Fishing in front of homes & cottages

[Spoonman]

Interesting thread. Glad you managed to get out of there sans injury, Bobber.

We all have a right to that water but just keep in mind be courteous to your fellow cottager as well.

Well put.

I rarely get a chance to fish from a boat in front of cottages as such. When I do, I tend to give people their space, the same way I like my space.

For example, if it's very early in the morning and people are evidently asleep in their cabin alongshore, I avoid fishing the docks and structure immediately in that area. Way I figure, my banging-around in the boat and the thrashings-about of pike and bass probably aren't the most welcome sounds at 6am.

Some folks mentioned being careful not to bang lures/hooks off of property (docks, boats) and I agree fully. If you want to cast to docks, at least be accurate about it.

[Bobber]

I'd be interested to hear the outcome of the legal battle, (not the details of course) as it would set a precidence for any future altercations of the such for sure.

P.S. I don't know what was said at the end of this thread, but I deleted it all. I'd prefer the topic not get off hand. Now if it was a post supporting the cottagers and their right to be mad, then I would be interested in hearing that point of view, but let's not jump all over anyone who does so.

[jughead]

I am a cottage owner and an avid angler. I live at the cottgae for the summer and fish every morning and for a few hours most evening. There is some fishing pressure on the lake with the owners but not a lot. However, there are some seasonal renters who return for 2-3 week stays each year. One group is six guys from Pennsylvannia all in their late 20's. They fish the lake pretty hard but seem respectful on the water.

The other guy who shows up every year is another story. He fishes every day with his son and all they do is work docks with small spinners. They do nothing but troll along the shoreline casting around people's docks, boats and swim platforms. I have seen them break off in shallow water and just continue on. Two summers ago my neighbors daughters stepped on a lure deep enough to put the barb into her heel. She ended up being driven to the hospital and needed an incision to be cut into her foot in order to get the hook out. I do not know for sure that it was this idiot father and son but I'd be willing to bet my last dollar it was.

I have had this guy troll past my cottage about20-30 feet away from the dock while my family was on the dock and continue fishing. The first year I suggested some other spots on the lake which are unpopulated and better fishing. I got the song and dance about it being his right to fish where he was. I told him that sometimes common sense and courtesy are more relevant than his right to be there.

I have no beef with people fishing my dock except when I am on it or if the person doing the fishing isn't skilled enough to work a dock without hitting it, my boats, etc. Over the five years I have owned the cottage I have found two lures snagged and broken off in the shallow area where my kids swim. I have found styrofoam worm containers and beer cans. This past week someone came onto my dock and stole the anchor out of my fishing boat.

I agree the cottage owner in question came out too aggressive but you have to understand, from someone who sees it from both sides, there are many cases where to disrepect is coming from the boat towards shore and not the other way around.

[Spoonman]

Jughead, welcome to fish-hawk. Sorry to hear about the hook embedded in your neighbour's daughter's foot.

Irresponsible angling and littering as jughead describes (among other things, perhaps) set a bad example and can give others a negative impression of anglers. While this does not excuse outrageous behaviour such as Bobber and others have had to put up with, it does offer some perspective as to what's driving that attitude.

I would say the best we can do is just practice a little personal accountability, reasoned judgement, and set a good example. It all boils down to mutual respect.

At the risk of starting a tangent, your story about the hook-related injury got me thinking. I find it helps to use weedless and/or single-hook setups (jigs, senkos, spinnerbaits, trebles replaced by siwashes) instead of trebles in areas where snags are likely. Since I got into that habit, it's rare for me to lose a hook fouled on a bottom snag, especially in shallow water (where it can be more easily retrieved). I do this mainly for hassle-free fishing and cost-effectiveness; keeping lures out of the feet of swimmers is a happy bonus.

[jughead]

Snags and break-offs are part of fishing. I just have a general rule of thumb I abide by - if i am throwing a lure in an area where people will be swimming, I better be willing to retrieve it if I snag and break it off. To my mind if I am not willing to retrieve it, even if that means taking a bit of a swim in a few feet of water then I move along.

