http://www.nationalrivers.org/states/co ... rights.htm

Just skimmed it for now.
I'm going to have to take some time to digest.
Saw some interesting things while skimming.

I've got to find a fishing fanatic lawyer willing to do some pro-bono work to get this shit cleared up in Illinois once and for all.

That way people could quit referring to the Illinois access laws like they actually had any real bearing on whether or not we could go fish creeks.

I think federal law makes it all pretty clear.

I'll read it tomorrow. Too tired tonight and I'll be up all night thinking about it if I read it now.

Hi Ken!

Glad you could check out that site briefly. Yes, you are spot on. Federal law does make river law clear, but attorneys and other folks get caught up in state law and make a confusing mess for the public. The Supremacy Clause makes federal law trump over state law, so that's what should be looked at first!

The National Organization for Rivers (the website you were looking at, nationalrivers.org) has recently been updated with a new site, as well as a revolutionary book that talks about the public's right to recreate on rivers (and discussing fishing specifically, too). You should check it out to support your recreation!

The site also offers a FREE river law handout, which gives a basic summary of the book. It's a neat tool, and the organization encourages you to pass it out to your friends to spread the word.

Hope this helps, rock on!

Vanessa, thanks for the info.

It's been awhile since I had the time to go back to the NORS site. I went and looked at the site when you registered here. Different indeed, it looks good.

I'll have to get that book and the handout to pass around.

A lot of this kind of research I do during the colder months. Besides work, I'm a bit busy fishing.

The funny thing is, when you talk to a landowner that is making what you know is obviously wrong points and you use the info from NORS, they always back down. I think they think you're not going to know any better so they'll tell you whatever they want to make you go away.

That doesn't work with me.

Thanks for stopping by Vanessa and I hope NORS stays around for a long time. We need that kind of resource.