Poachers

[Dingo3]

And the rules only apply to you.
Your brother who lives in town or your best friend needs a license.
An exception would be a hired hand not doing sport fishing like a catfish farm pond worker.

I assume by stating “you” you’re saying anyone in the family that lives there. At least that is how it was interpreted at my FIL’s farm.

 

[moresmoke]

I just commented on a post about electric fence chargers . We ran into one back in 1971 that would make you rethink life choices . While mowing gas pipe lines we came across a plain bare wire fence that was tacked to trees and posts with no insulators , NONE and that puppy hit so hard it put you on the ground . Don't know who made it never asked when we found the owner we just needed it TURNED OFF so we could get thru his wire to mow the four lines across his land . This fence was down south of New Philly Ohio . Build a five strand fence with the bottom wire no more then a foot off the ground and the to wire chin high and make all five strands HOT , They can't go under and can't go over and they sure are NOT going to cut it

Speedrite 86000

Not sure it would be worth it for the OP, but this one will make you reconsider your life choices, find religion or both.

 

[ss55]

Anyone suggested filling the pond in?

Post #31 is to drain it.

 

[Texasmark]

Post #31 is to drain it.

No way. Pond is a big part of the net worth of the property.

 

[joeysmith]

No way. Pond is a big part of the net worth of the property.

Some floating lights might make them think twice about approaching after dark

 

[john in la]

I assume by stating “you” you’re saying anyone in the family that lives there. At least that is how it was interpreted at my FIL’s farm.

Yes I would consider anyone with a mailing address that the pond has as “you”.
Your son that gets married and moves to town technically now needs a license to come fish on the weekend but you would have to be one $$$ hole of an officer to write that ticket.

Above and beyond the license part.
If you dam a stream to make a pond and said pond can be reached by a boat in that stream the pond becomes public domain and can be fished by anyone without your permission.
The only way a pond or lake stays private is if you have to cross private land (walk) to get to it.
If multiple owners own land around the lake then each owner has the same rights to the entire lake even if the land under that spot belongs to you.

 

[flying belgian]

40 years ago a friend bought a rural acreage in Indiana. I think it was 6 acres. Had a beautiful house and a separate heated good sized shed. Then he bought a new Zetor tractor and loader and went to work digging a pond. That pond ended up about 2 acres and 10 ft. deep. He worked evenings and weekends for about 2 yrs. on his pond and when finished he stocked it with fish. So does he have to follow any rules as far as fishing license or season or limits?

 

[Non-farmer]

Speedrite 86000

Not sure it would be worth it for the OP, but this one will make you reconsider your life choices, find religion or both.

Wow. 540 miles is a lot of fence posts

 

[john in la]

40 years ago a friend bought a rural acreage in Indiana. I think it was 6 acres. Had a beautiful house and a separate heated good sized shed. Then he bought a new Zetor tractor and loader and went to work digging a pond. That pond ended up about 2 acres and 10 ft. deep. He worked evenings and weekends for about 2 yrs. on his pond and when finished he stocked it with fish. So does he have to follow any rules as far as fishing license or season or limits?

Like said
If the pond is on private land without access to water off your land then you can catch and eat your fish with no license or regulations.
But you can not sell the fish.
Any contract with the outside world if it be a non resident fishing in the pond or the fish leaving the land changes the rules and requires a license.

 

[joeysmith]

Like said
If the pond is on private land without access to water off your land then you can catch and eat your fish with no license or regulations.
But you can not sell the fish.
Any contract with the outside world if it be a non resident fishing in the pond or the fish leaving the land changes the rules and requires a license.

Also depends on state

We only have 2 rivers in the state that are "public " waterways

 

[Non-farmer]

Also depends on state

We only have 2 rivers in the state that are "public " waterways

Yep, I would think each state has its own rules. No idea about Texas, but in my state (Mi), the law is what john describes. There is a creek and lake at the far end of my property, and sadly, they are both considered to be full public access. But, thank goodness, my pond is MINE.

Edit: I should specify that the lake and creek are public because the creek crosses public rights of way (roads).

 

[john in la]

Also depends on state

We only have 2 rivers in the state that are "public " waterways

Navigability​

In Texas a stream is navigable if it is either “navigable in fact” or “navigable by statute.” These tests are explained below. Simply put, a non navigable stream is a stream which is neither navigable in fact nor navigable by statute. Along a navigable stream, the public may boat, fish, swim, camp, and in general carry on any legal activity. Public use must be confined to the stream bed and, to a limited extent, the banks.

