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Bass Fishing Reports => Louisiana => Southeast Region Bass Fishing Reports => LA Chat => Topic started by: mck310 on May 17, 2012, 03:48:47 PM

Title: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: mck310 on May 17, 2012, 03:48:47 PM
I'm not sure if this has been addressed on here or not? I did a search and found no results.

Does anyone know if Cooley's Lake on the Red River is private property?

Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: Mike Cork on May 17, 2012, 06:13:13 PM
That's a long story. Yes it's privately owned but anything navigable from the river is public water. Over the years the levee has fallen (sunk) and there are several places you can easily float a boat over it.

I know that doesn't answer your question. Tournament Directors put coolies off limits during duck season. The private owner uses it mainly for duck hunting and may even lease it? Don't know for sure on that one.
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: FishinSteelersFan on May 17, 2012, 08:16:25 PM
All inquiries related to Cooley Lake, and other private property along the Red River, should be directed to the Red River Waterway Commission at (318) 352-7446.
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: FishinSteelersFan on May 17, 2012, 09:25:40 PM
All inquiries related to Cooley Lake, and other private property along the Red River, should be directed to the Red River Waterway Commission at (318) 352-7446.
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: mck310 on May 18, 2012, 09:11:12 AM
Thanks for the info.  I think I will stay away from there.  I am taking a friend fishing Saturday and he mentioned fishing Cooley's, but after looking at the map, I noticed it said Private.  He of course brought up the waterway thing, but I think I will trust y'alls input and we will be fishing elsewhere.
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: Kyle Kennington on May 18, 2012, 12:12:23 PM
U are ok to fish coolies as long as its not duck season. Lots of good fish in there this time of year. It's usually only off limits to really large traveling circuits. Most local tournaments have big bags come out of there.
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: duckhuntmcnutt on May 18, 2012, 12:31:36 PM
I just fished it last saturday night.  If i don't want to make a long run out of red river south marina i fish right there, actually pulled a couple 3's and a 4 out of it this past february.  right now the lillies are grown over it though.
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: beast96z on May 18, 2012, 03:45:31 PM
Quote from: mck310 on May 18, 2012, 09:11:12 AM
Thanks for the info.  I think I will stay away from there.  I am taking a friend fishing Saturday and he mentioned fishing Cooley's, but after looking at the map, I noticed it said Private.  He of course brought up the waterway thing, but I think I will trust y'alls input and we will be fishing elsewhere.
As stated, they really don't want anyone in there around duck season. Other than that, you should be fine. This coming Sat. you wouldn't be the only person in there. There will be at least 3 tournaments running and I'm sure there will be quite a few in there.
Title: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: Shorthaired on May 18, 2012, 08:51:18 PM
Fish it if you want people to come drive their pickup tricks on your lawn. Otherwise respect other people's property as you would want them to treat yours.
As I appreciate it that lake is private land which was overflowed as a result of the lock and dam. The land separating the public lake from private water was obscured by new water way. The general principle that if it is navigable it is public is trumped when the area becomes navigable by acts of man.
I'm not trying to flame this post - but I think folks should show courtesies to others and not force the owners to constantly be out there policing the area to keep folks off.
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: Fisher of Men on May 19, 2012, 04:11:42 PM
Some of our very good family friends, the Dominick's own 1,000's of acres in Gilliam Louisiana.  Farm land and just personal land.  A famous "oxbow" of the river called the Horseshoe has been their property for 40+years...  With them We have fished it, duck hunted and deer hunted on and around this water because it was theirs.  Recently within the past 3-4yrs the river has eroded the "separation" (for lack of a better term) from horseshoe and the river.  Now it is fully accessible from the main river channel and by law it is now a public waterway.  Not the actual land but the water is fully accessible to the public.  However, most people do not use it because it has been the Dominick's for many decades.  They don't mind if people fish it, but deer and duck hunting is a different story.  By law if it is reachable by the river, it is legal; however thats your judgment call to make...
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: Shorthaired on May 19, 2012, 05:20:55 PM
Quote from: Fisher of Men on May 19, 2012, 04:11:42 PM
By law if it is reachable by the river, it is legal; however thats your judgment call to make...

