How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

[Terry H]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

How about just anchoring a box spring just below your prop but where you can collect up a lotta fishing gear. Bring it up once in a while and collect all your booty, then you can sell it back to 'em. Chief

 

[spartanpele]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

I'd suggest a net across your boat, a rope around your pier, and a hand held air horn when they start flipping into your territory. If you bring attention to the problem, they're likely to troll on by. You could also get some old buoys and post "keep out", "rocks", "electrical lines", etc, and that might keep them back too.

 

[sergioy]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

Have you thought of putting a set of REALLY LOUD speakers out there. That way as soon as you see one come near just blast them away with some rap or speed metal. You get the picture, nothing very pleasant. Heck, if you do it right, you wouldn't have to leave the house, jsut look out the back window till they are within range.<br />Course, you may want to warn your neighbors of your intentions. That way you don't create more problems than you already have.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

This is terrible. All the ideas are good ones, especially the net under water to trap their baits. I like the old bed springs one, too.<br /><br />But, the best suggestion of all is the video camera and reporting these buttheads to the tournament organizers and B.A.S.S.<br /><br />Now, I don't have a lakeside home or a dock, but if they were doing this stuff to me, I'd be out there as often as I could be. I like to shoot trap, so I'd have my shotgun and set up my launcher on the end of the dock. I'd be practicing every time one of the glitter boats showed up near my dock.<br /><br />My guess is that they'd move on pretty quickly once they saw the shotgun.

 

[JustMrWill]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

Originally posted by AMD Rules:<br />

Originally posted by JustMrWill:<br /> RC Boat with small waterproof cordless drill or circular saw. Sit back with a nice lemonade and enjoy the sport. -JustMrWill

Even better would be a remote submarine with the drill on the front..... increase their element of suprise

I actually thought of that..but decided that hooking up the remote waterproof camera might be alittle too tough for the "average joe". <br /><br />I actually was thinking about this last night...<br /><br />Get a bouy out that says no fishing around docks..."most" will respect that...other..SINK EM!<br /><br />-JustMrWill

 

[marv plotzka]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

It looks like others have some of the same problems with the Bass fisherman that I have encountered. <br /><br />I think I would like to try the fish net idea. I have ZERO knowledge of nets. Could someone point me to a web site with information about the different types of netting?<br /><br />As far as contacting the event organizers goes, that has been done. With few exceptions, most of the contests come from the party stores/boat launches in a little town up the river 4 miles or so. Both owners of these stores are on the township board and don’t see it as a problem. As many of my neighbors and I have been reminded at board meetings, we are “city residents from down state” and don’t vote there or have a say in local business. They’re right of course. They are making good money from these contests and it is a poor community. The cottage owners in general have newer/nicer boats than many of the locals. I could go on and on about the local politics, sewers, schools, etc. They don’t want sewers because the cost would be based on the number of hookups to the system you have. Mega-Million dollar schools are OK because 72% of the townships property value belongs to the cottage owners, and they can’t vote there anyways. Dam near free! I need to shut up and move on, I am getting side tracked (and ticked off).<br /><br />I have tried hanging a rope across the lake side of the docks. That just brings the Bass boats in to the edge of your dock. One of the county judges will award damages based on video tapes. You might get 100 or 200 dollars and loose a day of work, wait 3 or 4 months, and take a second day off work to go back to court before you get your money. Not worth it. I save that one for the Jet Skies running through the swim buoys. I need something that works when I am not where. Many of the fisherman come out and practice or scout out the area on Thursdays and Fridays while I am “down below” working.<br /><br />I will add a posting if the fish net works out (I am still open to other ideas). I have a new decal for the rear of my motor cover. I should be able to tell by the condition of it after a month or two. The current (2yr. old) decal looks like it has been hit with a blast from a 12 gauge shotgun. I may even have the motor cover repainted next winter if all goes well. <br /><br />Thanks

 

[roscoe]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

jannsnetcraft.com<br /><br />I like the old box spring better. Or a section of chainlink fence dog kennel.<br /><br />You could hinge it to your dock a few feet behind the boat. Then lower it to allow your toon to get out. Raise it up to water surface height to "deter and snag."<br /><br />Sure am glad I don't live on the water. Too much stress.<br /><br />A half dozen 20' cane poles in rod holders, so the rods are parallel to and just above the water may work. <br />I know of one lake home that does this on their dock and boat.<br />I never figured out why till now.

 

[salty87]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

can't help with what to do during the week, net sounds good to me too.<br /><br />we get people fishing right off the end of the dock too. i've found the best deterent for that is to start tossing the tennis ball in the water for the dogs. that doesn't seem to be conducive to good fishing.

 

[jlinder]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

I like the chain link or old bedspring approach. Perhaps keep it a few feet off the bottom by tying it to some short ropes, then tie the short ropes rocks, and use some old milk jugs tied to the springs to keep them floating off the bottom.<br /><br />Regarding noise to scare away the fish, my kids showed me something. You take an old plastic soda bottle, put dry ice in it, then water, seal the cap and throw it. The bottle will explode and sound like a stick of dynamite. The ground will shake.<br /><br />Not only scares the fish, but the fishermen. No fire or flying pieces like fireworks, just a really big noise.<br /><br />I know it is a pain to get dry ice, and seems like a lot of work, but I can imagine it would be a lot of fun to see their faces.<br /><br />BTW - I wonder if all the people suffering as you are could get together to file a massive damage suit against the organizers? One suit that would be big enough to force them to treat you problem seriously? <br /><br />Also, since your boat is owned by you and you live in another district, could you sue in the other jurisdiction where you live?<br /><br />It might be an eye opener if the town officials/organizers had to come to where you live to appear in court.

