My run in with an unfriendly dock owner last night.

[Mike S.]

I agree with thedude some dock owners need to be put in there place. I tend to get just as aggressive as they get with me. Although I have recently decided unless I am in my own boat I will let the boat owner decide if he wants to escalate the situation or not.

Right on.  I guess I could have called the cops, but it just didn't go through my head that way.  I was more worried about him hitting my rod with that saw.  I won't go there looking for a confrontation again, but I will fish that dock on my way down the shoreline when I go there.  But, he won't get away with that crap again.

[djkimmel]

I agree with thedude some dock owners need to be put in there place. I tend to get just as aggressive as they get with me. Although I have recently decided unless I am in my own boat I will let the boat owner decide if he wants to escalate the situation or not.

That's a good point. I was the guest of a member on a private lake the last time someone came down and complained about us fishing 'his' area. As tempting as it was to say a thing or two, I left it up to the boater to respond. He apologized and said we were moving on. He has to live with these people all the time.

[djkimmel]

I wanted to dock fish a last week. Every dock I went to I had a dog follow me.  I think he wanted in the boat. I would get one cast in and then here he comes. This happened for about 45 minutes.  At first I though it was cute. Then the cuteness wore off. Spayed and neutered threats were used. He finally gave up.

Possible escalation in the war about fishing rights?? Every now and then I run into a 'lonely' dog like that too. Sometimes though they seem like they might be hungry or something else. Maybe too inquisitive? I've even had a few over the years try to swim to my boat. And I remember a couple German Shepherd / Clydesdale mixes on Wixom Lake that seemed to be trying to figure out a way to run and jump for my boat!! I left that canal. They definitely looked hungry!! All kinds of aggressiveness going on their!

I once caught a Beagle puppy on a trap bait too that did jump into my boat. That was not fun though the owner assured me it was the "dumb" puppy's fault and laughed even after it fell back over the side hanging by the lip from a treble hook!!!! I was scrambling that time!

I've had bird get into my boat. No deer (though I've seen that on video and did once rescue a fawn that fell in the river). A giant Luna Moth on Lake Erie in the middle of nowhere (that was cool). Bats a couple times (not cool). Some wasps (stung five times in Kentucky). That's what I remember.

It helps to be an accurate caster when you have a dog trying to be your friend while fishing close to shore (though I have one dog swim a long way out multiple times to try to get to my boat for some reason - I finally just drove off). But some dogs also go after your cast too. Then it is pretty much time to move.

[djkimmel]

You have to wonder if a guy who would pick up a saw in the first place isn't already a little over the sanity horizon...?

[Revtro]

You have to wonder if a guy who would pick up a saw in the first place isn't already a little over the sanity horizon...?

  LOL  Just a little.  Plenty of psychos out there. 

[djkimmel]

Mikesmiph - I'll send you a free lure if the next time you fish that dock you wear a beanie cap with a propeller on it?!? And get some wide angle video you can send to me!!!

[Mike S.]

Mikesmiph - I'll send you a free lure if the next time you fish that dock you wear a beanie cap with a propeller on it?!? And get some wide angle video you can send to me!!!

Dan, did you mean mikeszr800?  I will fish that dock with a beanie hat and propeller for a free lure!  Why not?

[1javelin]

We've ran into a few of those.  I don't particularly enjoy fishing their dock after that, but if it's a good dock, I will still hit it a time or two.  If I see them coming for a confrontation I tend to keep moving like I'm not paying attention to them.  I'm not big on confrontation with upset people, because I use to be like that.  I know what they expect and what they are probably capable of, and I don't want my boat, me, or my partner to be on the receiving end of anger.  It's not worth it.  I say pass it by, he may be psyching himself up for the next confrontation as well, and a prepared attack is not what you want to run into.

1jav

[djkimmel]

Yeah... next time he might bring a table saw...

[Mike S.]

Yeah... next time he might bring a table saw...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!  A table saw!!!!

[Anthony Adams]

I have run into the agressive dock owner many times over the years and the best course of action is to move on. However I had one owner on big lake in Osceola County that was so bad and so agressive I had to put an end to it. The owner would cuss, swear and would throw things at your boat, he would put lines in the water on his dock and all his nieghbors docks (with no bait on them) just so he could say he was fishing and we had to get away. I got a law enforcment fishing friend to approve via his boss an under cover sting. Ultimatley they wrote the land owner for angler haressment and too many lines in the water. The land owner became very agressive with the law enforcement officer and nearly got arrested.

Speaking of Dogs in the boat --- Last year I had a big black lab come running down a dock and leap into my boat, landing on my front deck and nearly knocked me out of my boat. In a panic I thought the dog wanted to eat me for dinner but it turns out he just loves boats and fishing and just wanted to go. The dog owner appologized heavily. I offered to take the dog fishing with me. The owner had to get his jet ski out and take the dog for a ride just to calm him down.

Once I had a swan get on my rear deck.... I had a heck of a time getting it out of the boat.

[djkimmel]

You must be attractive to swans?!?

