people asking to fish pond. what to do

[nc redneck]

Tell them you are just renting the property from owner and they must ask them for permission . Or you are the owner but renters and insurance company will not allow it. I have had many request to fish and hunt on my land.
This seems to cure it with no hard feelings.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Charge an hourly rate for fishing.

 

[2458n]

No ,creates a liability. Can not allow it.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

We have had a 2 Acre pond on our Farm for 40 yrs.....I made the mistake of letting the neighbor fish in it...I had to stop him after he almost fished the lake out of fish...I had to buy the fish to stock the pond again....Even though our pond is in the middle of a heavy wooded area we have trespassers and poachers....I have given the Fish and Game people a signed form to allow them to arrest folks on the spot when and if they catch them....

If you let this start ...my experience tells me you will never be able to stop it....A pond and a swimming pool are a blessing and a CURSE....everyone feels like they should be able to use it and you are selfish if you do not allow it...Just wait until you have to clean up their mess, beer cans etc. and if you have a boat, they will use it, if it is chained and locked they will cut the chain....:2cents: I hope you make the right decision....Now at the beginning is the time to draw the line...not later..

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.

 

[oosik]

Its obvious by the comments being made that few understand the full impact of allowing access to and use of ones property. I can only suggest that if you are serious about allowing use of your property that you contact a competent attorney. He can advise on the current state liability laws. Then if you still are willing to proceed further - go to a resort on a lake and talk to the owner about their operations. I have NEVER heard of a resort owner becoming rich - I sure have listened to owners ***** about the obnoxious, uncaring, filthy public that use their facilities.

 

[brin]

Its obvious by the comments being made that few understand the full impact of allowing access to and use of ones property. I can only suggest that if you are serious about allowing use of your property that you contact a competent attorney. He can advise on the current state liability laws. Then if you still are willing to proceed further - go to a resort on a lake and talk to the owner about their operations. I have NEVER heard of a resort owner becoming rich - I sure have listened to owners ***** about the obnoxious, uncaring, filthy public that use their facilities.

I did check...you are right...We checked with our atty. and insurance co. yrs. ago and they both advised to not allow any fishing, hunting or anything...all it takes is a slip or fall not to mention a drowning and someone gets paralyzed or injured for life...kiss your farm good bye....just not worth it...and as you mention...when folks used our pond in the beginning they left their trash ....just a dumb thing to do and by charging them...now what about a business license...fish and game license if they are being charged for fish...zoning changes....A real mess...

 

[hosspuller]

If you do allow someone to fish ... Make sure it is a personal permission. No friends without them. I've had several "friends" return alone. I always run them off and say bring original permitee with them.

The friends of friends is an exponential heap of trouble.

 

[teejk]

Depending on depth, I think a 5 acre pond would provide a quality fishery for my family and close friends (we love to eat fish). If your pond is smaller then the answer is obvious. And if it helps you any, we live not far away from a state managed/stocked water. When it's free it seems that when there are no more fish they will move on to the next place.

 

[displacedPA]

No is gonna be my answer it is just for family. Any of you all can come though hahaha. Your prob. More like minded and sportmen like than these ya hoos.
Got one sign that's up on the entrance. Going to look for ceader tree to make posts of of tom. Tsc wants a lot for their posts and I don't have the extra cash at the moment. I will have to buy a new 12' foot gate should run me 150 ish.

 

[roadhunter]

Had a neighbor turn doen some out of staters who wanted to turkey hunt last week. They came back and shot a calf. In spome cases you are darned if you do and darned if you don't.

I hate how so many hunting/fishing people are also criminals. Between poaching, trespassing, littering, riding 4 wheelers off trails, etc it seems lke so many people think the rules dont' apply to them and they have no respect for other people or other peoples property.

If you think what happens on private land is bad you should see how they treat public land, it can even be worse in some cases.

As was said before I think you would want to get good legal advice. The good old days of trusting people you don't know to hunt and fish are over.