Landowner and Fishing Guides Battle Over River Access

By Dana Green, 5-10-06

The battle over access to Montana's streams and rivers is nothing new – more wealthy out-of-staters are buying land in Montana, and like Greta Garbo, they want to be left alone. But fishermen want access to streams and favorite holes they've enjoyed for generations.

Outside Dillon, on the famous Beaverhead River, a Seattle businessman complains that fishing guides are walking up the railroad tracks bordering his property to get to the river, and he's strung up barbed wire and 'no trespassing' signs to try to keep people away. Torn waders or not, fishing guides in Montana probably aren't going to let a little fencing stop them from fishing their favorite hole. [End of article]