Fishermen arrested

[johnnie crain outdoors]

Several Louisiana anglers have been arrested for trespassing. When the Mississippi river overflows its banks boaters can cross levees and fish on private land which sometimes also contains private lakes. By Louisiana law that is okay, but a state judge agreed with some private land owners that these anglers were trespassing and they were arrested. This case is being appealed all the way to the Supreme Court.
This could easily get out of hand a become a great problem for anglers everywhere. When lakes or rivers rise and anglers begin fishing flooded roads, cottage lawns etc., they could be arrested. We do this all the time when the Mississippi is flooded, we've never had a problem, I've fished many picnic tables, flooded cars, porch decks etc. Hope this case is resolved in favor of the anglers. Any comments? Johnnie

[carl]

Johnnie you are (lol)one heck of a fisherman, fishing in floods? !!! I think it's up for grabs unless one trespaseses. Carl

[mofish]

I know this does not help much in other states but here you can fish any Navigatable public water. Public water being any water that is owned by the state which includes most lakes rivers and streams. So if its flooding it still public water. That argument has come up many times on fishing docks on lakes. The states ruling is if its in the water then it is accessible by legal means of fishing no matter if the dock is public dock or private. I wish this ruling was every were because then it would save a lot of trouble for everyone else.

I hope that the fishermen beat the pants off them wacko’s over there. I can understand wanting to protect your property but dang give me a break. Any way, things like this usually have a way of working out for the best. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.

[johnnie crain outdoors]

Carl, I fished the Mississippi river during the flood of 93!! Sure had plenty of water, about twenty miles wide in places, found out roof top shingles don't make very good fish cover. Those sunken trains are hard on props too.
Conley, we'll just have to wait and see about the trespassing laws, Iowa's isn't very clear. We have a problem with a private owned gun club who doesn't want bass anglers fishing in their stream which just so happens to enter the big river. They even put a cable across the entrance once, but someone?? :rolleyes: cut the cable. It's a very good tournament spot. We've only had one angler ticketed for trespassing and our bass club paid the fine.

[bassman20042]

Out here in Arizona,I have a battle going in court right now,for the same thing.The Colorado river,comes into a marina,then goes down a channel,and into another marina.While fishing for bass in the second marina,the police were called.My son and I were arrested,given a citation and released.We pleaded not guilty for trespassing,and went to court.We had won our case,but then was overturned on appeals. My son and I figured,that since the river comes into one marina then another,we could fish both marinas.Commonly to say,we lost our case,and had to pay $500.00 in fines. Now there is a gate up,and nobody,even boaters,can't have access to this bit of water. Now we just go else where,to bass fish.Good luck everyone else. Bassman

[johnnie crain outdoors]

Bassman, looks like we'll be seeing much more of this as time goes on. Too bad. We're not hurting anything. I don't understand how public waters can become private, but it happens. Good luck, Johnnie