Navigable by Statute​

Under a law dating from 1837, a stream is navigable so far as it retains an average width of 30 feet from its mouth up. The width measured is the distance between the fast (or firmly fixed) land banks. A stream satisfying the 30 foot rule is sometimes referred to as “statutorily navigable” or “navigable by statute.” Under a court decision, the public has rights along a stream navigable by statute just as if the stream were navigable in fact.

Measurement of Stream Width​

The entire bed is to be included in the width, not just the area covered by flowing water. The bed extends all the way between the fast land banks. These are the banks which separate the stream bed from the adjacent upland (whether valley or hill) and confine the waters to a definite channel. Further, stream segments having a width of less than 30 feet do not defeat the stream’s navigability by statute, so long as the stream’s width maintains an average of 30 feet or more.

 

[cjunrau]

Anyone suggested filling the pond in?

Why should the lawful give up there rights for the unlawful? Time to do away with criminals

 

[Hobo,NC]

A local leases 100's of acers in my hood it has some large lakes on it, those lakes are from mining for shale to make brick. It's a paradise for fishing and hunting. If he catches you on the property he will indite you in some way form are fashion. He has game camera's all over the place he must be in good with the game wardens because they will come in a flash with just a phone call. The property borders my property I tell those that I let hunt if you shoot a deer and it runs to the other side of the RR track don't go over there looking for it. Spencer will indite you for trespassing, you can go ask him for permission I can tell you he will say NO!.

The moral of the story is everyone knows he will not hesitate to charge you for trespassing so don't go there. I can go fish there he ask I get the key to the gate and use the road and not walk are ride a 4 wheeler on the property.

 

[flying belgian]

Now after reading all these responses are we sure the “poachers” know they are doing wrong? I mean the rules vary state by state and navigable waters and width of steam and ditch banks oh my.

I suspect they do because tearing down his fence is inexcusable. Maybe op can follow that path and get them for.. criminal damage to private property.

 

[Phill Tibbetts]

Seems that a pond on my property has become free domain for poachers. Not only do they steal my fish but they tear up my fence between the road where they park and the pond. In Texas I have satisfied the requirements for a $2,000 fine for encroachment. They only come at night.

I have a lot of farm equipment that they can screw up big time if they are of a mind to. That has deterred me from doing any more than fix the fence that they tear up.

Interested in any inputs from you folks as to how you handle situations like this.......Is the right thing to do is to do nothing?????

I had a friend that had such a problem and got into it with the poachers.....since he had no equipment on that parcel of land, they just ROTENOINED, or how ever you spell it, his pond and killed all his fish....besides the loss the stink was unbearable.
Appreciate comments.

Ever consider getting a few of your friends and lie in wait for them? When they show up open fire, not directly at them but close enough to convince them they should not be returning. Or how about burying some spike strips near where they park that should discourage them. I'm 81 so I might take a sterner approach to permanently end the problem.

 

[NY 986]

Ever consider getting a few of your friends and lie in wait for them? When they show up open fire, not directly at them but close enough to convince them they should not be returning. Or how about burying some spike strips near where they park that should discourage them. I'm 81 so I might take a sterner approach to permanently end the problem.

Sounds great when watching a movie or television show but seldom works out well in real life. Trying to fire bullets within inches of a person? What could go wrong? Spike strips? Today's culture pushes revenge even if the party who was affected by the strips was in the wrong such as trespassing.

 

[flying belgian]

Ever consider getting a few of your friends and lie in wait for them? When they show up open fire, not directly at them but close enough to convince them they should not be returning. Or how about burying some spike strips near where they park that should discourage them. I'm 81 so I might take a sterner approach to permanently end the problem.

You can't be serious!!

 

[CorneliusFun]

Seems that a pond on my property has become free domain for poachers. Not only do they steal my fish but they tear up my fence between the road where they park and the pond. In Texas I have satisfied the requirements for a $2,000 fine for encroachment. They only come at night.

I have a lot of farm equipment that they can screw up big time if they are of a mind to. That has deterred me from doing any more than fix the fence that they tear up.

Interested in any inputs from you folks as to how you handle situations like this.......Is the right thing to do is to do nothing?????

I had a friend that had such a problem and got into it with the poachers.....since he had no equipment on that parcel of land, they just ROTENOINED, or how ever you spell it, his pond and killed all his fish....besides the loss the stink was unbearable.
Appreciate comments.

I’d put up a trail cam and call the game warden, especially since they’re already damaging your fence. I wouldn’t go out there confronting people at night over fish. Get some evidence and let the authorities deal with it

 

[MeanGene1]