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  1. Member
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    #21
    Quote Originally Posted by Marshfly View Post
    You cannot sue the oil companies into compliance and expect them to continue to keep their operations here, operations which are 1/3 of the state's GDP.

    Laws limiting the liability of landowners for people getting hurt on their land would be a good first step and would help landowners large and small across the state. Then you work on laws transferring tidal waters to the public while the landowners retain bottom and mineral rights.
    I'm not trying to sue them into compliance nor am I trying to make them leave. You have to be able to have something to bargain with in order for them to give something up. You can't outspend them, it's ridiculous to even try. This is not just about access, they are making good money on leases now and don't want to lose that income either. If you lose total access than you lose that income. It's a give and take but don't think they will hand over access to all marsh accessible by boat, it's not going to happen and I really don't think it should but gaining access to canals and such is a chance if the cards are played right.
    All sheep are eventually led to slaughter

  2. Member
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    #22
    Quote Originally Posted by Jeff La View Post
    I'm not trying to sue them into compliance nor am I trying to make them leave. You have to be able to have something to bargain with in order for them to give something up. You can't outspend them, it's ridiculous to even try. This is not just about access, they are making good money on leases now and don't want to lose that income either. If you lose total access than you lose that income. It's a give and take but don't think they will hand over access to all marsh accessible by boat, it's not going to happen and I really don't think it should but gaining access to canals and such is a chance if the cards are played right.
    Marsh is natural. Canals are not. You're not going to get access to privately dug canals before getting access to natural marsh water. That just doesn't make any sense.

  3. Member
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    #23
    Marsh is like a bowl of pudding. take a scoop out of it, shake the bowl a little and the whole bowl goes down a little bit. That is one issue with the canals. Dig a canal 10 feet deep surrounded by marsh and shallow water and eventually it will all level out destroying the marsh around it. If you look around at what the oilfield left in the marsh, canals, on the banks etc it makes you sick. They turned us into a garbage dump. There are still wells with booms around them, still some dripping and some left abandoned with pipe, pilings in the water. Also tons of abandoned pipe, concrete etc on the banks. There are swatches of dead trees, all in a line with the water flow that just died for "no reason". I see this in several places in the spillway. I don't think anyone wants the oilfield to leave Louisiana. I don't think there is even a serious push to get them to pay for damages. All we ask is access to our public water that the "private canals" are sucking up. Yes, private property is an issue. And the canals being private would not be a big issue if they are dead end with no water flowing through them at all and limited in their length and depth. But the maze of canals we have now have changed the landscape of the marsh to the point that a lot of them are the main canals. Plenty of marsh, bayous etc have silted in due to the dug canals sucking up the water flow. Anyone that does not see these issues are either blind or really don't care. It does raise questions when rocks are put along a bank to stop erosion, they go around points of "private canals" instead of just blocking off the entrance with rocks. Makes you wonder? All this marsh is assessed at maybe 20-30 bucks an acre. That's pennies per acre in taxes. The marsh classification for this tax break clearly states its because of the publics ability to enjoy the marsh. If we can't enjoy it, tax the marsh and the canals, camps and improvements at the rate everyone else pays. I built a cover for my camper and boat in texas and I have to pay 20-30 bucks a year for it in taxes, and its on leased property. If we can't enjoy the waterways, tax them as regular private property. If they open them up keep the tax break. If not, we solve the budget problems. Also put regulations on the gates where they have to have lights at night and well marked. They are an accident waiting to happen. Sorry for the long rant, but something has to bring the other side to the table with something to gain. Money is always a good motivator and in the financial bind the state is in the tax issue may be an avenue to consider to get the ball rolling.

  4. Member
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    #24
    Canals are not privately dug. If you go to any oil companies financial reports and dig deep enough you will find the cost of digging those canals in their cost of goods sold. When the public buys their products we pay for those canals as well as their raw materials, labor, and profits. What you really have is publicly funded canals containing public water and fish posted without signs courtesy of the legislature. The legislature has assumed the right to determine which stakeholders get to use public resources. Naturally those stakeholders are the ones with the most money to pass around. Maybe the question to the courts should be do they have the right to do that.

  5. Member
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    #25
    I would love to see the cost per foot for digging canals. I am sure its a big number. That may be able to be used to "value" these canals.

  6. Member
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    #26
    Quote Originally Posted by Cajun Pop View Post
    Canals are not privately dug. If you go to any oil companies financial reports and dig deep enough you will find the cost of digging those canals in their cost of goods sold. When the public buys their products we pay for those canals as well as their raw materials, labor, and profits. What you really have is publicly funded canals containing public water and fish posted without signs courtesy of the legislature. The legislature has assumed the right to determine which stakeholders get to use public resources. Naturally those stakeholders are the ones with the most money to pass around. Maybe the question to the courts should be do they have the right to do that.
    What the?! This makes no sense!? Do you own the building your local Walmart is in as well? The products you bought paid for it. How about the gas station? Or the parking lot at Tackle Warehouse? Where do people get ideas like this? If a business makes improvements to land that they own it doesn't magically belong to the customers.

  7. Member
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    #27
    They don't use public materials to make those improvements. They buy and own the materials. In this case they were given public resources and I am questioning if that is even legal. Besides, they voluntarily removed the land they owned and allowed public water to flow over the lane. Public water is not, in my opinion, an improvement on private land that should exclude the public from using their resource.

  8. Member
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    #28
    There is already a landowner who sued an oil company and won over ...turning their marsh into open water by digging canals....I believe in Terrebonne Parish. The family said the oil company came in, dug canals, got the oil and left it like that. Started turning into open water in no time. They got a good settlement too.

