Harmon Bridge Access Closed?

[Finley]

I was up to Crooked Creek this weekend and I was surprised to find a big sign right is the middle of the access on the west side of the bridge it said something like "The land along Cooked Creek is private campers and trespassers will be prosecuted" When did this happen? I wonder if this is the area Hoglaw had his problems?

[Ham]

Alone or along?

It ain't easy being green. I always have concerns about access.

[cnr]

The land is private but the stream isn't. I put in at Harmon last Monday and didn't have any problem. Did not leave a car there, just put in the canoe. I think the issues arise when you get on the bank or gravel bar camp. My advise is to always keep your feet wet, don't loiter in one spot, and if challenged be very polite and move along. You may be completely within your rights on the stream but the landowners may not see it that way.

BTW. I lost a nice smallie in that section. Didn't catch a lot but the quality was good.

[SmallyWally]

Sorry, but it amazes me that the law does not seem to be well defined. Just like here in Missouri. People who want nothing but to enjoy Mother Nature, have to look over their shoulder for possible trouble.

[MOPanfisher]

I saw that sign when we floated it earlier in the year. We interpreted it to mean keep off the river banks, and don't camp on private property. Even though I don't own property along river I can certainly feel empathy for those that do. I know if I owned a chucnk of land that had a nice little gravel bar on the river I would spend a lot of time there enjoying it, and to so people who trash it, leave piles of feces, chop down trees and damage others etc. would certainly make me view all floaters with a jaundiced eye. Thus the reason that when I do on occasion have contact with a property owner I go out of my way to be polite and respectful and to keep a neat clean tidy camp. Some landowners you are not going to win with, all you can do is move on, others quickly realize that you are not one of the problem ones and often set down to talk or drink a cup of coffee.