If your friends in Gilliam would like a different attorney to provide them with a second opinion I'd be happy to discuss the issue with them.  Send me a private message and I'll give you my phone number
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: FishinSteelersFan on May 20, 2012, 10:34:52 AM
Quote from: Fisher of Men on May 19, 2012, 04:11:42 PM
By law if it is reachable by the river, it is legal;

All inquiries related to Cooley Lake, and other private property along the Red River, should be directed to the Red River Waterway Commission at (318) 352-7446.
Title: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: boudreaux 23 on May 20, 2012, 09:20:12 PM
If you were arrested in cooleys for trespassing there would be about 27 other boats going to jail with you any given Saturday. Just saying respect it yea, but until it's enforced, if it is 'trespassing', I'll continue to fish it.
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: PD Fisher on May 21, 2012, 12:48:20 AM
Be careful on the river. If its trespassing then mcdade, whitehouse, bee hive, caspiana are off limits since you have to cross the same type rock jetty to get to them as well. I do wonder tho. Who installed the jetty around Cooleys

Please do not use Outdoor Hub Mobile, Please find and use TapaTalk for your phone
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: Justin P on May 21, 2012, 08:21:45 AM
Where are the rock jetties going into coolys?
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: Broskee on May 21, 2012, 08:23:48 AM
I think he is talkin about the earthin damn that used to be there, and there maybe some remnents of it left. It used to be all closed up from what I have heard. It has been weathered away over the years, erosion as well and has made access to this area. I really don't know how long ago this was though.
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: Lawguy513 on May 21, 2012, 03:03:23 PM
In 1993, the Waterway Commission, at the request for the Corps of Engineers, acquired acreage through expropriation (government taking) for the purpose of the lock and dam for inundation related to the dam.  The Coolies land was not purchased by the government, and was private, just as the other tracts which were expropriated, were.  The Corps and the Waterway Commission did not intend to make the Coolies land public, otherwise they would have been required to purchase it through expropriation.  The land is, definitively, pursuant to the courts, private, even though it is now accessible.  Fish at your own risk.  Both sides make valid points - it is private and you could be prosecuted for tresspassing, but the owners apparently have been lenient, allowing fishing except for during duck season.  If you are comfortable with that, by all means, enjoy because there are nice fish in there.  If not, there are plenty of other places to find fish on the river. 
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: sport188 on May 21, 2012, 03:30:53 PM
Is this the are just to the north of Red River South?
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: Mike Cork on May 21, 2012, 03:48:33 PM
Yep
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: sport188 on May 21, 2012, 03:49:57 PM
Thanks Mike
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: Shorthaired on May 21, 2012, 07:00:37 PM
Quote from: Lawguy513 on May 21, 2012, 03:03:23 PM
In 1993, the Waterway Commission, at the request for the Corps of Engineers, acquired acreage through expropriation (government taking) for the purpose of the lock and dam for inundation related to the dam.  The Coolies land was not purchased by the government, and was private, just as the other tracts which were expropriated, were.  The Corps and the Waterway Commission did not intend to make the Coolies land public, otherwise they would have been required to purchase it through expropriation.  The land is, definitively, pursuant to the courts, private, even though it is now accessible.  Fish at your own risk.  Both sides make valid points - it is private and you could be prosecuted for tresspassing, but the owners apparently have been lenient, allowing fishing except for during duck season.  If you are comfortable with that, by all means, enjoy because there are nice fish in there.  If not, there are plenty of other places to find fish on the river.

Well said.  I often have to caution my clients not to let the rumors and "rules of thumb" they hear from the community determine their actions. 
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: Fisher of Men on May 21, 2012, 08:10:53 PM
Quote from: FishinSteelersFan on May 20, 2012, 10:34:52 AM
This statement is inaccurate, read the case law!