Most of the people on boards like this are responsible. The guy who shows up at our place is an example of another kind. Just bear in mind that if you show up in front of my neighbors place and start flipping his dock he may come down to the water and yell at you. As much as the cottage owner doesn't always know the story of the people in the boat, the people in the boat don't always know the story of the people on the dock and why they may be wary.

Then again, there is no reasoning with some people and every lake has a few cranks. I have been yelled at a few times by a lady on our lake for creating too much of a wake too close to her dock while puttering in my ancient misty river that weighs about 400lbs, at half throttle with an old 9.9. I have made bigger wakes drunk on an inflatible suntanning mattress. I just avoid her and give a wide berth.

I fish to get away from people and relax.

[salvo]

The guy sounds like he had one too many coffees for sure. You didnt happen to get a GPS position while you were sitting there getting berated by the guy did you? (just to make sure we dont accidently drift past the place

[PicHunter]

Hey Bobber,

Just signed into to this site today, there is alot of interesting discussion here. I fish every weekend and also own a cottage. It's great watching bass fishermen working areas around and under docks, but the only concern that I have is when they ignore boats or people on the dock. It dosen't happen often but there are a few that just can't pass up an oppertunity. I couldn't imagine throwing a rock at anyone because of that. I think asking them to stay away from the boats politely would work better.

PicHunter

[wolfe]

I have been yelled at a few times by a lady on our lake for creating too much of a wake...while puttering in my ancient misty river that weighs about 400lbs, at half throttle with an old 9.9. I have made bigger wakes drunk on an inflatible suntanning mattress. I just avoid her and give a wide berth.

Now THAT gave me a great laugh...!

Welcome aboard, Jughead, whether in a boat or on your raft. Good thoughts, well expressed.

W.

[Bobber]

Jughead, PicHunter....welcome to Fish-Hawk and thanks for joining and posting.

I think you both hit the nail on the head really. We never do know what's on the other person's page and what experiences they have had. It is very true that we should not fish docks or even troll by too close when people are out enjoying their place...I can respect that and do, not that I have to, but because I think it's the right thing to do. I also think it's the right thing for the cottage owner to recognize that they don't own the water and to speak to fishermen with more respect and less tone.

If you do happen to get snagged on a dock, how many of us would just break off so that we could move along and not risk having the cottager come down and tear a strip of us. I personally would rather the angler get right on my dock and remove the hook out of the way. I do hear what is being said though about hooks in the water around the dock. It would only take one incident to cause a cottage owner to be outraged by a fisherman...and this becomes all fishermen.

I guess the only solution to this is for everyone to at least respect each other, no matter what. If the guy had told me he had a bad experience, instead of just starring at me and grunting some words every now and again...I would have apologized on behalf of all anglers and moved along, recognizing that I see his point and perhaps suggest that he put up a sign or something to the effect of "Anglers, please be careful not to leave hooks where my kids swim!"...or something like that...I don't know. It may discourage some people from fishing there, or at least have them be a little more careful when doing so....but then again....that may be opening up a whole new can of worms where eventually everyone has these signs and we won't be able to fish anywhere near docks or boats.

Hey, maybe I could sell those signs.....make a fortune...retire....and go fishing....near docks and shorelines. hee hee (a little streak of evil coming out there I guess)

Thanks for the comments folks.

