Fishing Marina's

It's a old subject but, it has, IMO, never been settled. What rights do marina owners have? What rights do the fishers have. I have heard from the COE and their stand is "Owners lease water that marina is on". You as a fisher can fish water in and around docks as long as you don't enter slips with boats, interfere with slip renters/fishers and cannot tie up or walk on docks. Just because owners put up signs restricting areas does not make it illegal. I have heard and experienced owners trying to intimate fishers to not fishing dock areas by threats of calling the law. As far as I know, no tickets have ever been written. But, the law, as I understand, there might be harassment of fishers. I've tried to find a lease agreement to verify what's what, but can't find one. Laws and documents like these should be available. I know the problem was brought up at the last KDWPT meeting, and will be brought up again. Have you been harassed? What are your thoughts? <*)}}}><

at hd there is a sign says no fishin within 50ft. of marina???

Yah I have had problems with this as well and then went to the people that run the park and got the same story from them. This is the case at two different reserviors that I have went to this year. Something that probably should be addressed at a fishing information night or commision meeting. Have even heard of people being ran off while winter fishing when there isn't a single boat in any of the slips!

Melvern has signs saying no fishing within 50ft. I have seen bass fisherman fish closer than that no one said anything to them. Just a thought if a slip renter pays a hefty price for a stall and goes to all the work to sink brush out I can understand a frustration level if someone comes up and fishes the slip.. Of course Melvern and Pomona after Nov 1 you can fish most of the dock for a fee/

I tried to fish the docks at Melvern once for bass and was run off immediately by a guy who said "Your trolling motor is a danger to the dock cables," :Rofl I guess the plastic prop on that big Ol' 70lb Maxxum is a lot badder than I thought. He said he had my boat numbers and was going to call the police next time :fingerdance
So now I only fish the marina when it's dark out :biggrin The gas docks I understand, but if I'm just tossing a bait into an empty stalls or around the walkways or the other docks? What's the ruling on that?

:juggle If you are respectful of the surrounding property, I say fish them if you like. We never fish docks here in Kansas. It seems to us the fish tend to run smaller around the docks especially in the springtime. There are always exceptions to the rule such as winter ice. I equate the 30 ft pontoon boat tying up sideways to the shoreline and fishing 50 ft out from the front and back effectively stopping the trolling and casting to the banks by others. Fisherman are a strange lot and become ruder and more butthurt over the small things nowadays, life is too short to acknowledge these types. Too many good spots to let these types bother you.

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Originally Posted by Crappie Chatt

It's a old subject but, it has, IMO, never been settled. What rights do marina owners have? What rights do the fishers have. I have heard from the COE and their stand is "Owners lease water that marina is on". You as a fisher can fish water in and around docks as long as you don't enter slips with boats, interfere with slip renters/fishers and cannot tie up or walk on docks. Just because owners put up signs restricting areas does not make it illegal. I have heard and experienced owners trying to intimate fishers to not fishing dock areas by threats of calling the law. As far as I know, no tickets have ever been written. But, the law, as I understand, there might be harassment of fishers. I've tried to find a lease agreement to verify what's what, but can't find one. Laws and documents like these should be available. I know the problem was brought up at the last KDWPT meeting, and will be brought up again. Have you been harassed? What are your thoughts? <*)}}}><

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You must be talking about PERRY LAKE!!! They told a tournament team the same thing about 3 weeks ago..

I think Chatt is referring to all the complaints we have been hearing from a third party about the Marina @ Milford. Sounds like the issue pretty much exists on all lakes.

I lease a slip at the marina on Clinton. I sank hedge in my slip and the slips next to mime, plus some around the marina 4 years ago.
I tell the bass fishermen casting the slips that I just pulled a 8 pound bass out of my slip and get my laughs when they cast into the slips on either side of mine and get hung on my brush, loosing their lures. I should have left the brush tied on the walkways so it could be pulled up to fill my tackle box with their high dollar lures.
I don't mind other slip holders or the guys that joined the marina fishing club fishing in my slip as long as they move when I get there so I can fish my slip, as they can walk all around the maina slips, and I am limited to my slip with my disability. I don't allow anyone to fish off the front of my winter fishing pontoon, but will invite some to fish inside where it is warm and open water during the winter lake ice over.
Just a note about Clinton marina, they don't want anyone tying up to their docks/slips, not even me tying up to another slip.

Here's an interesting read about the Rush Creek Marina on Milford Lake and how a couple people are stepping up to make sure something is done and to solve the needless confrontation. If anybody has input on this marina, sounds like now is the chance to speak your mind to applicable people.

Milford lake marina

I have been confronted numerous times on dock fishing.

I don't tie up to the docks and I don't set foot on the docks.

Some people ask how you are doing and others try to run you off. I just try to shrug it off and move on. Some people do spend a lot of money for slips and I get that. With everything. There will be cool people and there will be grumpy people.

This is what was stated on the other fishing web site: Yes, the issue regarding the Rush Creek State Park Marina Operator restricting public access has become an issue at the state level. The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism discussed a recent incident during their commission meeting last Thursday. A video recording of the commission meeting is located at the following address: October 2014 Commission Meeting Part 2, KDWP News and Information kdwpinfo on USTREAM. Political News

The discussion relating to the Rush Creek Marina and the marina operator begins around the 33-minute mark. As you see, KDWP wishes to address Marina issues on a case by case basis. I think their first case needs to be the Rush Creek Marina, as what the marina operator enforces is not at all in compliance with what his lease states and how KDWP interprets his lease.

