Pay $$$ to fish?? 2025

Low_Budget_Hooker reply :

On another post, someone was saying that it cost $16 to get on a certain lake. Is this somthing common? Paying to fish? Is it like a private pond that's loaded so the owner charges admission? Are you gaurenteed anything?

Are the bass on salary or hourly?

Do they get paid w/ shiners? If so can you just bring shiners instead of money?

Do they get benefits?

Are they Union bass?

If the lakes aren't private, do you pay God? I don't get it.

Pond-Pro reply :

I think some people just want another way of abtaining money. Two of the ponds that I go to are pay ponds. The fee is only 2 and 3 dollars. I don't mind paying it.

Low_Budget_Hooker reply :

because someone owns them? Privately?

KU_Bassmaster. reply :

I fish a lake a couple times a year that you have to pay $5. The lake is only 7 years old and they have a bunch of nice new facilities (boat ramps, docks, fish cleaning areas, bathrooms, campgrounds, picnic areas, etc.) I think they are charging to pay for those. It's not uncommon around here to have to pay to launch your boat. Actually it's pretty common now that I think about it.

Pond-Pro reply :

Yeah, someone owns those ponds but lets anyone fish there if they pay their three dollars. I am just thankfull they let people fish there.

Low_Budget_Hooker reply :

So is it paying to launch or fish? If I wanted to fish from the bank, would they charge me?

paully reply :

Some places are paying just for launching and stuff. Others are paying just to fish. There are a few that when you fish there and if you want to keep the fish, you have to pay per lb.

Raul reply :

Not oftenly but I do go to a pay to fish lake in Puebla, they have two large ponds, one is about 2 acres and the other one is about 4 acres, the smaller one is stocked with trout, the large one is stocked with LMB, bluegills and trout. Entry fee to the facility is 3 dollars per adult and 1 dollar per child over 5 years old. Yoy can choose between several packs: Catch and release ( fee 14 dollars ) and you are entitled to 2 pounds of trout, catch and release only ( fee 11 dollars ), fish and keep ( 5 dollars ) but you must keep every trout you catch and pay por it ( fee 3 fdollars per pound of trout ), you don 't have a rod ? no problem, you can rent one for 3 dollars a day, you want to fish from a boat ? 40 dollars fee for the entire day. Bass and bluegills are catch and release only. The place has beautiful gardens, grills, child play areas, restaurant, tackle store, gorcery store, restrooms, if you want to stay for several days you can either camp ( fee 5 dollars daily for the space ) or rent a cabin ( 45 dollars daily for 2 adults and 2 children, breakfast included ). So it 's not a bad deal, the place is beautiful, always clean, good food, and cooperative fish, they restock trout once a week. Bass are not monsters but good size fat fish, most trout are keeper 1 pound hatchery raised trout but there are monster trout in those ponds with monster albino rainbows being the specialty of the house. The place during the weekends is packed full. If you want to see how the place looks ike you can take a look in "My Fishing Trip" it 's titled " A nice place to fish".

Now let 's look at it on the other side of the coin, a trip for me to Loonkerland costs 70 dollars just in gas for the truck, 20 dollars for breakfast, add let 's say 5 dollars for gas for the outboard, dump in another 20 dollars in soft drinks, sandwiches, ice, etc. and you are not guaranteed to catch a thing, divide 115 between 3 = 38+ dollars per person ( we are always 3 persons for that trip ), and that didn 't include mileage, tires, oil and mechanical services of the truck.

To me paying to fish is certainly not a bad expense, in that place you always catch a bunch of fish.

DDbasser reply :

Here in Northeastern OK, I fish a couple small city lakes, they charge $2 daily fishing fee and $2 boat launch fee. I don't mind paying cause all the money goes into the facilities, ramp etc.

Even on our Corps of Engineer lakes you pay $3 daily ramp fee.

And if you use the swim beach at any of the corp lakes you pay $3.

All that goes back into the lake facilities and pays for the attendants salaries.

northgabassfisher reply :

i know some one who gives a privet pond owener a $1000 to fish his 7 acer pond. but about every year he comes home with a 10, 11 pounder. i aint going to pay $1000 to fish at a lake for a year but thats me.

BigbassBecker reply :

Here in California you have to pay at just about All lakes. There are a few ponds and the ocean that dont cost anything but lakes are $5 for a permit and $5 to launch. There are some private lakes that cost a lot more. The fishing liscence only allows you to fish. You still have to pay each time you go.

cretefish reply :

I have fished a couple places that will charge you. they are stocked. At one it is $12.00 and you can keep 5 fish. It is at a camp ground and most of the fish are cats. The other place is stocked and I think the charge is or the stocking and help pay insurance on the place.

Desslok reply :

Only places around here you have to pay are state parks, and thats for all the stuff the park offers, but there are no specific places meant just for fishing that you have to pay to enter

Gatorbassman reply :

Here in Georgia it is common practice to pay to park at County owned reservoirs. They spend the money to pay for the up keep on the lake, and pay the Biologist. It's usually 5 dollars for parking and 5 dollars for a trailer. Not bad because it is usually a great place to fish and worth every penny. Lake Varner in Newton County Georgia is a prime example. It is not uncommon to catch a 5-10lb bass each time you go and one over 12lbs 1 out of 30 days of fishing.

