issue in July. Landowners were not as excited, as expected. The debate was renewed when Utah Farm Bureau CEO Randy Parker had his thoughts on the matter published in the Opinion section of the Tribune last Sunday.

Although I haven't taken advantage of the ruling by visiting water on private property that I have been drooling over for years quite yet, I was one of the many anglers excited by the ruling. That being said, I would also urge anglers to be respectful and courteous of landowner rights and stay in the water when visiting these areas. The court did not distinguish that the high water mark was fair game like in some other states. Landowners also need to recognize that the Utah Supreme Court did not change the law, only cleared it up a bit. I wish they had handled the high water mark question. Landowners can still call law enforcement officials when trespassing occurs, that has not changed. 

Steve Schmidt at Western Rivers provided some good advice for anglers on his Walkabouts blog.

Word in the chambers is that the Legislature will try to change the law at the upcoming session. Stay tuned.

Brett