Fishing around swimming area?

Was trolling yesterday on the Croix. Trolled by the swimming area by the Y camp. One of the counselors kindly told my I had to be 100 yards from the outer bouys. I was probably 50 yards from some canoes (75 yards from the bouys) the first time I passed. The next time I passed, there was noone in the water and the same dude runs up to the shore and starts waving his arms telling me to move out again. I checked the WI boating regulations and don’t see anything stating I have to be any specific distance away. It states you have to stay outside the bouys and can’t make a wake (or ski) within 100 ft. After talking with a few other fisherman, it seems quite a few people are getting told to keep away from the swim area.

Anyone know for sure what the rules are? I don’t want to break any laws over this, but would also enjoy telling this guy to pound sand.

Without digging into this too far, I found this St Croix Boating Rules on the DNR website. It talks about no wake, but not general boating/fishing. I’d call one of the numbers listed. See what they say.

Or better yet, call all of the numbers listed and see how many different answer you get….

-J.

Tell him to go pound sand and if he still has a problem tell him you’ll call the dnr for him. I had this happen a few years ago while fishing bass on some docks. The lakeshore owners putout some swim bouys around their dock and a guy comes flying out of his house and yells at me to get the hell out of his swiming area. I told him that since it’s not a public beach he can’t restrict my access to public water he didn’t like that at all. 10 min later the dnr shows up and checks me over and said that while it’s not against the law to fish in the bouys it is rude so tell the guy to suck sand and troll up a river beast.

Just a comment on the topic of swim areas. Over the last 10 years I’m seeing more and more cabin owners put up “Swim Area” buoys out their lakeshore and near or around their docks. These are the same people who come out yelling at you to not fish “Their” docks. BS in my opinion. These “Swim Areas” are never used for swimming. The sole purpose is to prohibit fishing. Some areas (Specifically on Longville area lakes) are joined together with several other land owners. Basically blocking you from fishing long stretches of shoreline. Swim area buoys should be taken in daily in my opinion!

-J.

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Just a comment on the topic of swim areas. Over the last 10 years I’m seeing more and more cabin owners put up “Swim Area” buoys out their lakeshore and near or around their docks. These are the same people who come out yelling at you to not fish “Their” docks. BS in my opinion. These “Swim Areas” are never used for swimming. The sole purpose is to prohibit fishing. Some areas (Specifically on Longville area lakes) are joined together with several other land owners. Basically blocking you from fishing long stretches of shoreline. Swim area buoys should be taken in daily in my opinion!

-J.

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There are a lot of things that disappear during the night. I wonder how often these swim buoys could be removed, turned into a big ball (tangles mess) and placed on the owners dock. Out of the way as they are a safety hazard for boaters.

In fact, is there a reflective requirement for swim buoys?

Don’t you guys know that when you buy shore property you own the lake and everything in it?

My brother got into it with one guy on a lake once. I wasn’t there but my brother kept his cool till the guy would shut his trap. Then he gave him the old verbal egging on of the guy just to raise his blood pressure. I wish I was there. I would have loved to make the guy completely lose it.

When they come down screaming, politely ask them to contact the DNR and explain they personally set something out on public property and now are trying to keep others off that said public property.
Nothing burns me more than the general public trying to privatize public property.

Really no different than ice shacks left on the ice all winter or tree stands left out on public hunting grounds all season.

Completely agree. This has been happening for years, especially the posting of public lands to protect personal honey-holes.

I was harassed in the Aitkin area a few years back for the same thing. I politely offered to call the warden from my cell phone to inform him that the landowner is being verbally abusive, and that I’m going to seek angler harassment charges against him. I also suggested that it would be good for the warden to get to know him, as he’ll have an easier time finding his house to drop off a ticket the next time this happens.

Just like when I bust trespassers on our land nowadays, I already have the cell phone to my ear with the DNR on the other line when they walk up to me. Their tone changes immediately. Let the officers sort through their excuses, as I’m done with them.

Joel

I like that, Joel… how do you find the numbers of the local wardens? I’d like to get them before I head out.

You fish up around Aitkin? I was at my family reunion in Hill City this weekend. We never got to fish Hill Lake, but next time I’m up there I plan to drag the pontoon along so I can get out there on my own either way.

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Just a comment on the topic of swim areas. Over the last 10 years I’m seeing more and more cabin owners put up “Swim Area” buoys out their lakeshore and near or around their docks. These are the same people who come out yelling at you to not fish “Their” docks. BS in my opinion. These “Swim Areas” are never used for swimming. The sole purpose is to prohibit fishing. Some areas (Specifically on Longville area lakes) are joined together with several other land owners. Basically blocking you from fishing long stretches of shoreline. Swim area buoys should be taken in daily in my opinion!

-J.

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As far as docks go, I don’t think it should be any different than a deer stand in the woods on public property. First come first serve.

Not the greatest analogy but you get picture.

Yet people are allowed to continue putting out large dock structures, swimming buoys, inflatable diving platforms, and basicly blocking off or staking out parts of a lake or river for there own use.

That what chaffs my a..

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I like that, Joel… how do you find the numbers of the local wardens? I’d like to get them before I head out.

