Is Montana’s river and stream access law the ‘Best in the West’? We sure as hell think so, though we’re just a group of moronic trout guys according to some of our new neighbors here on the left coast.
Access to public waters and lands, though particularly public waters, has been a passion of ours for years. We’ve been very fortunate to participate in some of the more recent tussles over access in Montana, though we’re mental midgets compared to the folks doing the heavy lifting for access over the years – organizations like the Public Land/Water Access Association, FOAM and TU to name a few of many.
Brent Zundel, writing for the PLWA, has recently (March 2014) penned what has to be the authoritative history on stream access issues in Montana (click the cover image above for link) – it’s a great read for those interested in the subject and should encourage those battling in other states (Utah for instance).
The PLWA is hosting their Annual Membership Meeting in Bozeman (Holiday Inn Express West) on the 26th at 9 followed by a 1:30 Stream Access Celebration at Missouri Headwaters State Park just down the road in Three Forks. The PLWA has been a long-standing, straight-shooting, roll up the sleeves and get it done (with some legal horsepower) group fighting for access for many years; if you’re not a supporter – you probably should be.
Challenges to stream access are going to keep pouring in over the transom; we’d urge every fisher out there to get informed and get involved – today.
