why would this be illegal?

[Alpo]

Years ago I read this story. It was an Ed Zern Exit Laughing, or maybe a Patrick McManus. Something like that - a comedic story at the back of a outdoors magazine.

 

This kid was fishing in the city reservoir and got caught by the game warden.

 

Why would it be illegal to fish in the city reservoir? I realize they get their drinking water from there, but still.

 

Our drinking water. It starts in limestone springs, which flow into a creek. And where the creek runs into the bay they built a dam. Which produced a lake. That's where our drinking water comes from. That lake. People swim in it. People fish in it. People run boats around in it. I'm sure that people swimming in it pee in it. And the fish, the turtles, the birds, and the alligators all poop in it. We still drink it.

 

So why would it be illegal to fish in the city reservoir? What would be the harm?

 

Thoughts?

[Rye Miles #13621]

1 minute ago, Alpo said:

Years ago I read this story. It was an Ed Zern Exit Laughing, or maybe a Patrick McManus. Something like that - a comedic story at the back of a outdoors magazine.

 

This kid was fishing in the city reservoir and got caught by the game warden.

 

Why would it be illegal to fish in the city reservoir? I realize they get their drinking water from there, but still.

 

Our drinking water. It starts in limestone springs, which flow into a creek. And where the creek runs into the bay they built a dam. Which produced a lake. That's where our drinking water comes from. That lake. People swim in it. People fish in it. People run boats around in it. I'm sure that people swimming in it pee in it. And the fish, the turtles, the birds, and the alligators all poop in it. We still drink it.

 

So why would it be illegal to fish in the city reservoir? What would be the harm?

 

Thoughts?

My guess is they want you to have a fishing license? Can you fish in there with a Fishing license?

[Alpo]

In the story it appeared that the problem was simply where he was fishing. Like, you can have a hunting license, but if you're hunting on someone's private property you're still poaching.

 

[Rye Miles #13621]

32 minutes ago, Alpo said:

In the story it appeared that the problem was simply where he was fishing. Like, you can have a hunting license, but if you're hunting on someone's private property you're still poaching.

 

Was there NO FISHING signs? There should be, how the hell is someone supposed to know? 

[Seldom Seen #16162]

55 minutes ago, Alpo said:

Years ago I read this story. It was an Ed Zern Exit Laughing, or maybe a Patrick McManus. Something like that - a comedic story at the back of a outdoors magazine.

 

This kid was fishing in the city reservoir and got caught by the game warden.

 

Our drinking water. It starts in limestone springs, which flow into a creek. And where the creek runs into the bay they built a dam. Which produced a lake. That's where our drinking water comes from. That lake. People swim in it. People fish in it. People run boats around in it. I'm sure that people swimming in it pee in it. And the fish, the turtles, the birds, and the alligators all poop in it. We still drink it.

 

So why would it be illegal to fish in the city reservoir? What would be the harm?

 

Thoughts?

 Does the water from your lake go to treatment plant for multiple filtration and chemical treatment to kill harmful bacteria before it is considered safe enough for drinking and bathing?

 

Or is it pumped directly untreated into your water system?

 

Some fish feed on stuff on river and lake bottoms that is harmful to our health. I only fish and release due to the unknown chemicals that are dumped or runoff from fields into rivers and lakes.

 

By the description of the story you read it looks like a work of fiction for entertainment.

Edited August 3 by Seldom Seen #16162

[Sheriff Dill]

A few years back we had two town water reservoirs that you could not legally fish. One they finally opened up to fishing from certain spots that the town owned. The other they opened up to fish the entire thing by man powered boats or from the to access points they created. I’ve fished both of them. One I caught absolutely nothing. And the other we go out with our kayaks and catch nice sized bass and pickerel. Not to mention the gigantic yellow perch that are in there. The land around most of it is owned by the neighboring city and they do not allow you to walk on that land. Before they made the access point they even went as far as making sure their employees knew not even they could walk on the property. 
 

I personally not see the issue with fishing in a reservoir like that as the water all gets cycled through the treatment plant and they add their fluoride and what ever else they add. Every now and then we can smell the bleachy smell in our town water that comes from one of the reservoirs. 

[Brock]

like Hollywood, it was a storymde up for entertainment. No facts needed.

 

I used to fish in the city reservoir/lake and because I was under 18 did not need a license.

[Alpo]

2 hours ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

Was there NO FISHING signs? There should be, how the hell is someone supposed to know? 

 

2 hours ago, Seldom Seen #16162 said:

By the description of the story you read it looks like a work of fiction for entertainment.

 

 

I am fully aware that it was a work of fiction made for entertainment.

 

Also in the aforementioned work of fiction made for entertainment the boy that was the hero of the story was fully aware that it was illegal to fish in the reservoir.

 

My question was simply - why would it be illegal to fish in the reservoir? A reason.

[Gracos Kid]

Most likely the city would be concerned about liability if someone were to be injured or drown while on city property.........The vultures would descend and sue for pain and suffering......

[Brock]

Fish and amphibians die and do other things in that water but the big concern is about people swimming.

[Rip Snorter]

I recall reservoirs in another state years back being secured to prevent folks from contaminating drinking water - accidentally or deliberately.