    Cannot think of their name. The father saved his money and bought marshland whenever he could...and would up with a lot of marsh. They let an oil company in there to drill and get royalties. The old man had passed away...but the son sued the oil company. Was an article in the Houma paper a few years ago. The guy drives their marsh in a big aluminum boat. It will come to me.
    Last edited by lakebouef5; 08-16-2017 at 09:45 PM.

  9. Member
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    #29
    Roc,,Did anyone ever put together a timeline showing the downturn in tournament participation in south LA? Seems like the decline in tournaments and the increase in blocking off marsh and canals run along the same pattern and timeline. I know there are other factors but this would be an interesting slide, or poster board for the LASC to have and present to lawmakers. If they are taking notice of 1 BASS tournament with 100 guys in it they should really take notice of the multiple tournament trails with 3-400 guys (200 boats) that no longer exist. And it just so happens the decline runs parallel to the access issues. Ramping up around mid to late 80's. I know in every discussion about tournament participation the water access issues come up so it has to be one of the top reasons people choose not to fish them anymore. The timing seems right for this kind of backup information.

  10. Member
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    #30
    Quote Originally Posted by jcdogfish View Post
    Roc,,Did anyone ever put together a timeline showing the downturn in tournament participation in south LA? Seems like the decline in tournaments and the increase in blocking off marsh and canals run along the same pattern and timeline. I know there are other factors but this would be an interesting slide, or poster board for the LASC to have and present to lawmakers. If they are taking notice of 1 BASS tournament with 100 guys in it they should really take notice of the multiple tournament trails with 3-400 guys (200 boats) that no longer exist. And it just so happens the decline runs parallel to the access issues. Ramping up around mid to late 80's. I know in every discussion about tournament participation the water access issues come up so it has to be one of the top reasons people choose not to fish them anymore. The timing seems right for this kind of backup information.
    I do not believe the politicians care much about us and our fishing tournaments. However, they got extremely rattled about BASS announcing this state is basically a dump,and they will not be coming back here. The State was just kicking off a 20 million dollar tourism campaign, then the news from BASS went out to all Media outlets around this world. We talked to the Lt. Gov....Billy Nungesser ...who is the head honcho for La. Tourism in the state...two months ago about the access issue. He was on a Baton Rouge radio talk show about a month ago, when one of our guys called in and and asked him on the air...what he thought about this issue. Billy announced...he had no idea there was an access issue in this state....LOL. Rumors are...as soon as the BASS story broke ...Gov Edwards was on the phone with Ole Billy...giving him an...earful. Lots of rumors right now of things happening, so no use in letting any of that out, until we talk to the honchos...to make sure it is accurate. Hard to believe a group like BASS making an announcement, has done more good here, than a barrel of lawyers and lobbyist.

  11. Member
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    #31
    Has any of the oil companies given a specific reason to keep boats out of the canals other than its private?

    Only a few years ago this was not even an issue, what's the real reason?

    I think I know but curious if there was a public statement.

  12. Blazer Boats Moderator Rebel1's Avatar
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    #32
    Money is the only way yall can win.....

  13. Member
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    #33
    Quote Originally Posted by Rebel1 View Post
    Money is the only way yall can win.....
    This is correct. You either have to cost them money or cost someone else money. In this case getting the hotel industry on your side is a big plus with the announcement from bass. Now is the time to spin it off to the casino's and get them on your side. They probably made out good when the Sabine was used, and they have money to burn. You got to do it while it's hot.
    All sheep are eventually led to slaughter

  14. Member
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    #34
    Seems like a good time to try to get FLW, BFL, Bass Champs, and all the Redfish Tours to pile on by writing and saying they are considering the same thing.

  15. Member
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    #35
    I fished with the mayor of Morgan City this morning. Morgan City had bid and been awarded a BASS Central Open for 2018. BASS cancelled the agreement last week due to the private water issue. Mayor Boo received the cancelation letter Thursday. Copies of it are headed to all of our elected officials from the governor down.

  16. Member BStrick's Avatar
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    #36
    Quote Originally Posted by bankmc View Post
    I fished with the mayor of Morgan City this morning. Morgan City had bid and been awarded a BASS Central Open for 2018. BASS cancelled the agreement last week due to the private water issue. Mayor Boo received the cancelation letter Thursday. Copies of it are headed to all of our elected officials from the governor down.
    That sucks for our local fisherman dreaming of making the show

    20XDC / Promax

  17. Member
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    #37
    That didn't last long....I see that the BasssMaster Elite Series is scheduled for Sabine River in Orange,TX this April???

  18. Member toledobasser's Avatar
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    #38
    Quote Originally Posted by swampshark View Post
    That didn't last long....I see that the BasssMaster Elite Series is scheduled for Sabine River in Orange,TX this April???

    Yes, but they are restricted to Texas waters.


    Jim Ebarb
    Many, LA (Toledo Bend Lake)
    2004 BassCat Cougar/ 225 Optimax

    Humminbird Helix 12 Mega SI on Ram Mount and Lowrance HDS 8 in dash at console
    Humminbird Helix 12 Mega DI on Balzout mount and Lowrance HDS 7 at the bow

  19. Member Gun Runner's Avatar
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    #39
    Quote Originally Posted by Rebel1 View Post
    Ya'll quit spending money on any hunting or fishing for one year in LA and see how quick it becomes an issue. Money is the only thing these people understand and the only power you have.
    And that's a fact !
    BassCat-illac
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    If you aint first , your last !!!
    All fat girls welcomed !!!!!

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