Back on 2-26-03 on page 8 I posted about how a property owner on Medina Lake fenced off a cove that is part of the public reservoir. Well in today's paper they ran an article about the cove problem. According to the article several of the local agencies as well as several state agencies seem to claim that it's not their problem. Basically what the article said was that nobody wants to take responsibility for getting the fence removed from what is supposed to be publc water. I guess this goes back to that old saying about the sqeeking wheel getting the grease. If not enough noise is heard the problem will just probably go away. I wonder how many more coves will end up getting fenced now? Medina Lake is an old lake and I guess it can alway's use a little more structure in the form of fence lines. Maybe we're on to something here. Ranches are fenced to grow trophy deer. Just maybe the idea of growing trophy fish using the same tactic. Naaaaaawwwwwww!

I'm no lawyer, but it would appear to me that according to the
statutes for the Texas Parks & Wildlife that the cove belongs to the state according to 1.011(c) and "shall remain open to the public" according to 1.012. Paragraph 1.013 addresses fences but says they may be constructed "on the land owned or occupied".



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Time to start stowing the wire cutters in the boat. Seems like most of Medina's access is privately controlled last time I went there.

When you cut the wire, always remove a 5-6' section,

There's not a water intake around that cove somewhere is there?

They closed off one of my favorite fishing coves on Lewisville Lake 3 years ago during the drought. A water intake for the City of Denton was in the cove. They were afraid of pollution from the boats getting in the water supply. (I would have been more concerned about the peeing from all of the beer drinkers. It was quite a party cove on weekends.) It is open again now but they only allow boats to go through a narrow lane where it goes past the water intake. If you are going up I35E north, when you get to the bridge look to the left, you can see the lane I am talking about and see the pump station.

If it is nothing like that I would think TPWD would be getting involved in removing the fence.

A little note on Medina Lake. It's one of the states original empoundments. Pretty much the west side of the lake is undeveloped and is still surrounded by large individual ranches. The lower end and east side has been rejuvinated over the last few years by developers and the old shanties that used to line the shorelines have been replaced by some really beautiful homes. The dam was repaired a couple years back and the lake level has been maintained a lot better. Usually the lake was down and I mean down more than it was full, until the leak at the dam gates was fixed. You won't see many fishing reports from Medina because it is a pretty well kept secret by the local anglers and like someone posted above there is limited access. You can fish there during the week and literally have the entire lake to yourself. (Go to the Parks and Wildlife website for information on Medina). I like fishing the lake for this reason. Nature has a way of dealing with Golden Alge and man made fence infestation. I just hope our fence infestation doesn't get as bad as the Northeast Texas infestation. A couple of good floods will probably take care of that fence. We'll see!

Joe Riddell of the Attorney General's office put out a report for the Texas Parts&Wildlfe. OVERVIEW OF LAWS REGARDING THE NAVIGATION OF TEXAS STREAMS, WITH SELECTED REFEREBCES TO STATUTES, CASES AND OTHER MATERIALS.Also for the Natural Resources Didision.On page (6) of the report there's a case about the Medina River.
Navigability of Lakes
There are very few natural lakes in Texas.The typical Texas lake on the other hand,has been created by building a dam on a navigable stream and then impounding water behind the dam.Damming a navigable stream dose not destroy the public's navigation right along it.The Texas Supreme Court has held that persons may boat and fish on all the lake's waters not just on the portion directly above the navigation stream.Therefore a property owner my not fence off any portion of such lake.Also there's a bill on the floor of House to limit off road vehicle on River Beds.
Bob Hawkins

Jimbo, since I fish Medina alot, whereabouts is this fenced cove? Would like to check it out myself....

Awww shucks, that fence problem should be short work for some of you green lipped sucker mouth carp fisherman who think you need a 225hp Yamahammer on a 14' ski sled you call a, "Bass Boat"???

Rig you up a set of grappling hooks on a 50' length of rope....Tie the hooks to one end of the rope and toss it over the fence. Tie the other end off to that boat, and stomp the hot foot!! Yeeeeeeeehawwwww!!!

And, if the old boy is up on the bank shooting at you, just make a flying run through that cove and let your fishing buddy toss that hook on the fly!!

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Mike
www.WhiskerKitty.com

Deb, hope this helps!





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LMAO @ MikeC

Debra. The name of the cove,(you might find it on a map of the lake) is Rocky Creek Cove. It's on the upper end of the lake on the west side just before the river makes the hard right turn into the river. That cove just before you get to that high bluff on your left across from Liebold's point. My brother fished it last year before Nov. and the fence wasn't there, and he caught several really nice bass. One bush he kept losing the tail off his worm and he switched to an ultra light with a jig and caught about 15 barn door crappie. He went back after the deer season ended and the fence was up. When the lake was low that area was pretty high and dry, but with the lake full there is really good structure in there.

Tx Champ and Jimbo - thanks for the responses - I will go take a look next time I am up that way. And I will carry some good wire cutters with me.

Debra. It's made out of hog panels. Better leave the wire cutters and take the bolt cutters instead. You go girl!

I dunno but... Hate to be of an opposite opinion, but has this guy told any on you that you can't fish this area.

Just a thought he has a legitimate problem if he keeping livestock and the lake level is fluctuating as to where he could loose his livestock. I don't know the circumstances, but be easy on his fence when you tear it down. Things cost money and he might need that fence the next time that cove goes dry. Limestone is a prime example of this same problem. Ranchers have fences in the water due to low lake levels in the past. Sure does suck when one of them metal rods eats up your gel coat. I don't know, but it sounds like he put the fence there because of a need.