Max-in-Mn reply :

I pay a 5$ launch fee on certain lakes as well. And yes, you can fish from shore for free

Sam reply :

In Virginia we pay about $5 to launch our boat at private boat ramps.

There is a charge at the state operated launch on Eastland Creek on Kerr (Buggs Island).

Don't mind the charge if the money is used for upkeep and maintenance.

Grey Wolf reply :

I can remember when it didn't cost you to put air in your tires !!!!!!!!!!!!! In some of your responces , you said "IF" THEY PUT THE MONEY BACK INTO THE LAKE . I DON'T MIND PAYING. find out where the money is going and see if it is justified. If its going back into lake for up-keep of the facilities , all is good and well and if not ????????????????????. sorry if this sounds like I'm bitchin , but sometimes I just get tired of being used by the system. just my 2 cents worth.

Grey Wolf reply :

WOW I'm not pregnant . I don't know how that got on there.

George Welcome reply :

Pay to fish lakes have been around a long time. It was not uncommon at all back in the 60-70's. The owner of the property kept the place stocked and most areas were catch and release. It was far more common with trout locations than any other.

Places such as Bienville Plantation do quite well in this day and age, specializing and bass. They off package deals such as lodging, food, and fishing.

SBM-RL reply :

Paying to launch ur boat is common around here but ive yet to see paying to fish except trout ponds

Cujo reply :

here in tennessee some places make you pay $4 to launch your boat. the money goes to maintaining the lakes so its not a bad idea. although if you search around there is usually a ramp nearby where you can launch for free. they sort of give the option. you would be surprised how many trucks are in the pay section.

Brad_Coovert reply :

We have two lakes in my area, Geist and Morse. Both are water supply reservoirs for Indianapolis. The ground around the lakes is privately owned and loaded with houses. There are only one marina on each lake. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, each lake costs $25 to launch on the weekend. If you get on before 7AM and get off before 11AM, you get $15 back. During the weekdays and offseason, the cost is $10.

I'm sure some say that is terrible, but I live 5 minutes and 20 minutes from these lakes. What I dsave in gas and park entry fees going somewhere else more than offsets that ramp fee on these lakes and compared to some lakes, is actually cheaper.

Brad

bassackwards reply :

the 3 main lakes closest to me.....Lake Benson, Lake Wheeler, and Lake Johnson... you CAN"T FISH ON THE BANK!

ok. had to let out my frustration. now u can unload ur boat for free at lake wheeler. lake johnson and Lake benson are rent boats only (no gas motors).

either way, its unamerican to not allow to fish the bank. its so friggin sad. I can't believe it.

however, they let anyone keep any size fish they want. I seen an old lady keep 2 or 3 fish no bigger than my MIDDLE FINGER. *sigh* I dont understand

they should allow bank fishing. and not allow such small fish to be kept. its just not right. or at least stock it if that is the case....

anyways. since LBH showed his sarcasm. I had to show my frustration. cause I dont get it either, LBH! lol

Kana reply :

some places here in japan you have to pay to fish, especially if its stocked. sometimes you pay to launch, sometimes just to fish. for example last week i went to MT. fuji to fish a lake there and the daily fee for an adult was almost 15. but you can buy a year long pass that was 50 bucks. kinda sucks. some streaches of rivers and streams are private and you must pay too. ocean access is almost always free. but on the flip side we dont need fishing licenses to fish. there are a ton of free spots if you know where to go. and sometimes if you just ask you can fish on peoples private property, right beside pay sites, if you clean up behind yourself.

in oregon the license fee was enough to seek out free places to fish. 56 bucks a year is high IMO.

bass master reply :

We all pay money to fish. Look at the tackle section. Ouch

Redtail reply :

I fish on mostly two ponds, one has a $7 launch fee and the other is $25 per launch. They only charge from Memorial Day thru Labor Day. It's rather steep, but its a great place and obviously they don't want you there charging that much. My partner and I split the cost, so it's not that bad. If there are any golfers out there - you know how much cheaper that is than a round of golf with a cart. But I agree, it's way to high.

Low_Budget_Hooker reply :

plus, you don't have to buy the cart!

Muddpuppy reply :

There are quite a few ramps that charge to launch around here. Normally it's $2.00 or $3.00 but you can also get a membership or yearly pass that cuts the cost. Most of that goes for ramp upkeep and most are pretty nice. Usually there are also some free launching alternatives. Pay and keep for catfish has been around for decadeds, and I have heard of pay bass lakes even though I'm not sure where they are. There are a few private ranches and resorts that fishing their lakes would be included in their guest package. I think Gary Yamamato had Sugoi lake around here that was like that even though the package was really geared for fishing Lake Fork.

master_baiter reply :

i work at a resturant that ownes the only boat launch to the lake its on and the owner charges $8.00 for launch.

Another place in wilmont WI charge $5.00 to fish from the bank.

senko_77 reply :

since most of the ponds i fish are big lakes in state parks, i ussualy have to pay like a 3 dollar parking ticket or something like that because it is a state park.

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Pay $$$ to fish?? 2025

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