I am planning on spending some time (work) in the state of Washington, could someone please advise me on the stream access laws? Thanks in advance!
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I am planning on spending some time (work) in the state of Washington, could someone please advise me on the stream access laws? Thanks in advance!
try this
http://wdfw.wa.gov/
two,
It will be interesting to see what some people post about this.
Washington is not Montana. If a stream passes through private lands, then it is private, go around to the other side of the property. That means the best bet is to fish streams that are on BLM or DNR or USFS lands and we do have a lot of those lands.
Larry ---sagefisher---
This article should make this about as clear as mud but the author does as good a job of describing access in Washington as any.
http://www.issaquahpress.com/2010/10...access-rights/
Thanks folks,
Its a good heads up; not really what I wanted to hear, but thanks for the response.
Sagefisher,
I believe you're wrong about that. In Washington state (in almost all cases) the river bottom (defined as "below mean high water) is state property and access may not be denied. Of course you may not trespass in order to gain access to the river but once you're in the water you're good. True, some property owners seem to think they own the entire width of the river and I wouldn't recommend arguing too vociferously (particularly if he's packing) but there are very few deeds which give the property owner such a right and, if legally challenged would probably be disallowed.
I'm wondering if there exists a complete list of NON navigatible waters?
Here is another little piece of the puzzle.
http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/a...boundaries.pdf
Which upon reading again makes the whole issue about as clear as mud.
Still looking for any list of navigatble or non-navigatible waters.
yep, clear as mud, every time I read the rules I miss Idaho. its not just fishing, its all agencies even the drivers manual in this state is messed up. I think they write them in Chinese then translate them using google.
What part of this great state are you coming too?
Eric
Kettle Falls or Republic.