Private Ramps?

[Jason Essary]

I have a question for all that might have the answer. My trustly boat is small in size compared to most everyone on here. I am running a 16' bass tracker that does a wonderful job for its size. I trailer it all around the lake to get as close to the water I am planning to fish as possible. My question is about these ramps that are in sub-divisions. Are they private ramps or open to the public?

I have heard both that they are or are not. I use a couple on a limited basis, without any problems. Just would like to know for a fact that I am not in the wrong doing it.

Thanks....

[redbud]

dont take this as law,but I think any road that was public before the lake was flooded is still public .If a new subdivision has built a new ramp it is probably private.It seems as if I have seen both while fishing on Tablerock.Over on Beaver rt 264 goes right into the lake out by Hickory creek park and is a popular put in. If my memory is correct I think you drive right past the entrance of the park to get there. In any case if it is a private launch it should be clearly posted. This is an interesting question ,Im sure we will get the correct answer from one of our more knowlegable members.

[Sam]

I've launched at such places a few times, but I don't do it anymore because I know they're private and I got told about it one time. That was at the campground at Kimberling City - I like that ramp and didn't know you have to be camping there to use it, but I got told otherwise. I started putting in at Mill Creek after that.

I put in once from the ramp on the north side of the bridge at Bridgeport because the whole parking lot at the regular ramp was underwater. I'm sure I wasn't supposed to, but no one said anything. Same thing at Willow Springs (I think the subdivision is called) upstream on James at Asher Cane Bottom, I got away with it a couple of times a few years back.

But in thinking about it I've decided not to do that anymore. I guess a homeowner's association or whoever could get ticked off and get my truck and trailer towed off while I'm out fishing, and that'd sure cause a lot of trouble and expense.

[Dutch]

In a campground the COE sometimes puts limits on launching. Other than that the ramps are public according to the COE. I saw the sign at Bridgeport north and called the COE to see if it were private. The ranger said, "They know better than that and are supposed to have already taken it down." I will continue to launch there but I will also make a donation into their box for upkeep.

[Jason Essary]

well so far some think they are private and some dont. maybe I should call the corp to find out.

[bobby b.]

I called the Corp about this a couple years ago and particularly asked about the ramp at the subdivision at Asher Cane. These ramps are public and can be used by all but the problem is that the adjacent landowners can restrict parking. In the case of that subdivision, there are only a few parking spots on the Corp land just next to the ramp and the subdivision had posted signs indicating they would tow vehicles. In the spring when many want to run up the James with the limited number of ramps in that area, I've seen dozens of vehicles at Asher.

[Sam]

That's good information about the ramps - more than I ever knew about it.

The only deal that I didn't think was right was at Kimberling City. I've got a light boat that's easy to launch, and I used to put in between the docks there right at the Marina. That was real handy - a perfect slope, the docks sheltered the launch area from waves, and there were plenty of parking places where you just pulled straight forward after launching. There was even a restroom right by the parking places.

Then about two years ago they strung a cable across so you can't launch there. They improved the ramp around on the other side of the point and put in an automated gate that takes credit cards - $5 to launch. OK, I know they're running a business but it didn't seem right to block off a perfectly good launching place just so people would have to pay. They've lost a little money from me on that deal, 'cause I used to stop in the Marina store for snacks, drinks, and bait - but I haven't been there since they blocked it off. Their decision.

[Jason Essary]

Thanks Bobby. I thought that was the case, i just wanted to make sure. I have use that ramp at ashers, and yes it gets very busy during the run. Last year, toke my son and put in before daylight. Caught our limit within few hundered feet just below the ramp, but within the 2 hours it toke us, the parking was so bad that I had no way to get my truck out. We ended up waiting 4 hours for one of the two trucks to show back up so that I could get out. They got an ear full and they had only caught 3 in that time. serves them right i guess.

[mosouthpaw]

i would think that all ramps are public due to the fact the corps owns up to a certain elevation and the ramp would be on public property. Parking however would be another issue that would get you into trouble.

[fishgypsy]

That's what I was thinking, mosouthpaw, unless there's some sort of easement involved. I don't know the answer.