a woman tell me to fish under her dock during a tournament on Vermillion. She said the bass were scaring her grand kids and she wanted them out of there. I won't fish a dock if someones on it as well, just a sign of respect for the homeowner.

[Getanet]

I have to agree with LightningBG. I can only speak for the lake association my parent's cabin is on near Aitkin, but they do a lot for the lake. They've had DNR experts present on specific issues such as keeping the great water quality, keeping shorelines as natural as possible, and improving loon breeding habitat. Their recommendations aren't followed by all property owners, but about 90% of them do.

[BassNut33]

I have never thought of it that way thank you for your contribution.

The few times that I have broke off and had a hook in a rope or part of the dock I have always beached the boat and gone up knocked on the door and told the owner what happened and ask him if I could remove the hook. In both cases the homeowner was home thanked me for removing the hook. I would never leave a hook that could cause problem for a pet or person. I've actually had a woman tell me to fish under her dock during a tournament on Vermillion. She said the bass were scaring her grand kids and she wanted them out of there. I won't fish a dock if someones on it as well, just a sign of respect for the homeowner.

[SkunkedAgain]

Nobody is calling lake associations bad so let's end that discussion. The discussion was whether lake shore property owners are the reason that lakes are in "better shape."

It's tough to essentially argue that lakes and the environment are better off with human intervention. No matter how smart we think that we are, we tend to ruin most things even with good intentions because we can't fathom that the earth works better without our help rather than with it.

[NTW]

FWIW - From the MN DNR...

Shoreline areas on the land and into the shallow water provide essential habitat for fish and wildlife that live in or near Minnesota's lakes. Overdeveloped shorelines can't support the fish, wildlife, and clean water that are associated with natural undeveloped lakes. The combined effects of all lakeshore owners "fixing up" their property can destroy a lake's valuable natural shorelines.

Shoreline habitat consists of aquatic plants, woody plants and natural lake bottom soils. Plants in the water and at the water's edge provide habitat, prevent erosion and absorb excess nutrients. Shrubs, trees, and woody debris such as fallen trees or limbs provide good habitat both above and below the water and should be left in place. Natural lake bottom materials like silt or gravel are more ecologically productive than pure sand trucked in for a swimming beach. A tidy lawn and a sandy beach make great spots for sunbathing and swimming but do little to provide habitat for fish and wildlife. By leaving a buffer strip of natural vegetation along the shoreline, property owners can reduce erosion, help maintain water quality, and provide habitat and travel corridors for wildlife.

Only if more lakeshore owners manage their shoreline in a natural condition can fish and wildlife populations on Minnesota lakes remain healthy and abundant. More specific information on protecting or restoring shorelines and watersheds is available through the local MNDNR Fisheries office.

[Doufish2]

As a former lakeshore owner, I might have been the odd one. I always kept a buffer zone between the lake and where I mowed. 20+ ft of natural habitat. I kept enough of the weeds out of the lake to get my boat in and out.

When fishing docks, I may not go up to the owner, but always make sure to remove hooks from anything a wayward cast might have snagged on a dock.

I never yelled at anyone for fishing around or under my dock. I have had a couple of confrontations from home owners, one on Minnetonka threw rocks at us, one guy on Crystal sprayed us with a hose(which it was hot out and whether he knew it or not we appreciated it and laughed at him)

I never once thought I owned the lake. My dock was in public water. Lake associations sometimes think they are the supreme ruller of the water in front of their property. We actually had a lady was the prez of our lake assoc., stand on her deck whith binoculars and watch fishermen. If one decided to pee in the lake, she wrote down the boat license, called the local DNR officer.

[LightningBG]

Nobody is calling lake associations bad so let's end that discussion. The discussion was whether lake shore property owners are the reason that lakes are in "better shape."

It's tough to essentially argue that lakes and the environment are better off with human intervention. No matter how smart we think that we are, we tend to ruin most things even with good intentions because we can't fathom that the earth works better without our help rather than with it.

The lakes would probably be better without fisherman though too....

[Craigums]

Oh snap!

[Ufatz]

Okay you guys, let me leap in here one more time. I TOTALLY agree that in many cases lake shore owners harm their own lakefront. And I deplore the use of chemicals. But in many cases the filling of areas (rigidly controlled by DNR) and the planting of shrubs and trees; rip-rapping and low rock walls, dramatically inhibits erosion from winds and ice pressure and from wakes of passing vessels.

When I spoke of the "traditions of MN lake shore cabins" I did so in the context that the poster had referred to docks as lakeside litter. He may think that if he wishes of course and in truth I have seen SOME that looked like junk! LOL....but cabins and docks are a fact of life in this part of the world. I may think he has a crappy looking leaky boat but I don't feel he has to keep it off the lake where I live.

You quit calling my dock "lakeside litter" and I won't call your boat a gaudy, over-priced marine hazard.

Oh. Just so you'll know. We have a little over half a mile on water. About 75' of frontage allows a small dock and swimming area for the Labs. The rest is filled with beavers, mink, muskrats,mallards,wood ducks, deer, raccoons weasels and several dozen species of songbirds all wandering around in birch,oak,elm,ash,basswood trees, ferns and native swamp grasses. It is as wild today as it was a thousand years ago. It will ALWAYS be that way too.

Heck fellas, some of you city slickers could be forced ashore into my swamp and never be heard from again!! LOL

So there!

[EBass]

Aretha Franklin said it best.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Find out what it means to me

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Take care, TCB

Oh (sock it to me, sock it to me,

sock it to me, sock it to me)

[Larson15]

So basically this is how it goes.

- If there are people occupying a dock, don't fish it,

- If you get hung up, get it out, don't break it off. If you do break off and have a hook in a spot that you cant get at, let the people know about it.

- Try your hardest to not bang anything especially anything thats not the actual dock (boats, jet ski, etc.)

- If you cant get the bait close to where you want it, you shouldn't be fishing docks anyways.

- If a lake-owner gets irate with you or tells you to leave, kill them with kindness. Its always going to happen and will never stop. Explain the rules to them and if they don't listen just continue on your way.

[TR21HP]

Larson 15,

Sometimes the simplest advice also referred to as common sense is the best.

Well said.

[reinhard1]

i could not have said it better myself. good luck.

[palisade1kid]

So basically this is how it goes.

- If there are people occupying a dock, don't fish it,

- If you get hung up, get it out, don't break it off. If you do break off and have a hook in a spot that you cant get at, let the people know about it.

- Try your hardest to not bang anything especially anything thats not the actual dock (boats, jet ski, etc.)

- If you cant get the bait close to where you want it, you shouldn't be fishing docks anyways.

- If a lake-owner gets irate with you or tells you to leave, kill them with kindness. Its always going to happen and will never stop. Explain the rules to them and if they don't listen just continue on your way.

Exactly...in truth you can legally walk on the dock/raft. You could fish from it even not that I would. You could pull up on the beach and go for a swim.If a home owner comes out and hassles you it is harrassement. It takes 2 reports for them to be ticketed or to be legally harrassment. I see a difference between legal and ethical. Courtesy should rule out.

I really liked that comment about casting ability...banging watercraft incesently should tell you that practice is required....however an errant hang up can happen...take care of it properly. A camera comes in handy to prove your case and if all else fails you could invite a water patrol out with you if you have problem owners. Plain clothes of course...we had a rock thrower...he stopped doing that after his latest warning.

Fishing is supposed to be fun and although you could just bypass that dock with the owner that always comes out screaming...you could also nip the prob in the bud....your choice...but in all cases law enforcement should be the ones educating home owners.