Thread: Fishing around docks

It Probly depends on the lake. Here in Illinois only 1 lake that I fish has restrictions on fishing docks from a boat

You may check your states fishing guide. Our guide in Kentucky addresses that issue so it may be in yours as well.

Personally for myself even when allowed to fish around docks they themselves are personal property and if someone is there nearby using their property I generally pass it by out of respect that it is in use. Even when not in use I try best to be careful when casting not to cast onto the dock by mistake and especially not to hit any boats that may be tied up. IMO catching a fish is not important enough to chance dinging a mans boat.

Enjoy your new boat!

On TVA lakes, you can fish around/under docks, just don't tie up to the dock or get on the dock. The dock itself is private but the water under and around the dock is public water. Some dock owners will try and run you off but as long as you are not tied up or on their dock they can't do anything. They might make noise and scare the fish, etc., and then others will chit chat with you and are nice people.

Originally Posted by jimp

On TVA lakes, you can fish around/under docks, just don't tie up to the dock or get on the dock. The dock itself is private but the water under and around the dock is public water. Some dock owners will try and run you off but as long as you are not tied up or on their dock they can't do anything. They might make noise and scare the fish, etc., and then others will chit chat with you and are nice people.

x2 Respect the property and do not get on the dock. Those sneaky crappie like to hide in the shade underneath them and you will find plenty of people that shoot docks here in TN.

Have had a little trouble with some about fishing around there docks but for the most part as long as you respect there property they are ok with it.

I shoot docks a lot on Old Hickory, dock owners can't stop you from fishing around their dock as long as you don't step on the dock. I have pulled up to a dock and tight lined also fishing between the boat and walkway. I don't tie off or hold the boat in place with my foot unless I have permission from the owner. Now some dock owners will hang lines to keep you from shooting and you can't really do anything about it, but that's usually where I'll get the tight line set up out and reach out over the the lines. As anyone who shoots docks knows sometimes the shot is off, I don't like to leave hung jigs on a dock they are a potential accident waiting to happen so I will go on the dock and get the jig. I have had the dock owners say something and 9 out of 10 times they are OK with me getting the jig. One of the times I had a dock owner come out both barrels blazing, was threatening all kinds of actions ect. I stayed calm and after a few minutes I got to why he was all fired up. Over about a 6 month period he had 4 jigs stuck in his boat seats, I told him any time I've had a jig shoot up into a boat by mistake I go get the jig, I don't try to pull it out hoping it doesn't snag something. By the time we were done he actually gave me permission to fish standing on his dock. As stated above if you show them respect they usually are ok with it. For the ones who are just going to be A holes I don't fish their docks life is to short.

Good luck,
Ray

Thanks to everyone for the info...can't wait to shot some docks