John, I would be pretty sympathetic with folks looking for bait - but as you stated they should always ask first. There's no excuse for anyone to wonder that far from the ROW to toss a net into a pond without asking permission first.


My HOA pond has 4 signs posted stating the pond and surrounding land is for use by HOA members only and others by permit. I run into quite a few people who don't belong down there - they all have the same story. "My ______ used to live here 15 years ago, I've had permission to fish it since then" or "I'm just getting bait"

Its funny, everyone who gets bait out of my pond already has permission to fish it anyway.


The sad part is, folks who live here will have family come to town and fish the pond - they always leave behind a mess I have to clean up. Water bottles, lure packaging, food, etc.

Mat Peirce
1.25 acre southeast Iowa pond
LMB, BG, YP, WE, HSB, RES, BCP