Fishing Around Commercial Docks

[Phil Lilley]

Many of you, perhaps, are not aware of the recent Little Rock Corps of Engineers

decision to change and "amend" a ruling that they had in place. This ruling in place

since June of 2007, and agreed to by the Little Rock Corps of Engineers, Arkansas

Game and Fish, Missouri Water Patrol, B.A.S.S. AND the Missouri/Arkansas Marina

Association allowed fishermen to fish portions of the Marina as long as they didn't

CAST within 50 feet of "a commercial zone". Good Ruling, agreed to by everyone

at an "open meeting" by representatives of all interested parties.

Now comes a "NEW RULING" in May of 2008 signed by Col. Donald E. Jackson of

the Little Rock Corps of Engineers--{Phone # 1-501-324-5531} that states that

"Fishing is not allowed in ANY PART of the Commercial zone including Boat Storage

Docks" {and also "Satellite" Docks owned by the Marina and placed in other parts of

the lake outside the Buoyed waters of the Marina}. It is my understanding this time

only the Marina Association people were involved with the Corps in these meetings.

There are several more inclusions in this ruling that also affect Slip Renters, Swimmers,

etc. As individuals we can ask our Missouri Congressman Mr. Roy Blunt {phone # 1-417-

889-1800} and Missouri Senator Mr. Christopher "Kit" Bond {phone # 1-417-864-8258} for

their help in asking why, this was changed without new "open" meetings and ask them

to use their influence to get this ruling amended and the old ruling kept in place.

Enough calls, letters, and/or e-mails will let these individuals know that Fishermen do

have a voice.

The Fishin Radio Show hosted by Don Berry {1-417-868-6100} which airs on Jock 98.7 F.M.

on Wednesdays between 4-5 p.m. had a show last Wednesday November 12th and will try to

get Corps representatives back on again this coming Wednesday November 19th to continue

to discuss this matter. Please, don't just sit back and listen to the radio show. Contact someone

and let's all try to make something happen now before this spreads from the Little Rock Corps

to other districts and before it includes resort docks, private docks and who knows what else.

Thanks!!

John Mooney - Fin & Feather Tackle Shop

[Tom Spence]

Phil you beat me to it. I got the email from Fin and Feather yesterday and was going to put it on here tonight. We need to get involved in this. I've already sent emails to Blunt and Bond. This takes away alot more water than the Corps would like us to think, and has the potential to take away alot more. We pay taxes, ramp fees, annual pass fees, etc. to have access to these waters. Guys we have to make ourselves heard about this. This site gets alot of traffic from alot of good people. Theres alot of potential from this website to fill up Blunt and Bond's email box. Lets do it.

[denjac]

Phil, so a dock like yours would be off limits? That would suck. While on the subject why dont you charge non resort guests a couple of bucks to fish off the dock? Dont get me wrong I think its great that you let em fish for free, but I would gladly pay a couple of bucks to fish off the dock. Think your missing out on some milk money. Or if the pay is there more of a liability issue? Just curious.

[motoman]

Not sure if this would make it easier for everyone to contact Blunt and Bond via e-mail, but here's a link to their sites contact form.

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Congressman Blunt:

http://www.blunt.house.gov/Contact.aspx

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Senator Bond:

http://bond.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?Fu...tUs.ContactForm

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Phil, if this is the wrong direction, let me know and I'll edit the post.

[cjones10]

This is no different than what the Missouri Conservation is doing to landowners, hunters and fisherman. They are raising fees, changing landowners rights and imposing new permit fee's for seniors without any kind of vote or insight from the public. Seems to me the 4 appointed officials see this as a bureaucracy with no recourse for their decisions. Here's a brief overview of the new regulations:

The Missouri Conservation Commission met on September 26th and discussed regulation and rate changes that ultimately affect all Missourians in regards to hunting, fishing, trapping permits and changes on landowner tags. Changes announced by the Missouri Conservation Commission will result in increased permit fees on hunting, fishing and trapping, if not rescinded or altered, it would go into effect on July 1, 2009.

According to the state constitution, the Missouri Conservation Commission is made up of four commissioners, appointed by the Governor, with no more than two of whom shall be of the same political party. The Conservation Commission has several responsibilities which include serving as the Department’s policy makers, approving Wildlife Code Regulations, and work on strategic and budget issues. The Commission is currently served by the following members: Chairman William “Chip” McGeehan of Marshfield; and members Lowell Mohler of Jefferson City, Don Johnson of St. Louis & Becky Plattner of Grand Pass.

After looking at the changes approved by the commission, I am deeply concerned and opposed to several issues including the proposed rate increases and the change that would require more Missourians who hunt or fish on their own land to have to buy a permit. Missouri is a state populated by thousands of hunters and fishermen and we should not implement changes that make participating in these activities a burden. I hope every Missourian who cares about this issue will join with me and take the time to make their voices heard loud and clear and let the Missouri Conservation Commission know they should take a second look and rescind these changes before they are implemented.

