If you are on a public lake made with taxpayer dollars, once dropped, it's PUBLIC property, no matter what anyone says to you. It's first-come-first-served.

I have had an issue or two with retards that think that it is 'their spot.' After being with the Corps of Engineers for years and now being retired from them, I can tell you that dropped habiitat is public property and I gently remind them that they are subject to removal from the lake if biligerent attitudes spew from their boat.

In every case I expect people to be respectful of fishermen who 'got there first' and give them 50 yards. Now I know this is not always the case, but it is my rule of thumb.

I heard tell of an old coot that rammed a party barge because the lady (who was camped nearby) was tied up to a certain tree and fishing a certain brush pile. The offending retard approached and stated that he had been building that spot for years and that it was HIS spot. She was fishing alone. She objected and the idiot rammed her boat THREE separate times (with a jon boat)!!!!!

He has a slip rented at the nearby marina and if I could positively identify this character, (she didn't get his boat numbers) I'd have him removed from the marina as a slip renter and be glad to do it.

You meet all kinds. Just be confident in knowing that when fishing public waters--especially Corps lakes, that YOU (the public) own the waters and all that is below it.

On the other hand, one must use a bit of class. If you approach a private dock and people are occupying the dock, then pass it up for the time being. You can always come back when no one is present. There's no reason to be pressing--on either side of the fence. Savvy?


aj