No fishing by power plant on pool 3????

A couple that camps here for the summer tried fishing in front of the power plant today for catfish. After they started fishing, a guy who was armed with a gun. Asked them for their names, took their boat number, got their address and told them they had 10 minutes to leave the area. He was some sort of security obviously. They didn’t know if he was from the power plant or other agency. Has anyone heard about a new restriction regarding boats fishing by the power plant again? There supposedly are no signs up and I have not heard of anything going on. Any ideas or input? Thanks.

After 9/11 security down there is much tighter.
Tuck

I’m sure thats what it’s pertaining to, but these same people were fishing there sunday and the security guards on shore waved and said hi to them. I’m not complaining, just wondering if something has changed in the last few days. There are many places to fish catfish. I’m sure they can find another. Thanks for the reply.

I spose I’ m stepping right in it. but that seems like an unfortunate thing to happen to your guests. I’m well aware of the post 9/11 need for extreme vigilance in all areas. if the duly constituted government authorities feel an area is in special need of protection than it should post it as such and protect that area with that authority’s law enforcement agency. from your post it sounds like the couple were on (uh oh here it comes) PUBLIC WATERS. If that is the case they should have been hailed, orderd to heave to,and then been told under what authority they were stopped,DNR-fishing licence,Sheriff-water safety,Coast Guard-boat registration etc. Unfortunatly “security” has no such authority on “PUBLIC WATERS”.(isn’t it unlawful to interfere with someone particapating in a licenced activity?). I imagine I’m taking this too seriously, but unless it’s a bona fide stop by a duly constituted gov’t autthority,trained and licenced to make such a stop then arn’t we giving up a little something? this rant brought to you by Folger’s.

Thank you Pool2fool, I always hate to monopolize the ‘freedom loving extremist’ viewpoint.

I believe that if a state of emergency is declared, then legitimate forces can and do regulate activity on public land and waterways. If a state of emergency was indeed declared, it seems someone around here would have heard about it.

as a retired officer that question should be addressed by the sheriff of that county.the power plants are privatly owned,but the securetly is also private, armed private security can only moniter the property of the power company they can only detain people on the company property. Even the signs that say no one allowed closer to the dam than 150 ft cannot be enforced by private security only a sworn public officer within that jurisdiction can detain a citizen on public water and land. those officers would be local ,county, state, and dnr police.I would call the sheriff and find out what the heck they (security) are doing stopping citizens on public waters Even public sworn officers have to have probable cause to detain you.those powers were determaned in the supreme court a case called terry vs. Ohio the case challenged the police authority to stop a citizen at all,saying that a police officer must visualy see the crime commited,state of Ohio countered by saying that carying a T.V. set down a back alley at 3 in the morning a person should be detaained. so today a police officer can only stop you if the officer believes you have commited or are in the process commiting or are presently commiting a crime and the officer must justify his detention in court any violation of 4th amendment rights and the case may be thrown out

I think now that they caught that guy with the dirty bomb plot there watching everything. What a mess if one of those dams got damaged the people down stream would really be in a mess. They said they were watching Duluth closely so maybe there watching the dams also. I hope this mess is over soon so we can go back to living without fear of something happening. Just my 2 cents worth.

Thanks for the posts and good comments. For what it’s worth, the same couple talked to the lockmaster about it. He had no idea why they were asked to leave. He knew nothing of the situation/reasoning. They went back the next day (where they had been fishing) to ask and get answers….nobody was there and they fished there all day! PS….they didn’t catch anything either. Oh well. Who knows.