
Private Lands: Do Fishers Have The Right to Wade In Any Water?
Public access to rivers through private property has been a heavily debated issue in Colorado. For the past 40 years or so, the State has deemed that you can “float the river” in areas that pass through private land, but touching the riverbed is considered trespassing. However, there are no current state laws or regulations that define navigability. In other states like Montana, the public is permitted to use rivers and streams for recreational purposes up to the high-water mark regardless of navigability. A Case for Private Fishing Streams in Colorado.