02-20-2013, 04:49 PM
I don't think anyone is trying to be combative. We do have an occasional land owner that objects to the river right of ways. Most of them actually seem to be new people that move in from out of state. Many of the farmers etc don't seem to mind and just take it for granted. I have asked for and received permission to cross ground and to fish streams that aren't navigable many times.
The rivers in the past were always public access. Many times they were used in place of the road. Just because we have better roads now and don't need the rivers for transportation doesn't mean that it is no longer a public right. Recreational use is just as justified. As I stated in my previous post, even if I own both sides of a road, I can't deny the public access to that right of way. It doesn't matter if good people use it or bad, it is a right of way. I can only document wrong doing and call the sheriff.
I think we are beginning to see a grab for our rights in many areas. It isn't so much the farmers etc that are trying to avoid damage to their property, it is the very wealthy trying to keep the waters for their exclusive use. How will you feel when all of your favorite fishing waters from streams to reservoirs are bought up by individuals that may come and fish once a year if that? If you want to fish, you will have to join something like a community club fishing lodge so that you can fish the club waters. It has happened in other areas.
Money talks and can buy a lot of things including your rights, if it whispers in the ears of politicians. It may even be made to sound good, and that it helps the little guy land owner.
It is still wrong to take the public's rights, even if some of the public that uses it is scum.
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The rivers in the past were always public access. Many times they were used in place of the road. Just because we have better roads now and don't need the rivers for transportation doesn't mean that it is no longer a public right. Recreational use is just as justified. As I stated in my previous post, even if I own both sides of a road, I can't deny the public access to that right of way. It doesn't matter if good people use it or bad, it is a right of way. I can only document wrong doing and call the sheriff.
I think we are beginning to see a grab for our rights in many areas. It isn't so much the farmers etc that are trying to avoid damage to their property, it is the very wealthy trying to keep the waters for their exclusive use. How will you feel when all of your favorite fishing waters from streams to reservoirs are bought up by individuals that may come and fish once a year if that? If you want to fish, you will have to join something like a community club fishing lodge so that you can fish the club waters. It has happened in other areas.
Money talks and can buy a lot of things including your rights, if it whispers in the ears of politicians. It may even be made to sound good, and that it helps the little guy land owner.
It is still wrong to take the public's rights, even if some of the public that uses it is scum.
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