catfishrus
Twelve Pointer
So I own a parcel of a 10 acre pond. I bought it from a absent landowner type of thing. Previous owner passed away leaving it to his children whom I bought it from. One of the children kept a parcel and built a new house. That parcel is about 3 acres of the pond. I have 6 acres in the pond. Two other landowners on the far side don't own any water but find it okay to allow their guest to fish in the pond via paddle boats. I want to be neighborly but darn it. I don't like it when people show up fishing and these folks aren't even at home. I don't want to be liable for accidents for their guest. Wasn't sure where I stood on this because I always heard nobody owns the water.
Today the lady with 3 acres got mad after she confronted two fellows fishing on her side. They wouldn't leave so she called the law. Law gets there and these same fellows start the old nobody owns the water tactic......police said that was a no go because it was on private property and they would have to leave.
I went to lunch and just happen to run into a local warden today. I asked him and he said the same thing...private property..private water. The warden told me even though a water body shows up a GIS map it doesn't mean its public water.
I have heard the old saying if you floating in the middle of a creek that you aren't trespassing. Yet if I drop my canoe in the city lake after hours....I'm trespassing.
SO my questions is what is the difference between public water and private water?
Today the lady with 3 acres got mad after she confronted two fellows fishing on her side. They wouldn't leave so she called the law. Law gets there and these same fellows start the old nobody owns the water tactic......police said that was a no go because it was on private property and they would have to leave.
I went to lunch and just happen to run into a local warden today. I asked him and he said the same thing...private property..private water. The warden told me even though a water body shows up a GIS map it doesn't mean its public water.
I have heard the old saying if you floating in the middle of a creek that you aren't trespassing. Yet if I drop my canoe in the city lake after hours....I'm trespassing.
SO my questions is what is the difference between public water and private water?