How is that possible?  The river channel is a public waterway as well as thousands of oxbows off of it.  But just because someone owns land that borders the river means you cant travel from the "public" river down a creek that is still the "river" into an oxbow that is apart of the public "river"???  Even they know that if someone rode their boat fromthe main river into the horse shoe theres nothing they can do.  Its public water...  Granted i don't know the law word by word but that's what Ive always been told/taught.  If you can reach it from the main public waterway its public water. 
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: Shorthaired on May 21, 2012, 09:40:00 PM
Fisher - The best way to understand this is to understand there is not just the one rule you keep reciting.  If the natural course of nature caused a river to eat away at a bank and thus make the river larger, then normally the expanded area where the river now runs becomes public.That was the normal erosion, alluvion, dereliction cycles of the river over hundreds of years.

However the locks and dam were put in place in an attempt to try to keep the river at a steady stage and to try to keep it from meandering all over the state. 

At the time the locks and dams were constructed, the corp of engineers went out and measured the average water depth down the entire Red River and came up with tables which showed at certain points on the river, what elevation the water table mark would be which would delineate ownership between the state and the individual land owner.  If the land owner lost land, then the state had to pay him for the land he lost due to higher water.  In those cases, the state OWNS the former land.  From that mark to a higher mark, the state paid landowners for servitudes understanding that periodically, the river would flow higher than average.

It has been 5-10 years since I researched the Cooley's thing - but the issue is well settled.  They own that lake like you own the land your house sits on.  The higher land which has now eroded separate public ownership from private ownership.  Since an act of man created the locks and dams and it was not a natural course of nature, the owner of that property forever owns up to the Corp of Engineer's mark as was in place at the time the locks were created.  Subsequent erosion/deteriation of the high ground does not all of the sudden expand the state's ownership. 

I'm not saying anybody is going to jail for trespassing (however, if a sign was placed on the property then that would clearly change the circumstances).  But I do think that individuals should be very careful about coming onto a public message board and stating that private land is public land.  How would you feel if you had a private lake that you stocked and took care of for years - then the state put the locks and dams in - then your levee breaks open and the public starts pouring in - and then somebody gets on an internet board and starts telling people you don't own it any more.
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: FishinSteelersFan on May 21, 2012, 10:26:50 PM
All inquiries related to Cooley Lake, and other private property along the Red River, should be directed to the Red River Waterway Commission at (318) 352-7446.
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: 518 on May 21, 2012, 11:50:35 PM
Thanks for that explanation shorthair.  What you say makes sense because I can remember when there was much more of a levee at Coolies than there is now.  How would this situation apply to the owner(s) of the Haven? Would the lake there be considered private now since it was private land at the time the lock was completed?
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: Judge on May 22, 2012, 04:52:16 AM
Quote from: FishinSteelersFan on May 17, 2012, 09:25:40 PM
Here's something I found on my computer that was related to the court case...http://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-5th-circuit/1241993.html
There are a couple of things about that case that stands out:
1.)  The property they are discussing is dry sometimes and floods sometimes depending on the fluctuating water levels....Coolies has water in it all the time.
2.)  The Louisiana 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals did not decide the issue we are concerned about because they found a way to punt it without deciding the hard issue, the La. Supreme court denied writs so they did not have to hear it and the Federal Court, while having a good discussion about public access, only dealt  with the issue before them which was the lawsuit against the Sheriff for wrongful arrest.  So, they kinda left some unanswered questions

That being said the discussion about public access brings out a couple of interesting points too:
1.)  private land that is flooded by navigable waters does not change the ownership of the land, its still privately owned water and all.  It only creates a public right of way for limited purpose NAVIGATION.  The court discussed that it does not give the public the right to hunt, fish or trap only to navigate in their course of travel.  They seem to say that if you are using Coolie's to get from one spot to the other then its not trespassing due to it being part of a navigable waterway and the public has the right to use it for the purposes of navigation; but that right does not extend to fishing.  I have never been in Coolie's so I could avoid "if the judge is in there it must be legal" argument, but I understand it has no navigation purpose since it only has one way in and one way out.
2.)  How is a fisherman supposed to know which lakes or oxbows that stay flooded year round are private or public.  No trespassing signs are a good start but I have seen hunters put up posted signs on the edges of WMA's to confuse other hunters and keep them out of a good spot, etc, or if the the alluvion (adding of land) or erosion is natural then can a flooded area that was once private become public as too the water.

