Uh oh...

[Prairieschooner]

Went back to the urban lake where a few weeks ago I fell and racked my shin pretty badly. It's a series of connected ponds that winds between a hospital and a medical clinic. I'd been fishing for about an hour I guess and had just pulled out and released a really nice bluegill when I sensed someone behind me. "Nice fish," he said. "Thanks," I said, and when I turned around I noticed he was wearing a uniform and a badge. Uh oh, I thought. "I'm a security guard over at the hospital," he said, "And they really don't want you fishing here."

I apologized, said I wasn't really surprised, but since there were no signs posted I though maybe it was OK. "I just live over there a ways," I said, pointing over my shoulder. He said he really didn't know why they minded as long as people didn't make a mess or cause trouble, but that they had a security camera set up and he saw me and figured he better come out. "I used to hunt here," he said, "Before all this was built up." I said I remembered, and that I'd lived here for 35 years and knew what it used to be like. He said he remembered the day when there was a farm pond at the end of every two-lane dirt road, and you just went and fished them; nobody cared, you didn't need permission or anything like that.

He said, "I'm just an old guy with a part time job; I really don't have any authority, but they do review the tapes sometimes and if I didn't talk with you I'd be in trouble. I'll tell them you're a local fella that I've seen around and a real nice guy, and that when I talked to you you just moved on." I got ready to pick up my gear and head out. Then he said, "If you move up to the north end the camera can't see you. I work every Saturday and Sunday and you won't have any trouble from me. Have fun and good luck!" and he headed back to the hospital.

[NJTroutbum]

That man deserves a beer.

[Vinny]

It's good to see there are still people out there like that man.

Sort of sad to see old fishing holes closed to the public. Seems like we are getting closer to losing public water where we either pay the government (Forest Service, State Parks, etc.) or closed to the public. Sad to see society changes caused this and all we can do is remember the old days.

Vinny

[bgreer]

Great story, Prairieschooner.

Those sort of days really make it worth it.

Brian

[lastchance]

Buy that man a beer.

[Bluegill Budd]

Or find the PIO (Public Information Office) or equivalent and state your case that allowing fishing would be another way of serving the community. The reasonable requirement of not making a mess would of course apply but that would be enforced on any user of the grounds. The worse that can happen is that he/she will say ?No? in which case you are only out an email, letter or visit and back where you started.

I have done this twice, once on a private pond in an exclusive development (answer = No) and once at an Industrial Park where all they said was pick up after yourself. The second case had a sign saying ?No use by non-residents?. I explained I used to work for one of the companies in the park and fished during my lunch hours and missed doing so. The Head of Security gave me the go-ahead. I even fished it in my float tube a few times.