Waterfront Etiquette
 

Just how close can fishermen / rafters come to my dock? Is there any regulation that may impose restrictions pertaining to invasion of landowners' privacy?

No. We share the lake.

It is not fair to group rafters and fishermen together.

Rafters
 

I'm guessing these are rafts being pulled by boats...so there is the whole 150' rule correct?

Fisherman / kayakers ect don't.

Raffting or Raffters??
 

Are we talking about boats pulling "rafts"? Or are we talking Boaters that are "RAFFTING"? Two total different subjects.

If it is a boat "Towing" a "Raft or Tube" then I would agree with the 150' rule. If it is someone anchoring a boat, then would the 25' rule apply? Oh and remember "WE" have access up to the "HIGH WATER" mark on the lake. I think even a "Swim Line" is only a Warning of a designated swinging area that does not restrict your access to the "HIGH WATER MARK".

With all this said, COMMON CURTICY may be the best rule applied?

Waterfront etiquette
 

Like Jonas Pilot said, we share the Lake. When I lived on the Lake my shorefront was slightly concave, and many mornings I would have fishermen inside the line of my dock with the corner of my land. Honestly, at that early hour, I was never bothered by them. If I wanted to head to Town by boat I just slowly motored away from my dock and then got up to speed.

I think "the rafters" being mentioned are not the type pulled behind a boat, but probably the grouping of several boats for social purposes. Now, this could lead to a question of being inside a shorefronters "personal space" (not withstanding the first sentence above). Usually, rafters prefer to find a spot away from landowners so they can enjoy their own fun and not be in the sights of landowners or vice versa.

The WHOLE lake is public property!

And with that comes responsibility.

The lakes belong to everyone.

We often have fishermen right by our boat and dock and within 10 feet of the rest of the shorefront. 99.99% of them are quiet and focused on fishing. I am a very early riser and enjoy watching them and often ask "how's the fishing?".

The .01% problem was just a guy with a very loud voice and honestly, I felt sorry for his fishing buddy for being stuck in a boat with him.

We have very few rafters in our area, so I can't comment on that.

FYI the lake is public property to the high water mark of your property.
Also swim areas as defined is a safe area free from motorized vehicles and as such is also public property and open to all to swim in. Unless it is a state beach.
Don’t shoot the messenger instead look up the definitions.
Why do you think Romney took so much flack years ago for hiring off duty Mass state troopers to keep boaters away from his property?

I found it very interesting, as I just went through the mooring permitting process that the application states very clearly that you do not have a right to a mooring, that the lake is public property and it is up to the state to 'allow' you the privledge of putting a mooring in. No question shore front owners do not own or have any special priveldge to the lake directly abutting thier property, fair enough. That said common courtsey and a little respect of boaters and fisherman certainly is lacking as well. Like others, the fisherman don't usually cause any concern, they are generally quiet and move along down the shore, most are nice if you're friendly enough to say hi. Rafting wouldn't bother me either provided folks are respectful and not being obnoxious. However that is not always the case, and nobody should have to put up with listening to loud music or screaming obsecenities. Both unfortuantly are common place with people rafting.

IS THIS REALLY a question?

So interesting question...docks and such. They are beyond the high water marker. How does that work?

Regulated by the state, permits required.

http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/...OC-L-482-A.htm

http://des.nh.gov/organization/commi...-wt100-900.pdf

You can always tell the courteous boaters by where they will park in respect to others property.
Me I’d never park where I wouldn’t want someone parking if I owned property on the lake.
That being said there are also quite a few landowners who bring on their own grief in the way they treat others.
I’ve seen both sides of the coin and there have been many threads over the years pertaining to this subject.
As for docks, think of it as your car parked on a public road. Yes you own the car but not the area where you have it parked. The dock is private property and it is illegal for another person to come aboard the raft.
Sometimes boaters will stop in an isolated spot thinking no one is home; sometimes a simple hi will move the boater on as they realize someone is home.
In the same instance a boater who is threatened can come back with others and hang out just to make a point, or worse. Remember a boater may not know who you are, but they know where you live!

Technically ownership of Winnipesaukee waterfront extends to the full lake elevation of 504.32', not the "high water mark". Sometimes "high water" goes behind our camp. Please do not fish in our backyard when the lake is high. lol.

And waterfront owners do have some rights that non-owners do not have:

"Riparian rights include such things as the right to access for swimming, boating and fishing; the right to wharf out to a point of navigability; the right to erect structures such as docks, piers, and boat lifts; the right to use the water for domestic purposes; the right to accretions caused by water level fluctuations".

All that said, as mentioned by others, people can float right in front of your camp, cast under your dock or boat, swim in front of your property, etc. As Belmont Resident said, it's easy to tell the courteous boaters from those who are not. I think the vast majority of folks on the lake are just trying to enjoy their day on the water.

waterfront etequette
 

Alot of great answers to the original question. From where i am sitting I do believe that courteous boaters will not drop anchor close by anyone's private space. I always look for an area that is far away from anyone else.. I try and respect others on the water and on adjoining waterfront land. I do see many instances where a boat will get way too close to a dock or other boats that may be at anchor. Yes it is a public lake and some folks sometimes forget to be completely safe and to use good common sense on the water.
I admit there were times many years back when I used poor judgement with respect to others out there.Just some personal observations

Most not a problem, but....
 

Personally I have no problem with fishermen coming in close, but in an often failed attempt to cast as close as possible to the dock, I get lures in my canvas, and one left a lure on my dock with 30' of fishing line attached, waiting to wrap around my prop. The highways and rest areas are public property, too, but would you want someone casting all around your car? Courtesy and "common" sense, as always, is the rule to be followed.

