Papakeechie Lake

[Joe2727]

I haven't fished Papakeechie much I really only fished for gills the few times I've been out. I was wondering if there are walleyes or other bigger fish out there?

[blueultra2]

There's no walleye in there that I know of but the gills/crappie in there are nice. Just make sure you have a landowner with you while you're fishing. The association really likes to run people off.

[Joe2727]

I was told by my buddy at DNR if you don't trespass on private land they can't kick you off since there is creek from Wawasee that feeds it water.

[blueultra2]

I know it may sound crazy but what I've been told is that the association owns a foot around the whole lake and that's how they keep it private.

[Steuben1]

I know it may sound crazy but what I've been told is that the association owns a foot around the whole lake and that's how they keep it private.

So jump onto the ice over the 12" they own?   

[Kinger53]

So jump onto the ice over the 12" they own?   

I love it, one of the best responses of all time!   

[Joe2727]

I'll call my DNR buddy and find out.

[walleyepac]

Better yet, take the dnrs advice see who wins!

[Jigmup]

Jigmup ducks behind desk

I hope this doesn't get ugly!

[wax_worm]

landowners don't own the creek, but they may own the land all around it.  So if you have waders on and wade the creek from wawasee and can then find solid ice to step onto before you are chest deep in the water, I don't think they can legally stop you.  The gills would all have to 10"+ for that kind a trouble though.

Big trout in there too!

[Joe2727]

My friend is calling Indy just to make sure. He said it is state water though. Man would I love to catch a big trout out of there.

[wax_worm]

My friend is calling Indy just to make sure. He said it is state water though. Man would I love to catch a big trout out of there.

Joe,

That is a long running joke on here about papakeechie lake...there are no trout in there.

[Joe2727]

LOL ok thanks

[Joe2727]

How about walleyes?

[walleyepac]

If yo want walleye go to a lake that stocks them

[Jigmup]

Joe2727,
you make sure to post the what you find out about the legalities of fishing there. I've wanted to get on there for quite some time!

[Joe2727]

I sure will

[tightliner812]

Maybe we I could move my get-together down there . They would have fun trying to run all of us off . Lol

[rico]

I was told by my buddy at DNR if you don't trespass on private land they can't kick you off since there is creek from Wawasee that feeds it water.

A creek would give access.  However, the question of navigable and non-navigable comes into play. 

[matfalk]

Here is a link that gives a roster of navigable and unnavigable waterways in Indiana, and explains the laws regarding access and trespassing.  Found this after getting into a pretty heated discussion with an older gentleman below Mississinewa Dam who claimed that the landowners on either bank downstream from the dam could keep people from wading in the river because their property runs to the middle of the stream and waders were therefore on private property.

http://www.in.gov/nrc/2393.htm

[Crappie slayer 36]

They only own the land. Ice is water so as long as they don't catch someone dropping a weight for a tip up you should be good. I know of a lake I would love to rattle a few chains on lol!! If these creeks get frozen I can see some good times happenin' round here!!!!

[rico]

They only own the land. Ice is water so as long as they don't catch someone dropping a weight for a tip up you should be good. I know of a lake I would love to rattle a few chains on lol!! If these creeks get frozen I can see some good times happenin' round here!!!!

That is where that navigable vs. non-navigable thing comes into play.  I really don't know how it would work talking ice.  I know in my area here there is a lake that was a hot bed of discussion years ago.  It has an inlet from a county ditch and an outlet(a creek) that feeds into another lake that has public access.  You cannot access the private lake via either the ditch or creek in a watercraft because they are deemed by the state to be non-navigable.  However I don't know how it works if you were to get there by walking on water, so to speak. 

[matfalk]

The way I've understood it you're ok on Non-Navigable so long as you don't touch the bank or or bottom.  I wade Fall Creek around Pendleton a lot during the summer, which isn't on the roster, so technically I'm trespassing, but if I was in a kayak and didn't touch anything I'd be fine.

[rico]

The way I've understood it you're ok on Non-Navigable so long as you don't touch the bank or or bottom.  I wade Fall Creek around Pendleton a lot during the summer, which isn't on the roster, so technically I'm trespassing, but if I was in a kayak and didn't touch anything I'd be fine.

That is not what the CO told me.  Non-navigable means just that.  It cannot be navigated.  Doesn't matter if you are not touching the bottom or the bank.  It is trespassing the way it was explained to me.  Navigable, means you have the right to the water in any means.

[matfalk]

I had a CO explain it like this... The person owns the land under the stream because it doesn't move, but they don't own the water above the stream bed because it's always moving.  So as long as you launch your canoe from a public site, like Falls Park in Pendleton, land owners cannot say anything to you until you step out of the canoe and touch river bottom or the bank.

[rico]

I had a CO explain it like this... The person owns the land under the stream because it doesn't move, but they don't own the water above the stream bed because it's always moving.  So as long as you launch your canoe from a public site, like Falls Park in Pendleton, land owners cannot say anything to you until you step out of the canoe and touch river bottom or the bank.

I cant disagree with what you were told.  But you are putting on at a "navigable'' point.  I don't know all the "ins and outs'' of it.  If it is deemed non-navigable then you are trespassing.

[matfalk]

It would be nice if we could all understand the laws without having a Harvard Law degree.  It's pretty bad when 2 CO's can't tell you the same thing.  Back to the matter at hand, regardless of navigability it seems pretty impractical to access a private lake via a creek or ditch.

[crappie66]

Navigable or non-navigable is very subjective as I would consider all water navigable in some way.  The listings on the link only list a handful of rivers and creeks - so there hasn't been a court decision on most creeks/rivers.  It never hurts to just try, the worst that can happen is they will tell you to leave - I doubt you would get a ticket if you justified your reason to an officer since you weren't blatantly walking across someone's yard to gain access.

[rico]

It would be nice if we could all understand the laws without having a Harvard Law degree.  It's pretty bad when 2 CO's can't tell you the same thing.  Back to the matter at hand, regardless of navigability it seems pretty impractical to access a private lake via a creek or ditch.

Yep

[rico]

Navigable or non-navigable is very subjective as I would consider all water navigable in some way.  The listings on the link only list a handful of rivers and creeks - so there hasn't been a court decision on most creeks/rivers.  It never hurts to just try, the worst that can happen is they will tell you to leave - I doubt you would get a ticket if you justified your reason to an officer since you weren't blatantly walking across someone's yard to gain access.

That may be true Bruce, but the law is in place for a reason and those that are on the list are probably water that have public access.  As I said it was a issue around here concerning a certain lake.  But one thing always to keep in mind through all of this is that it very well might be a private lake with no access.  But if it has a public inflow or outflow then the fish belong to the state of Indiana.  All bag limits and lengths will apply.