N
npaszko
New member
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2013
- Messages
- 8
Good Morning Guys,
Long time lurker that is ready to be a part of you guys (and gals).
I'll post this report tomorrow in the report section just absolutely revved up after what happened today. And I apologize for burning this spot, but I don't know what else to do.
Fished the Lehigh today right at the great Lehigh Falls. Absolutely phenomenal bite, first two drifts with an egg pattern, a brown and a bow. A friend of mine stripping the big pool also hooked two in his first two casts. I worked the falls rapids all the way down to the big pool and picked up four more. Everything is spawned out and healthy, wonderful to see. And the bow was spitting eggs.
I got to the big pool and was landing my smallest fish of the day when an older gentleman in a red flannel shirt/jacket approached me and my friend screaming that we were trespassing and we ether leave immediately or deal with the troopers.
I WAS FLOORED!!! Isn't this exactly the whole court case ordeal from 1999??? I explained to him the river is public, we were standing in the river or below the high water mark and killed ourselves to make sure we stayed below the high water mark (not all that easy walking down there and staying in that zone). He goes on a rant that the 1999 superior court case was overturned by a 2012 supreme court case, that the river was no longer navigable and thus private.
Even better, we walk out at the 115 bridge (where we accessed the river by walking down the cement wall of the bridge, I'm assuming that's highway right of way) and some old lady in a VW of some sort screams at us that you guys can't be here, you're trespassing. This little old woman, WTF!!! We parked on 115 on the shoulder.
Guys, I work for the DOC, thus I can't really afford to get into trouble, and I just new that a trooper would have no idea of the fact that the river is public and god knows he would say that we walked up the bank and trespassed that way. I couldn't risk it without doing my research. Thus I told the guy I will walk away but I will be back once I got everything in my court.
I plan on doing my research all week, calling the fish commission everyday this week till I get an answer on what to do, sending them e-mails, and so I come to you.
Believe it or not, I can't find the 1999 court case online(remember this case was initially won, then successfully appealed by the club, and finally successfully appealed by the state in 1999). The PAFBC link doesn't work, and the only link that comes up is the original case that was won but appealed. Can someone please send me the link to the court case so I can print it up.
Has anyone heard of a 2012 Supreme Court Case?
Where can I find the official state definition of navigability and how it relates to public domain and the high water mark being in public trust?
Anybody know who the warden is that patrols there is Blakeslee/stodartsville? An e-mail, maybe cell #?
Guys, anyone else I need to contact or need to have on me for my return journey down there next weekend? Can't let guys like this win, not after how hard its been fought over.
I even stopped at AA outfitters and bought some hooks just to release my pent up anger on someone who might understand. The guy called me an idiot for walking away from a hot bite
(seriously).
Alrite guys, thank you for listening to my rant, and I welcome any and all input.
If you all are looking for a hot bite, feel free to go get yelled at at Lehigh Falls. I will start being a regular reported on some very odd streams here in Monroe and Pike, might add some variety.
Tight lines.
Long time lurker that is ready to be a part of you guys (and gals).
I'll post this report tomorrow in the report section just absolutely revved up after what happened today. And I apologize for burning this spot, but I don't know what else to do.
Fished the Lehigh today right at the great Lehigh Falls. Absolutely phenomenal bite, first two drifts with an egg pattern, a brown and a bow. A friend of mine stripping the big pool also hooked two in his first two casts. I worked the falls rapids all the way down to the big pool and picked up four more. Everything is spawned out and healthy, wonderful to see. And the bow was spitting eggs.
I got to the big pool and was landing my smallest fish of the day when an older gentleman in a red flannel shirt/jacket approached me and my friend screaming that we were trespassing and we ether leave immediately or deal with the troopers.
I WAS FLOORED!!! Isn't this exactly the whole court case ordeal from 1999??? I explained to him the river is public, we were standing in the river or below the high water mark and killed ourselves to make sure we stayed below the high water mark (not all that easy walking down there and staying in that zone). He goes on a rant that the 1999 superior court case was overturned by a 2012 supreme court case, that the river was no longer navigable and thus private.
Even better, we walk out at the 115 bridge (where we accessed the river by walking down the cement wall of the bridge, I'm assuming that's highway right of way) and some old lady in a VW of some sort screams at us that you guys can't be here, you're trespassing. This little old woman, WTF!!! We parked on 115 on the shoulder.
Guys, I work for the DOC, thus I can't really afford to get into trouble, and I just new that a trooper would have no idea of the fact that the river is public and god knows he would say that we walked up the bank and trespassed that way. I couldn't risk it without doing my research. Thus I told the guy I will walk away but I will be back once I got everything in my court.
I plan on doing my research all week, calling the fish commission everyday this week till I get an answer on what to do, sending them e-mails, and so I come to you.
Believe it or not, I can't find the 1999 court case online(remember this case was initially won, then successfully appealed by the club, and finally successfully appealed by the state in 1999). The PAFBC link doesn't work, and the only link that comes up is the original case that was won but appealed. Can someone please send me the link to the court case so I can print it up.
Has anyone heard of a 2012 Supreme Court Case?
Where can I find the official state definition of navigability and how it relates to public domain and the high water mark being in public trust?
Anybody know who the warden is that patrols there is Blakeslee/stodartsville? An e-mail, maybe cell #?
Guys, anyone else I need to contact or need to have on me for my return journey down there next weekend? Can't let guys like this win, not after how hard its been fought over.
I even stopped at AA outfitters and bought some hooks just to release my pent up anger on someone who might understand. The guy called me an idiot for walking away from a hot bite
Alrite guys, thank you for listening to my rant, and I welcome any and all input.
If you all are looking for a hot bite, feel free to go get yelled at at Lehigh Falls. I will start being a regular reported on some very odd streams here in Monroe and Pike, might add some variety.
Tight lines.