Actually those that were here killed each other to have access to the best hunting and fishing areas.

^^^Landowners have a bad enough time with muperes pooping in their yards, they'll really get mad at blood & corpses.

If you really wanted to do something would you let a sign stop you?

Ironhed

wrighter00
That is a good point on the map from this site. Sorry, Ironhead. I run into college kids up there all the time. Some who came from mid state. If you think you're going to convince them or anyone not to go to the fish, you got another thing comin. That's what they bought their Erie stamp for. To explore and fish Lake Erie tribs. What happens when they get there and there is no where to explore or any way to get to the fish? Pile up at the few state operated spots? Again, you got another thing coming.  

 
So college kids just started fishing up there? Funny, I never seen one 20 years ago when I was in college. lol
It's not my job to "convince" anyone, that's up to the WCO's.
The "other thing coming" is nowhere to fish or steelhead to fish for if the slobs don't straighten up their act.

That day may be coming sooner than we would like.

Totally agree. Best post of this whole ch!t show thread...
 
Sad thing is most don't even realize what they missed. Heck they never even heard of it until The "World Class Fishery and Steelhead Alley" BS started. LOL. Steelhead Alley!!!! You can thank PR's, BAC and UJ's for starters. Build it and they will come. Well, they built it and boy o boy did THEY come.  Except the watershed wasn't  "built" for 1000's of anglers and millions of fish. What did you expect? I don't blame not 1 landowner for posting. Heck even without "slobs" I would still hang posters. Who wants strangers on their  land from before dawn till after dark? Landowners didn't ask for the fish and certainly didn't ask for the hassle that comes with said fish. Sad but true and only going to get "sadder"

It has nothing to do with the bait shops! lol  The more and more this happens, the closer we're getting to a tipping point.  This posting on 20 mile just closed down 1/5 of the entire 20 mile creek in PA, assuming there is no other way in. 
 
20 mile and Elk should be deemed navigable in my opinion, weather it's through the current definition of "navigable" (which it seems like there is a legitimate case for Elk) or eminent domain.  It's probably going to happen eventually after anglers are left with mainly only state owned access areas to fish.  It's really not that much different than the state wanting to put a road or railway through your property, they'll find a way to do it if they really want to. 

SteelSlayer77
 
20 mile and Elk should be deemed navigable in my opinion, weather it's through the current definition of "navigable" (which it seems like there is a legitimate case for Elk) or eminent domain.  It's probably going to happen eventually after anglers are left with mainly only state owned access areas to fish.  It's really not that much different than the state wanting to put a road or railway through your property, they'll find a way to do it if they really want to. 

 
Except fishing just isn't that important.  It might seem that important to you, but to the general public, it is not.  Not even close.

D-nymph

SteelSlayer77
 
20 mile and Elk should be deemed navigable in my opinion, weather it's through the current definition of "navigable" (which it seems like there is a legitimate case for Elk) or eminent domain.  It's probably going to happen eventually after anglers are left with mainly only state owned access areas to fish.  It's really not that much different than the state wanting to put a road or railway through your property, they'll find a way to do it if they really want to. 

 
Except fishing just isn't that important.  It might seem that important to you, but to the general public, it is not.  Not even close.

^this
The actual actual impact is too little for anyone to really care enough to endure the backlash of infringing on hundreds of landowners rights

Actually I think Donny beavers has more sections shut down in erie than land owners combined lol getting sad

Can't argue with that.
 

anadromous
I am just glad I fished the East side 20 plus years ago when I could start at the lake and end up in near NY without much worry about crowds or posters. It was a great time to be a steelhead junkie. The snow hung on the Hemlocks. Ice hung on the shale cliffs like organ pipes and we respected the fact that we had such a fantastic forum that we never dared to defile it. We weren't hungry for numbers, we were hungry one good battle, any more that that was icing on the cake. We could bounce from one stream to the other and find fish or fishable water and it wasn't crowded. I have watched it change. The fisherman changed. People were spoon fed information and armed with big fish notions and big fish numbers they came. They wanted fish, lots of them and most never noticed the ice formations, the quiet solitude in harmony with the din of flowing water, the eons of erosion evidenced by shear cliff walls and the joy of taking a fish out of a fast trough that held no clue of a fish only a hope and an instinct that it was a good lie for a steelhead. These types don't have the soul of an angler. They have a lust and blind eyes. They will weed themselves out, land will be on lock down and the water will once again be flowing unmolested. When this happens, and it will,   a fraternity of anglers will once again knock on doors with a polite handshake and with direct eye contact, obtain the privilege to angle here again.  

