Settlement reached over Poker Joe fishing access
by KRISTIN KNIGHT - Ravalli Republic
A preliminary settlement was reached between Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and adjacent landowners at the Poker Joe fishing access site.
Under the settlement agreement, the adjacent landowners will not hinder public access, and FWP will enhance site maintenance and management of public use. FWP plans to define the access site with boundary signage to address trespass concerns, enforce no parking on the entrance road and direct parking to the existing Poker Joe lot.
Access at Poker Joe has been limited since November 2006 when nearby landowners placed a a barrier across the access road, challenging public access to the site.
FWP asks hunters, anglers and recreationists to be aware of site regulations posted at the site and be respectful to the landowners and private property adjacent to Poker Joe.
“I think it's excellent that access is going to be opened again and I feel that telling the person they didn't have a right to close that to the public since it was opened 33 years ago is good,” said Bitterroot Trout Unlimited President Eddie Olwell. “But in his defense, there are lots of problems at public access sites. There's lots of littering, illegal activity at night and overcrowding in the summertime. All these I think attributed to that conflict and he had a right to complain about it.”
Olwell said that users of the site need to be good neighbors.
“However, I don't think the inherent problem is being caused by hunters and fishermen, and that's the frustrating thing,” he said. “Our license dollars are paying for these access sites and the maintenance of those sites, and we risked losing one because of the actions of not hunters and fishermen, but other people who are not paying their way for these things.”
Olwell also hopes Bitterroot Trout Unlimited can work with the landowner to address his concerns. He said he hopes that FWP can find a solution, otherwise similar problems will likely occur.
“I don't know what the answer is, maybe closing sites after dark or more law enforcement,” he said. “But FWP is spread thin already, so that'll be a challenge.”
Montana FWP officials could not be reached for comment.
Reporter Kristin Knight can be reached at 363-3300 or kknight@ravallirepublic.com
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