Hooches on the WA Bank ??? Legal ???

BigWaterBigFish · 03-01-2004, 01:36 PM

Did a slow troll downstream on the Columbia past Davis and Frenchman's Bar ... our attention was diverted to the bank by the construction of what looks like a somewhat permanent structure by some bank fishermen. Is it legal in WA to erect those sort of structures on public land? These guys had battery power tools and were framing it in quite nicely.

fishncliff · 03-01-2004, 01:40 PM

If you were lookin at Frenchman's bar, they have permission to build a shelter.

I'm not sure about the "apartment building" they are building , but someone gave them permission.

BigWaterBigFish · 03-01-2004, 01:41 PM

Sorry, hit the enter key too soon ... our attention was also drawn to these guys as one of the three was hollering profanity at us for trolling too close to their lines and I think embarressed his friends in the process. One of those things were you want to record it and then find out where he works or who his family is and send it to them ... not a man's finest moment. We are pretty careful not to troll that close or to run that deep ... we kept the same distance from other bank fisherman lower down and elicted nothing but waves and questions on how fishing was elsewhere ... didn't have the heart to tell the yahoo that he was building WAY below the high water line and his hooch will wind up down river, hung up on the jetty/piers later this year.
Any way, any thoughts on the legallity of building permanent structures on public land?

Sturgeon 42 · 03-01-2004, 01:44 PM

They arent even fishing in good water.... :grin: :grin: :grin:

RIPPLE · 03-01-2004, 01:46 PM

I do believe that it is technically illeagal to build a permanent structure on public lands, but I have seen them from time to time and it's not something that has really bothered me.
:grin: RIPPLE :grin:

Steelie Steve · 03-01-2004, 01:53 PM

I would expect that it is the same group that has built their "shack" there for the last couple of years at least. They have gotten permission in past from the Clark County Parks Department to build that as long as it is removed in its entirety by the time the county opens the park for the summer season. Generally the guys associated with that shack are very nice and polite.

Steve

Pitch Pocket · 03-01-2004, 02:02 PM

You always find some bank fisherman who feels he has to toss his package as far as his 12' rod will carry it. I was doing the slow troll over 150 yards from the beach the other day and snagged a guys line. He was ok about it, but I never expected to see a line out there that far either.

As far as the shacks go, I don't think you could call any of those things permanent can you? And I wish they would stop burning the green wood for their fires. I saw guys knocking down small trees and building a smokey bonfire out of it. They had to use gas to get that wet wood started. It was real stinky.

[ 03-01-2004, 03:04 PM: Message edited by: Pitch Pocket ]

Fishfaced · 03-01-2004, 02:07 PM

Its called dignity village phase 2! They are moving to their waterfront location.

Tilla · 03-01-2004, 02:20 PM

Most of the time they will use a small craft to drop their lines way out there. They do better than the boats most the time. They do drink. They do have firearms. They do have friends in boats.

Plenty of water to go around them.

The Overfishin Condition · 03-01-2004, 02:31 PM

Being a part time bankie only, and typically fishing out of boats, I do see both sides of the water here. Me on the bank casting, you could troll within 30 yards and probably be safe :grin: Some of those other fellas, yeah you're looking at more like 100 yards + That's allowing for an ego buffer, just to avoid confrontation. Typically on the upper end of the park, it's just casting, as boats aren't allowed at that portion of beach. Lower down, through the woods, you'll see those guys running their lines out with the boats. All the guys down there are very friendly, they offer me tips all the time, and once and a while, offer to reel my fish in. However, they are sometimes not as nice when it comes to boaters who are too close, if they're in danger of crossing lines, it's probably 1/3 concern over getting tangled, 1/3 a turf matter, and 1/3 boat envy. But as Tilla said, a bunch of the guys I talk to down there have boats, but prefer the bank, and the success they have there! Keep the peace, TOC.

[ 03-01-2004, 03:32 PM: Message edited by: The Overfishin Condition ]