The Online Source for Washington Fishing Information

The right to fish "navigable waters"

OK....it's been a long time since a waterfront homeowner has found it necessary to run to the end of their dock and inform me that the water under or close to the dock is "private property" and that I would need to move along......this was Lake Chelan (not Bellevue)?

Hard to listen to her, or respond until I released the 4lb smallie that I found hiding under her dock. She gathered support from her neighbors and threatened to call the authorities. I didn't move far or fast, for the most part because we had found some fishy water, and to be just a bit more annoying, but not a total dick about it.

Just wondering where to find a copy of the rules that govern my/our use of public water. I would like to keep a copy in the boat for my next visit to Chelan (or Bellevue)

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jon Sessler on August 12, 2013 at 9:01am

Dana,

When using profanity to drive home your point, I find it useful to go ahead and spell the work, and use all CAPS!

You are spot on AGAIN!

Nathan - don't play the "rich" card, it's as tired as the race card.

Dana Steiner said:

Jerry,

I too have had enough. My approach is to fish every inch of every dock on public water. If I have a uneducated home owner come out and start the private property speech, I just keep fishing. I then inform the home owner that I'm willing to call the local authorities and file a complaint. I'm extremely tired of home owners trying to run me off public fishing waters, I'm not going to put up with their s##t anymore. In the city, if you don't want someone looking through your windows hang curtains or blinds. If not, I'm willing to check out your old lady showing the booty. Home owners on the lake, go F##K yourself. The rest of you fishermen that let these a****** push you around are p******.

Jerry said:

It's public water. They do not own the water. The dock, yes. I politely inform them that it is just that. If they continue, I tell them to piss off and call whom ever they want, and continue fishing...or I'll call for them.

Permalink Reply by Chris Hollick. on August 12, 2013 at 9:33am

I was fishing Lake Whatcom last year, in the second bowl on the east shore one evening and had an idiot come out to his dock with a handful of poles, all tangled up and started shouting and yelling the "F" bomb at me, saying stop fishing my fish around his dock, my wife was with me, he then told me if I didn't leave he would go get his gun. I went to find the Sheriff who I had noticed at the dock, but they had left, lucky for that ass****. Like Dana and the rest of you fellow fishermen we need to let them know its not their lake, but politely where it seems warranted, and for the ignorant home owner a call to the Sheriffs dept.

Ok, I've had my rant.

Permalink Reply by Nate on August 12, 2013 at 10:39am

Jon, Your right, did not mean to offend anyone. Growing up on the West and now living on the East side I am familiar with a certain "type" of person that come over to this side for vacation and treat local people like crap, and impose their ways. To say "Wealthy Seattle/Bellevue people" is very generic and condescending.

Jon Sessler said:

Nathan - don't play the "rich" card, it's as tired as the race card.

Permalink Reply by Sparkles on August 12, 2013 at 10:42am

Rich bitches are hot, like the ones in Walmart ;)

Permalink Reply by Jake Anderson on August 12, 2013 at 1:08pm

Nathan,

Please do not ask permission to do something you already have the right to do. All that does is make homeowners feel like maybe they have a say in the matter....which they don't. Asking permission to fish a dock just makes it harder on every other angler who knows they don't need to ask jack squat.

Permalink Reply by Nate on August 12, 2013 at 1:44pm

Jake,

Dock fishing is bar none, is my favorite type of fishing. I would rather skip or flip docks than fish topwater, jerkbaits, crankbaits etc. you name it. So as a fisherman I completely agree with you in reserving our right to fish them. I just don’t see the problem with my approach. I greet people with a positive attitude, don't sneak up on them, and casually tell them I am going to fish around their dock if they don't mind. 85% of the time they want to tell me some story about how little Ricky next door over caught a 5 pounder (actual weight 1.5 pounds) on a bobber last week. And like I said I have never had anyone give a negative attitude or tell me to move on. Its not about my legal rights as a fisherman its more about just trying to be a decent human being. Maybe you are right; this is setting the bar too high.

