A "friend of mine" and his Father-in-law went to Seventeen Lakes pond this weekend.

Seventeen Lakes Pond

They parked the truck on the street in the neighborhood, walked around the unmarked gate, walked back to the pond without houses on it, and began to fish. My "Friend" said they slayed them. He's been there several times and caught maybe 3-5 fish in 3 hours, but this time he and his FIL caught about 20 fish in 2 1/2 hours. They were mostly LMB and Perch less than a pound. But the FIL caught a LMB that tipped the scale at 2lbs. Nice for a little pond like that.

Anyway, after have a blast fishing, they walked back to the truck. They were met by the locals. A homeowner asked, "You guys catch anything?" They said, "Yah, a few..." Then the HO preceeded to tell my friend that the developer gave him the instructions to call the Game Warden anytime they saw someone fishing those ponds that weren't developed yet. He said even the HO's in the community weren't allowed back there. He was a very nice guy about it, but told my friend to not come back.

My question for you guys is, what kind of issue is this? Is this a GW issue or just a city police issue? I figure my friend was tresspassing, but if its not posted, is he? There were no signs on the fenses. No barbed wire. Even if there were, thats a city police or county sherriff issue, not GW right? B/c its on private property? What do you guys think?

My "Friend" wanted to post some picture on here of the fish he and his FIL caught, but I would hate to incriminate someone. Because if I did post those... I would be telling you who tresspassed right?? I wouldn't want my friend to get in any trouble...

that jerk has said that for many many years. I used to fish there in the 90s and had many run ins with this guy. the constables used to have problems with vandals at the clock tower and such, and they HO thought he needed to become the law of the land. if there are no trespassing signs up now, then I wouldnt worry about it. I believe the city seized that property years ago. I would call the city and ask.

But he pulled a GW business card out of his pocket...

Yeah. I have two GW cards at home. One from when a jet skier ran into my boat and another when I reported some poachers. They will normally give you one if you ask or if there could be any follow up.

I want to know who owns the land. The developer might have told him to call the GW so they could sell houses without people thinking people would be fishing there. Seems like the guy would have just called if the GW would have cared. If the land is owned by the city it seems like you could fish it.

see if you can talk to the game warden for that area. his word is law.

Anyone know how do you find out who the GW is for that area?

Its not city of Roanoke. Just emailed them. They responded in 2 mins and said its not them.

I think I found the actual property owner thanks to Paul, but that gives me nothing...

http://www.dentoncad.com/index.php?optio...pe=R&AbsCd=

Click on Denton CAD GIS. Then check Aerial2005


Anyone have ideas?

http://www.sgha.net/tx/dallas/crazymans.html

"The brainchild of Westlake Mayor Scott Bradley, it once boasted 17 artificial lakes and a massive stone clock. Crazy Man's Tower is a relic of an upscale development that Bradley pursued in the late 1980s until the funding collapsed in the savings and loan crisis.

Called the Lakes of Brookstone, the neighborhood featured a water tower at its center, hidden inside a stone facade topped with a fancy clock. Now the stone is a pile of rubble and the wooden frame stands burned by vandals. Katherine Boyer, head of the Roanoke Public Library, has heard "crazy man" stories for nearly a decade. She tells patrons that it's all urban legend and that no documentation exists. If there was a murder, as described by the legend, there would be documentation of it somewhere. There simply isn't any."

go fish,...have fun,..

If he calls the law next time you go, it's criminal trespass. There is no requirement for signs. He has told you it's trespassing and not come back. The clock has started.

It a local law enforcement issue....If the guy owns the land and he has told you to stay off then you are trespassing. I would go buy a police badge and show him your badge..Get one in Downtown Dallas.

Agreed that it WOULD be punishable now that he's told you not to come back...IF he actually has authority to do so. GW would know if it's public or not. If it's public and you have every right to fish there, then the next time you go, the guy will probably come down to harass you, when he does, ring up the GW on your own phone.

the man only owns a small portion. he doesnt own all that land. back when I was younger and a punk we used to argue with that guy when he would come harass us. never once did we get in trouble or were asked to leave. the police would drive by and wave.

if i remember correctly, that man's been in trouble a few times for shooting a gun at folks...

the right way to do it (seems like alot of hassle for a pond to me) is go to the county clerk and find out who the legal owner is. call the legal owner and ask permission to fish, offer to sign a waiver of liability for them. if granted permission get a letter stating so from the legal owner. when the butthead comes to harass you show him the letter from the legal owner and tell him to leave you alone or you will call the law for harassment. absolutely must go thru the legal owner and get written permission, read the castle law for just one reason why. police/gw/sheriff cannot do anything without the legal owner calling, they will ask you to leave (and you should). do it right or you risk giving all of us (as fishermen) a bad name if something bad should come of this.