I have fished the Lyre since long before Jim Norman charged to fish his property. In fact, I used to walk across the old bridge before it was taken out.

I remember fishing with guys like Pete Barns, Betty Barns,and then young Pete, George Raines, Al Lathom, Kenny Creaman, etc.

I have not fished Jim Norman's property since he decided to charge to fish there. I'm that way. (I haven't dug a razor clam since the State started charging to do that, either!)

The legal aspect of whether the Lyre River is navigable water or not, is a mute point, as only a fool would try to float it (too small and very fast).

No doubt that the clean up problem exists...and it's a shame. Nothing tweaks me more than finding empty beer bottles and cans and styrofoam bait containers along the river banks. Line will happen and inevitably I end up winding up line left strung everywhere and shoving it in a vest pocket every single time I go fishing.

And while I hate garbage, I doubt that they shut down fishing because of it, as they charged the people to fish there. I guess if you camped there, the price was included, but every other day you could "buy" your way in for the day. I have no idea what they charged, but I would guess about $10/person? Seems to me that they would miss the income more than patrolling for trash. My $.02.

I suspect that the problem does not come from any of us, and it's a shame we pay the price for the irresponsible acts of others.