I've been seeing some nice ponds through my travels and was wondering how you all go about getting permission? I'm "new" to the area and have no personal connections I can work through the grapevine to get access. To keep the details minimal there are no houses on the property(ies) to introduce myself and have a chat, best I have is an address and names from the county GIS data.

 

Do you write a letter? Stalk them on social media and send them a message? I assume showing up to their house, not close to the pond would seem a bit extreme and weird. Any advice would be great. 

 

EDIT: the access I'm looking for is just to slip my kayak in the water and park, not roam their property if that makes a difference. 

Years ago, it wouldn't have been an issue to just knock on some doors.  But times have changed.  I don't know that I know of a good approach now.

 

But my gut instinct would be to mail them a letter.  That would be the least threatening option.  It would also remove any sense of urgency on their part to respond.  So they might wait until they're in a better mood before making a decision.  Plus, hardly anyone gets handwritten mail anymore, so the novelty and nostalgia of that might help persuade them that you're an alright person.  

 

There's a good chance they ignore you and you never hear back.  If so, I'd just move on.  I'd also put several forms of contact information in your letter, so they could call, email, snail mail, or coordinate a meeting to let you know of their decision.  

i'm with Bank. times have changed.  i got permission once, ringing the doorbell with an apple pie in my hands.  

 

now i would get shot as a person of color

 

what about stalking the mailman?  suss it out with the person to see if you can get the tempurature of the landowner?  maybe he/she can say, "oh, the Waterman place?  that's the nicest old lady!  and she loves Pie"

I'm totally with @Bankc above.

I would also include a self addressed stamped envelope with your initial correspondence along with a pic of your vehicle & kayak. 

Good Luck

A-Jay

@the reel ess is the guy you need to talk to 

I will still go up and knock - never hurts to talk to people. I don't care that times have changed, just be respectful and courteous. 

10 hours ago, A-Jay said:

self addressed stamped envelope

If you are going to send mail, this is a -great- idea. Makes it super easy for them to respond. You might point out that you are a catch-and-release fisherman, and a little bit about why you like being outdoors. Lots of people really enjoy the idea of someone enjoying their property that doesn't get used. 

 

Showing up at someones house for a property that's somewhere else, ehh, feels a little stalker-ish to me. 

 

While I've never done this, I was close at one point - all over texas there are hunting leases. You might have some luck getting an inexpensive fishing lease for offseason at one of those places. At least around here the duck leases often have decent sized ponds/lakes on them. 

I disagree ?

 

After 2 hurricanes residents here were inundated with contractors of all crafts. 

 

Most people I know hired contractors who were willing to contact them in person. 

 

You gonna track me on social media, Google me to find my personal information. 

 

The answer will be FU!

 

Man up! I wanna look you in the eyes, I wanna read your facial expressions.

10 minutes ago, Catt said:

I disagree ?

 

After 2 hurricanes residents here were inundated with contractors of all crafts. 

 

Most people I know hired contractors who were willing to contact them in person. 

 

You gonna track me on social media, Google me to find my personal information. 

 

The answer will be FU!

 

Man up! I wanna look you in the eyes, I wanna read your facial expressions.

And when Catt looks you dead in the eyes, this is what you will see while the LSU fight song is playing 

 

I agree, do it the old fashioned way with a handshake.

Not everyone conforms to " the way of the world ".

 

You'll get access to the pond much quicker in person than you would through a text.

I don’t live in a cave, I get it

It’s just sad that being courteous, polite and friendly to folks is being replaced with cynicism and distrust of most everyone. 
 

 

 

 

Mike
 

 

Reading your comments and thinking about it some more I think I'm going to go the hand written letter route. While I dont disagree doing a face to face would probably say something in itself, I just dont think the majority of people are comfortable with that anymore and I also think it could make the person feel on the spot and need to provide an answer quickly despite whatever I might say. 

