Thread: What can I say

Originally Posted by Redy2Fish

can't fish it without getting our vehicle stuck or feet muddy at the least!

That unofficial launch area is permanently closed.

Roy, nice job! How much for the hat?

Dream Catcher,
I guess I better hold on to the hat until it runs out of luck.

Originally Posted by Corker

That unofficial launch area is permanently closed.

Hadn't heard that until now. I guess I shouldn't complain, I've never tried to fish SCR. But, you know, the county could purchase or eminent domain the small spit of land where the "public" ramp was located, make it a small county park replete w/a launch ramp. But, they won't consider doing it.

Jack I suggest you and corker to go before the county and present a good case to open the reservoir to at least county paying tax payers.You fellows must have some political clout.

how hard would it be to launch a canoe from a bank close to the road? would it be a problem with the powers that be @ the lake? not that im going to do this, just asking for those who read this.

Jack I suggest you and corker to go before the county and present a good case to open the reservoir to at least county paying tax payers.You fellows must have some political clout.

I called in the only marker I had last year when they began the Woodbridge Road widening project and she diverted me to a pompous county engineer who was the self-acclaimed smartest man in the world and informed me that it was "impossible" for the county to do anything about the situation. That's funny, the "county" allowed the three acres of woods behind my house to be clear cut so that 15 or 16 new homes could be built there, without notifying those of us who own adjacent homes this was going to happen. The public launch area at the reservoir is owned by a private individual who was giving the fishermen a "freebie" by allowing them to use it. If my research was accurate, he closed it off and put a cable across the entrance after someone trashed another of his areas that he allowed the public to use for weddings, etc. I don't blame him one bit for this, but, like Corker, I really can't understand why there cannot be public use of this county owned reservoir that is maintained by our tax contributions. The Fishingva.com members, who are considerable more numerous than we, hold bass tournaments on the reservoir, they get around the restriction by scrounging enough passes from friends and neighbors to hold their get togethers at Sunday Park, which I understand is a pretty nice facility, also restricted to residents?


???

The core of this issue is ownership of the land. As it was explained to me, the County does not own the land beneath or surrounding the lake. That was owned by the property developers who entered into some sort of contract with the County regarding the water rights. The lakefront acreage may have been subdivided and sold to other private owners, but it remains in the hands of private individuals who exercise strict control of access. The single exception was the gentleman who allowed public access via his property along Woolridge Rd. I drove by there a few weeks ago, and there is now a steel cable across the entrance.

Chesterfield fishermen can present the best case imaginable, but as long as the Supervisors and their staff hide behind the "we can't do anything about it" argument, nothing will change. I prefer to see this as a local government that won't look for a way to make something happen. We need to help them find rea$on$ to do something.