Quote Originally Posted by DHart View Post
Thanks for all of the input.

I really appreciate the post by jcb in regards to a ruling by Judge Shepherd.

But folks, here's the confusion, and bear with me, please.

Yesterday, I thought about checking to see what Ky Dept. of Fish and Wildlife had to say about this. They have an 800 number you can call with questions; didn't know that until I looked it up.

I was told that a property owner's rights extend to the "riverbed". I was told that I need permission to wade even if I enter the river from an adjoining public property and don't touch the shoreline going up or down river.

So I looked at a property map online (AcreValue, which requires you to sign up), and see that property lines stop at the river. Very confusing.

So now I wonder if KDFW is aware of the ruling posted by jcb.

I guess I will check with the property owner, if possible, in the area I want to wade. If that doesn't work, I'll just go down to the Burkesville landing. Heck, doing catch and release anyway, and just want to fish...
They're aware. At least they were when it was issued. I don't want to speak for KDFWR, but my guess is that they are being super cautious as an institution its size is likely to be. Limits their liability.

I'm not a lawyer, so I don't know if Shepherd's ruling make it "settled law" or not. That's one of the points I made earlier, is that waders like me still need to be aware that landowners may not be up-to-date (or even care at all) about what the latest court ruling may be. Where I wade I know pretty much all the property owners, so it's not an issue.