Bass Fishermen

[Kevin]

As a lake homeowner and a fishermen I am getting tied of Bass Fishermen.

What is the best way to keep Bass Fishermen whom are always fishing under my boat from Hooking and tearing up the upholstery on my boat? Or getting on my dock and unhooking their lures.

Most of their boats are worth a lot more then mine and I sure they would be none to happy if I threw my line in their boats.

[Krusty]

If that were happening to me, I'd probabley stand out on my dock with a flame thrower, and I'd let any bugger have it that gets within 6 feet of my boat or dock. Guys like that have such little respect for others that perhaps a little cinging of the eyebrows might straighten them out. If a flame thrower is unavailable see if you can get your hands on a bazooka. They work just as well!! Good Fishing.

[I*ME*MINE]

A boat trailer. Then yellow tape, parking pylons, and a fake handicap parking permit. If its within your mentality go for it!!!

[guest]

The next time this happens just take your kids boom box down to the dock with the worst possible music that you can find in it (it's probably the CD that is in there anyway) turn the volume all the way up and leave.

[Lady with Lures]

I can totally understand! I live on a lake and have had the bass fishermen not only hook onto our boats, but also fish while our children are swimming, throw hooks at our dog (who loves to bark at them from the end of our dock), conveniently leave their garbage on our boats, AND use our property as their napping and toilet facilities!
We love to fish and respect others who do as well, but there are some people out there who choose to ruin it for all of us. I pay BIG taxes and would appreciate getting what I pay for. Grow up "b*******s" and share in the "sportsmanship" of the "sport"!

[eyebass]

Bass fishermen have just as much right to fish under or around your dock and boat that are covering up public water as anywhere else on the lake. Just because you pay big taxes for the privilege to park on water that all of own doesn't mean you have the right to regulate the use of it. Its people like you that destroy the natural shoreline with piers, boatlifts, and boathouses thereby creating the only habitat available for the bass to live. If you understood bass at all you would know this. I fish both walleyes and bass on many different lakes and on some of the lakes have shorelines so heavily developed that there aren't any other places to fish but around docks. These shorelines used to have overhanging trees, weedbeds, cattail shorelines and many other forms of cover for the fish to live around but greedy slob shoreline landowners think only of themselves and how much big taxes they have to pay. If money is all they have care about then they don't deserve the privilege to live on the lake unless they plan on being good stewards of the water.

[Al]

When you figure it out, let me know. I fish for both and have guys pulling boards come to close to where I am bass fishing. I've found that 3/4 blade baits really make short work of their worm harnesses and jet divers. There are bad apples in every basket....

[targa2]

Sorry to all you dock owners but your dock is a privilege, not a right and it is in public water. A cottage owner who got irate with bass fishermen on Rice Lake here in Ontario decided to hook up a sprinkler system which he would surprise unsuspecting "flippers" with.In the process he destroyed a bass angler's very expensive camera equipment. He was charged for it , had to pay for all new camera gear and was forced to remove the sprinkler system.
Cottage owners, over the years , with their unregulated disposal of sewage and alteration of shoreline habitat have done more to eutrophicate many lakes into near sespools. Remove your dock, return the shoreline to it's original condition and trailer your boat when you want to use it......Problem solved!

[jpo]

RELAX!! Like the afforementioned. Living on a lake and having a dock is a luxury not a right. If you don't like it tough! However, I understand your frustration. Like mentioned a hundred times on this board "Be nice to one another" it will make your "horriable lake life" a little better.

[Joe Public]

R= really selfish, toxic to the actual body of water itself.
I= ignorant most often to the publics rights, and our enviroment
P= pathetic bickering to the point of being chronic.
A= americans of the second class, with a general beleif that
resricting the publics rights and access benefits all of society.
R= rotten bickering on and on, with no understanding that like your
walk in the park, anglers deserve that freedom and tranquility
also. With out your B.S. and possesions.
I= Idiotic, to the point of being a liabilty to the bgeneral public.
A= arrogant peices of ugly jewelery "encased" in glass houses for all
to see. Back to pathetic.
N= nut's plain nuts, don't like taxes? What a no brainer! DUH

[BigBass]

Lady with lures,

I didn't relize that my Lund ProV 1900 was considered a bass boat.

But, if you want true sportsmanship, group all "Bass and Walleye" fishermen in one group - They are all fishermen. They have the same oppertunity to be disrespectful.

You and I both fish for walleyes so we better: --- Quit harvesting too many fish - you meat fisherman, Quit clipping fins because you can't catch fish in the slot, Can't catch a fish with-out live bait? - and you call yourself a fisherman! ect. ect. ect..... That is bull too!

I am sorry if it is a touchy subject for some. But, it is not because it is the type of fish they fish for. It is because of the people that are fishing at your dock are disrespectful. The same people flipping jigs during the day for bass may be fishing right next to you trolling walleyes on a mud flat at Mille Lacs?

