Well I hate to tell you this but if his property lines extend into the pond, which is done in about half of the cases of a subdivision lake (pond), which divides the lake into ownership YOU WERE TRESPASSING. If this was the case then you and the policeman were incorrect and your were trespassing period no questions about it. It all depends on how the lake or pond is platted or surveyed out. A lake or pond is NOT public water and there is ownership of the land surrounding and under the as well as the water in a fully enclosed impoundment of any type. A free flowing stream is public waters which is not an isolated pond or lake.
Then you get into the deal of is this lake dedicated to public use, if so then it is public water, but to do that is must have PUBLIC access.
Here is another, was the pond created for use by the subdivision as a part of the subdivision on its own tract of ground if so again you were more than likely trespassing, unless you read the restrictions and regulations creating this lake for the subdivision then you do not know for sure if you were allowed to fish and under what regulations.
Most of the everyday person, including most policemen do not understand boundary laws period, they think they understand but they soon find out it is not what they have always been told.
I have been the Surveyor in the middle of a couple of disputes over very similar circumstances, believe me when I say this, you may have been trespassing if you were crossing his property line period. Ownership, boundary line or lot line what ever you wish to call it does not stop at ground surface.