 

[txswinner]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

I took chicken wire with concrete blocks around my boat house and collected lures. It did not stop them but they moved on more quickly. Finally I hung a sign that said submerged objects likely to snag your lures. Word must have gottne out as very seldom do I get any lures anymore. HEHEHe

 

[KilroyJC]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

I think a combination of both passive (box spring w/ warning buoys; fishnet (try Sportsman's Guide or Mass Army/Navy)) and active (get a surf rod & some A27 diamond jigs - do it right back to them) would bevery satisfying. <br /><br />However, you'd have to continually educate the new crop of inconsiderate SOBs who would come around every so often. <br /><br />IMHO you should get together with a couple neighbors, take photos of damage & get estimates, and then go to your local town council meeting and make a stink about getiing an ordinance passed - one that includes fines. Then, when you set up your still or video cam (especially the motion-sensing type), you can get a summons issued to the offending moron. <br /><br />If he's stupid enough, he won't pay it - then he gets a bench warrant...<br /><br /><br />Don't get mad - get even!<br /><br /><br />BTW - Nos4r2: I like the idea of launcing chum at them, too. When I went on one of my rare night blues trips on the olod Palace II out of Hoboken, every now & then some wiseguy in his motorboat would get into the chumslick & have good fishing while the rest of us were cursing at him to get out of the way. It's amazing what a 5 gallon pail of ground mossbunker on a hot August night will do to modify someone's outlook on life!

 

[Realgun]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

Sit on the dock in a rocking chair. Hold a beer in 1 hand and the 12 guage in the other.

 

[KilroyJC]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

Another idea on a netting source:<br /><br />If you have any of those big driving ranges around (for that "golf" thing), they have substantial amounts of that on phone poles all around the place. Your could see if maybe there's some old stuff they might be getting rid of, or at least get a name of a supplier.

 

[roscoe]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

Around here, you can't just put something in the lake without permission.<br />Thats why I suggested the chain link panel attached to the dock.<br />Keep it right at the water surface so they can see it. It will then act as a deterant. It does little good to collect their lures, because the lure will hit your boat before it gets snagged. <br />But if they know they can't cast under your boat, AND will lose their lure, they will move to the next unprotected boat.<br /><br />Also post your dock with a no trespassing sign.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

Hey, if you're going to lauch bait at the sparkle boat, might as well make it good old stinky catfish bait.<br /><br />Nothing like a ripe gob of chicken guts to put a bass fishermen off his feed. You could even make a little trebuchet and mount it on a stanchion on the end of your dock. Put it on a swivel, so you can aim properly, then launch away with the stinky stuff. <br /><br />Now, I'd love to fish the docks at my favorite lake, but I don't, because I have too much respect for the owners of those docks. I might fish one if there is no boat tied up to it, but never near a boat. I'm just not that good at casting.

 

[tomatolord]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

My dad has the same problem on his lake - however the lake is public property so someone can sit there all day if they want. <br /><br />Damage to private property is always a matter for the courts and law enforcement<br /><br />As far as fencing in the water - my guess is that if someone gets tangled in it or a boat gets caught in it then you will be held liable for the damage.<br /><br />Yes I do wonder why bass fisherman will throw a lure right at the dock your sitting on as if the fish have not been scared away by you walking on it.<br /><br />I dont think netting on the boat would work becuase they will just come in closer to retrieve their lure. I think just some lines in the water to catch their lures. However this will not keep them away only cause them to leave quicker.<br /><br />I do like the idea of casting toward their boat and hitting to drop your lure in the water just like they do.<br /><br />The only thing I can think of is to take pictures or video and then find some retired guy up there to represent you for 99% of the award money...get enough of the other neighbors and this guy could be making $100-200 an hour - or even some kids who need a summer job. After showing up at the judge for 2-3 months pretty soon your cases will be stacked up. Plus the guys getting fined will also have to take time off from court.

 

[bluewater19]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

How about the next time you see some idiot bounce a lure of your tritoon you bounce a 4 ounce triangle river weight off there 40K metalflake bass boat! Oops bad cast.

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

I have occasionally fished underwater lights at houses that were unoccupied. I never hit any of their property and never would. We never fished any lights that the people were outside.<br /><br />One house put crab traps right around his lights, every cast you would snag them. We moved away from that spot quickly.<br /><br />Might just make cubes with chicken wire and tie ropes on them to pull them up easily. The snags will get them to move quickly.<br /><br />But I really like the RC boat idea. You could do it from inside your house, they would never know who it was. <br /><br />Ken

 

[rwidman]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

Before placing anything actually in the water, make sure it is legal to do so. Same for shooting shotguns or bait. Protecting the area with chicken wire would be unsightly and may violate some law or covenant but it should work. Video tapes and still photographs shown to the organizers should help, and the threat of legal action should also.

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: How do you protect your boat from Bass fisherman?

How about talking to the event organizers about it. Have them tell the fisherman that they will be on camera and will be responsible for any damages. Also one sighting of a 12 gage and it will be told to all the other fisherman that a nut lives over there and to stay away.