Jeff There is a difference between a farmer owning land with a pond in the middle of it and a person owning water front property on a large lake, stream, river or ocean. I don't think we're referring to people walking through your yard. I do believe it should be public access up to the high water mark and 10 - 15 ft beyond. People who have access to a canoe or kayak wouldn't be threatened by hostile landowners and could enjoy fishing and nature also. Deb ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeff Frye" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, January 05, 2003 7:13 PM Subject: [VFB] Leases
> How often do you go to your local public fishery and find trash in the > form of cans, worm containers, etc.? A lot in the places I've been look > just like that. I would not care to have my property trashed for the > sake of providing public access for the sake of "freedom". I am free to > choose who gets to come on my property, the same as you get to decide > who you invite into your home. Landowners control access whether it is > through leases or just letting certain fish their property line. Most > folks that are fishing actively around here, have access to ponds that > are owned by farmers, who provide limited access to outdoorsmen who they > know to have a healthy respect for the land. The same goes for leases. > The landowners know who is using the land and have their names on > contracts. This is controlled access to the resource, same as permission > for use, only with a contract. From the outdoorsman's standpoint, a good > lease is something that is cherished and requires diligent stewardship. > For what it's worth, Herb Kohler is not getting rich on the lease and I > would consider what Kohler does for the community. It probably costs at > least that amount for attorneys to draft the terms, pay somebody to > administrate and manage the upkeep of the property. I don't see the > difference in these fees and the costs I pay annually for fishing > licenses in Kansas (resident), Missouri and Arkansas (non-resident), > park permits, trout stamps, camping fees and the like. The person using > the resource is paying to use it. You don't just get to fish anywhere > you want without a cost. > >