[Cypress Sun]

55 minutes ago, Alpo said:

 

 

 

I am fully aware that it was a work of fiction made for entertainment.

 

Also in the aforementioned work of fiction made for entertainment the boy that was the hero of the story was fully aware that it was illegal to fish in the reservoir.

 

My question was simply - why would it be illegal to fish in the reservoir? A reason.

 

Trespassing probably.

 

Same thing as fenced in right of way with "Authorized Personnel Only" signs.

[WOLFY]

maybe they just don want lead in the water?

 

i realize it’s a stretch but i’ve seen gun ranges (in CA) closed because the locals were afraid lead might get into their ground water

Edited August 3 by WOLFY

[Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967]

56 minutes ago, WOLFY said:

maybe they just don want lead in the water?

 

i realize it’s a stretch but i’ve seen gun ranges (in CA) closed because the locals were afraid lead might get into their ground water

 

California shooting ranges: Sharp Park in Pacifica - shut down because someone living a couple miles away claimed he'd found a bullet in his driveway.

 

The Chabot Gun Club - a marvelous, state-of-the-art shooting complex near Castro Valley. Shut down by some loony lefty "environmentalist wacko" anti-2nd idiots claiming they "feared lead contamination from runoff to Lake Chabot." Lake Chabot... where tests showed not a trace of lead, even with a fifty year history of fishing with lead sinkers. Refused to accept the fact that lead "self-seals" itself with a layer of patina....

 

Both were long-time favorites of mine.  🤨

[Subdeacon Joe]

Possible reasons :

 

Pollution 

Liability 

Sabotage 

Degradation of structures, including the bank

[Stump Water]

9 hours ago, Alpo said:

My question was simply - why would it be illegal to fish in the reservoir? A reason.

 

Down the road a bit there is...
 

Quote

 

Don T. Howell Reservoir (also known as Coddle Creek Reservoir) is a protected municipal water supply located in western Cabarrus County, North Carolina. It provides primary drinking water for Concord, Kannapolis, and Harrisburg.

 

Overview and Purpose: Location: Western Cabarrus County, North Carolina, flowing through Mill Creek and Coddle Creek.

 

Management: Overseen by the Water & Sewer Authority of Cabarrus County and monitored by the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office Lake Patrol Division.

 

Function: Serves as a primary drinking water reservoir with strict public access limits to safeguard community water quality. 

 

Access and Restrictions

Public Use: Public recreation such as general boating, swimming, and unmonitored fishing are heavily restricted or prohibited because it is an active municipal water source. 

 

Security: The Cabarrus County Lake Patrol actively monitors the shoreline and surrounding drainage areas to prevent trespassing, illegal dumping, and contamination. 

 

 

Reasons in bold.

 

Allow people, they bring trash.  Always. 

[Kid Rich]

I had a cowboy shooter once tell me he thought lead would contaminate the water supply from the ranges we shoot at. I just asked him where the lead came from that we use. He said he never thought of that.

kR

18 hours ago, WOLFY said:

maybe they just don want lead in the water?

 

i realize it’s a stretch but i’ve seen gun ranges (in CA) closed because the locals were afraid lead might get into their ground water

 

[Linn Keller, SASS 27332, BOLD 103]

Patrick F. McManus and Ed Zern!
Two of my favorite authors!

[WOLFY]

On 8/3/2026 at 11:29 AM, Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 said:

 

California shooting ranges: Sharp Park in Pacifica - shut down because someone living a couple miles away claimed he'd found a bullet in his driveway.

 

The Chabot Gun Club - a marvelous, state-of-the-art shooting complex near Castro Valley. Shut down by some loony lefty "environmentalist wacko" anti-2nd idiots claiming they "feared lead contamination from runoff to Lake Chabot." Lake Chabot... where tests showed not a trace of lead, even with a fifty year history of fishing with lead sinkers. Refused to accept the fact that lead "self-seals" itself with a layer of patina....

 

Both were long-time favorites of mine.  🤨

 

Remember the range out in Concord (“United Shooters” iirc)?  They had to reposition their layout cause some distant neighbor found 9mm ammo in their parking lot.  

 

 

[watab kid]

yup ., loaded rounds just layin there in plain sight im sure 

[Sedalia Dave]

One of the municipal water reservoirs where I live is off limits to fishing because neglectful parents let their small child play near the intake pipe. He fell in a drown. They sued the city and the city settled rather than take them to court.  As a result the reservoir where the intake pipe is is now off limits to all recreation including fishing.

[WOLFY]

18 hours ago, watab kid said:

yup ., loaded rounds just layin there in plain sight im sure 

 

a local paper claimed it was “found ammunition”.  so it kinda became a running joke.

Edited Wednesday at 11:29 PM by WOLFY

[watab kid]

2 hours ago, WOLFY said:

 

a local paper claimed it was “found ammunition”.  so it kinda became a running joke.

im not laughing at their lack of knowledge - its so revealing that reporters fail to fact check their material , but i am chuckling at their sense of danger as if those could hurt anyone without some knowledgeable human picking them up and utilizing them in the intended act