It has become evident to many sportsman that KDWP is unaware of the issues occurring at the Rush Creek Marina. Per the video link above, it is the KDWP's attorney's interpretation that the Marina operator only has control of the water underneath his docks. The operator does not have control over the land or the water in between dock structures (outside of the roof line). KDWP is currently unsure of whether or not he can restrict people from casting inside his dock slips, although we have the right to fish the outside face and edges of the docks. This also means that fisherman have the right to access and fish from the bank (or by boat) the water in between the land and dock structures or the water between structures. Many people will agreee that the marina operator tries to control the entire cove. I have even seen childen and their grandparents denied access to bank-fishing during the spring crappie spawn. This is not legal according to his lease, and many of his signs innacurately represent what he in fact controls.

Due to a very negative ecounter with the marina operator in which the Geary County Sheriff was called over the weekend, a few anglers are taking this issue up with KDWP and state legislators. We are requiring that KDWP provide a written clarification of what the marina operator controls and where he an legally keep people from fishing. We are also requesting that a graphical representation be displayed in the parking lot information booth as well as the walk way to the marina, illustrating what is public access and what is not. In addition, we are requesting that KDWP evaluate the marina operator's current signage and enforce changes to the signage so the signage does not restrict public access to state property.

KDWP is working for us, the tax-paying public. We need to ensure that public access areas are utilized and maintained, so future generations have the chance to enjoy fishing and outdoor recreation. The truth of the matter is that Corps. of Engineers owns the entire lake and leases areas to the state. The state in turn leases dock space to private marina operators. Sorry, for the long post, but I know many people have had encounters at the Marina, and have ultimately become complacent with what the Marina Operator says. Please feel free to express your thoughts regarding ths issue or use this posting to detail your experiences when fishing in or around the rush creek state park marina.

:popcorn There are 2 sides to every issue. After reading quite a bit on this subject at Milford, some of this was brought on by the fishermen. Bragging about putting in at one marina and spending money at that marina then going to another marina and fishing their docks, then going on line and telling those things would anger any businessman. This has developed in to a war that didn't need to happen. If you think one marina is better than another why aren't you fishing that particular marina where you spend your money. sometimes a little PR by buying a sandwich or pop or a bag of ice can go a long way. I do not know the current owner at Rush Creek but the previous owners had no problem with us fishing around their docks, but of course we patronized them as much as possible. There is more to this story than some are letting on. Just sayin.

Was at Melvern dock this morning a bass boat with two guys entered one of the ally ways between docks and they were flipping back into the stalls, which were mostly empty. The guy working at the Marina came unglued and started yelling at them and even called the law. The boat left without much fan fare. The law never showed up

The Rush Creek guy tells me (probably everyone) the same story every time he sees me. Accuses me of being the criminal theft mastermind of an (apparently) every weekend long theft ring in his marina. "We've been having stuff come up missing, and how do I know it's not you??" Lately, I have made a point to 1. take my butt chewing, then 2. later in the day, pull in and eat a cheeseburger with him, making it as uncomfortable as possible. If I put in at Rush Creek, I usually stop in there and buy something later in the day, because I think it's right. I fish there too, making it a point to go so early that no one is around (except him, setting up early in the morning). I absolutely will not impede any possible marina customers or slip folks. If I make it too late, I just cruise by at long range. It's usually the only stress filled moments in a blissful rest of day. But I'm too old now to be barked at like a punk kid.

:Rofl You are not too old. You are in the Military are you not, you are just sensitized to being yelled at like a punk kid from your years of service!!!!rotfl At least that's how it was when I was in!!!! Seriously though, you are to be commended for taking the high road, he should learn from your actions, good job.

How the heck did I miss this one......

Milford: Bully tactics

I have a run in with the guy or some of his minions almost everytime I go there to fish. I have had to intervene when he was berating an obvious visitor and his 8y/o child before. Just on friday being accused of "the Guy" that steals from the boats in the slips at night there.

I have spoken with many many about the issue. All said the water is fair game but stay off the docks. Rgr....no problem. I spoke with the head guy at the Corp office at the dam and he told me by the lease the guy controls the water also.....when asked how much he said "The whole Cove". I said that was an awful lot of water and I would like to see the Public Document where it states that......he told me I just had to take his word for it....Whatever. The guy harasses and bullies people constantly. Most will just go away because of the high drama factor with the guy. Me, just been through too much to be pushed like this. There is actually a regulation about harassing sportsman in the pursuit of legal activities.

Hear is what I started doing when I go over there to fish is I always have my helmet Cam on and when he starts cussing me I tell him I will make him famous and when he then notices the camera he tones it down.

I boycott any and all business with him or his. The only way to really stop this is to effect his bottom dollar or make to where the state park is forced to modify his behavior. I know they regularly delete Happy Posts on their FB page. No matter if you like it or don't, social media has an impact on people's behavior.

The people across the lake at Thunderbird are just great people to deal with and long as you don't try to catch the old woman's pet Carp in the back of the main marina building. Which i respect her wishes and always try to be very polite and respectful to them. Now the camp host......different story but I don't camp there and its their camp, their rules.

BTW: The video released by the state about Crappie at Milford was filmed there.......lots of crappie there

Fishing around the docks at Thunderbird and the cops were there for an unrelated issue and said nothing to me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbzLCDIKL-Q