people asking to fish pond. what to do

[dmccarty]

That's why charging an hourly rate is so important. It covers insurance, restocking, cleanup, and maybe even providing boats or rafts, plus a tidy profit. Around here, ponds charge around $10/hr per pole.

At least in NC, if you charge for access, you have take on more liability. The law supposedly protects landowners from liability if the access is free but I would not want to test how well the law really works. The NC Extension Office has a nice paper on land owner liability, and the best thing a land owner can do to minimize liability, is to post the land and keep people out. Even if the law worked to prevent law suits, you then have to worry about trash and other damage to the property. I am still finding and picking up trash that was put on our land before we bought. I see quite a bit of trash on our local lakes and rivers left by people fishing from shore. No way would I want to have to clean up after these slobs. Charging $10 a hour might be a good idea to keep people off the place because there is no way people in my area would pay that much money to fish. :laughing::laughing::laughing:

Later,
Dan

 

[the old grind]

I always imagined that allowing hunting/fishing access would be like selling drugs (no experience there, but I've seen it) if these similarities could be expected:

- Once you start it never ends. ("I used to fish/hunt here all the time.")
- Others (friends of friends of friends) will learn of the opportunity and arrive on their own schedule vs yours.
- You'll p__ folks off when you want you privacy back and start saying 'no'.
- More folks will down you for what you don't allow (drugs, booze, litter) than will thank you for what you do (kids).
- Chance of making new (& 'good') friends or gaining a rep as an baddie are a toss-up.
- Someday, you'll wish you never considered doing it.

"Pandora's Box?" :duh: YMMV ...

 

[brin]

I always imagined that allowing hunting/fishing access would be like selling drugs (no experience there, but I've seen it) if these similarities could be expected:

- Once you start it never ends. ("I used to fish/hunt here all the time.")
- Others (friends of friends of friends) will learn of the opportunity and arrive on their own schedule vs yours.
- You'll p__ folks off when you want you privacy back and start saying 'no'.
- More folks will down you for what you don't allow (drugs, booze, litter) than will thank you for what you do (kids).
- Chance of making news friends or gaining a rep as an baddie are a toss-up.
- Someday, you'll wish you never considered doing it.

"Pandora's Box?" :duh: YMMV ...
View attachment 377854

:thumbsup: Exactly right...We went through all of that when he bought our farm years ago and allowed the neighbors to fish....Huge mistake...In short order there were crowds of folks at our pond and it was fished out...garbage and litter left all over...and it happened quick , within the first year we owned it...We tried to go fishing during that time and I had to ask everyone to leave...just so our family could fish...one guy asked me to prove I owned it...I convinced him real fast....Up the no fishing and no trespassing signs went and have been there ever since...Yes we still have poachers and trespassers but we prosecute them when we catch them... People somehow feel like they are entitled to someone else s lake, fish, game or swimming pool...

 

[s219]

We gave permission for someone to walk across our land to access public hunting areas. Pretty soon he was hunting on our land, and then was bringing friends. Then the "walking" turned into 4x4 driving and ruts. We had to put an end to it, at some expense. I have no problem sharing, but there has to be a level of trust and respect. I will say "no" from now on.

 

[TripleR]

Well said Triple R I think exactly the same way. Just because someone asks permission to access a pond to fish doesnt make me a jerk, or disrespectful noe does it mean they will not follow the rules set by the landowner. If liability is a concern a release with the written rules and instructions could be provided to any one requesting access. I know it s a pain for for the landowners and no has to allow access but to completly shut down access is dishearting to hear.

I could write pages on this as to how we have arrived at the no access policy reluctantly. One last encounter when we had moved to selective access resulted in a heated exchange when a man who had previously fished in one of our ponds came to our house and verbally attacked my wife demanding to know why we let someone else fish and not him. Fortunately our grown son was visiting at the time and intervened. Another group when asked to leave by my younger son told him he couldn't make them and continued fishing.

It is a moot point now as our ponds are fished out and need stocking at considerable time and expense neither of which we can spare now with several more pressing needs on our farms. For now our four own children, eleven grand children and two great grand children have nice ponds to look at but no good place to fish.

For those willing and able to further the involvement of young people in the outdoors I applaud them and sincerely hope it works out, it's just not practical for us.

 

[streamin]

I haven't built my pond yet but this is a great thread to learn from the start when I do. It is really sad to think how people just don't have any respect anymore and is a shame we have to go to these limits just to protect our own investments, however, they seem necessary.

 

[oosik]

For tens of year I kept our lake stocked with rainbow trout. NO MORE. The knowledge that the lake no longer has fish spread fast. I'm seldom bothered now with requests to fish. Now folks are upset because i don't stock the lake. There was a definite advantage to having fish in my lake - since the entire lake and surrounding acres are totally owned by me there is no - need for a fishing license, no fishing season and obviously no resort or dock fees. However, now there is peace over the land.

I've seriously looked into alligators, crocodiles or piranha but so far no cold water species.

When our son was young the lake was a fantastic recreational facility for him and his friends. We had rules then - only kids, a life vest/jacket for each kid & when you get cold- GET OUT.View attachment 377857 The little lake as seen from the front porch-winter. Dark areas on the snow covered ice are springs that feed the lake.

 

[9973720wb19]

How about a sign that says:

"Warning Alligators"
Fish at your own risk.

Joking aside, I have a pond, and don't allow anyone to fish, etc. 1) I want to use my land when and how I want, I can't walk down to the pond if I have some other folks using it, 2) no one fishing at my pond helped financially with the land purchase, 3) if you "allow" or "invite" your taking on liability, 4) Marketing: if you tell one "yes", they will feel free to extend your offer to 10 others. This is a an issue of 100% no or 100% free-for-all. Your choice. And if someone asks "hey man, are there fish in there"....Answer "Nope". Then I tell them about a few "public ponds" around the area...and get a "thanks!"...see I helped them.

 

[GPintheMitten]

My neighbor has a small pond. All my kids are grown up and on their own. But I did ask him if my 4 year old great nephew or my 6 year old grandson could fish there when they visited. He said I could let any kids visiting me fish but asked that they either eat what they catch or release them back.

But we are good neighbors and have helped each other out when needed (mostly me using the tractor to help him) or I would not have asked. And I've only had the nephew here once last summer and he fished for about 30 minutes and I did not fish.

 

[ultrarunner]

My friend was having issues at his place... mostly trash being left behind.

He met the Sheriff who said he fished their as a kid.

Anyway, my friend told the Sheriff he was free to fish there and bring a friend but only when accompianed by the Sherrif and the Sheriff would be responsible for locking the gate.

It's been about 5 years and no bothers the place anymore... word got out fast when locals started seeing cruisers there at odd hours.

My friend doesn't have time to fish and doesn't stock the pond... he's very happy to have local Law Enforcement looking after the place.

He wanted to improve somthing and was having a hard time at the country desk... mentioned it to the Sheriff and the next day he got a call and was told he didn't need a permit after all...