After a brushpile is dropped in, who owns it? I mean, If I was fishing along my favorite ledge on my route and my Humminbird showed new structure and fish...would you fish it or think I better not fish here,.,.,.
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After a brushpile is dropped in, who owns it? I mean, If I was fishing along my favorite ledge on my route and my Humminbird showed new structure and fish...would you fish it or think I better not fish here,.,.,.
If you are on a public lake made with taxpayer dollars, once dropped, it's PUBLIC property, no matter what anyone says to you. It's first-come-first-served.
I have had an issue or two with retards that think that it is 'their spot.' After being with the Corps of Engineers for years and now being retired from them, I can tell you that dropped habiitat is public property and I gently remind them that they are subject to removal from the lake if biligerent attitudes spew from their boat.
In every case I expect people to be respectful of fishermen who 'got there first' and give them 50 yards. Now I know this is not always the case, but it is my rule of thumb.
I heard tell of an old coot that rammed a party barge because the lady (who was camped nearby) was tied up to a certain tree and fishing a certain brush pile. The offending retard approached and stated that he had been building that spot for years and that it was HIS spot. She was fishing alone. She objected and the idiot rammed her boat THREE separate times (with a jon boat)!!!!!
He has a slip rented at the nearby marina and if I could positively identify this character, (she didn't get his boat numbers) I'd have him removed from the marina as a slip renter and be glad to do it.
You meet all kinds. Just be confident in knowing that when fishing public waters--especially Corps lakes, that YOU (the public) own the waters and all that is below it.
On the other hand, one must use a bit of class. If you approach a private dock and people are occupying the dock, then pass it up for the time being. You can always come back when no one is present. There's no reason to be pressing--on either side of the fence. Savvy?
aj
I agree, great post.
In the June/July issue of Crappie World magazine, they talk about finding underwater cover and how to put in your own (which is illegal in my state). Some fella say's "I don't appreciate it when fisherman try to steal my spots". He calls it the "Code of Conduct". It kinda upset me... just because one guy drops cover on a lakes best structure does not make it his. With Side Imaging sonar units, everything can be found....eventually. just my 2¢
Again, common sense needs to come into play when fishing. Just something as simple as leaving the docks and brushpiles alone if someone is already fishing them means a lot. You can always go back.
share and share alike
That's right but respect local fishermen and don't follow them around marking all the cover they work so hard to put out. Everyone is going to find a few ,but we have lazy folks who just try to home in on everyone's hard work without helping even after being invited. Courtesy goes along way, we show folks some spots. But hate followers, I've had some follow me so close ,had to ask them to move so I could leave.:rolleyes::eek:
after it is sunked it belongs to everyone
... that enforce the idea that, once cover is placed in a body of water, it belongs to the public at large. Those rules state that, it is illegal to place cover in a body of water, without a permit (written or spoken) .... AND, the location of that cover must be given to them, for inclusion on any maps that the state agency produces (and probably commercially produced maps, as well ... whether copied or shared). That right there says ... you drop it, you no longer "own" it - it's "public property" from then on. That goes without saying, when you're talking about public waters that have no restrictions on placing cover.
When Mother Nature "places" cover in a body of water ... does that mean that no "human" can fish it :confused: ... of course not. You find it, you can fish it. Same concept goes with man-made, or man-placed, cover.
Even on private waters, if you place cover in there ... it belongs to everyone that's allowed to fish those waters, and not "just your private spot".
IMHO ... we should place cover (legally) to benefit the fish, and not for the benefit of our own selfs. ;) We'll reap the rewards, anyway, even if it's not from that specific spot or the work we did to create it.
... cp :cool:
well saidQuote:
Originally Posted by crappiepappy
Personally it is beyond me that anyone would think they have first rights to a spot on any public water. This isnt the first thread on this topic and everytime I read where other fisherman have had runins with those that think otherwise just baffles me!!
I agree, part of fishing is finding cover, structure, or what ever you want to call it. If I mark fish on a brush pile I'm gonna fish it. Like was said earlier I wouldn't follow anyone uninvited, but if I happen to run across one and nobody is around it's fair game.
I have gone to my brush piles before and someone be sitting on it catching fish. Oh well thats a chance you take. Just move on and come back later. Just my opinion.
Interesting debate...........
Incline to agree it becomes public property
If its a public lake and you put structure in it and I find it...if you are there fishing it I will go somewhere else...but if nobody is on it..I'm fishing. :)
If, by what you see on your electronics, you can tell whether it's man-made or not, then you're better at it than I am. But nevertheless...you are totally right.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nightprowler64
The "code of conduct" on a public lake is "50 yards."
aj
It is all mine so if you want to fish it just send me the GPS cordanets of the ones you will be fishing and I will let you know if it's ok or not. LOL
Once sunk it belongs to the first person there until they leave.