The Missouri Conservation Commission approved the changes during the September 26th meeting but they will not go into effect until 2009. Approved changes include two to three dollar increases for the majority of hunting and fishing permits; increasing the acreage from 5 to 80 contiguous acres necessary to receive no-cost deer and turkey permits; and creation of a Senior Forever permit for citizens 60 years of age or older.

The 30-day window for public comment will begin November 17, when the changes are published in the Missouri Register. After the 30-day public comment period, all comments will be compiled and sent to the Conservation Commission for their information and consideration. At such time, the Conservation Commission may decide to rescind, alter or continue with changes as previously approved. I strongly encourage all concerned Missourians to make their voices heard on this issue by writing to the following address: Missouri Department of Conservation, Director John Hoskins, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102. Please feel free to also write to the commissioners of the Missouri Conservation Commission whose names were included earlier and also mail to the above address.

[Phil Lilley]

Taneycomo isn't a Corp lake so our dock would not be affected. Even if it was, I would think the dock owner would have the right to NOT have this enforced around his dock- or am I wrong?

[techo]

This particular decision has a great number of questions. Is it like a trespass law where it is up to the dock owner if they want to enforce it? IF so it doesn't see, like a safety issue. If it is more like a safety law (speeding, shooting a firearm in city limits) then the dock owner wouldn't have a choice. What actually determines a commercial dock? Does it have to sell gas? Does it have to have a fee?

We pay an annual fee to use the ramps. So does the swimming areas go away at Aunt's Creek and Cape Fair? This whole thing doesn't seem very well thought out.

[focused fishing]

Let me start by saying I do not agree with the way the decisions were made or the loss of water to be fished, but let's look at some facts before we decide that this is a slippery slope and the entire lake will soon be off limits.

We received several phone calls and e-mails regarding this subject for the radio show. So Kory and I did some investigation and talked with Corps Representatives Greg Oller from Branson and PJ Spauls from Little Rock in preparation for this week's show.

Here are the highlights of those conversations:

1.This effects not only fishing, but boating, swimming and scuba diving around commercial docks. Any activity that restricts the ability of these facilities to do business is prohibited.

2.This will effect 13 marinas on Table Rock

3.Signs will be put on the effected marina and docks

4.Water Patrol in Missouri will enforce

5.Arkansas Game and Fish will enforce

6.No tickets will be issued until everyone knows and understands the rules

7.This rule is not to prevent someone from using the lake

8.Community and private docks can still be fished as always

9.Special situations such as the state park marina and past those docks will be looked at on a case by case situation and handled accordingly.

10. Rules like this have been in effect since the 1980s but there was no way to enforce or inform. The new ruling is just going to clean up the gray area.

11. The rules that were in effect and the amended rules are in place to protect the ability of lease concessionaires (Marina management) to make a living.

While I agree that we are losing some water to fish let's try to be realistic;

50' from a dock is less than the distance from the pitchers mound and home plate or a little longer than two bass boats end to end.

It is only 13 marinas on all of Table Rock.

This effects all water activities not just fishing.

Enforcement will go into effect once the signs are in place and will be nothing more than a warning.

The water behind the buoys is still fishable as long as you are not within 50' of a dock or satellite dock.

The rules are in place to protect the right of business owners to make a living, similar to any other law restricting people from blocking the entrance to any other business.

Yes, they should of invited anglers and professional fishing organizations to meeting when the decision was made but we cannot change that at this point.

NO ONE is talking about restricting angler access to other areas of the lake except for anglers.

As far as I can determine here are the 13 docks effected:

1. Cricket Creek Marina

2. Long Creek Marina

3. Indian Point Marina

4. State Park Marina

5. Port of Kimberling Marina

6. Baxter Marina

7. Campbell Point Marina

8. Kings River Marina (Viola)

9. Big M Marina

10. Eagle Rock Marina

11. Holiday Island Marina

12. Hide Away Marina

13. Cape Fair Marina

For the most part all of these have been off limits in every tournament for several years and most anglers don't fish around these marinas anyway.

I'm not in favor of the ruling but the sky isn't falling.....

Just my two cents.

EP

PS. O.K., I've got my protective gear on, let me have it.

[powerdive]

Finally, some balance and sensibility. There's 80 billion acres of water out there. The marinas provide a valuable service, and should be allowed to operate their businesses without a bunch of fishing boats creating problems. Their equipment is not meant to be fishing structure, and common courtesy would dictate staying out of the way if you're not a customer.

No matter how badly you want it to be so, it's not just a fishing lake. Quit whining and live with it. Perhaps there should've been more participation in the legislative process, but maybe it just wasn't working too well.

One of my best bass/walleye spots was lost when K Dock on Bull Shoals expanded. I didn't like it, but I got over it. There's plenty more good spots waiting to be found out there.

[Whack'emGood]

I agree with EP... and also with Powerdrive... although not that bluntly. There are lots of places to catch fish... nobody needs to fish those docks at the marinas. I don't much care for the ruling... just by principle, and nobody likes restrictions and the government telling you what you can and can't do... but it aint the end of the world. As for myself, I don't fish docks very much anyway-- and I can't recall ever fishing any commercial marina docks.

And, yes I certainly would like it if TR was a fishing lake only... but I'm not gonna whine about it.

Whack'em