Need input now

[icefishermanmark]

I live on a private lake, and plan on going fishing later and have a few people coming with me. I looked out my window this morning and saw 2 guys fishing right where I know the fish are and will be. After watching them through binoculars I see that they are fishing with too many lines. They're also throwing all of the little fish they catch to their dog as play toys. Finally, these guys do not have legal access to the lake and are trespassing to get on it. I'm going out around 2:00 and here's what I plan to do. I'm going to go to where they are fishing, and casually set up shop and fish beside them. If there are no issues then I will leave it at that. If they confront me I plan on telling then that they have too many lines in the water and that they are legally trespassing, so if they want to continue fishing then they should not complain. There will be 4 of us, and 2 of them. And 2 of us are pretty big people. I hate to have to be a jerk, but in 7 years of ice fishing I've never once confronted a trespasser about their illegal actions. Should I stick with this plan?

[thos1971]

I would call and report the trespass and violations now. Get them cleared out before you even have to go out there. If they were trespassing and being good sportsmen it would be a little different, but sounds like they are just plain jerks. LET 'EM PAY!

[thill]

Interesting position you are in. I think you are handling it a lot better than I would. If this is a lake that is totally private and these people are there illegally, not to mention fishing illegally. I would not be able to take it as calmly as you are. I personnally would be out there talking with them, not yelling, just talking. I would tell them that if they don't have permission, then they need to leave. If they don't leave in a reasonable amount of time, make some phone calls.

I love fishing private lakes, but I always always always ask for permission first. I don't think I would enjoy myself if I were always looking over my shoulder.

[trvlngstrngr]

I would make sure you know for sure they do not have access.

Can you call the Land owner to confirm?

If that is the case I would tell them that you know they don't have permission and ask them to leave.

Let all the other things go and just ask them to leave.



my 2 cents

[RiverRanger]

Too many lines deserves a RAP call now, if for sure you know they are not supposed to be there go out when the CO shows up and let him or her know.Good Luck

[GillHunter25]

IMO I also live on private lake and from experience just call the sheriff. You will also have alot less stress and also they will not know who to look for the next time they come out. They will not know who is keeping an eye on them. This means they can't check to see if your home before they come back next time. Ooooh yea if they caught fish .....they WILL be back.....

[thill]

IMO I also live on private lake and from experience just call the sheriff. You will also have alot less stress and also they will not know who to look for the next time they come out. They will not know who is keeping an eye on them. This means they can't check to see if your home before they come back next time. Ooooh yea if they caught fish .....they WILL be back.....

Darn right they will be back....with their violating friends!!!!

[shawnfire]

1st the line issue, I was told by a CO if it is private there is no law on how many lines you can have. also if private and marked there is nothing a co can do about it.

2nd get them off your lake Now iwould not talk to them at all just call the DNR

[Radar420]

1st the line issue, I was told by a CO if it is private there is no law on how many lines you can have. also if private and marked there is nothing a co can do about it.

I believe this is true. There is actually a thread on this topic in the "questions about hunting/fishing forum"

Here's the thread http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=173681

And before you accuse them of trespassing you should know if someone else gave them permisssion to access the lake

[unclecbass]

Throwing fish that are too small to the dog ????? screw these two idiots call the co asap. I have no tollerence for idots like that. If they have too many lines in then it is their own damn fault if they get a ticket. Dont allow them to get away with being hacks, its guys like that that destroy the fish population. Probably poach button bucks for fun as well.

[icefishermanmark]

I'm glad everyone here agrees with me. I thought there was a possibility of getting blasted for a post like this. Although I would love to call a CO or the cops I was raised to believe that they're emergency personnel and shouldn't be bothered with silly issues like this. And I still kind of believe this and really don't want to get them involved. I'm going out in about 1/2 hour here and will see what happens.

[Pork Chop]

My advice would be not to go out looking for a confrontation, you may find one. I agree with all your points, but it's the job of the authorities to enforce the law, not yours. These guys deserve to be held accountable, just not by you.

If something was to happen, the story would be - Me and Joe were out here all day, minding our own business, suddenly these four guys come up (two of em were big) and start getting in our face. Next thing I know, one of em pushes Joe, so I fired in self defense ...

[1fish]

Too late since you're probably already on the ice...

But 1st call the sherrif/DNR and have them come out and sort out as to if they have permission or not. That way they'll never know it was you that caused them problems. Remember, they're going to know where you live if you go out there and things go bad and if they're the type to tresspass and disrespect the resource by using small fish as chew toys for the dog, odds are greater that they're also the type to slash tires, break windows, any other sort of bad things that we'd all just rather avoid.

I live on a private lake too and run into this sort of thing all the time. But typically as long as they're not causing any trouble, I'll just let them be, but in situations where they are being disrespectful to the lake and those that live on it, I'll just call it in and let the system work itself out.

[RyGuy525]

I owuld have called and gotten rid of the problem. If they got a decent fine i think it would be a while before they came back!

[Whitetail70]

I would put on a green jacket and a toy badge and confiscate all their fish.

[tommy-n]

Why do you need the input? I can understand how everyone wants there own little peice of heaven, Bet ya were kinda pissed when you seen someone in YOUR spot. If there is one thing worse than a nosey neighbor, it's one that cares what all the other neighbors think.

[icefishermanmark]

Well I went out and enjoyed myself. I knew one of the guys from past times, so everything was cool. They shared the water with us and it was no big deal. I generally don't mind people being out there, but because I had guests coming it was a big deal. Ended up not doing too well, but still had fun. We avoided any confrontation which is always good.

[aslongasitpullsback]

Did you bring up any of the issuses at hand, you had wittnessed . [playing fetch with the dog with under sized fish, to many lines ect.....
Issues like that can ruin the access to the lake for though individules and others.
It dosn't matter if it was an old aquantants or not its about repect of the resouce..... MY.02
May be next time you see him talk to him in private about it.....

[sweatyspartan]

by not saying anything, you are basically saying "hey its ok to be an unethical sportsman and break the law as long as we know each other"

Not trying to come off all high and mighty, but you might want to have a convo with this guy in private.

[sullyxlh]

some people have no ethics:(

[duckman#1]

WOW! what a change of attitude :confused: I take it your old buddy had permission to be there? I take it your lake is truely "private" so state Regs don't apply? You where ready to hang the guy, now its ok?
I hope your not a cop.

[chuckinduck]

I agree, just because you know these people doesn't make it right all of a sudden. I'd never stand for that, even if I knew the people. Maybe next time you talk to them, be polite and address your initial concerns....if they are good people, they'll probably understand.

[jackbob42]

My guess is that the only " real " problem he had was that they were in " HIS " spot. :lol:

[Hardwater Slayer]

I thought there was a possibility of getting blasted for a post like this.


Uh oh. Hope you have thick skin. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[aslongasitpullsback]

so what ever came of the situation....