Any port in a storm?

[Stonewall2002]

I love to fish in the rain. I mean love it! Luckily enough though I have never been cought out in a bad thunderstorm. I plan of doing some fishing this weekend and the weather man says that we might have some strong weather comming through. My question is this: Are there any restrictions preventing me from docking at a private dock and seeking shelter durring a heavy thunderstorm, or do I need to go to a public marina and tie up? Just wondering incase I get cought in some bad weather.

Keep on chuckin'

[apextrail]

I don't know about restrictions but I would like to think a dock owner would be sympathetic to a guy caught in a bad storm. I have had to take cover on several occasions and never had any problems. I only stayed long enough for the storm to pass and never left my boat. I think if you get out and walk around under the dock you may not be as welcome.Just my opinion. By the way, I plan on braving the elements this weekend on KY lake. Good Luck to you.

[Fishhead]

When your life is at stake, "any port in a storm!!!" The times I've been caught out in bad weather folks have been very good about pulling up to a private dock or marina. In several cases I've actually been waved in.

2 years ago I was caught in a very bad T-storm at Brookville Lake in Indiana. As I was running trying to get to the ramp I launched from the guy at the marina waved me in and helped me tie up in one of their slips and gave me shelter in the store. I was very thankful!

I was on Lake Kinkaid a few years back and asked a F&W officer in KY about storms when your on a trolling motor only lake. He told me if I was caught out in a bad storm on that lake that he would not ticket anyone for firing up the big motor to get out of the storm.

[hogdaddy]

I love to fish in the rain also!(Rain means I don't have to work most of time).I have been caught in some really good storms,once at Dale with 4 to 5 feet rollers.I know there has been bigger waves but by the time we got to a safer place,we had about 6 or 7 inches of water over our FEET.So what I say is anywhere you can get safely,GET THERE and worry about the other stuff later.GOOD LUCK!!

[Danny]

the law used to be that a boater on navigable water had access to the high water mark, including any floating docks. I know I have sought cover under docks many times on KY and Barkley, and not once have I had any trouble.

However, with all the changes going on, who really knows now? Still, I think most would welcome you as long as you are respectful and especially if you stay in your boat.

One word of warning, becareful how you moore your boat. A friend had an older bassboat without an auto bilge pump, and he ran in to a dock, tied up, but did not notice the large waves crashing over the back of his boat... he and his two boat mates were out walking around. They did notice however, when the boat was gone and only the life jackets were left floating, as the boat had SUNK!!!!

Man did he get teased about that by his wife and kids... LOL

Good luck, and be safe.

Tight lines and God Bless

Danny

[Dave Stewart]

I have hidden out in more private and commercial slips than I could count over the years here on the big lakes. Never had a problem with the dock owners. The advice about not getting out and exploring around the dock area is good unless invited to do so by the owner.