If you're allowed by your state to build structures on your favorite lakes build enough of them that you have enough to go somewhere else if someone finds one. I've actually had a guy and his friend pull up on what I suspect was a bamboo top that I had found while fishing a ledge. While 3 of us were steadily pulling 1 lb plus slabs in he expected us to pack up and leave I guess.
We kept right on snatching with them setting about 30 yards away.
But, this is the exception more than the rule and most of the locals are good 'ole boys and we work together pretty well.
I wish that I had more free time to help build structure and a lot of mine is over 5 years old and has decayed away mostly.
Instead of trying to hide from the other guys try to organize a structure building day once or twice a year. It's definately easier to do with 2 or 3 guys helping!:)
I think it's more like 50 FEET :D .... but, some think that's too close, while others think that's too far. :pQuote:
Originally Posted by Arkie John
Can't really say that I've ever had anyone barge in on a spot I was fishing. I have had them come & fish close by, and I've done the same, and no ill feelings were ever exhibited or verbalized. Maybe I just go when & where there's not alot of competition for space. Plus, I don't tie or anchor often, but usually am casting & moving ... so maybe my normal style, of constantly moving around & only spending a short while at one spot, is what has kept me from running into such situations.
I think, if I was to be confronted by someone claiming I was fishing in "their spot" ... I'd probably come down with a bad case of "hard of hearing" :p
Ya'll do know that there's a law against harrassment or obstruction of an angler/hunter, with the intent of keeping that person from lawful taking. ;)
Here's a website with a partial list of states, their specific laws, and the possible punishment against the offender. hunter harassment laws
And while it's probably more for use against the "anti's" ... it could be righteously served against another sportsman. Some states list such action as a Class A or Class C misdemeanor ... but, some say you can recoup expenses for your whole trip :eek: if the person is found guilty of disturbing you, or the game you seek, with the intent of causing you to not be able to take that game, while you are lawfully engaged in that pursuit.
Something to think about, anyhoooo :p
... cp :cool:
You're welcome to fish over "mine" if you don't mind me fishing over "yours". I think some people can find "mine" easier than I can. Matter of fact there was a big yellow noodle marking one of "mine" the other day. If you do find them, good luck ,and I hope you catch a bunch of great biguns out of it:D
ps. Try to keep the gps coordinates a secret. ;)
I think that would fall under ethics in some way. If I put it out I might crowd you just a little. Dont BOW up on me because you are reaping the benefits of my work .
I see the point but it does chap your rear when the same guys refuses a offer to help place structure, then crowd you off what you put in. That is just sorry in my book. Like putting up a deer stand after days of scouting and opening day someone set up within 100' of your stand or worse sitting in it.
Crappiepappy. Hard of hearing? lol I like that one.
Like you, I don't camp in one spot more than 15 minutes if the action is slow. That bein' said, I reckon I don't get subjected to much harassment by some idiot.
I reckon if I did get harassed, I could pull out the ole 45 and do some turtle shootin' within 50 yards/feet of him~ Just joshin'~but a nice fantasy (about the only kind I have nowadays. :D
aj
I agree. And if you stumble onto a good looking brushpile while trolling then by all means...FISH IT!!!;):)Quote:
Originally Posted by poppop
:)Quote:
Originally Posted by poppop
NIMROD, that sounds like a wanabe friend that is too sorry to help. I would just kick his ass. and still be his friend.
I own it :) If I find some structure I fish it. Plenty of folks have found ours and fished it. What can you do.
This is how the ownership thing really goes. You dump it in the lake, you still own it. If there is something in it that is damages the lake you are responsible. If there is a person fishing over it, you still own it. However, you don't own the lake that it is in. If the lake is public you cannot tell the person fishing your cover to move. You can, dive down and move your crappie condo if you wish.
Just like if you put a boat in the water, it does not become public property. If a person is fishing around your boat you do not have the right to run them off but you can move your boat.
How's this for another theory?:D
If it's in the water, it's free for all to fish!
My two cents.
I used to build and place a lot of structure. Tried to never go to the structure I placed on a bass tournament day, just to keep exposure to a minimum. One day I went to lake and low and behold I had forgot it was a tourney day, the first 5 sets of structure I motored by that I had built, either had a bass boat on it fishing or a marker bouy marking it as they had found it with their electronics and would fish it later.
My other two cents.
A friend and I put a very large cedar tree in, it was a lot of trouble, someone had the audacity to move that tree. ( I am a diver and know for a fact it was moved, gone) I have known guys that make large hooks out of re-bar for the express purpose of "stealing / moving" structure that others have went to the trouble of placing. This incident caused me not to build or place structure for a long time.
