One of the most popular stretches to float/fish the Madison River below Quake Lake is from Lyon's Bridge downstream about 10 miles to the public takeout.

Above Lyon's Bridge you are not allowed to fish from a boat.

From Lyon's Bridge to the public takeout, a company owns the land on both sides of the river. You may not step out of the boat to do anything ( on the land). You can't get out of the boat and enjoy your lunch...you can't go on the adjacent land to urinate. It must be done from the boat.

That company sells fairly large parcels to millionaires for their mini-ranches.

All the efforts to maintain the fishery in the river are either tax supported or done through conservation groups and their contributors.

It seems a shame that the state cannot declare 10 ft. Or so on each side of the river as public - even if it means compensating the landowner. After all, the state is largely responsible for making that river so valuable in the first place. And the state is the people.

Just my personal view.