Mill creek access

[deion24]

I've been fishing Mill creek from rte31 up through Mooseheart for 2 years now with great success and no hassles.This morning however, I was fishing by the knee dam and 2 workers ( who looked like they could use a little more work and less donuts) said I was on private property and told me to leave.I'm sure you've answered this question a million times but one more couldn't hurt right? It is my understanding as long as I am inthe creek waters I am legal, correct? I love fishing and just walking back through there.It is so peaceful and beautiful would just like to reassure myself I am not in the wrong and figured with all the knowledge and wisdom on this forum I would be able to get the answers I need.By the way caught 8 fish (7 smallies,1 cat) from 6:30-8 am before I was interupted.The creek is in perfect shape right now, clear and flowing nicely.
Thanks,Danny

[Ken G]

Danny,
You're correct, but it's not worth arguing with others when they come to shag you off. On other creeks I've been able to talk the land owner into letting me stick around to fish and I usually get my way. Not sure what's going on with the house right there. They've been doing a lot of construction and I reported some of the things they did near Route 31 to the IDNR. Bob Rung from the IDNR argues with me about Mill Creek, he says I shouldn't be back there. Who the hell does know the law.

Next time bypass the dam all together. The woods are so thick they'll never see you going through them.

This will get me in trouble. I'm sure it will come out that I'm telling people how to break the law. It's the floodplain. You have every right to be there while wading state owned water.

In 10 years of fishing that creek no one has ever shagged me off. I would just wave and keep fishing. Things may have changed. I wish someone at the state level would clarify the law already. Federal law says you have every right to be there. Federal law takes precedent.

[twade]

Funny I just read that the Verm was banned for paddlers for some time.. and all I think was HOW?

[Ken G]

You would think someone from the DNR would go over and read the National Rivers site and their wonderful summary of Who Owns the RIvers. They worked out a deal with the company that was causing the problems on the Vermillion. Shouldn't have to do that. The DNR should have been calling the shots, not the landowner.

I've know Marc Miller for around 12 years, he knows about that site from his days with Prairie Rivers.

He's the director, tell the DNR lawyers to go look it up.

I've always been told that no one wants to go up against the land owners along the creeks and rivers. That policy should end.

[ThunderStick]

Yeah, its the company's dam on the Vermillion that is causing the problems (I believe a canoer drowned there last summer resulting in the "banning" of river use). Does that dam serve any purpose at all? I doubt it. I say, tear down that damn dam!