Sports
Ken Maurer's Inside Line outdoors column: Anglers get railroaded, often by stupidity
The walleye fishing is slowing down a little as the Susquehanna River level slowly falls.
There is still some good walleye action, but you now have to work a little harder at catching them. Try different spots and different lures until you get the right combination. When it starts to get tough, natural colors like silver, smoke, and motoroil will usually get them if presented properly. Chartreuse is a strike-triggering color and is always worth a shot.
There is some bad news circulating among the local walleye fraternity. The "Poor House" area, just south of Sunbury on the east side of the river, is the focal point. That area is where anglers have historically parked to walk downriver to fish the east side of the power dam.
Norfolk Southern railroad owns the property and has had it posted against trespassing for some time. The Norfolk Southern police department, their security arm, has been warning people about parking and trespassing there. They are done warning and will start fining people.
What does this mean to the local fishermen? It means they are losing another access point.
It's all about liability. You can thank the judges and juries who continue to reward frivolous lawsuits with multi-million dollar settlements. Spill hot coffee on your lap, or get drunk and fall out of a boat, and you can sue.
You can't really blame the railroads. They are in court all the time defending themselves against what is often pure stupidity.
You say, well, I wouldn't do that.' You and I and the next 20 guys wouldn't. But the 23rd guy might stub his toe on the rail and take Norfolk Southern to court for a million dollars.
The railroad property situation has been on my mind for a long time. From Sunbury to Harrisburg, the railroad controls most of the river's shoreline. There are a few legal crossings, but most of it is officially off-limits. In the past, the railroad has not been known to hassle fishermen, but it seems that now anglers are a target. What's next, armed patrols?
The railroad goes through the middle of Sunbury. I wonder if anybody ever steps on railroad property in Sunbury. Maybe some barbed wire and few machine gun towers would take care of that problem.
Fishermen mostly want to be left alone. The Poor House area is a popular spot, and has been since most of us can remember.
There has to be a compromise. What about some sort of permit system where you buy a permit for a couple bucks and release the railroad from liability? This will get into all sorts of legal mumbo-jumbo and may not even be possible. There will be attempts made to involve the Fish Commission.
We've all lost a lot of hunting ground over the years, and now we are losing fishing territory. Public access is not to be taken for granted.
n Ken Maurer, Herndon, is a licensed fishing guide and a regular contributor to the Outdoors section. Contact him at kenrose@tds.net
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