[Anthony Adams]

Dan,

I was wearing a white shirt and I think it wanted to mate with me.... LOL

Seriously it was super ticked off about something.

I hear a noise look back and a Swan is on my rear deck. I wave my rod tip at it and it starts flapping his wings and squaking at me like crazy. I grab the net and try to shooo it out of the boat but he was having no part of it. He stood his ground and went nuts. Finally I am able to convince it to get out the boat..

Needless to say a buddy of mine was fishing the same trash and he had a good laugh on it.

[dartag]

was in the water this moring and noticed some line hanging under my pontoon.  nice wacky rigged senko and hook were wrapped around my wiring.  Not my color so I think i will put a  " use Green Pumpkin only please " sign out there.   

[djkimmel]

was in the water this moring and noticed some line hanging under my pontoon.  nice wacky rigged senko and hook were wrapped around my wiring.  Not my color so I think i will put a  " use Green Pumpkin only please " sign out there.   

That's good thinking. Make the most of it!

[Firefighter Jeff]

  I once had a dock owner give me a hard time.  Nothing real bad.  Comments like "There aren't any bass within 50 miles of here" etc.  I avoid the dock.  It's not worth it.  Now if I were fishing for money and it was a great dock.........  I'd think about it.
 
    The angler harrassment law isn't gonna mean too much if a crazy owner snaps and shoots you  !!!

[Mojo]

Well, ...... from a man who bats about .200 if I count per dock everytime I got hung, banged a pontoon, wrapped a hoist, caught a fence, or stabbed a dock post ...... here are some things you CAN do to minimize our confrontations:

1) Learn how to stealth cast under docks. If you have a sinker > 1/8 oz ..... you could do damage and pee a home owner off to the point that the next bass boat he sees - he's taking his "dent frustration" out on him not you .... Keep sinkers tights to the bait and no carolina rig skipping.... it doesnt work and it'll get ya hung. Aim at the water right where it needs to enter and snap down to it. Try to be weightless and texas rigged if possible.

2) If you cast over a boat, dont snap it back... you could catch vinyl or a boat cover..... and the next bass boater this owner confronts is gonna get hell shakin at him ......right or wrong and even if the bass boat doesnt make a cast... one of us is gonna receive the ire of your hooking his vinyl or covers....

3) If you get hung up ..... dont just snap off, Stop your fishing and retrieve the lure and hook. If an owner is outside or in the yard, make gentle conversation to have them ensure you dont want to leave a hook for kids and ask to go in and un hook. Its like a land owner and guns .... Even if you arent going to hunt his land, letting him know you have a gun as you walk the boundaries to get to your plot is a courteous thing and it really pays dividends. Heck the ol timer may even tell which corner of his property is the producing weedbed or drop off....

4) After your 3rd time you get hung on something .....  put yourself in "time out". Just get in the penalty box for 2 minutes and dont cast again to a dock until you have the right rod, reel, line, and bait that gives you more control .........

5) Try coming in front the shore side and cast back into like you were on land. For whatever reason, I just never get hung up AND its something different for big fish who seem to be used to senkos splashing in from the deep side of the dock .....

6) If you arent great at it, dont try to skip between a pontoon motor and its toons ..... if you are 50/50 you're gonna bang , chip paint etc ... so just pitch along side to the front, let the bass boat cruise forward and begin to reel once your line is under the boat ... same effect, more courtesy ... less stupid look on your face when you hang a hook on a gas line or motor and have to ask the boater to swing back.....

I think these boat and dock owners have ligitimate frustration, especially when there are 1 - 2 tournaments a week on some lakes and their dock and boat gets pelted by 10 - 15 bass boaters (x2 cause the co angler has to pitch) a week.......  I think  we as fishermen get yelled at for something someone a few days ago caused so please:

Dont be that guy ..............  

[Dan]

Well said.

[bigjc]

The few times this has happened to me, I calmly suggested that they call local law enforcement and informed them of the angler harassment law and that pretty much ended the confrontation.  With one guy I offered to make the call myself and he backed down.  

I'm curious though how this applies to yacht clubs and "private" canals.  I get looks occasionally for fishing around yacht club entrances, but I haven't gone into any clubs.  They all have signs posted telling me I can't come in, but I wonder if that's really legal or if it's considered private property since it's a man-made harbor.  Not sure on that one.  Mostly I just avoid those places because it's often not worth the hassle.  

But last year I was in a marina in the North Channel and a lady gave me a bunch of grief asking if we really needed to be fishing there.  I just told her that it was a decent fishing spot and that I would be moving out of the area pretty quickly.  She didn't like my answer but ended up quieting down.  I just try to stay calm and polite if I can.  But I know how you felt...it can be infuriating.  People can really be idiots with nothing better to do than harass other people.  I figure those people need to get lives of their own and something better to do.  

Thanks alot, now I feel guilty for not having a more Christ-like attitude when I have encountered this type of thing.  I typically prefer to call them out...  Keep praying for me Rev.  I cannot seem to shake the mean streak.

[djkimmel]

Something many of us can do better at