Just saying that Coolie's is absolutely private property.  I have not done any additional research (only read this case Todd provided) but it appears that you are trespassing if you are fishing it, but ok if you are using it for navigation (good luck explaining that one to the judge)

Fisher - That might help explain what you have been told/taught about if it is accessible by water then it's public

I will have my office do some additional research and see if we can clear all this up, maybe can get the Attorney General to help
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: Shorthaired on May 22, 2012, 10:19:25 AM
How interesting to have this conversation with several attorneys, Red River Waterway Commission employee, members of the public, and an actual judge!

We really appreciate your insight Judge.

Quote from: Judge on May 22, 2012, 04:52:16 AMor if the the alluvion (adding of land) or erosion is natural then can a flooded area that was once private become public as too the water.

I think the rules re: alluvion and erosion have changed on those bodies of water which are heavily altered by acts of man.  In reality, each of the Red River's pools are now better analogized to lakes than rivers.  Since current still exists on the Red River, I think a good argument could be made re: the imperceptible buildup of soil or erosion - but it would likely require timelapse aerial/satellite photography and/or affidavits of those with familiarity of the area over a wide range of years.
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: ACOSENZA77 on May 22, 2012, 01:30:14 PM
THANKS FOR THE INSIGHT GUYS......SHAKE OFF THE HATERS...LMBO
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: Broskee on May 22, 2012, 02:34:21 PM
i really don't see anyone police-ing these places to keep people out, especially coolies. If they had we would all know, so people will come and go as they please just as they have since it got accessable.
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: beast96z on May 22, 2012, 03:40:47 PM
The owners of the Haven wanted river access, so they opened it to the river. I think if you knowingly open your waterway to the main river, then you made it available to public access. I believe the Cooley's debacle came about because the Cooley's didn't want their lake accessible, and by powers unbenounced to them, it did.

I actually own the property behind my house that Cypress sits on, but I can't tell people not to fish back there. Just one of those things.
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: Justin P on May 22, 2012, 04:03:14 PM
What about the barge turnaround with its do not enter signs? Is that place actually off limits or are those signs there for no reason.
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: Lawguy513 on May 22, 2012, 04:57:28 PM
Quote from: Justin P on May 22, 2012, 04:03:14 PM
What about the barge turnaround with its do not enter signs? Is that place actually off limits or are those signs there for no reason.
That is off limits. 
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: FishinSteelersFan on May 22, 2012, 06:03:57 PM
All inquiries related to Cooley Lake, and other private property along the Red River, should be directed to the Red River Waterway Commission at (318) 352-7446.
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: LaJ10 on May 22, 2012, 06:27:26 PM
 So if I am understanding this right if you are on any body of water that has been dammed up,which most lakes are dammed up streams, then you would need to know where the "expected" or normal pool water line would be to legally fish certain parts ?
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: FishinSteelersFan on May 22, 2012, 07:08:54 PM
Quote from: LaJ10 on May 22, 2012, 06:27:26 PM
So if I am understanding this right if you are on any body of water that has been dammed up,which most lakes are dammed up streams, then you would need to know where the "expected" or normal pool water line would be to legally fish certain parts ?

All inquiries related to Cooley Lake, and other private property along the Red River, should be directed to the Red River Waterway Commission at (318) 352-7446.
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: Fisher of Men on May 22, 2012, 08:40:11 PM
Quote from: FishinSteelersFan on May 21, 2012, 10:26:50 PM
Very well put Shorthaired...Fisher of Men, all those former private land owners on the properties that you listed (mcdade, whitehouse, bee hive, caspiana) have been paid for the land that the "waterway" flooded when they built the Locks and Dams.  I work for the Red River Waterway Commission, I know the story with Cooley's...IT'S PRIVATE PROPERTY, and if you trespass onto private property then you're subject to the same consequences as someone coming onto your farm and hunting your land without your permission...and I haven't seen the landowner or leasors give anyone permission to enter that particular property, they simply haven't had anyone arrested for trespassing yet.  I have spoken to both Mr. and Mrs. Cooley, before their passing, and they expressed to me that they didn't want anyone coming into that lake.  In fact, they put up fencing/pipe-gate/t-posts/concrete/rocks/and signs to try and keep people out, but trespassers keep tearing them down...to the point of using explosives, prior to RRSM being built, to blow up the concrete/pipe-gate.  So you see, Cooley Lake is not a new subject...just something that some citizens take for granted that as long as they don't get arrested then they feel that they are not really doing anything wrong.