Who was the loser? The fisherie. Just think how much better a fisherie could be if everyone just put in a little structure.
On the other issue, we can all fish it.
I have to agree on it being public proterty, even if it was mine. This spring we had high water at our place in Central Louisiana we had to guys fishing in our yard I thought it was funny and even took a piucture of them, but I did it mainly because the boat was an LSU Sketter purple and gold. I was just glad they didn't hit the walkway that was about 4' under water.
I spend a good bit of time in the winters placing structure for crappie on the lake I fish. I have close to 100 spots fixed, so if I head to a spot and someone is on it, I just go to the next. If they are lucky enough to find it, then I don't blame them for fishing it. I do try to minimize it by placing structure in the winter when noone else is out there. I also put it out in spots where people wouldn't normally fish (usually in the middle of the lake somewhere with no other structure). The way I look at it, I have so many spots fixed that I or anyone else who happens to find them can't possibly fish them enough to put any kind of pressure on them.
The fish dont care who you are.
God willing there will always be tomorrow.
These hot spots should be shared with children
So they can show their fathers!
No, you don't own it. Common sense should prevail. Yes, you own your boat thats on the water, but there is something called abandonment of property. If you leave your boat just like the structure, on the water, over a period of time ( time is determined by state law) the boat is considered abandoned.
If you place structure in public water it is considered abandoned. The time period is related to cost of the item. Anything less that $250.00 in Alabama and after 24 hours is abandoned. Every state has a law or statute to determine this. Thats just like if you drop your watch at the boat landing and someone finds it later. It is not stealing if someone finds it.
With that being said. It is bad form to sit and watch someone place structure, not offer to help, and mark it to come back later to fish. But still you can't stop someone from fishing it.
My opinion is once dropped anyone can fish it but people should show a little respect. If you follow people around that are dropping structure and mark their spots then ur a jerk. If you just happen on to it fish it all u want. If im on a spot and somebody comes up and is friendly i have no problem letting them fish close by i will even tell them depth jig color whatever if there friendly and ask. If someone just comes barging and is rude then thats a differet story. Luckily i dont think this happens alot in the crappie fishin world compared to some of the other species.
when I drop a brush pile, I expect others to fish it. I just don't tell EVERYBODY where it is. That just gives me more insentive to ge tup early and be the 1st on the water, so I get to fish it 1st.
Once a brushpile is sunk, it's free game. I don't like much to see someone sitting on my piles, but it's just the way it is. Chances are, the person who finds it doesn't know if it was placed by someone or fell in from the bank. If I'm scanning the bottom for cover and find some that looks promising, the last thing I think is "who put it there?". I fish tournaments in a local lake circuit. A lot of guys sink brushpiles and drive stakebeds. Most of us know where a lot of these piles are. If everyone had the "that's mine, leave it alone" attitude, there would be fights at the dock every time out. But it doesn't happen. If you plant some and they become community holes, be proud you were able to sink a productive spot, and sink some others where people don't know about yet. They can't fish all your spots at once.
Who owns it? The man with the fastest boat on tournament day.
I dissagree with you on the fact that I have arrested many people for "theif of lost property" in Alabama. Abandonment is different than lost property and because it is lost does not mean that it is fair game. Found property must be turned in and if no ones claims it within the time period, you may reclaim the property. Theif of lost property of Less than $500.00 is third degree, between $500.00 and $2500.00 is Second Degree, and more than $2500.00 is First Degree. You are correct in stating that it is not stealing by just finding it but the not turning it in or trying to locate the owners is where the problem is.Quote:
Originally Posted by Southeasttackle
Code Of Alabama
Section 13A-8-6
Theft of lost property - Definition.
A person commits the crime of theft of lost property if he actively obtains or exerts control over the property of another which he knows to have been lost or mislaid, or to have been delivered under a mistake as to the identity of the recipient or as to the nature or the amount of the property, and with intent to deprive the owner permanently of it, he fails to take reasonable measures to discover and notify the owner.
(Acts 1977, No. 607, p. 812, §3205.)
I put in alot of structure at truman, if i'm dumb enough to put it in around a whole bunch of people i agree community property. I just don't want people following me around. so basically fish it I share don't burn it out.
i had 2 guys follow me wile droping brush piles on the 3rd one i yelled hey come over here to get better gps on it you will neaver find it way over there to my surprized they did just that lol then i told them i had 6 more in the truck if they wanted the spots that bad they could follow me back to the ramp and help me bring them back out becouse i could only have 3 in my boat at a time once again it floored me but dang if they didnt help me ended up being 2 of the nices guys i have meet on the lake talk to them all the time lol funny part i dont think i have ever fished the 9 spots we put in that day