Because Winnipissaukee's water level is artificially maintained, your actual property line may be arguable but we had a local cop agree on a previous thread, that as long as their "feet are wet" the police won't get involved. Same with boaters, the water's surface is public domain even in a marina.

Also, since your dock is interfering with the public right of way, a wader has the right to step on it to get across or to get on land just to the extent needed to get past it. Several land-owners have responded to this detail by saying they would get prickly with anyone who stepped on their dock or land for this purpose but I think that's just being mean-spirited.

I do advise that you post your property from the land and water-side if you are serious about keeping non-guests away. When I managed a property a few years back, the most common violaters were boat-kids wading along the shore. But old or young, they all reacted positively to "Keep your feet wet please."

I also find most fishermen to be courteous. They cast and move along. I find if someone stays too long that our dogs and or teenagers and their loud hip hop usually send them on their way fast!! :emb:

Fisherman on my property...
 

I recently had a fisherman get his lure snagged on a bush on my shore front. He docked his boat at my dock. Got out, walked on my shore to retrieve his lure.

Very unacceptable. That lure should have become mine!

He overstepped his bounds.

Just be aware, people like me have taken notice to this kind of behavior.
Some of use even have some good video/audio equipment on board.

Net result: I file a complaint with Marine patrol. If I return and you do it again, I file a protection from harassment with the court. Not so funny now is it?;)

If you're joking around (sure you are), I agree. (as an avid fisherman who loves finding free lures)

If you're serious, I would have to disagree and say he did the courteous thing. I'd never leave a lure snagged on somebodys dock or tree if I can easily retrieve it.

I agree, could have posed a bigger problem if he left it with the line still attached.

Yup! I'm very serious...
 

You're on my land without my permission? He didn't "easily retrieve it" he docked his boat at my dock and came on my land, and that is not acceptable. Do you dive into the water to retrieve a lure you've caught on a submerged tree? And if a swim near there have you put me in danger?

Get real! Don't cast your stuff onto my shore! And you won't have to trespass to recover it.

When I see a stranger on my land, my first concern is for the safety of those with me.

Stay off my land or wreak my rath!!!

Do you have " no trespassing" signs posted?

Easily retrieved it is obviously open to interpretation. I would appreciate somebody removing a lure/hook from our dock, boat, or shore and they are welcome to use the empty side of the dock to do it. Common sense would also tell me that I am likely not in any immediate danger from that "trespasser" and I can probably keep my rath leashed for that one. Would you not allow somebody to use your dock to get out of a sudden and severe thunderstorm? We do and have.

I'm sure that fisherman thought he was doing the polite thing by getting it off your property and not leaving it to become a hazard for animals/people.

It's people with your attitude that has made the lake a less friendlier place, but I agree that greater care should be taken when fishing around docks and others property as to avoid such a situation.

Yes
 

On all quadrants of my land

Agree, as some boaters can be a problem for landowners, some landowners create their own problems with the way they respond to a situation, weather they are right or wrong.
Someone plucking a lure out of a branch is by no means a reason to get all bent out of shape. I never was a great caster and cannot tell you how many times I sent a lure to close to the shore and had to retrieve it. :cool: I can say that I never tied up to a dock but would retrieve it by boat or get out of the boat and retrieve it in the water.
One of the things that is always in the back of my mind when dealing with people around my home is that they know where I live and I have no idea who they are, or what type of person they are. In today’s society you never know what recourse someone might take. :eek:
So sometimes a little common sense and less abrasiveness goes a long way.

We have three or four large blueberry bushes overhanging the water and last summer we came home from work to find a family in their pontoon boat happily picking berries.
We didn't really mind because we have plenty of berries,plus they had kids with them that were pretty cute and enjoying themselves.

Call it "respect" for one's neighbor ~ on sea, lake, or land....

Now I know there must be a rule against this. :eek:

Just trying to lighten up this thread..:)

Snagged Lures
 

Every person will have a different opinion on this senerio. I personally would appreciate any fishing lures retrieved by said fisherman, even if it means comining onto my property. Having myself or my dogs getting hooked is not worth it to me.

Under old English common law, people have the right to pick fruit as far as their arms can reach without stepping foot over the property line. So far as I know this has never been challenged in NH since independence.

I like blueberries. Where did you say these bushes are? ;)

Are we talking about the fisherman with the 10 HP aluminum row boat or the fishermen with the 21 foot boat with two Mercury 150 HP outboard engines?

The draught on a 21 ft "bass/fishing" boat probably isn't much different than that aluminum row boat actually. And with a trolling motor you can get in and out of plenty of places that you could not do otherwise. Just sayin'

Fishing Boats
 

Either is fine with me. :D

If I happen to be outside when a snag like this happens, I would be glad to retrieve a lost lure for a fishing friend and save them the trouble.

Let me explain...It's a privacy issue
 

The reason I don't like strangers walking across the front of my property has to do with my privacy. Something I value. My house is built 15' from the water and the front is all glass. Anyone standing on my land, on the water side of my house, is literally only a few feet from my living room, kitchen and one bedroom with an unobstructed view into each room. I find it very unsettling to walk into any of these rooms, in whatever state I'm in, to see a stranger looking directly at me from just a few feet away. From the lake, the view is from a lower angle and not as obtrusive. It's not that I'm anti-social. I just like to know when to expect company.

People with GLASS houses (especially if you are naked) :D ... May find Curtains would make you feel more comfortable. :look: NB