I understand the difference now, but i didnt mention whitehouse, mcdade or beehive.  Shorthaired explained it very well that the instance i am talking about with natural erosion and flooding due to the lock and dam are two different things. Thanks for explaining it
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: Judge on May 22, 2012, 10:19:07 PM
Quote from: LaJ10 on May 22, 2012, 06:27:26 PM
So if I am understanding this right if you are on any body of water that has been dammed up,which most lakes are dammed up streams, then you would need to know where the "expected" or normal pool water line would be to legally fish certain parts ?
Todd is right it has to be considered navigable for your theory to apply.  Most lakes are not navigable waterways.
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: FishinSteelersFan on May 22, 2012, 10:48:21 PM
Quote from: Fisher of Men on May 22, 2012, 08:40:11 PM
I understand the difference now, but i didnt mention whitehouse, mcdade or beehive.  Shorthaired explained it very well that the instance i am talking about with natural erosion and flooding due to the lock and dam are two different things. Thanks for explaining it

All inquiries related to Cooley Lake, and other private property along the Red River, should be directed to the Red River Waterway Commission at (318) 352-7446.
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: Kyle Kennington on May 23, 2012, 08:11:25 AM
Seems as if the army corp wrote the family a check for coolies but the lady never cashed the check. Not near a lawyer but I assume that falls under "no consideration" shown or accepted.
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: Lawguy513 on May 23, 2012, 11:28:27 AM
If the Corps went through the expropriation process and had it granted, it wouldn't matter if she cashed the check.  For a straight up sale, you would need thing, price and consent.  THere is no concent if the price is refused. 
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: beast96z on May 23, 2012, 12:48:57 PM
Quote from: Kyle Kennington on May 23, 2012, 08:11:25 AM
Seems as if the army corp wrote the family a check for coolies but the lady never cashed the check. Not near a lawyer but I assume that falls under "no consideration" shown or accepted.
That's a interesting addition to things. If that's the case, then it is legal water. If she/they granted permission and was paid, then wether or not they cashed the check woul dbe null. I imagine there is some grey area in here somewhere, otherwise there wouldn't be such a debacle as to wether or not you could go in there legaly.
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: Shorthaired on May 23, 2012, 02:08:08 PM
Quote from: Kyle Kennington on May 23, 2012, 08:11:25 AM
Seems as if the army corp wrote the family a check for coolies but the lady never cashed the check. Not near a lawyer but I assume that falls under "no consideration" shown or accepted.

Corp couldn't expropriate the area otherwise they would have.  That's the point of this entire conversation.   

Dude I know enthusiastic fishermen want to be where the fish are - but we have to show common sense sometimes and realize that there are just some places we are not allowed to fish.  People are allowed to have private property - and the screwed up politics of how the locks and dams were built and the subsequent erosion of the levee shouldn't cause us as fishermen and sportsmen to forget our ideals of honesty and respect for other people's property.  As has been repeated thousands of times, they apparently don't care if you go there during non-duck season - but beating the issue to death on here trying to prove them to be bad guys or try to find a loophole in the law that will allow fishermen to access private property isn't very constructive.

Check out this thread from 2008 in which Beagle, FisherSteelersFan, Ron, and others participated and basically came to the same conclusion we have here - but also agreed that the SMARTEST approach would be to leave the area alone less the landowners get upset and one day decide to start having everyone arrested for trespassing.