That was incredibly well put.
 
Lately I've been enjoying watching a pair of bald eagles in a hope to watch one carry away a fish. As good as the old days were, I do believe in principle, seeing that would make this the best year of fishing yet.

I echo others' sentiments and agree-it is a shame that we are losing access.  But jeez people, there are still plenty of places to fish.  If you've had a "spot" and its now gone, that stinks, i agree.  Ive lost a few over the past couple years.  But i walked a section of creek after work last wednesday and only saw 4 guys in 3 hours.  I had a nice stretch of elk to myself, caught fish, and I was able to enjoy the scenery as well.  And I am confident that in my next trip i will find more fishable water and more fish.  
The glory days are gone, but there's still fun to be had and fish to be caught.  Ill be at it until Lord ain't willing or the creeks rise too much!  

Then what's the use of coming to a fishing forum if there is no useful information being posted.  Maybe that's the reason for the decline in participation here.  It's not like there are any secrets out there on the tribs. 

@Dimebrite2

The people you speak of can not and should not be referred to as 'azzholes,!

'Azzholes' have a purpose in life!

Come to think of it; I shouldn' refer to them as people! (lol)

The thing is, nobody is saying that you can't give out useful information on here. Been around these forums for several years, this account is my second tour of duty on this site, and every year, I learn new flies, information, and techniques off here, and I do my best to share the same that may be useful to others. And, for those of us that love Erie steelhead, but have a few hours to drive, learning if the fish are biting, how many are around, what they are biting on, and weather/ water conditions, is great to help determine if we should make the trip or not. I mean, realistically, I come to Erie to have a good chance at catching big fish, and if I'm going to spend the money on a hotel room/ campsite/ lodging, gas, and food for a trip, I want to make sure it's worth it, and that I catch fish, or at least have the numbers and chances to do so. I enjoy making the trips to Erie very much, but I'm lucky enough to live near some great fishing trout streams here in Central PA, and if Erie isn't fishing well, I'm not going to waste money on lodging, gas, and food expenses, when I could drive 15 minutes and catch fish. 
 
However, it seems everywhere I fish these days, there are people constantly saying "this ain't what it used to be," I believe a big reason is due to misuse of internet forums. Especially in Erie, the big issue occurs when people share reports that contain specific spots on these streams that see some of the heaviest angler traffic around, or when somebody asks "is it worth it" or "where are the fish biting," only to have somebody publicly post specific spots, or put up photos with an easily identifiable spot in the background. This accomplishes nothing but bringing unnecessary angler traffic to already heavily pressured spots, and of course, increases the odds of somebody p*ssing off a landowner, only to have the land posted. 

It is very possible to share enough information in a report/ post to summarize your day of fishing, and give somebody else enough info to point them in the direction of some fish, or a base of knowledge to start from, without spot burning, or laying the smack down on a spot. There might be disagreement as to what should or shouldn't go on on a report/ post, but I suggest the following:

Date
Stream Name
Relative region/ section of stream (I keep it as simple as mouth, lower, middle, or upper)
Conditions
# of fish caught
bait/ flies/ lure used

For example I could say "caught five on middle elk on white streamers, water was slightly stained." That's not a spot burn, nor is it spoon feeding information. There are many stretches and spots on Middle Elk that may or may not have fish, I didn't say a specific one, but I gave enough information that someone with some ambition may be able spend some time, look at a map, learn to read the conditions, do some research, find information on access points and posted land, and spend some time driving and searching to find some fish. Further, if someone wants to contact me by PM, I have no problem giving some additional details. 

As for people misbehaving, unfortunately, there isn't a whole lot you can do, except for demonstrating good etiquette, and making sure you aren't that guy.