There is little doubt that Clear Lake is one of the more popular lakes in California. Clear Lake’s size, 44,000 acres, allows it to host hosts hundreds of recreational boaters and fishermen each year. The lake also has thousands of lakeside residents and their docks provide cover for the many species of fish that populate the lake.
The number of fishermen going for bass or crappie numbers in the thousands. Since bass like to hide beneath the docks this is where the fishermen tend to concentrate their efforts. The result is occasional friction between dock owners and fishermen.
By state law the water in Clear Lake is public domain and open to everyone, and that includes the water beneath the docks. In other words, you can legally fish anywhere you can float a boat. However, the docks themselves are private property.
Every summer I receive calls from both fishermen and dock owners complaining that either the fishermen are fishing beneath their private docks or that the dock owners are threatening fishermen.
What is needed is a little common sense and courtesy from both parties. If a dock owner is sitting and relaxing or fishing from his/her dock, fishermen should either bypass that dock or ask permission to fish around it. I do this all the time and have never had an argument with a dock owner. I respect their property. By the same token, dock owners shouldn’t try to keep all the fishermen away from their docks.
Fishermen should also reduce their speed when within with 200 yards of a dock so that the boat wake don’t damage the structure. By the way, the law says boats should go no faster than 5 mph when within 200 yards of the shoreline. This is one of the biggest complaints from lakeside residents. Boats come roaring right up to the dock before cutting their engines, then roar away when they are done fishing the area. Next time try idling out to the 200-yard marker before gunning your engine.
The speed factor really comes into play in channels such as the Clearlake Oaks Keys and the Lakeport Lagoons. In the channels, most of the docks are floaters and boat wakes can do serious damage. The speed limit in these channels is 5 mph, but it is often ignored by boaters. Boaters need to idle down to no more than a crawl or better yet use their electric trolling motors.
The other gripe of many dock owners is the noise some fishermen make early in the mornings. As everyone knows during the summer months the best time to fish is just before daylight, which is usually around 5 a.m. Many lakeside residents like to sleep on their decks during the warm summer evenings. Fishermen who are fishing near the docks should keep the loud talking to minimum so as not to disturb the residents.
The other major gripe of dock owners is when fishermen cast their lures up on docks and then leave them stuck to the carpets or wood. This is especially dangerous for youngsters who go barefoot or pets such as cats and dogs. No one enjoys having a hooking stuck in his/her foot.
Of course, not all the confrontations between local residents and fishermen are the fault of the fishermen. Many dock owners put out multiple unattended fishing lines and then get mad if a bass fisherman fishes in their area. I run into this all the time. I will be fishing near an empty dock and before I know it I have run into a fishing line and the angry owner will come storming out of the house. First off, it’s against the law to leave a fishing pole unattended — it’s also unsportsmanlike.
Residents also have to realize that when they buy or build a home on the lake their backyard is basically public property and they will lose a certain amount of privacy. Of course, living on the shores of a lake as beautiful as Clear Lake has it’s own rewards and all it takes is a little courtesy on both sides to make living here enjoyable.
