Shore fishing lakes and people who walk their dogs...

[ngt]

Small rant here...I was out fishing with my dad and having a great time. We were doing pretty well and all of a sudden these people come up to the pond with their dogs. We are right in front of them. I know they see us. They say hello etc.. and then let their dogs loose to go jump in the water. No fish after that. Splashing and swimming all of the way out into the center of the pond. Scaring every fish in our casting distance. No "woops, I'm sorry" or anything. They just let him ruin our day. They were only 6-7 feet from the water and the dog was on a leash. Before I knew it, it was running towards the water and too late.

Where does common courtesy come into play? WTF is wrong with people.

I looked up at them and said "thank a lot" and they looked back with a kind of "it's not your lake" type of look and walked off not caring.

I have been on the shores of lakes before where people told their kids and called back their dogs saying "not here, they're fishing" etc...where I say thank you and they go find another spot to throw their ball into the water for their dog. I've also been in spots where people throw their ball over my head into the water and the dog runs right passed me and jumps in the water.

Who has the right of way to the water? Fisherman (possibly getting bias responses here) or the people with dogs? I mean, I know both people are going to the lake with one thing in mind. Fishing, and letting their dog jump in the water. I figure first one to the spot gets it. I felt like tossing a lure right at their dog, but it's not the dog's fault the owner is a jackass.

any thoughts on this? Stories? options? etc...

 

[erwinner]

Re: Shore fishing lakes and people who walk their dogs...

First come, first served, unless you have a reserved campsite or something.
Not that there's much you can do, just be the bigger person and take pride in that, I guess...

 

[ngt]

Re: Shore fishing lakes and people who walk their dogs...

I'm fine sharing. My problem is, if I fish there while their dog is in the water, I can do my thing without ruining their fun. If they send their dog in while I'm fishing, my fun is pretty much over. I'm not saying I "own" the spot, but if I'm on a lake with 30 spots to reach the water, it seems only right that they should walk to the spot 30-40 yards down and play in the water there so they don't interrupt the reason I'm even at the lake.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Shore fishing lakes and people who walk their dogs...

Actually, the dog owners could be in violation of some Hunter or Fisherman anti-harassment laws.
If there are any in that location.

 

[dwco5051]

Re: Shore fishing lakes and people who walk their dogs...

There are no inconsideate dogs. Just inconsiderate owners.

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Shore fishing lakes and people who walk their dogs...

Actually, the dog owners could be in violation of some Hunter or Fisherman anti-harassment laws.
If there are any in that location.

Yes, in Cal. the DFG has a law making it illegal to interfere (sp) w/a lawfully engaged fisherman. If you want to go that route.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Shore fishing lakes and people who walk their dogs...

Yeah, its miserable when you have to share.

If I understand you right, you feel you "own" the spot because you got there first and remains yours until you decide you have had enough fishing? Some might argue that you had been there long enough and now its their turn to use the area. As they say, there are always two sides to every story, or in this case two points of view.

Well, I've been around here long enough to know that there a few who might suggest that....unless it happened to them....then it would be "the end of civil behaviour as we knew it"...

Guess it's kind of like being at the end urinal of a row of 10....and the only current "customer". Next patron who enters decides to use the one right next to you....instead of one further down the line.(heck, what's wrong with the one at the other end?.....:facepalm
They have every right to use it, but I'd guarantee that there won't be many in here who would not find that, at the least, uncomfortable.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Shore fishing lakes and people who walk their dogs...

I guess they didn't realize their dog could have been tangled in fishing line or been hooked. If that had happened, they would say it's your falut...

 

[rbh]

Re: Shore fishing lakes and people who walk their dogs...

What can you do, Yell at them, or just shake your head.

People sometimes just dont think, do they.

 

[ngt]

Re: Shore fishing lakes and people who walk their dogs...

I guess they didn't realize their dog could have been tangled in fishing line or been hooked. If that had happened, they would say it's your fault...

Some people just don't think about that type of thing.

Once I had a small dog sneak up behind me off of it's leash and eat my bait on a double hook slider rig while I was reaching over for magic line to tie it up. The guy was about 50 yards away and when he got there he said, "whatever, it will pass right through." I said, "no it won't. They're big size 4 hooks". He didn't even care and was just going to walk off. I grabbed the dog and reached down it's throat with two fingers and made it puke them up. All over my hand and shoe. Most likely saving his dog's life, or at least from a very painful and expensive surgery. Some dog owners shouldn't be dog owners. He most likely could have said that was my fault for having the hooked bait on the ground by my bait box, but it's a public fishing area and his dog was running around without a leash.