You fish up around Aitkin? I was at my family reunion in Hill City this weekend. We never got to fish Hill Lake, but next time I’m up there I plan to drag the pontoon along so I can get out there on my own either way.

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Jared:

I’ve got the local ones saved in my phone, but here’s a list that might be handy to laminate and keep in the boat:

2010 Conservation Officer Phone Directory

Joel

moments like that are when you drop anchor, throw out some bobber lines, sit down and have lunch.

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moments like that are when you drop anchor, throw out some bobber lines, sit down and have lunch.

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or…..
Get out your scuba mask and hand drill and look for they’re Toon

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moments like that are when you drop anchor, throw out some bobber lines, sit down and have lunch.

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or…..
Get out your scuba mask and hand drill and look for they’re Toon

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You guys ever have someone run out onto the dock and start “fishing” when they see you working your way down the shore towards them?

How do you guys handle a situation where someone actually was fishing their dock before you started coming up by them? Do you skip that dock? Or how about if they are just relaxing on their dock?

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Or how about if they are just relaxing on their dock?

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does relaxing involve a pretty lady sunning herself? if so, repeat steps 1 through 3 mentioned above…

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does relaxing involve a pretty lady sunning herself? if so, repeat steps 1 through 3 mentioned above…

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When I come across a hottie sunning, I switch to the vertical jigging presentation.

I refuse to go any further with this.

I think it is about respect. If we expect it from others we need to offer it back. If someone is fishing from the dock already I would skip it… if they are just hanging out I spark up conversation.

If someone blatantly heads to the dock when they see you coming? Wow… that’s a tough one but gotta at least try to practice the Golden Rule; not that I’m successful at everything I try

Chris

Jon,
Thanks for posting the contact numbers. I called the St. Croix County Sherrif and talked to a deputy. I couldn’t understand what he said his name was. He said you could fish up to the bouys as long as your not making a wake. I’m also waiting for a call from the WI DNR. I also plan to call the YMCA camp and have them put a muzzle on their life guard or councelor. I’m not sure if it would be in my best interest to make a sand castle out of the guy.

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Really no different than ice shacks left on the ice all winter or tree stands left out on public hunting grounds all season.

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Doc,

If my shack is over your honey hole just let me know, you can come in and fish.

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I also plan to call the YMCA camp and have them put a muzzle on their life guard or councelor…..

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-J.

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Yet people are allowed to continue putting out large dock structures, swimming buoys, inflatable diving platforms

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I have absolutely NO problem with people placing structure in the lake for me to fish bass. I actually welcome it!

I’ve been on a few lakes where a guy will consistently start throwing things in the water for his lab to fetch as you approach his dock. Unfortunately, not much you can do there.

My favorite technique is to ignore the verbal rants and start asking for fishing advice.

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I think it is about respect. If we expect it from others we need to offer it back.

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That’s kind of what I was going to get at. A lot of people are quick to get angry over other people’s actions without acknowledging their own.

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I think it is about respect. If we expect it from others we need to offer it back. If someone is fishing from the dock already I would skip it… if they are just hanging out I spark up conversation.

If someone blatantly heads to the dock when they see you coming? Wow… that’s a tough one but gotta at least try to practice the Golden Rule; not that I’m successful at everything I try

Chris

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As a lake shore owner I like what you have to say. If I am already out there fishing off my dock when you approach, I would appreciate it if you would skip my dock. If I am out there just sitting on the dock bench enjoying the day, by all means, keep fishing. I would,’t even mind if you pitched a few under the dock, as long as your good enough at it that you don’t hit me. I sometimes, if I am already down by the dock, will “blatantly” head part way out on the dock, maybe a third of the way. Not to yell at you to get out, I just want to see if you catch anything and what you might be using. Sometimes I’ll even ask how they are doing but a lot of times I get the cold shoulder.

Retired,
As a fisherman, I totally understand several of the anti-lake-property-owner posts in this thread. I’ve had my share of experiences with others on the water. I’m fortunate enough to also be a lake-property-owner and have the same attitude as you do. If I see someone fishing in front of my dock, I’m gonna ask how the fishin’ is. I’ve never had someone come casting at my dock while I’m fishing with my girls.

Alot of the lake-property-owners do good things for the lakes everyone enjoys fishing.

Saw,

If you decide on the sand castle make sure to let Earl and I know. We can hang out in his boat and cheer you on.

Russ, if I fish your shack, I’ll restock the beer.

I heard back from the WI DNR and he had the same understanding of the rules as the St. Croix County sherrif. You can fish up to the bouys, can’t make a wake within 100 ft of the bouys, and can’t go inside the bouys. I called the YMCA yesterday and spoke to a gal to see if she could educate the people they have working the beach area. I explained I was fishing from my boat outside the beach bouys and was told I have to be 100 ft or yds from the bouys. I told her 4 times that wasn’t true, but she kept telling me it was private property and kept asking me how I got my boat down there. I don’t know if she thought I carried it down the bank to the river across their property?? She didn’t understand the point I was trying to make.

I got the name of the VP of the camp and left him a message this morning. I told him all I want is for his employees to be educated on the laws and don’t expect to be confronted in the future when I’m fishing. I’m kind of looking forward to trolling by there again the next time out on the river.