All I ask is that all are not dragged through the mud because of a few. Thinking like that is not helping anything.

Is this being un-sportsmen like??? Lady with Lures, Maybe I didn't understand your post that you addressed to me in regards to the size of my pole? Please explain???


Fish for them all...

Big-Bass

[Cangl]

Pity any walleye angler that has not caught walleye out from under a dock, you sure are missing out. ;)

[Toolman]

Eyebass,
I think the gentleman is asking for advice on what he can do to prevent harassment and destruction to his property. I am assuming that his dock conforms with applicable laws. He owns the property and has the rights to own a dock. You would also have that right as a property owner. I am not a lawyer, but I will also assume that there is no legal way to restrict people from fishing around or under his dock. Again, I'm no lawyer but, when damage occurs to another's property, legal lines have been crossed. It is unsporting and unethical behavior to damage property that doesn't belong to you. Also fishing a dock where kids are swimming isn't too cool. It sounds like there is plenty of docks, why not just move on to the next one?
Put yourself in his shoes. How would you feel if you got in your boat, only to find expensive seats gouged by the hook of a careless fisherman. It sounds like respect (or lack thereof) for others property is the issue here.

[Ness]

As a person that fishes for both walleye and bass, these posts that generalize about bass fishermen can be very upsetting and frustrating.
Very few bass fishermen are rude and impolite, just as not all walleye fishermen are polite gentlemen. Sometimes I wonder what I am since I fish for both???? Stubborn that's a given... :-) Also I lived on a lake for three years and never had any problems with anyone??????? Sometimes it's just a matter of being polite and respectful yourself to others.
Lady with lures, you made some very rude comments in your posts. Perhaps you should rethink your handle????? Adult females are all classified as women however WE are obviously not all ladies. Woman to woman, my dear, if you want to bear the handle of Lady then I suggest that you behave more like one in your posts.

[NC]

Kevin,
I know its a pain in the butt and you probably feel like you shouldn't have to do this, but maybe you should consider covering your seats with towels sewn together or something else to protect them? As a bass/walleye fisherman, (mainly bass since that is all I can catch) I can honestly say docks are too good of fishing spots to ignore. With that said, certain rules of courtesy and common sense should always apply.
Good luck and be patient, maybe it will be my spinner underneath your boat pulling out the next 5lber!

[Daren]

Try putting chicken wire up all the way around the outside of your dock under the water. Make sure it is visible and attached well. Place a couple posts out on the other side of where the boat docks and do the same with this. Most bass fishermen will not cast into a sure snag with anything but an absolutely snagless lure and none will cast through chicken wire as they can't get a fish back anyways. There's some expense to it and a little work to it but this should result in far less problems from fishermen. Make sure it is visible and a sign stating it is there will also help. Place a rope across behind the boat with some material hanging down and that will prevent them from casting up beside the boat. You are right that they should be more carefull. Unfortunately, as with anything else there are those people who insist on being irresponsible that will cause problems. Most bass fishermen will not cast real close to a docked boat unless they are very good at their casting or are using something that will not hurt on an errant cast such as a texas rigged worm. No experienced fishermen will cast to a dock that has swimmers as the swimmers will keep fish from biting anyways. Docks are often good cover for fish but because too many people who do not fish often decide they want to fish like the pros they cause problems with their lack of experience.

[GR8WTHUNTER]

This may be going too far, but how about a sign on the dock stating something like....Please do not cast while my boat is docked, Thank you for being respectful. This may make someone think and shouldn't piss them off.

[Juls_OH]

You can't keep people from fishing on public waters, and that means under your boat too, but you can do something to protect your boat and belongings....

A friend of mine who keeps his boat in the water all summer, keeps a cover on it when he's not using it. He rigged this canvas cover with very large egg sinkers all the way around to keep it in place during windy conditions. So far it has worked well for him. It's hassle free and is easy to put in place. That might help keep your boat in better shape.

You might as well try to get along with the people who use the lake, because there's no sense in getting upset about it. Life's too short.
Do what YOU can to make the situation better. You won't be able to change someone else, especially strangers. As for the folks who get on your dock to retrieve lures...let them. Heck, it doesn't hurt the dock, and at least they are taking the time to unhook their lures without damaging your property.
As for the folks who are casting/fishing around swimming children...I would get the boat numbers and report them. That is a no-brainer. Someone could get hurt.

Just my thoughts,

Juls
p.s. If it were me, and someone got on my dock to get his/her lure, I would take that opportunity to have a little chat with them and see what the fishing report is for the day..but hey, that's just me.
You just never know when someone you meet is going to become a friend for life. They always show up in the strangest places. ;-)

[Oh oh]

Daren, in Wisconsin you will get a big fat fine from the DNR for the chicken wire thing............................................. ..