I'm guessing if someone tossed a ball out while I was reeling in a lure and their dog jumped on it, it would be my fault...somehow. Good thing due to this thread I now know there is a DFG law against them interrupting my fishing

 

[bassman284]

Re: Shore fishing lakes and people who walk their dogs...

IMO, most (not all) dog owners should be taken out and shot to put them out of their simple minded misery. Ever watch the Dog Whisperer? Keerecktomundo - no bad dogs, just bad owners. MOST dog owners feel that non dog owners should tolerate any aberrant behavior their undisciplined dogs choose to exhibit. MY DOG RULES!

Trying to load my boat today and this woman decides to use the ramp to launch throw toys for her two dogs. My truck and trailer was already on the ramp when she showed up. She was pretty good looking so I was tempted to give her a pass. She was also throwing the toys well away from my likely path to the trailer. Still, I prefer not to have swimming mammals anywhere in the vicinity of my 60 horse merc meat grinder.

 

[ngt]

Re: Shore fishing lakes and people who walk their dogs...

IMO, most (not all) dog owners should be taken out and shot to put them out of their simple minded misery. Ever watch the Dog Whisperer? Keerecktomundo - no bad dogs, just bad owners. MOST dog owners feel that non dog owners should tolerate any aberrant behavior their undisciplined dogs choose to exhibit. MY DOG RULES!

Trying to load my boat today and this woman decides to use the ramp to launch throw toys for her two dogs. My truck and trailer was already on the ramp when she showed up. She was pretty good looking so I was tempted to give her a pass. She was also throwing the toys well away from my likely path to the trailer. Still, I prefer not to have swimming mammals anywhere in the vicinity of my 60 horse merc meat grinder.

I've had that too, but I was pulling into the launch to dock and as I pulled in she continued to toss out the ball. I cut the motor early and told her to be careful. She looked at me like she thought I was being rude. I would feel so bad running over a dog in my boat. I've seen people let their kids jump off of the dock in front of the ramp while people pulled boats in and out too.

 

[mommicked]

Re: Shore fishing lakes and people who walk their dogs...

I think this has more to due w common sense/courtesy or lack theroff, than arrogance or willfull interfearing. They probably do it everyday so that makes it "their" spot. Dogs will be dogs, owners sometimes have issues.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Shore fishing lakes and people who walk their dogs...

A black lab on 12# test!?! Set the drag and enjoy the ride - LOL!!

The first thought that comes to mind is that these were PETAish types who didn't think you should be fishing in the first place. As a dog guy (and mine LOVES the water), they should have controlled the animal. As likely as not, they were in some violation of a leash law.

You're right - Common courtesy is rather uncommon.

 

[mommicked]

Re: Shore fishing lakes and people who walk their dogs...

Im a memeber of peta..........People eating tasty animals. Im no expert but I think dogs decended from wolves or other wild canines that came to us because they smelled the BBQ'd -Insert protein- and it smelled gooooood. Interference w ones legally taking game or fish is illegal in my state and I'm sure in most others. But it may be hard to prove or prosecute. So we must be dilligent! Next time ask if they'd like some beef jerky, the dog will, if they're masters don't want any, you've busted them

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: Shore fishing lakes and people who walk their dogs...

I hear you pain, they seemed like they didn't like your fishing. Have fished for perch before and done better when the kids went swimming off the other side of the boat.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Shore fishing lakes and people who walk their dogs...

I would have said something like "I sure hope that gator I've been fishin for doesn't get your dog" or something in that line of thinking.

People don't think ahead. We know they don't read signs. In a construction area they are the last ones to crowd over into the open lane of the highway when there were 2 miles of signs saying to merge over.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Shore fishing lakes and people who walk their dogs...

That is a shame they chose the area you were in to let the dog go for a swim. I wonder how it would have gone if you asked them if they could possibly play in the water elsewhere, as you were fishing the area and it could very well be dangerous to do both.

You have to remember, someone who has never fished in their lives, may actually have NO idea that their dog would scare the fish away. These people may not have been the "me, me the world is for me" type, but simply were unaware that this activity would bother you.

I have seen it with boating, non boat owners simply have NO idea on boat related things. are completely unaware of the dos and donts. I don't think it's from stupidity, but really lack of first hand knowledge.

 

[bassman284]

Re: Shore fishing lakes and people who walk their dogs...

...lack of first hand knowledge.

Which can be very difficult to distinguish from stupidity.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Shore fishing lakes and people who walk their dogs...

ngt, if the dogs were "Splashing and swimming all of the way out into the center of the pond." and that scared your fish away, it doesn't sound like there was anywhere else for them to go that would not have disturbed you. Unless dogs swimming in the pond is illegal, it doesn't seem there was anything they could do, besides not use the pond. And since you had already gotten some time alone to enjoy it, sounds like it was time to share.