Fished Muncy Bridge Area

[KCRIVERRAT]

Fishing was great last Friday. Caught four upstream from the bridge for the smoker back at the lake. River in this area looks the best I've seen it in the last 2 or 3 years. Lots of trout through here.

While I was cleaning my fish, had a car come by, with Tennessee plates, twice before stopping. A lady got out and asked me if I knew that I was on private property. I told her no and that I had fished the area for the last 13 years and had on a couple of occasions run into an older gentleman who ran some cattle in there who told me he was the owner and had no problem with me fishing.

She told me the man was her father who had passed on. Then she went on to say that times had changed and she didn't want to be the victim of any lawsuits. I agreed with her and told her about the few times I'd been wadeing and had young people on ATV's mess with me or a person along with me.

I explained to her also that before I had ever set foot along there 13 years ago, a friend and myself talked to a couple of agents at the park office and were told that yes, we could fish anywhere in the river outside the park. Let her know that I had visited the office many times since and in conversation with the agents about where I fished they never had anything to say but "good luck". Told her also that once while the father-in-law and I were getting our gear on to fish (we were parked at the little pull-off before the first small bridge) two agents drove up and stopped, checked our licenses, then wished us luck.

After all this she got a little upset with what the agents at the park had told me and exclaimed, "Those agents just deny it!". She then said she would be going to the park office to try and set them straight again.

In the end, my conversation with the lady was amiable and I told her I wouldn't fish there again (to make her happy). She told me thank you for being so nice about it. I do regret not asking her for her name. A dumb oversight by me.

Now to any of you who read this...

I know I'm not the only one who fishes this stretch. That's obvious by seeing the empty worm containers by the road along with beer cans, plastic bottles, and minnow traps placed in the river. I know that most people who fish it are responsible though. At least I hope.

Has anyone on this forum run into any problems here?

I don't want to make trouble by going fishing there and running into her again, but I do plan on visiting the park office and talking to them about it. If I'm legal, I'll fish it. If I'm illegal I won't.

I would hate to lose this spot to fish. When I visit the in-laws it's easy to get to and easy access, but if I'm legal and do fish it again... this incident will be on my mind.

As you all know, there aren't any jewels like Roaring River anywhere near K.C.

[timsfly]

I fish that area several times a month, where were you when she talked to you ?

That whole area is flood plain, not usable, never have I had someone tell me

I couldn't fish there, now I know all the guys that own the land and that helps.

Did she say who her father was?

I don't know of any of the Pryors passing away recently.

The park office people have nothing to do with conservation.

So any info you get from them would be only a guess on their part.

For any MDC info go to the hatchery, or call a local game warden.

I have talked to wardens before down there, I've even been checked while fishing

right in front of the cemetary, never been told I was trespassing.

The game wardens are in that area a lot on the weekends, there is a

lot of road hunters around

[KCRIVERRAT]

I fish that area several times a month, where were you when she talked to you ?

That whole area is flood plain, not usable, never have I had someone tell me

I couldn't fish there, now I know all the guys that own the land and that helps.

Did she say who her father was?

I don't know of any of the Pryors passing away recently.

The park office people have nothing to do with conservation.

So any info you get from them would be only a guess on their part.

For any MDC info go to the hatchery, or call a local game warden.

I have talked to wardens before down there, I've even been checked while fishing

right in front of the cemetary, never been told I was trespassing.

The game wardens are in that area a lot on the weekends, there is a

lot of road hunters around

I was standing in the river (at the bank) where that little creek comes in under that small bridge between the cemetary and F hwy.

No... didn't give her fathers name and like I said, I didn't get hers either.

Yep... I've seen the Pryor name everywhere down there. The road, tire store, etc.

The agents I talked to were at the hatchery. I mistook that for the office. Guess the office is the building where you buy tags?

I'll go to the hatchery again and I'm sure leaning towards fishing there again. If she shows up, maybe these sunglasses will hide my identity!

[timsfly]

Sorry you talked to the right guys, and they told you right, we all fish there at that little bridge, people have their kids there all summer long, I've never seen anybody ran off of that area.

The park office is where the campers pay for camp sites and where the super has his office.

The DNR guys are great but they don't really have anything to do with the fishing regs.

You did the right thing, for fishing info from the guys with the knowledge of the river, go to the hatchery, and if Jerry or Kevin don't know they'll call one of the Wardens and ask them.

I would just fish there if I were you, I'll be down there thursday, and I will park at the cemetary and fish all thru that area. fishing has been good there all year, the extra water really helped

this year.

The hatchery (MDC) stocked 300 browns in that area the past month or so, did you catch any of the browns ?

[KCRIVERRAT]

Sorry you talked to the right guys, and they told you right, we all fish there at that little bridge, people have their kids there all summer long, I've never seen anybody ran off of that area.

The park office is where the campers pay for camp sites and where the super has his office.

The DNR guys are great but they don't really have anything to do with the fishing regs.

You did the right thing, for fishing info from the guys with the knowledge of the river, go to the hatchery, and if Jerry or Kevin don't know they'll call one of the Wardens and ask them.

I would just fish there if I were you, I'll be down there thursday, and I will park at the cemetary and fish all thru that area. fishing has been good there all year, the extra water really helped

this year.

The hatchery (MDC) stocked 300 browns in that area the past month or so, did you catch any of the browns ?

No browns Tim. All rainbows 10 to 15 inches. Caught 9 total and was there about an hour and a half, maybe two. Thanks for all your help. I've been in your shop a few times but it's been a while. I'll stop in and say hello and learn a thing or two sometime soon.