Well, today I decided to try a small urban pond near my house to see if I could put any lmb on the end of my line and was pretty rudely interupted. I hadn't made more than 3 or 4 casts with my drop shot rig and some middle aged man and his wife come up and start talking to me about how it was illegal to fish the pond. Now while it is posted no fishing which I'll admit to, the lake is not on private land, it is in the middle of a city park, so what business did this guy and his lady friend have talking down to a fifteen year old kid about fishing it. The discussion between us basically went like this:

Guy: Can you read?
Me: Yes.
Guy: Read that sign over there.
Me: I'm perfectly aware.
Guy: Oh really. Well how long do you plan on doing this for.
Me: Until I'm ready to leave. (not smart alecy in any way)
Guy: Oh really.
Me: Yes.
Lady Friend: Do you have your cell phone honey? We should call the police.
Me: (as couple walks away) You know, I could be out selling or doing drugs, conducting gang activity, or other stuff like that, but you want to call the cops on me for fishing? It really shows you what kind of state our society is in today.
Guy: You wanna go swimming in that lake too?!?!?
Me: Why? So I can call the cops on you for beating up a minor. Real smart.
Guy: Whatever it takes buddy... (walks away)

To tell the truth I feel like I handled myself pretty well. I've never said any thing to any one who said they were going to get the law on me for the hanus crime of fishing, but today it just set something off inside of me. In fact, alot of people I've talked to about fishing this pond are super nice cool people that have a right on sort of attitude about it. Show em that the youth is smarter than they think, that's all it takes.

Sorry for rambling on guys, just wanted to blow off some steam. Any opinion welcome.

Jake

Well, I'm about 50 years older than you are but I'd take your side in this:-) . Some people(both young and 'old') can't mind their own business. I thought your come-back about what you could be doing other than 'just fishing' was great!

Dan

"Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less"

Deo Vindice

I,ve had the same thing happen to me as a adult ,its just when your older you make the offer to throw the guy and his wife in the lake instead of you.just kidding(sorta)..you did the right thing and said it the right way.If you ever have the cops called on you for fishing .stick around the cops will probbably side with you anyhow.after all its only fishing.
brian

I also am much older than you and would like to say you did the right thing. Who in the heck knows why some small ponds and lakes are posted (No Fishing) and it sure has nothing to do with those people what so ever!

Which way to the lake, pond, creek, mudpuddle, whatever!

Yeah I understand about the people not minding their own business no matter what age. I didn't mean to point out the fact that the guy was old, just that he was older than me. I think this one might be posted no fishing because the city has to keep a certain amount of fish in a pond depending on its size to keep algae and mosquitoes and other stuff like that under control. This usually means carp and bluegill, which this little escape has, and people keep these fish to eat. In fact, I've seen people keep them out of the pond. I think it has something to do with the city not wanting people to take out the "clean up fish."

Jake

I am also about 50 years older and personally I think the guy should have spanked your bare botton until you cried for mercy, thrown you into the pond AND called Cal-Tip on you.

Your parents obviously didn't teach you to respect the rights of others and you haven't yet grasped the concept of how society works. The whole reason we need laws is because people like you think you should be able to do whatever you want without earning the right first.

Please post your address, as I feel like robbing and stealing from someone else rather than work - and it's certainly better than doing drugs and gang activity.

Please visit a prison, with you attitude that is very likely where you'll be living when you become an adult.

It's also pretty funny that the same law you expect to ignore your illeagle fishing, you expect to protect the guy from throwing you in the pond.

Please give this some thought and remember - I just might be the 'old' guy on the bank the next time.

Fuzzy

OK, so I guess you're not really getting the resaon I was a little irked when the guy started talking that way to me. The truth is, I wasn't doing ANYTHING to hurt ANYONE, I was just FISHING. Stealing from me or whoever else along with what I mentioned to the guy still is hurting others. That's what needs enforcement. Not trying to shut down the one thing a kid likes to do that doesn't do anything to society, good or bad. And I'm not expecting the law to ignore me. I expect people who aren't the law to. Not only that, but I bet if I told you or that guy I fish Federation Junior tournaments, you'd be all stoked on it. But as soon as I want to fish some park and it has nothing to do with you other than the fact that you think you're a cop, you want to go a-wall. Whatever.

Jake

Short of fishing golf courses and the like, the No Fishing signs are many times posted to reduce liability to whomever owns the land the body of water is sitting on. I fish an area locally that also has No fishing signs posted but after talking with the management on the matter, it's to prevent them from being liable for any/all accidents that may occur on or around that particular body of water. It probably depends on the specific area. My two cents worth. Want change?

Fuzzy you have lost it. Tell me as a kid you never skirted the law a little. The point is, it is no ones business but the authorities and the landlord. Your solution to the problem is the problem.

Which way to the lake, pond, creek, mudpuddle, whatever!

Sorry to be on your case Jake, but you still don't seem to be getting it.

The laws are set by everyone, the cops are there to assist with the enforcement of those laws. You say you're not doing anything to hurt anyone and doing nothing to society. What about the person (entity, whatever) that owns the pond and doesn't want you fishing there. AND you are breaking the law!!! A poacher is a poacher, a poacher is a cheat, and no, I'm not so thrilled that you fish Jr. Tournaments if you're a poacher.

I would like to know where you draw the line. Do you sneak in and fish the hatcheries, do you fish without a licence, do you fish out of season, do you keep overlimits, do you ever call CAl-TIP (it's to assist Fish and Game catch poachers).

It's attitudes like yours that get more places posted "No Fishing" and actions like yours that get them fenced and guarded.

PLEASE, PLEASE fish only where it is legal to so. Doing what you do only gives all fisherpeople a bad name and really hurts the sport. IT HURTS EVERYONE!!! We're currently having to fight for our right just to keep fishing, we don't need to make others mad at us.

If you really want to fish that pond I suggest you contact the owners. Find out why they posted it (maybe it's radioactive, or quicksand, who knows what?). Explain to them how good it would be if you and others could fish it, that you'll keep it clean, alert them to problems, etc. etc. and perhaps you can get them to change their mind. Then all of us will have another place to relax and enjoy our sport and the old guys won't be asking you if you can read.

Everone has to make up their own mind on this issue. I personally feel that what you are doing REALLY HURTS THE SPORT.

Old and Cranky,

Fuzzy

Fuzzy, What the hell are you talking about!? At 15 it's kind of hard to get around and go fishing when you don't have a license to go drive to the lake. Sometimes these little urban ponds are the only thing that offer our youth a place to wet a line. AND don't even compare a fishing violation with a threat of bodily harm. A fishing violation like that is a misdemeanor, a threat of bodily harm to a minor is a felony! I cannot see how you can compare a fishing violation with bodily harm to another person!? Calico was just merely venting about how he was rudley approached. I'm sure if this so called gentleman approached Calico more diplomatically, he would have gladly complied.