Permalink Reply by Jake Anderson on August 12, 2013 at 4:32pm

Nate...

Why do you need an "approach"? Do you need an approach to vote? To walk down the sidewalk? To breath air? I'm a friendly guy, and good citizen...but I don't need to undermine my own basic rights to accomplish this and neither do you.

What are you going to do when some crotchety dude tells you to "piss off" and that you can't fish his dock? Are you going to then tell him you are going to anyway, reminding him of the RCW's? Or are you going to move on down to the next dock thereby foregoing your rights? Either option seems pretty ridiculous. Haven't thought that far ahead have ya?

Permalink Reply by Todd Parker on August 13, 2013 at 6:24am

Aaron, thanks for the info, I copied and printed a few to keep in my boat. That being said, do you happen to know where to find the definition of "public water" that boaters have the right to use?

AaronW said:

77.15.210
Obstructing the taking of fish, shellfish, or wildlife — Penalty.

(1) A person is guilty of obstructing the taking of fish[, shellfish,] or wildlife if the person:

     (a) Harasses, drives, or disturbs fish, shellfish, or wildlife with the intent of disrupting lawful pursuit or taking thereof; or

     (b) Harasses, intimidates, or interferes with an individual engaged in the lawful taking of fish, shellfish, or wildlife or lawful predator control with the intent of disrupting lawful pursuit or taking thereof.

     (2) Obstructing the taking of fish, shellfish, or wildlife is a gross misdemeanor.

     (3) It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution for obstructing the taking of fish, shellfish, or wildlife that the person charged was:

     (a) Interfering with a person engaged in hunting outside the legally established hunting season; or

     (b) Preventing or attempting to prevent unauthorized trespass on private property.

     (4) The person raising a defense under subsection (3) of this section has the burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence.

Permalink Reply by Jon Sessler on August 15, 2013 at 1:48pm

I do what I can do....Jake is a very literate man, I on the other hand have a unique ability to push buttons!!

Dana Steiner said:

Jon,

You had to mention the race card! Now my blood is boiling on a whole different subject.

Jon Sessler said:

Dana,

When using profanity to drive home your point, I find it useful to go ahead and spell the work, and use all CAPS!

You are spot on AGAIN!

Nathan - don't play the "rich" card, it's as tired as the race card.

Dana Steiner said:

Permalink Reply by Todd Parker on August 20, 2013 at 8:33am

Thanks, Mark

I'll share the opinion of a WSDFW representative that you sent

Thanks for the email. I talked with the person who owns the property that
complained about the fishermen “trespassing” recently. If you are on your boat
on the water you are not trespassing. As long as you are on the water you are
fine. You can’t step on any structure or land that is private property unless
you have permission. Now, I would suggest that fishermen avoid confrontation if
possible just so that everyone could get along. We do receive plenty of
complaints, mainly from Lake Chelan about this. Another is from waterfowl
hunters in the winter. We tell all the landowners the law and try to set them
straight so that they don’t harass legal hunters and fishermen. Let me know if
you have any more questions.

Thanks

Officer Oswald

Permalink Reply by Jon Sessler on August 20, 2013 at 3:24pm

The other thing I'm sick of hearing is "COMPROMISE". That is what has gotten us to where we are. Why would you compromise with someone who is WRONG, doesn't that make you at least half wrong?

Dana Steiner said:

"AVOID CONFRONTATION" that's what is wrong with 90% of America. Peace and love, doobies and tie dye shirts just don't seem to be getting the job done.

Permalink Reply by troy kelly on August 23, 2013 at 4:53pm

Also in this situation wouldn't compromise mean you would get something in return besides not being yelled at? I recently had a guy come down to the waters edge stomping around with a home phone as I passed, So I turned around and fished his dock again. chances are if you get in a pissing match with someone and make them look like an idiot infront of their neighbors they might not confront the next guy fishing. Most of us do this sport to relax, and we should not tolerate being harassed while we legally fish.