re: legality of launching yaks off of public roads into a river

DOTD buys/condemns ample amounts of land surrounding bridges. If it is private, there is generally a fence or posted signs.

Personally, I like the upper Comite better than Thompson's Creek, which is wide and very shallow except when the Miss backs up. Much better bass fishing on upper Comite, though there are lots of snags and pull overs. Way easier to get a canoe or kayak thru there than a bateau, no matter how small. Once you get downstream of Deerford, it gets bigger with less snags so a bateau is more doable.