re: Gerald Boelte died yesterday.

quote:

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Saying that public access is determined by the species of trees on the bank is simply ignorant, misleading, and wrong.

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Calm down man. The willow/oaks was a general guide that a MDWFP biologist said to look out for if you aren't sure where the "high water" mark ends and where you need to turn your boat around. In general I'd say it holds true for rivers and most of the time it means you really aren't allowed to motor past the river channel no matter how high the water is. Though of course people do it all the time.

I'll be interested in reading up on the Gassoway case specifically. From what I've seen is that the rules of river access is quite convoluted and mis-information is all over the place and each state has different grey areas. I.e you can float in a navigable stream but if you wade it then you are standing on private property. Or you can stand in the water and fish but as soon as you step on dry sandbar you are trespassing. That shite goes on and on and I don't think most game wardens even know the exact rules on it.

I think there was suppose to be a SCOTUS case that was suppose to help define things coming up or maybe has already passed. Idk.

On my river outings I try and be legal but no matter what, when approached by a landowner I'm polite and non-combative and it has always worked out for me.


We should have a discussion on the OB about it. It would be lively discussion full of quotes we can submit to the court when facing the judge.


Sorry I de-railed this thread with my original comment.
RIP Mr Boelte. Sounds like he genuinely left the world better than when he entered it.