Harrison Bay state park NO FISHING!?

[HunterDuck25]

I went to Harrison Bay early this morning, normally I take the boat with me, but had to "scratch and itch" and didn't feel like hooking everything up.
When I got there around 3:30AM at the fishing pier one of the Rangers came driving up and told me that I couldn't fish. I asked if it was a curfew thing (as I didn't see any signs with hours), he informed me that it was for ALL times and went into affect July 1st.
This afternoon I call to confirm with the office, the park manager was away from his desk, but the lady at the desk confirmed my question with a mmHmm.

Has anyone else heard about this or been told the same?

 

[derek81]

That you cannot fish from the fishing pier??? I find that hard to believe.

 

[HunterDuck25]

derek81 - 7/15/2016 3:33 PM

That you cannot fish from the fishing pier??? I find that hard to believe.

I can't neither, that's why I'm asking. I barely made it out of the truck when the guy approached me. I have the park managers number and will call him Monday. If it is true that's pretty messed up not being able to fish on a state park.

 

[Lunkerhunter]

I haven't seen any signs. And I pulled my boat out last night at 1am. And didn't see anything posted

 

[fishinvol]

Bunch of campers will be pissed.

 

[HunterDuck25]

Lunkerhunter - 7/15/2016 4:01 PM

I haven't seen any signs. And I pulled my boat out last night at 1am. And didn't see anything posted

I haven't either, the only section of the park that I know has a curfew is over by 58 highway.

 

[BRamsey]

They told my nephew that he couldn't fish along the banks and the pier after I think was midnight. That was lst summer.

 

[jonboatin]

I got reprimanded for exiting my boat at the gas pumps. The ramp area was packed and I just jumped off my bow to leave while my son went back out to fish. The gas pump area is only for refueling, there is no loading or unloading allowed. I looked around and informed the lady that there no signs posted and walked away.

 

[HunterDuck25]

BRamsey - 7/15/2016 4:20 PM

They told my nephew that he couldn't fish along the banks and the pier after I think was midnight. That was lst summer.

That's what I figured he was going to tell me, and why I asked about a curfew and was suprised when he said all times.

I mean if there is a certain time I don't mind abiding by it, but it should be posted so you don't have to worry about what kind of mood the ranger is in.

 

[Fishheadspin]

I have been told you Can not fish from the docks but never anywhere else and I go out there a lot.

 

[Mikie9]

fishinvol - 7/15/2016 5:01 PM

Bunch of campers will be pissed.

I camp there a bit, and fish ALL hours of a day. It's a fishing pier. It's a fishing area. Camping.

wtf? I think the ranger was/is confused. I plan on putting in my kayak early in the morning, is that going to be OK? My friend has a campsite by the water this weekend and I am using it in the AM. I will be there before they wake up so plan on playing around on the pier while I wait.

May get arrested...

 

[lafae7]

The Rangers/game wardens around there are absolutely sub mental. I had one ask me where my boating license was.... I had to explain to him in great-great detail about the law and about the year of 1989. Long story short it was embarrassing for an officer not to know some simple laws. Harrison bay state park is where they send their newbs. Ok rant over. There are some good Rangers but there are also some lacking experience and it shows. Long story short I use other boat ramps.

 

[Pointer 78]

Used to be that the people that work there overnight are not Rangers but Ranger wannbes. Not particularly bright either.

 

[HunterDuck25]

Pointer 78 - 7/17/2016 11:07 AM

Used to be that the people that work there overnight are not Rangers but Ranger wannbes. Not particularly bright either.

I was kind of reluctant to use the word ranger.

 

[Allison2002]

they advertise fishing from the banks on there web site seems like the ranger threw a curve ball.

 

[Muskrat]

BRamsey - 7/15/2016 5:20 PM

They told my nephew that he couldn't fish along the banks and the pier after I think was midnight. That was last summer.

I know this is an old thread but I stumbled up on it while I was online and it brought me back here. This was around the same time last year when we talked with you Bobby while you were in your boat fishing and we walked on the pier with our dog around 10 pm. We walked a few more laps and then around 10:20 two rangers drove up and asked if that was my SUV parked there. I said yes and he said that the park closes at 10 pm and we would have to leave. He said they had just started enforcing the matter. I know the sign says the park closes at 10 pm. I didn't push it but does that mean I can't even go to my boats after 10 pm ? What about night fishing tournaments and so forth ? Is it just for a certain part of the park ? It's confusing to me... emoScratch.

 

[rusty50576]

Sounds like a crappy place to keep a boat!!

 

[Davo]

Surely they don't mean people can't fish off the bank at any time. I understand about at night, but not during the day. This is directly from their web page: Fishing
Harrison Bay offers access to TVA's
Chickamagua Lake, an impoundment of the
Tennessee River. With over 35,000 acres of lake
accessible, the park provides almost any type of
fishing desired, whether by boat, bank, or the
park’s ADA accessible pier. Bass, bluegill,
shelcracker, crappie, catfish, gar, and others are
commonly caught. Valid TWRA Fishing License is
required for ages 13 and older.

 

[SpurHunter]

They would have to arrest me before I stopped fishing if I was there.

 

[Creekrunner6]

The gate going to the right side of the park when you come in has always closed at 10:00 or is supposed to be closed at 10:00.
Teenagers started coming in and hanging out around the pier late at night blaring music and stuff so I think they started enforcing the 10:00 rule for all outside people.
Its my understanding it doesn't affect the boat ramp or people that are there camping. That's the way it was explained to me anyway.