tricky question, and a good one. it is my understanding (and I'm sure others will be more than happy to correct me if I'm wrong)that in PA if land isn't posted then it is to be assumed that access is granted. that said, I would never walk across property that is obviously someone's back yard without asking permission first. this is a gray area IMO. I would be happy to ask permission if it was apparent who the property owner was but that is not always clear. if that information is not readily apparent, as long as I'm not obviously trespassing or walking across someone's "personal space" I think the implication is that access is allowed.

that's my story and I'm sticking to it. OK, let me have it.

Thanks for the honest answer bird dog,  Anybody else like to offer an opinion ?

Learned at a very young age...if it ain't yours...ask if you can use it.

This has nothing to do with posted property or NO tresspassing, it has to do with signs that state there are to be NO motor vehicles parked in the farmers field. The signs went up for obvious reasons and are blatantly being ignored. Posted and NO Tresspassing signs are soon to follow.

A land owner is NOT obligated to post his/her land to keep people from tresspassing on it PA, OH, NY or anywhere else....period.

I actually know someone who owns land that is open to the public for fishing steelhead on one of the Erie tribs and Livinfishin makes a good point that he would probably agree with. He owns both sides of the stream so he could shut down the whole stretch of creek if he wanted to but he like to share the resource with the public and see people enjoy it as long as they respect the land, the water and the fish.  He understands that people are just trying to be respectful by asking permission but it makes his family nervous to have strangers coming to the door at all hours of the day.  They have put up a few signs to try to make it clear that people can feel free to fish the one side of the stream to avoid having people entering the other side which is the private space of their actual yard.  So even asking permission can be a stressful thing for the landowners so consider that when you guys are approaching their homes to ask to fish.  If it was my house and land and I left it open the public yet people still rang my doorbell 20 times a day to ask permission, I would get tired of that really quick and it would only be a few year before sharing the stream and that would have me posting the place so he is a better man then I am.  I guess the message has gotten out there and not that many people come to the house any more.  Asking permission really depends on a lot of factors but in my opinion if you have to go anywhere near a house, building or in a yard then you better be asking unless there is sign giving the okay.

You make a good point. It would be nice if the Fish Commish would take some time to talk to land owners and agree on some sign posting in populated areas. I remember a sign in the past by a land owner that said this property was open on a trial basis and would continue to remain open as long as people followed the basic rules. Mainly litter, parking and noise. I am not surprised at the posting along the tube R.R. track area above 5 on Elk. I fished there a few years ago one day, and when I came up later in the day to my vehicle, I filled a garbage bag full of litter that was left along that parking area by fishermen ! I knew then that area was destined as are others. As I said before " the beginning of the end".

Get it through your heads.....if landowners dont want you there, dont go there...its simple really, except for the simple minded.

I agree with Riverbum. We as fisherman are only buying the the chance to try to catch a fish in Pennsylvania waters.  Nowhere does it say on our license or in our regulation book that this license entitles us to fish ALL PENNSYLVANIA WATERS public and private. 

Pete,
What do you consider any public water?