Fishing Docks On Table Rock

[Fishin Hodge]

Yep, most of the tournament rules were modified after the COE implemented their new laws. Prior to the law, you could fish anywhere except within 50 feet of the gas dock on most of the tournaments I fished.

Even fished some tournaments that the rule was 50' from the gas pump.... during hours of operation. If the dock was closed all was free game according to the tournament rules. Now that is how it should be in my book. But those days are long gone.

The law is no fishing, swimming, etc within 50 feet of any part of a dock associated with the marina tournament or not. That includes satellite docks, not even connected to the marina itself. I will occasionally fish a dock when I'm fun fishing that I is off limits, typically in the winter or at night. If you get on the wrong one, typically you are just gonna take a chewing.

Enforcement is very weak in my experiences, but the law is there and can be enforced if they can find a law enforcement officer bored enough to write a ticket for it... at least that is my understanding.

[AAD]

For those of us that do fish docks.

If you hang your lure in the front of the stall on the underwater superstructure, would you A. cut/break it off, or B. step out of the boat, onto the dock, and retrieve you lure then get back into the boat.

Some will say a good dock fisherman doesn't get hung up, but we all know it happens.

I have a feeling this is where the dock owners and dock fishers could disagree.

If someone would be on the dock, I would ask permission to retrieve it. But if not, I would step off and quickly get it unhooked then continue fishing.

Any opinions?

[Fishin Hodge]

I typically step onto the dock to retrieve a bait if I cant pull into the stall to get it.

I'll be completely honest here too, and this is part of what causes issues for us fishermen, but I've hung a jig or two on a tie down for the boat cover, on ropes, and other stuff that you just can't free a bait from without doing it by hand. I never leave a bait that can be seen. If I had a boat cover on a boat in a dock and there was a jig hung in the strap, I'd be PO'd too. Cut the barb, do what you have to do to not damage the property, but you have to take care of that kind of crap when it happens.

I can say I have never damaged any property so don't go suing me, but if you fish enough docks, and make enough flips into the tight/right places, it is inevitable going to happen.

[Feathers and Fins]

Ok call me a legal eagle here but I just read what Champ Posted. Interesting law but Here is the problem with it. TABLEROCK LAKE is in Missouri and NOT Arkansas. YET on Page 3 Section ( it says enforcement will be by Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. I just showed it to a lawyer buddy who said It would be very interesting to see AGFC enforce a law in Missouri let alone respond to a call about enforcement to a place they have not jurisdictional right or duty. And in court if not written by AGFC or ACE as prescribed in this document it would be thrown out on a legal technicality. Someone obviously did not read this memorandum very well or who would enforce it.

[dtrs5kprs]

Ok call me a legal eagle here but I just read what Champ Posted. Interesting law but Here is the problem with it. TABLEROCK LAKE is in Missouri and NOT Arkansas. YET on Page 3 Section ( it says enforcement will be by Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. I just showed it to a lawyer buddy who said It would be very interesting to see AGFC enforce a law in Missouri let alone respond to a call about enforcement to a place they have not jurisdictional right or duty. And in court if not written by AGFC or ACE as prescribed in this document it would be thrown out on a legal technicality. Someone obviously did not read this memorandum very well or who would enforce it.

Could be another version specific for MO?

[Feathers and Fins]

Maybe but we both got a good laugh out of it.

[dtrs5kprs]

Maybe but we both got a good laugh out of it.

Never mind that the Ark boys would have a heck of a boat ride to enforce it around Cape Fair .

[Feathers and Fins]

Here is what I found so far in looking

http://www.swl.usace.army.mil/Portals/50/docs/tablerocklake/title%2036.pdf

§ 327.8 Hunting, fishing, and trapping. (a) Hunting is permitted except in areas and during periods where prohibited by the District Commander.( Trapping is permitted except in areas and during periods where prohibited by the District Commander. © Fishing is permitted except in swimming areas, on boat ramps or other areas designated by the District Commander. (d) Additional restrictions pertaining to these activities may be established by the District Commander. (e) All applicable Federal, State and local laws regulating these activities apply on project lands and waters, and shall be regulated by authorized enforcement officials as prescribed in § 327.26.

§ 327.26 State and local laws. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this part or by Federal law or regulation, state and local laws and ordinances

shall apply on project lands and waters. This includes, but is not limited to, state and local laws and ordinances governing: (1) Operation and use of motor vehicles, vessels, and aircraft; (2) Hunting, fishing and trapping; (3) Use or possession of firearms or other weapons; (4) Civil obedience and criminal acts; (5) Littering, sanitation and pollution; and (6) Alcohol or other controlled substances. ( These state and local laws and ordinances are enforced by those state and local enforcement agencies established and authorized for that purpose.

Wow talk about a lot of reading so far and researching but except for what Champ posted I can find no regulations baring fishing from around docks, and at that what he posted is not in the regulations governing the lakes that I can find. But it appears ACE has not updated them since 2000. I think a update is needed.

Now then here is an interesting thing in reading this. The district commander has the say in memorandums but in searching this issue It appears the Commander implemented this in a very sneaky way BASS even requested his comment to which there has been none.

For him to do this justifiably he must show concern for public safety. I can find no public safety at harm or danger and thus believe he bowed to special interest. Also I have seen numerous people that have boats in the slips fishing from them which is in violation of this memorandum so it would be very easy to show selective enforcement by the Marina ( lease ) holder. When a new commander comes in I would suggest a petition by all fishermen and bass clubs especially to direct to him to remove the no fishing rule.

Just my take.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Well Cricket Creek marina has such a sign and guess what state it's in? I would assume that in MO the water patrol would enforce.

There was a small covered dock in the cove on the south side of Old 86 that had a sign "No Fishing with in XX feet"

I don't know about others on here, but I think the rules is a good thing. Try getting into a gas dock on a busy weekend and then imagine somebody with a TM down fishing or kids jumping off the dock swimming. That's got public safety written all over it.