[oucorry]

This is becoming a major problem between fisherman and boat slip owners.

I would like to hear everyone's opinion on this one!

[oucorry]

How much longer are we as fisherman going to sit by and take it?

Betrayed by the Corps
By Chris Horton
BASS Conservation Director
(Archive)
Updated: December 12, 2008, 5:39 PM ET

Think you'll always be able to fish your local marina's boat slips? Think again.
I've struggled over a title for this article. "Betrayed" may seem like a strong word to use, but considering the other expletives I would like to insert, "betrayed" is about as subdued as I can make it and still truthfully describe the most recent scene played out on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers smoke and mirrors stage. "Double-crossed" would also work, as would "deceived," "duped," "tricked" ....

It all started almost three years ago. In January 2006, I attended a meeting at Big Cedar Lodge on Table Rock Lake, along with representatives from five marinas (15 or so people in all), staff of the Little Rock District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Missouri Water Patrol, the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

At issue was the question of whether or not marina concessionaires could post their marinas off-limits to anglers. Of course I, and the only other angler representative present, Mr. Bobby Davenport of the Arkansas BASS Federation Nation, answered "no" to that question.

Our point was that the reservoirs were built with taxpayer dollars, they impound waters of the United States, and the fish that swim under and around those marinas were stocked and managed by license-buying anglers. We've paid for the right to pursue those fish on public waters that belong to the people of the United States.

The marina folks claimed that it was an issue of safety. Obviously, they know how to push policymakers' buttons. They claimed all kinds of mischief under the guise of angling — theft, vandalism, destruction of private property and trespass. But aren't there already laws against such violations? Would removing anglers from the area solve those issues? I think not. So where's the safety concern?

It boiled down to the electrical supply lines to the marinas themselves. Seems somewhere along the line, the Corps had a brilliant idea to reconfigure how electricity was supplied to the facilities. They decided that running insulated wires under the surface of the water was a better idea than running them overhead. Now when the insulation is pierced (they are not required to be encased in conduit — can you believe it?), the insulation begins to erode. Bare wires and water don't mix, obviously.

The problem with that argument, as explained by a state park marina operator at the meeting, is that wave action on the wires against a rocky bottom will do the same thing.

The bottom line is that removing anglers from an area solves none of their problems.

Fast-forward to April 2006 when we were invited to attend a facilitated meeting to work on a compromise. After eight grueling hours, we finally did reach an agreement.

We conceded that anglers had no business interfering with the marina's business. In other words, we wouldn't fish within 50 feet of any gas docks, marina stores or restaurants. These would be called "commercial zones." However, commercial zones would not include boat storage docks (the rental slips that we primarily want to fish).

Following the meeting, we thought we had arrived at something that we could all live with. Two weeks later, a memo was released by the Corps, signed by Mr. Lee Bass (ironic isn't it?), Chief of Operations, that marinas could post all docks off limits.

What?!

I sent the Little Rock District a copy of their own notes from the meeting and reminded them that wasn't the agreement. They assured me it was a mistake and would correct it. Three weeks went by and no retraction was issued. So I went to the Corps in Washington, DC, and provided copies of the notes, asking why they wouldn't honor their own facilitated process. After weeks of e-mails and phone calls, I was assured that they would — a full year later.

In June 2007, the agreement that we all reached during that April 2006 meeting was finally signed into policy by the Colonel of the Little Rock District. The problem was solved and we walked away with something that benefited everyone. It was a win-win situation ... or so we thought.

I've recently learned from a local angler that the game has changed yet again. Earlier this year it seems the marina owners got with the Corps' division office down in Texas. They didn't get total control of the situation locally, so they went to the next rung on the ladder.

Well, it worked because there just happened to be a new district colonel in Little Rock who was willing to sign a new policy memo on May 13, 2008, that slightly — but significantly — changed the wording. Now the boat storage docks were included in the "commercial zones."

Without any notification, the Corps basically wiped away two years of negotiations and took us two steps backwards in the process. What's more, they didn't even bother to inform the public that they did it until we started calling and demanding answers. A press release was finally issued in September, in which they had the gall to say we (BASS) agreed to the new policy.

Let me assure you, we did not, and we never will.

I can't think of a more blatant, bad faith effort by a government agency in my career at BASS. The Corps' betrayal of anglers and the good faith negotiations that were held is inexcusable. I sent a letter to that effect to Colonel Jackson of the Little Rock District (read it here). No surprise, I've yet to hear back.

It may appear that we've lost this battle, but the war is far from over. You see, the Corps operates at the whim of Congress. Congress, ideally, serves you. If anglers in Arkansas and Missouri would write, phone, fax or e-mail their elected officials, I bet the Corps would get the message.

We don't like being deceived, especially by our own government.

[shortbus]

typical political BS.

What is the issue with fishermen fishing docks anyway? What problem are fishermen causing to the docks or the boat slips? Why do marina owners want to keep the fisherman from fishing there? They aren't bothering anyone.

[driftlessbamboo]

I say fish the damned docks! If people don't like it, well, honestly who cares. As shortbus says no harm done! People get way too carried away with this nonsence!

[oucorry]

I hope they ban them!!! Because I can't catch anything off them anyway

[seafarer]

Yes, but they should move is a docked vessel is attempting to move and not throw toward or allow their lines move toward the prop(s).

If asked to move away from a vessels docking area, you should.