 

Going to do a letter and include a stamped return envelope and an aerial photo with a highlighted area I believe would be the least intrusive to his property but explain whatever is acceptable to him is fine. I'll explain who I am, description (maybe even photo) of my truck/kayak, that I'm strictly catch and release and the expected frequency I'd realistically be able to fish at most (only talking 2-3 times a month at BEST I'd hit this one particular spot). Let him know I wouldnt bring anyone with me and if it ever comes up I'd look for his permission first. I'll also provide my email and phone number and offer to meet in person if he felt more comfortable. 

 

From what I gather from the information I can get about the husband/wife owners are they are in their mid 60s. From what I've seen they dont farm the land, just keep it cut and its vacant so hopefully this will go well. Pond looks really nice to fish.

3 minutes ago, Functional said:

Reading your comments and thinking about it some more I think I'm going to go the hand written letter route. While I dont disagree doing a face to face would probably say something in itself, I just dont think the majority of people are comfortable with that anymore and I also think it could make the person feel on the spot and need to provide an answer quickly despite whatever I might say. 

 

Going to do a letter and include a stamped return envelope and an aerial photo with a highlighted area I believe would be the least intrusive to his property but explain whatever is acceptable to him is fine. I'll explain who I am, description (maybe even photo) of my truck/kayak, that I'm strictly catch and release and the expected frequency I'd realistically be able to fish at most (only talking 2-3 times a month at BEST I'd hit this one particular spot). Let him know I wouldnt bring anyone with me and if it ever comes up I'd look for his permission first. I'll also provide my email and phone number and offer to meet in person if he felt more comfortable. 

 

From what I gather from the information I can get about the husband/wife owners are they are in their mid 60s. From what I've seen they dont farm the land, just keep it cut and its vacant so hopefully this will go well. Pond looks really nice to fish.

I'd skip that aerial photo.  I get letters from a roof repair company on occasion that has a picture of my house on the envelope.  Now, I know they got it from Google Maps, because it's the same picture.  But it still feels really intrusive.  And this older couple might not know those pictures are available online.  So they could see it as you staking out their place.  I know a few that would see that photo and assume you work for some government agency and are up to something nefarious.  

 

I'd probably just approach it with something like, "I heard you own the property over on whatever and was wondering if it would be okay if I fished it" or something.  The "I heard" part at least sounds like someone they know vouched for you.  I wouldn't lie about that, but it doesn't hurt to let them fill in their own blanks.  

 

And I agree that face to face is still the best method for meeting new people.  Bringing over a pie would be nice too!  Who doesn't fall for a little bribe?  I'd just feel a little better about easing into that face to face meeting and letting them decide on the details of it.  It's highly likely they'll still want to meet you and probably accompany you on your first visit.  At the least, they'll have to unlock the gate.  

Full disclaimer.  I have never sought permission to fish a private pond, so my experience is slightly different.

 

I have, and continue to seek permission to hunt private land for deer, turkeys, and pheasants every year, as I have been for the past 20-25 years in the same general geographic region.  I always do it in person, every single year prior to the hunting season.  Door to door, asking in person.  It requires hours of windshield time in my truck.  But its important to me because it beats pounding away on public land that is highly pressured.  I'm pretty much the only person that gets to hunt all this private land mostly because I'm the only person willing to put the time in to ask.  I am always looking for new spots to hunt as well, so there are often new people involved every year too.

 

Bear in mind these are laid back rural country folk.  That may play a role.  The issue with a letter, an email, a text, etc is that they can just ignore it and I'd be willing to bet many of them would.  Its easy to just look at it and discard it because it requires follow through from the landowner.  If you do it in person, they have to say yes or no on the spot.

 

If you decide to do it in person, don't be offended if they say no.  Thank them for their time and move on.  The good news is that once you are given the key to the golden gate once, and you are respectful about being on their property, they will very likely allow you to come back in the future.

24 minutes ago, Bankc said:

Bringing over a pie would be nice too!  Who doesn't fall for a little bribe?

