Dogs not on leashes going for a swim is the biggest annoyance I come across when bank fishing.

I try to be as polite as I can when it happens b/c the dog owners usually have no clue they are disturbing the fishing.

Yep it's pretty cool when you show a young man or woman how to really fish I got to watch one i taught how to Texas rig and just go weight less with a worm he had been at this pond off and on all day he lived close he said he had not even gotten a bite within about 15min I look at the side he is fishing just as a pretty good fish took his worm and ran he got lucky that the hook set itself he looked up at me while he was fighting it his eyes were the size of grapefruits the smile when he got her in was awesome he said it was the biggest fish he ever caught left him some worms hooks and two or three ribbit frogs like to be there when he gets a frog blowup for the first time

Awesome

I have ZERO problem telling someone how to fish better or ask them to not cast by me, throw their dog toys near me, etc, etc. If you do it in a nice manner there should be no problem. Those are usually the kind of people that are not going to say anything except "sorry bout that..". Now...when you get a group of people who are not fishing, but they are drinking, throwing bottles in the water, etc, etc, at that point... I just leave.

Some of you guys seem to have forgotten that you are fishing public spots. People are entitled to use the space as they see fit, just like you are. I'm the kind of person who goes out of their way not to bother other people, especially if they're fishing. But most people aren't like that. . . .that's also why I have about 10 ponds I fish in Lewisville. If you put all of your chips in a single basket, when it comes to fishing public water, some day you're gonna be very disappointed.

It's not that we forgot that they are public spots .Alot of times I feel I'm protecting these places.Is it my place to protect them? Probably not but I grew up in the country about 10 miles outside Clyde Texas my dad and grandfather taught us that the places that us people who don't have a boat or private waters to fish must protect the environment we do have to fish.I would like to take my future children to them and see them catch fish to.More times than not the people who don't respect you while you're fishing are the same ones who trash the few places there are left for bank fishermen to really have a chance at catching fish.They are the same ones who keep fish they catch no matter the size.Im very quick to say something if someone pulls a stringer full of juvenile fish or breeding fish up while I'm around at the small places I fish they are told to release them or the g.w. Will be called.If they can't respect the water or wildlife they can kick rocks.Sorry if that offends some people but lack of respect offends me.

Creekfishin570,

I feel the same way. There are so many people out there that just don't "get it"...keep every 8" crappie and bass they catch, and just about any bream slightly larger than a silver dollar. Drives me nuts. I have never seen a GW in the local Lake Grapevine town park where I fish, but I sure wish they'd start patrolling there. Too many ignorant (or just plain selfish) people where I fish. You should see the trash they leave at the bank too. I pick up what I can, but after a while, I start to feel like the janitor for these idiots.

Scott in Flower Mound

I'm all for conservation and keeping things clean. I always try to clean up any mess or not make one to begin with. All of the places I fish i practice catch and release. I know that some of the places like bethany lakes could use some culling, but I guess some easily caught small bass is better than fewer bass being caught but bigger. I try to be tolerant of others, but I will say something if there's complete disrespect.

Same here... or when im fishing and people start with their cast nets right beside me!!

That happens at Murrell Park on Grapevine in spring...a lot.

I don't like to go out to Murrell Park very much anymore because a LOT of the people there aren't locals, and don't treat the place with as much care or regard as local residents tend to. Last time I was there, I was fishing from the bank, and 3 undocumented foreigners walked up, began casting nets, swimming,, drinking, and screaming at the top of their lungs. All about 50 yards from where I set up to fish...quietly.

I now spend a lot of my time at Twin Coves Park which is much quieter usually. I need to find other spots on the North side of the lake to fish though.

Scott in Flower Mound

Creekfishing 570: I agree with you. I haven't forgotten that these are public spots. Yes we all have the right to be there. But I am at a loss to understand a good reason for someone that is so rude that they are thinking of only themselves and their dog. I am a dog owner. If I am walking her in a public space that doesn't give me the right to let her jump over other dogs and harass them just because it is public property. Unfortunately we are in the Me-generation and entitlement rules, so these type of problems won't go away. If I am fishing a community pond and their is plenty of bank space then why does the dog have to jump in and chase a tennis ball close to where I am fishing. Ultimately I have to move along to another spot because the fish are spooked---it is hard to tell the impact of spooking the fish-how far does it travel down the pond.

Yes I wonder how long are they spooked for on that ledge I fish they can run upstream and you don't have a shot at them at all because you can't get to them unless you're smart like me and get permission from someone to fish areas that are never fished then I let the folks who hijacked my ledge send the fish my way makes for good fun to be watched by loud folks were you were fishing now they can't figure out why I'm catching fish and there catching moss

I have a trick to rid my area of folks who don't treat the location as I feel it should be treated. granted, this will only work some of the time, but I have never employed this tactic and seen a return face.

here is my trick

When you encounter an individual who disrespects the location, just act friendly, start conversation, BUT!!!!
inform them that the Game Warden has been actively patrolling the area. I go as far to say that I rece3ived a citation for fishing without a license.
This seriously works!

"just act friendly, start conversation, BUT!!!! inform them that the Game Warden has been actively patrolling the area. "

lol..I've used this several times.... "Did the game warden talk to you? man..he was just here and I had to walk all the way back to my car to get my fishing license for him and then he almost gave me a ticket for not having it on me!"

It does occasionally work.