I'm new to fishing on a canoe and I've been bank fishing all my life. I have a few questions and if you guys could answer them, that'd be great! I don't want to violate any non-written rules or trespass in any way.

1. Where can you launch a canoe?
2. What's considered private waters?
3. Can I fish around/under people's docks?

4. How close to people's property can I fish?
5. If there's a public lake/pond and then there's a small river/stream attached that heads into a neighborhood of private docks, can I head down it and fish?

I'm new to fishing on a canoe and I've been bank fishing all my life. I have a few questions and if you guys could answer them, that'd be great! I don't want to violate any non-written rules or trespass in any way.

 

1. Where can you launch a canoe?

 

Any boat launch or any public property when you can slide the boat from land into the water.

 

2. What's considered private waters?

 

Not sure. This can get complicated.

 

3. Can I fish around/under people's docks?

 

Yes, but many property owners hate fishermen, they don't want them near their docks and confrontations can and do occur.

 

4. How close to people's property can I fish?

 

In general, close, they don't own the water, but might own the lake bottom.

 

5. If there's a public lake/pond and then there's a small river/stream attached that heads into a neighborhood of private docks, can I head down it and fish?

 

Not sure.

Not knowing your location will make answering any of your question impossible.

 

I'd advise you to locate the website of your home state (or the state of the waters you plan to fish in) and read the boating rules and regulations.  This should answer the questions you've asked here along with many more.

 

I live in Michigan, the two best resources regarding this stuff for me are the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

and the Michigan Secretary of State (SOS).

 

Good Luck 

 

A-Jay