For example The shoreline of the GREAT LAKES in Michigan now belongs to the people. On ANY of the GREAT LAKES, you can walk on dry land up to the high water mark along the shore. This was changed a few years ago.
This law also doesn't apply to PUBLIC lakes, any lake with public access. They tried to kick all the partiers off the sandbar in Cass lake and the people that owned the shoreline lost. I do believe on ANY lake with public access, the land owner only owns to the shoreline. (Local ordinances could prove me wrong though)
Also one police department said their DEED has to include riparian rights to be able to enforce the law.
I don't know all the laws LOL and neither do the police. In one lake 6 times I was told I was ok, the 7th I was told I was trespassing. I demanded a ticket which was tossed out in court.
I do believe its a great informative piece and is a general guideline BUT I also do believe it has a few bugs!!
The only problems I have ever had are the private association parks. Who has the right to say your trespassing? Another problem is in order to get a ticket for trespassing, the person that is the complainant HAS to see you touch the bottom. 99% of the people you meet along a lake are WONDERFUL people and will talk to you about your hobby and let you play. There is that 1% that think they own the whole lake!
Ohh I did have a problem with accessing a lake going across private property. I got permission from the real estate agent that was selling it and he took my name and number down and told me if the owner had a problem he would call me back. This was on a VACANT piece of property, no house. the rich neighbor called the police twice. the second time the officer gave me a hard time. he even threatened to tow my truck. I said go ahead and sat on a log. About 5 minutes later he called me over to his car, apologized and we talked for awhile and he left.
If ANY homeowner wanted me to stay away from their property, I would do so. That has NEVER been the case. A park is a park though and if I can get access to a lake LEGALLY, as far as I am concerned a park is fair game. And hence why the ticket I demanded was dismissed. However, I will NOT dive under any children, I will go very early in the morning or after dark.
I do think any negative publicity isn't good for our hobby and I strive to bring lots of positive light to it. I have been in 6 papers and on Fox 2 News Detroit twice. In one private lake they have a clubhouse with tons of old pictures of things on the lake. I gave them some tokens, some Hutchinson bottles and an old ice saw they used to cut blocks of ice for the old oak iceboxes for their display and have been invited back anytime I want to go there. I have also been invited to their association meetings.
A few other associations have given me permission to hunt anytime. they have witnessed all the trash I take out and have all thanked me. I also have a Certificate of Appreciation from a county for cleaning a lake. Not to mention all the rings I have returned after being contacted by a member of an association park. Most ALL the caretakers have invited me back.
So my advice to Michiganders. is DO NOT TRESPASS. Don't try to go into any private lake without permission. If you find a lake you want to access. Contact people on the lake, make business cards. REMOVE all the trash you find. I have WRITTEN permission slips. So far 4 are signed.
IF your NOT breaking ANY laws, stick up for yourself. Only ONE person can have you ticketed for trespassing, that is the homeowner of the land your on. BUT in order to get a ticket, he has to tell you your trespassing and you refuse to move and you have to be touching the bottom. He is the ONLY one that can be the complainant. If your in a boat anchored in even a foot of water your legal. NOBODY owns the surface of the water.