I offer venison, pheasant, or walleye filets to every single landowner that allows me to hunt every season.  Most of them decline it, but I still offer.

23 hours ago, Functional said:

I've been seeing some nice ponds through my travels and was wondering how you all go about getting permission? I'm "new" to the area and have no personal connections I can work through the grapevine to get access. To keep the details minimal there are no houses on the property(ies) to introduce myself and have a chat, best I have is an address and names from the county GIS data.

 

Do you write a letter? Stalk them on social media and send them a message? I assume showing up to their house, not close to the pond would seem a bit extreme and weird. Any advice would be great. 

 

EDIT: the access I'm looking for is just to slip my kayak in the water and park, not roam their property if that makes a difference. 

Don't be afraid to go talk to them directly. One of two things can happen and one of them is good. I've actually been denied permission to fish a pond that belonged to my dad's GF even though I promised to take no fish. That was awkward. But I've also been given carte blanche to come and go as I please and even have a couple of gate keys. Some people like someone looking after their property. One guy told me to take literally everything I catch so they don't get stunted. Most people don't manage their own ponds and they need help to stay balanced. You can catch your PB in some ponds and a whole lot of eating size bass in others.

 

Now I'm not fond of ponds that cattle can get to. Nasty. 

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

I offer venison, pheasant, or walleye filets to every single landowner that allows me to hunt every season.  Most of them decline it, but I still offer.

I fill a guy's fish basket with my catch because he's more of a hunter and spends his warm months hunting hogs. That makes him want me to come back more often. Symbiotic relationship.

@gimruis ?

 

I ran into this same situation on vacation in Florida. I showed up at their front door with a twelve pack and asked if I could access their pond. They're response? 'Just don't do nothin' stupid.'

 

Like @Catt said, most people respect the direct approach, but it never hurts having something to grease the wheels with too.

If you approach them impersonally, they will respond impersonally if at all.  

my answer is motivated by the pandemic.  we all kinda adjusted to socially distancing.  me?  I am pretty careful, (knocking on wood) have been sick-free.  

 

I approach everyone on their terms.  they offer a knuckle bump..sure.  bump.  handshake..okay.  no physical contact?  okay..I can head nod like a mofo.  

 

I think we are going back to the new normal.  but for awhile there, we were not knocking on ANY doors.  I skipped a few turkey hunts because my reclusive friends didnt want any outsiders bringing in anything.  I was cool with it.    I see winery ponds all over the place here.  I am zero success so far. nobody will let me have access.  I'll pull over and ask..usually asking over a property line fence.  total respect to whatever answer I get.  wineries have insurance concerns I bet.  

If I owned a pond or lake on my property, I might be inclined to let a kid fish it, but not some guy that mails me or knocks on my door, and in today's world, I will not eat anything given to me by a stranger.

14 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

my answer is motivated by the pandemic.  we all kinda adjusted to socially distancing

 

We are talking about getting permission from people who live in rural areas...they're already social distancing!

 

Be kind...be courteous...be respectful 

Be kind and respectful. Always clean up after your fishing trip, and remember to close gates etc, if the owner ask you to. I live in a rural area, and most folks are friendly. The main reason some wouldn't want you to fish they're ponds is from bad experiences from other guys in the past. Going on another person's property is a privilege. The owner is trusting you. Make yourself trustworthy.

1 hour ago, Deleted account said:

If I owned a pond or lake on my property, I might be inclined to let a kid fish it, but not some guy that mails me or knocks on my door, and in today's world, I will not eat anything given to me by a stranger.

LOL. Aren't you the kayak hater anyway?

2 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

my answer is motivated by the pandemic.

When I asked for permission to hunt private land the last couple of years in person, I kept that in mind.  Most of the people I talk to are older.  I simply took a couple steps back from the door and put a little more space in between.  So yes, that was on my mind too, you aren't the only one.

 

I would not visit someone if I knew I was sick.