This topic is one I love to talk about as well. In fact, I posted years ago a story about an experience I had with poachers (down in Mississippi) and the editors of Pond Boss picked it up and put in the magazine. I�m published�.so to speak.
I am from Natchez Mississippi which is in the southwest part of the state on the river about 90 miles north of Baton Rouge La. However, for the last 6 years I have been living in Maine.
Mainers have very different ideas about property rights than do Southerners. First, by State law, any body of water that is naturally occurring and greater than 10 acres on your property must be given full public access. Second, if you build a man-made pond greater than 3 acres, it too must be given full public access.
So, you pay for the property, pay the property taxes (which are so high here it will make you think about gargling Drano) and anybody can use it by law if it falls in the above described categories.
On top of that, if you wanted to create a nice fishing lake for bass you can�t because nobody sells bass, bluegills, etc., and it�s illegal to bring in bass or bluegills into the state. The wildlife guys say there are no documented bluegills in Maine? But, you can buy trout. So, if you want to stock your pond you must do it by taking bass from public waters and can only be in possession of the legal bag limit which is one bass per person until 6/30 and 3 per for the balance of the season. In addition, you have to apply for permission from the state boys to do this fish transfer from one location to your pond (which is easy but gives me a rash to have to do). They are so keyed up on this fish transfer thing that it is a $10,000 fine to dump your live minnows from the bait shop in a lake at the end of the day.
AND, posted signs are not really a deterrent up here. �What is mine is mine and what is yours is mine� attitude.
Just some thoughts.
