What is the deed says in these posted areas? Do they own bank or riverbed as well? Nowbody in US can have water in private posession. If they do not own the riverbed, you can wade anytime you want in the river or lake from public to private areas. Just a thought.

You are right that no one owns the water.  You are legally allowed to float down any Erie tribs on top of the water.  However land owners do own the stream bed, so once you hit low water where you can't float through and have to touch the bottom your screwed.

If a stream is deemed navigable then your allowed to wade within the high water mark.  Unfortunately none of the Erie tribs have ever been deemed navigable. 

2 of the dumbest posts of the season... on the same thread to boot