Fishing around Docks, Legal? Ethical?

[KLS]

From what I've been reading the posts on thunderbird crappie, and it seems to me the crappie like the new boat slips really well, therefore I'm trying to figure out a way to lease a boat slip. Only problem is Bob Davis wants $2340.00 for a slip. As he explained it to me, renters can only fish their own slips(I personally think thats great) I 've got a slip at Eufaula and there are no such restriction and there is ALLWAYS some one fishing my slip because I have taken time to bait it with ceadar and plastic and it has become one of the most productive slips at the marina. So I got to thinking that maybe there are other crappie fisherman that would like to rent a slip at Thunderbird for crappie fishing but found it just to expensive. If this is the case and three of us go in together that would be $780.00@yr. any one intrested??

[lazylakedog]

that is great in theory kls...but boats fish all those slips....and with a really long pole can reach all the way to the front of your slip...there are no state or city restrictions that limit access to the water in between your slip....even though some try to post signs.....not gonna stop them.

[KLS]

I witnessed exactly that happen at Eufaula marina earlier this year --- a few of the slip lesse's followed the bass boat everywhere he tried to infringe in the slips and the bass fisherman got disgruntled and left ---Its a shame that some of our so-called sportsman feel that its ok to infringe on someones elses hard work in an attempt to reep rewards from someone elses hard work. I don't have any idea how often something like that happens,and nothing can be done about the waterway leading to the slips but just off the top of my head I think a net strung across the opening of the slip should curtail most if not all of that type of conduct in the slip that I've got baited for fishing.
Kent

[cricket george]

KLS- Depending on the type of net and location you strung across the opening you could get sighted by a game ranger for illegal netting.

[TwoBits]

I witnessed exactly that happen at Eufaula marina earlier this year --- a few of the slip lesse's followed the bass boat everywhere he tried to infringe in the slips and the bass fisherman got disgruntled and left ---Its a shame that some of our so-called sportsman feel that its ok to infringe on someones elses hard work in an attempt to reep rewards from someone elses hard work. I don't have any idea how often something like that happens,and nothing can be done about the waterway leading to the slips but just off the top of my head I think a net strung across the opening of the slip should curtail most if not all of that type of conduct in the slip that I've got baited for fishing.
Kent

KLS , just because you rent a slip , does not mean you own the water. That's public water.

If I were the bass fisherman who was harassed by those people, I would've gotten their boat number and filed a legal complaint.

You put that cover in the lake at your own risk. That's not your water, and that is not your fish.

Nothing I can't stand more, is dock owners who think they own public water.

[KLS]

KLS , just because you rent a slip , does not mean you own the water. That's public water.

If I were the bass fisherman who was harassed by those people, I would've gotten their boat number and filed a legal complaint.

You put that cover in the lake at your own risk. That's not your water, and that is not your fish.

Nothing I can't stand more, is dock owners who think they own public water.

This kind of discussion is what makes this country so great. One person thinks that he has purchased something and that should give him certain rights, another person thinks because there is public access that the first person has no rights. One thing I must agree with is that it is not my water and not my fish, and I don't believe I ever implied that it was. but I must add that it is my boat slip and I have a legal right to deny access, just as the fish on my jug lines should not be taken by some stranger just because they are in public water, those jugs should be respected as some one elses and not be taken advantage of by anyone. I'd be intrested in your opinion of fishing off the boat ramp when it is clear that no fishing is allowed.

[KLS]

KLS- Depending on the type of net and location you strung across the opening you could get sighted by a game ranger for illegal netting.

Thanks for your input.
I haven't given it a lot of thought because I doubt that I will have anyone intrested in leasing a slip to crappie fish - it is after all quite a bit of money.
But what I was thinking to get some of that bright orange netting that the state and contractors use to block off drop offs and holes that are left uncovered and attaching it above the water line about 8' high across the entrance of the slip. that of course is assuming I could get approval to do so

[meatdragger]

I don't blame you for not wanting anyone fishing in your slip KLS. If I rented or owned one and took the time to put in structure and what not, I wouldn't want anyone fishing it either. The above water netting is a good idea to keep passing boaters from fishing your slip but the problem is that it doesn't stop evryone else on the dock from fishing your spot. I think they will be the primary interlopers.

[TwoBits]

This kind of discussion is what makes this country so great. One person thinks that he has purchased something and that should give him certain rights, another person thinks because there is public access that the first person has no rights. One thing I must agree with is that it is not my water and not my fish, and I don't believe I ever implied that it was. but I must add that it is my boat slip and I have a legal right to deny access, just as the fish on my jug lines should not be taken by some stranger just because they are in public water, those jugs should be respected as some one elses and not be taken advantage of by anyone. I'd be intrested in your opinion of fishing off the boat ramp when it is clear that no fishing is allowed.

No, the only legal right you may have, is for someone to step ON your dock or slip, and I'm not even sure about that.

That's public water.

If someone puts a jug line in public water, then they just taking their chances. No different than leaving a trap on public lands.

I don't see the correlation between fishing from a boat ramp where they could possibly impede others launching boats and you claiming ownership to public water under your boat slip.

Whatever you put in the water , you just take you chances. No different than planting a brush pile out on a point on the lake somewhere. Anyone who finds it, can fish it. You have no legal right.

And I really don't like anyone confiscating public water for their commercial purposes and to make a profit from, and then restricting who can fish in that water.

My tax money built the lake along with yours.

[SmokyOkie]

KLS , just because you rent a slip , does not mean you own the water.
You put that cover in the lake at your own risk. That's not your water, and that is not your fish.

True, he only owns or rents the structure, and on USACE lakes, he can be required to remove the structure at any time.

but I must add that it is my boat slip and I have a legal right to deny access, just as the fish on my jug lines should not be taken by some stranger just because they are in public water, those jugs should be respected as some one elses and not be taken advantage of by anyone. I'd be intrested in your opinion of fishing off the boat ramp when it is clear that no fishing is allowed.

You only have the right to deny access to the structure itself and not the water adjacent to or below it.

Your jug line comparison is somewhat flawed though. By Oklahoma law, all jug, limb and trot lines must have the owners name address and license # attached to them and it is illegal for anyone else to harvest fish from them. They are the property of whoever has legally set them and so are the fish that they catch, but the water that surroubds then is public domain.

No, the only legal right you may have, is for someone to step ON your dock or slip, and I'm not even sure about that.

That's public water.

If someone puts a jug line in public water, then they just taking their chances. No different than leaving a trap on public lands.

I don't see the correlation between fishing from a boat ramp where they could possibly impede others launching boats and you claiming ownership to public water under your boat slip.

Whatever you put in the water , you just take you chances. No different than planting a brush pile out on a point on the lake somewhere. Anyone who finds it, can fish it. You have no legal right.

And I really don't like anyone confiscating public water for their commercial purposes and to make a profit from, and then restricting who can fish in that water.

My tax money built the lake along with yours.

The boat ramp issue is totally different. If it is on private land, the owner has a right to restrict any and all access to it. If it is on USACE land, they have the right to regulate use of it.

there really are no gray areas on this subject. KLS, you just happen to believe contrary to what the law says.

Let me say this though, if you don't want me to fish around your dock, then tell me so and I won't because I am considerate of others (some might take exception with that statement :D) There are plenty of other docks and slip to fish around if that is what I want to do.....And of course, if you are there fishing, it is easy to see to it that others can't squirrel in on you.