How To Obtain Permission For Fishing

[drew03cmc]

Like the topic says, I am looking for the best way to ask permission (and succeed) to access a creek on someone's private land. There are more miles of fishable creek around here than one could ever fish, however, the state of Kansas, there are darn few accesses on quality fishing rivers and creeks. Help me out here!

[snagged in outlet 3]

There was a nice stretch of river we wanted to fish and it was private. I pulled in the guys driveway and asked if we could fish. He said "Sure you can. Glad you came and asked instead of trying to sneak on like everyone else"

SIO3

[FishinCricket]

There's no sure fire way that works. As SIO3 and Wrench pointed out, sometimes a tactic works, sometimes it gets you shot at..

I suggest you go buy a lil book called "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie.. There's some really great advice for this type of thing, if you're looking for it. Here's what Dale would most likely suggest:

Write them a Letter, make sure it is worded with the following points (in what ever script you are most comfortable with):

A sincere compliment about their home, property, etc

A plain explanation of why you would be writing them in the first place

an offer, something you could potentially do for them

A very sincere thank you for reading your letter

a non-commital way for them to reply

here's an example off the top of my head:

Dear Mr and Mrs Jones,

Hello, my name is Cricket Staggs, my friend Jim Johnson is a neighbor of yours. I drive past your home frequently and it would be hard to help but notice how nice your property is. You have a very beautiful home, a fantastic plot of land, and even a well trained (and beautiful) golden retriever who knows his boundries and never enters the roadway when I come by. You always keep the yard landscaped and the ditches cleared, which really makes a big difference to folks like Jim who live downhill from you and would suffer all your drainage if it wasn't for your diligence in keeping it cleared.

I am writing you today to ask for a favor, and to offer one in return. My friend Jim is disabled and he loves to fish catch and release. He and I notice you have a very nice bass pond. He has a little trouble getting around, but his little scooter could make it up the road and down to your pond.

My proposal to you: I would like to offer to come out on a monthly basis and clear the brush from your culvert in exchange for catch and release rights for Jim and I in your pond. If this arrangement won't work but something else will (mowing, leaf burning, etc), We would be glad to hear That as well..

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter, I have enclosed a stamped envelope for your reply. If this arrangement is simply impossible Jim and I will completely understand. If this is the case, feel free to disregard this letter and use the stamped envelope for whatever you like..

Sincerely,

Cricket Staggs, 417-718-8666

[ness]

There's no sure fire way that works. As SIO3 and Wrench pointed out, sometimes a tactic works, sometimes it gets you shot at..

I suggest you go buy a lil book called "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie.. There's some really great advice for this type of thing, if you're looking for it. Here's what Dale would most likely suggest:

Write them a Letter, make sure it is worded with the following points (in what ever script you are most comfortable with):

A sincere compliment about their home, property, etc

A plain explanation of why you would be writing them in the first place

an offer, something you could potentially do for them

A very sincere thank you for reading your letter

a non-commital way for them to reply

here's an example off the top of my head:

Dear Mr and Mrs Jones,

Hello, my name is Cricket Staggs, my friend Jim Johnson is a neighbor of yours. I drive past your home frequently and it would be hard to help but notice how nice your property is. You have a very beautiful home, a fantastic plot of land, and even a well trained (and beautiful) golden retriever who knows his boundries and never enters the roadway when I come by. You always keep the yard landscaped and the ditches cleared, which really makes a big difference to folks like Jim who live downhill from you and would suffer all your drainage if it wasn't for your diligence in keeping it cleared.

I am writing you today to ask for a favor, and to offer one in return. My friend Jim is disabled and he loves to fish catch and release. He and I notice you have a very nice bass pond. He has a little trouble getting around, but his little scooter could make it up the road and down to your pond.

My proposal to you: I would like to offer to come out on a monthly basis and clear the brush from your culvert in exchange for catch and release rights for Jim and I in your pond. If this arrangement won't work but something else will (mowing, leaf burning, etc), We would be glad to hear That as well..

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter, I have enclosed a stamped envelope for your reply. If this arrangement is simply impossible Jim and I will completely understand. If this is the case, feel free to disregard this letter and use the stamped envelope for whatever you like..

Sincerely,

Cricket Staggs, 417-718-8666

Dear Cricket,

I see you read the Carnegie book.

Stay outta my yard,

Mr. and Mrs. Jones

[FishinCricket]

Dear Cricket,

I see you read the Carnegie book.

Stay outta my yard,

Mr. and Mrs. Jones

Dear Mr and Mrs Jones,

Thank you so much for a prompt reply, even if it was to te affirmative. Jim and I most certainly understand personal boundries and we will respect yours. Jim's disability would keep him from offering this, but I wanted to make sure and mention to you that, if you should need any help clearing brush frm the afore mentioned culvert, I would still be happy to help, free of charge in Jims stead as a good neighbor.

Sincerely,

Cricket Staggs

PS) Yes, Dale Carnegie was a fantastic orator and salesman, glad to hear he has other fans out there besides myself.

[Brian K. Shaffer]

Crane Creek Dairy Farm water. Wonderful people. Very nice.

Just took a knock on the door.

Brian

[ness]

Dear Cricket,

Your second letter was more than Mr. Jones could take. I found him in the driveway, still clutching the letter in his hand. He despised Dale Carnegie, hated the disabled and was proud of our culvert.

Forever in your debt but you still can't fish here,

Widow Jones

[FishinCricket]

Dear Cricket,

Your second letter was more than Mr. Jones could take. I found him in the driveway, still clenching the letter in his hand. He despised Dale Carnegie, hated the disabled and was proud of our culvert.

Forever in your debt but you still can't fish here,

Widow Jones

Dear Mrs Jones,

My sincerest condolences, I am so very sorry to hear of this horribly tragic event! If you need any help from Jim or I, please don't hesitate to call on me.

Sincerely,

Cricket Staggs

PS) if you were interested in looking at the bright side, at least he didn't merely end up disabled (which in his mind surely would have been a fate worse than death) I am sure Mr Jones is much happier this way..

PPS) hopefully it's not too soon for this, but... did I mention that my disabled friend, Jim, is single?

[FishinCricket]

(as a side note: this Mr Jones fella kinda sounds like a cantakerous jerk.. "he hated the disabled"? Seriously? What kinda grouch hates disabled people? I may have continued correspondence with him, but I doubt if I ever stepped foot on his property.. He sounds like a guy with a crappy attitude...)

what does this say about you, Ness? lol

(admit it, I woulda won you over with the letter, eh?)

[ness]

Honestly? It's too wordy for my tastes. I've got people trying to sell me stuff all the time, and I have a pretty good sniffer for BS. I believe I detected some there :^)

I'd just go up to the door most times, look him in the eye and get right to the point. I'd make time for smalltalk or make an offer after that, if the guy seemed like he was in the mood. Otherwise, I'd give him a smile, thank him for his time and walk slowly back to the car, sulking.