Fishing Around Docks?

[MOPanfisher]

If his fine was 4-5 thousand dollars then he was doing more than just trimming a little brush and a few limbs. As for making a check out to the ranger if that happened it is illegal. They do not accept payment on the spot, it has to be mailed in to Atlanta GA or something like that. The rules are pretty simple, just not real popular on COE Lakes. Ask them for a copy of the Shoreline Management Plan, heck it might even be on line. Having heard many many stories of what a COE Ranger did over the years I have learned that most of the stories are bogus. The adjacent landowner got caught, got a fine, and didn't like it.

[jmes]

I just recently bought some property that is lake front near Shell Knob and it joins the corp land, Before I started trimming anything I called the COE. I requested for them to come to my property

They came out and actually were pretty easy to get along with. They told me as long as I didn't remove any of the trees on the shore but I could trim them

That everything was fine.I went into as much detail as I could trying to cover all basic. So far everything worked out

[vernon]

As a recently retired COE employee I would bet my house that this story is either totally bogus or at a minimum greatly embellished. In my thirty years with the corps I have heard more rediculous incriminating stories about the COE than I can count. The corps does NOT establish laws, policies or penalties - they merely enforce them. Congress and the Senate dictate what the corps does and does not do - including the fluctuation of lake levels that everyone whines about each year. These are some of the most well intentioned and intelligent people on earth. They do not do stupid things just to piss you off.

As for writing a personal check to a private individual for thousands of dollars and not subsequently verifyiing the validity of the fine, the receipt of payment or the authorization of the individual involved I can only say that your neighbor might be the "nicest" guy you've ever met but he's also the most gullible and must have a lot of money if he is willing to part with it so easily. Did he even bother to inspect the cancelled check to see where and by whom it was cashed? Believe me, if his story is valid he stands to collect WAY more in compensation from the government than he paid out in the fine.

If true, the accused COE employee would be terminated immediately and the Federal Government would likely be supporting your neighbor for the rest of his life. Please, if you can't validate such rediculous accusations then don't make them.

Although I doubt anyone would be interested in pursuing the FACTS in this inflammatory and incrimanatory allegation, I nonetheless would suggest contacting the COE, Little Rock District, Public Affairs Office to do so:

Little Rock District Public Affairs
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
P.O. Box 867
Little Rock, AR 72203-0867
501-324-5551
ceswl-pa@usace.army.mil

I promise, you will receive a prompt response from either the PA or the District Commander himself.

Boy if that ain't the truth. Had a neighbor get hit with a fine (I believe 5 or 6 grand) for trimming some trees/brush back in his yard and I guess unknowingly some on COE property. Not only do I find this HIGHLY excessive and down right almost criminal but the COE employee had him make a CHECK OUT IN THIS EMPLOYEES name for the total amount and not to the COE or State of Missouri. I find that very suspect and this neighbor is one of the nicest guys I have EVER met. Would never harm a fly or knowingly break the law. A small fine of a hundred (or a few benjamins) would have been sufficient. One other problem with the COE is that you talk to 3 different people and get 3 different answers as to what is the law/code/regulation. They really have nobody that keeps them in check and therefore have free reign to do whatever they see fit. They need some sort of check and balance if you ask me. Step all over people and you can't fight back. Rant over.

[gitnby]

I just recently bought some property that is lake front near Shell Knob and it joins the corp land, Before I started trimming anything I called the COE. I requested for them to come to my property

They came out and actually were pretty easy to get along with. They told me as long as I didn't remove any of the trees on the shore but I could trim them

That everything was fine.I went into as much detail as I could trying to cover all basic. So far everything worked out

That's interesting? Trimming trees is a violation of the Shoreline Management plan. I would verify that they said you could trim them!

[jmes]

Well I'm going down again monday, I will see what I can get in writing before I make a mistake

Thanks for the information. i will report later

[Billfo]

Make sure you get a "Vegetative Permit" from the C.O.E.

When FRED ESSER (417-334-4101) came to my place (by my request) he told me "if I get a permit", on corp property I could remove anything that had a trunk diameter less than 2" at chest height. Once the trees get 2" or larger they must be left alone. No pruning either. The exception were Dogwoods, Redbuds & Cedars which were to be left alone at any size.

I did get the permit, but have failed to display it properly.......... but it is suppose to be able to be seen from the water.

Well I'm going down again monday, I will see what I can get in writing before I make a mistake

Thanks for the information. i will report later

[gitnby]

Make sure you get a "Vegetative Permit" from the C.O.E.

When FRED ESSER (417-334-4101) came to my place (by my request) he told me "if I get a permit", on corp property I could remove anything that had a trunk diameter less than 2" at chest height. Once the trees get 2" or larger they must be left alone. No pruning either. The exception were Dogwoods, Redbuds & Cedars which were to be left alone at any size.

I did get the permit, but have failed to display it properly.......... but it is suppose to be able to be seen from the water.

6. The permit plate must be attached to the post, facing private

property, no less than four feet off the ground

From corps website

Vegetation Management Application

Another thread on this

[Billfo]

6. The permit plate must be attached to the post, facing private

property, no less than four feet off the ground

THANKS WILL DO !

[TRRANGER]

dudley get him a spook jr or a simular topwater and hit any point in the Cape Fair area early in the morning 6:00am till the sun comes up and you should be able to come up with a LM for him and maybe even a gooden. TR

Thank you I do appreciate the help he is obsessed with catching his first Lm we do a lot of crappie at Stockton. For an 8 year old he well set up for bass with two baitcasters that he is quite good with but pomme has shut us down twice . from the posts on here the bass bite is much better at tablerock than either Stockton or Pomme im sure ill pick up some crappie but his first bass would be a highlight.

[Old plug]

I live on LOZ. I own a 2 stall dock. Many people do not know that LOZ the lake is privately owned and they permit fishing anywhere on the lake. That includes dock. Since Table Rock is owned by the Corp of Engineers. I do not see how they could restrict fishing around resort or any other type dock. After all the lake ultimately belongs to all citizens of the nation. Maybe Arkansas has made some type of legislation but not in Missouri. We have a couple wackos think they own the land under the lake.