[HitmanHill]

Where do you start on a discussion like this? First of all, there is absolutely no way we can predict what someone is going to say or what they may be feeling. I just can't imajine how someone can be so upset that there is someone out there enjoying their day doing what they enjoy(fishing), heaven forbid in front of their cottage or their domaine and also for them to take it upon themselves to play god or landloard and also to believe to themselves that they own this piece of property and to try and execute what they believe is their right to prevent your enjoyment to fish there. All I can say is Bobber you handled this as professionally as any of us could of by stating your case and moving on, I only wish I could do the same in the same situation but since becoming a member of this site and seeing different points of view I do believe that with the information and gained respect of the different points of view, I now believe I would move on without going into a whole lot of detail with any errate property owner. Before being a member of this site I would just tell the person to go take a flying leap which I am know would only intise the guy to chuck his rock. What would that prove? Just that I am as crazy in my belief as he is and that would just put another bad name in front of those crazy fisherman that don't respect cottage dwellers. Even if you are right and legal to be there is it really that important to try and straighten someone out which I am sure he/she has heard all the same info before?????? Well done Bobber just to state your case and move on, maybe this guy will someday realize he doesn't own all of paradise!!!!!

[Fishboy]

To put things into a different perspective, how would you feel if someone regularly and repeatedly engaged in a legal activity on the sidewalk directly in front of your property? Perhaps you personally found that activity to be objectionable? Many of you would probably react in an annoyed or angered manner similar to the reactions mentioned in this thread.

While we have the right to fish pretty much anywhere on public water, a little respect for cottagers' reasonable expectation to privacy can go a long way in reducing stress on both sides.

[eastfisher]

I do agree with most of this. If you are going to cast at a dock or boat, make it accurate or otherwise dont cast there. If you see someone outside your house on the sidewalk you dont know why they are there unless they have a uniform like a post man or something but when you see a guy on the water with a fishing rod you can assume he is not the mailman. LOL.

I have invited and taken people from their docks for a day of fishing many times. Most cottagers are very friendly but you will always have a bad seed on the lake no matter what. Its usually the guy with the flawless grass and the boat that seems to never leave the dock but is spotless. Thats just my oponion mind you.

I've taken out guys from their cottages for one to gain info on the lake and why fish alone when you can have company. I have made alot of friends that way. I to have a cottage and make no point to bother guys fishing. If I'm there i will talk briefly ask how they are doing and move on. After all guys its just fishing. But you have to draw the line somewhere. If a guy throws a rock at you because your walking in front of his house what would you do. Its the same as the water, you do not own a certain part of your land in front of your house but you have to maintain it. Go figure.

Case in point. If you run into a guy/gal like i did try and move on. You yourself at the end of the day will still be a better person, I did the best thing I knew to do. I could of went ashore and kicked the crap out of him but that would of gotten me knowhere. I would of surely been gratified by that. LMAO. Some guys just need to get a good beating if you know what I mean.

[Pug]

I go to my parents cottage every chance I get
I dont have any problem with people fising out front so long as they dont bang any thing of my boat

what does really tick me off is when someone passes by the dock when I am standing on the end of it taking a few casts
there is lots of room to go wide of me but they pass so close I could put a lure between their eyes if I chose to
One cottager even swims through my casting zone

as far as posting a no fishing sign on docks that is a no no
only the MNR can post no fishing
imagine going to a lake and every dock has a No Fishing sign?
I would make it a point to stop at any sign and fish just to show them what I think of their sign and if they didnt like it to call the police

[Mak'er a Lak'er]

I am a cottage owner on a small back bay of a small lake. We get occasional fishing traffic in the summer months and I enjoy watching people catch fish in and around "our waterfront area". The odd long weekend we get friends of friends that bring in their boats and don't really get the "vibe" of the lake, which is a relaxing, mellow vibe.

I always give everyone the benefit of the doubt and let them fish as they please, but enevitably someone will chuck a crankbait at my pontoon boat and "tink" they hit it. Not going to lose any composure over it, but I normally just give them the old look, like "c'mon guys, easy".

That usually is enough to get a sorry and that is that...

Good fishing everyone, just use the common sense rule.

Cheers.

[feelinginwind]

nice logic

YOU ARE THE ONLY ONES THEY CAN LASH OUT AT. ......... The angler comes by and is the only one who is quiet and slow enough for the property owner to make contact with.....so they do.