http://www.ultimatebass.com/bass-fishing-forum/index.php?topic=51831.25 (http://www.ultimatebass.com/bass-fishing-forum/index.php?topic=51831.25)
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: beast96z on May 23, 2012, 03:44:18 PM
If someone knew the owners, it would put this whole thing to rest. It would be nice to know how they feel about it. I can assure you, going around there during duck season isn't a good idea. I've had lead slung at me many times from that side and I was still in Port Lake. They are avid about those ducks!
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: Broskee on May 24, 2012, 03:02:29 PM
Quote from: beast96z on May 24, 2012, 12:12:18 PM
It's called an analogy, but you most likely don't know what that is, so why waste my breath. If you are going to come in and call names, at least make sure you spell check. Maybe if you came in here with a point of view instead of a overly defensive bad attitude, more of us could find out what your deal is? You won't do it though. You'll hide behind your appropriately given name and come back from time to time and act like a tool. ~bb
Probably one of those lurkers here that just reads information. So anyways when is this topic going to end? I think it has come down to a pissing match between one person who doesn't agree and talks a bunch of junk, and the people that care. If it is the law and you know it is illegal then don't fish it. When I first fished coolies I had no idea it was off limits much less not a part of the river, but since I have been on this site I now know what is off limits and what is not. So in retrospect do they have posted signs saying that is private property and stay out or you will be arrested. I haven't even seen one in coolies, and not saying that there isn't one. So people that don't know that it is off limits will still fish it and the people that do know will sit back and complain about it. This is a never ending topic, that will only be solved by actually talking to the land owners.

Nuff said thank you and have a great memorial day weekend.
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: Kyle Kennington on May 24, 2012, 03:20:18 PM
Am I missing something?
I am not aware of any complaints of people fishing in that hole. They have asked that we don't get in there during duck season. Other than that, most money in the Boss, Rmtt and many other tourneys I have participated in comes from coolies. If you don't feel like you should be in there then don't go. If they are that upset that people fish in there, they will make one call to Donnie Keith and he will take care of it via LDWF or his department. They haven't done that in at least the past 8 yrs or so.
Tight lines.
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: mck310 on May 30, 2012, 04:20:42 PM
Wow,

I left for a few days to visit family in Illinois and came back to three pages of posts.  I really appreciates everyone's input.  I didn't mean to start any trouble, I really just asked because the map I bought at WalMart shows it as private. 

Thanks all for the info
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: FishinSteelersFan on May 30, 2012, 05:04:46 PM
All inquiries related to Cooley Lake, and other private property along the Red River, should be directed to the Red River Waterway Commission at (318) 352-7446.
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: Justin P on May 30, 2012, 05:07:49 PM
Quote from: mck310 on May 30, 2012, 04:20:42 PM
Wow,

I left for a few days to visit family in Illinois and came back to three pages of posts.  I really appreciates everyone's input.  I didn't mean to start any trouble, I really just asked because the map I bought at WalMart shows it as private. 

Thanks all for the info
[/quote

So after reading all this info are you going to fish there or not?
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: FishinSteelersFan on May 30, 2012, 06:32:36 PM
All inquiries related to Cooley Lake, and other private property along the Red River, should be directed to the Red River Waterway Commission at (318) 352-7446.
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: mck310 on June 04, 2012, 10:15:53 AM
Justin,

No I will not be fishing Cooley's.  It may not be a poplar decision, but I do respect their property.

I don't agree with the ruling and I kind of think they or the waterway commission should spend the money to land-lock the property or the Cooley's should sell out to the commission and make it public. 

The problem is that they put up signs and then someone tears them down.  Then the innocent by standard stumbles in there because it is accessible and then they pay the price.

I know now there is a lot of controversy about this property, so I will stay away.
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: bob_rugratz on February 03, 2013, 11:00:00 PM
Thinks it's in stone now. No more Cooleys or bardge turn round
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: bob_rugratz on February 03, 2013, 11:02:24 PM
Quote from: bob_rugratz on February 03, 2013, 11:00:00 PM
Thinks it's in stone now. No more Cooleys or bardge turn round

I shouldn't say "think" cause it is. Them bass are protected now. Liable to get fat in there.
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: gamehunter318 on February 04, 2013, 06:05:10 PM
I think we should all have this down by now can we move on .
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: DEHC on September 08, 2015, 05:28:44 PM
Where is Cooley's Lake located? Don't see it on Google map
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: Mike Cork on September 08, 2015, 06:40:21 PM
There is a map posted in one of these threads... I'll look for it but basically if you launch at RRS and head north watch your depth finder and you'll cross over a very shallow ridge, that's the old levee.
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: Mike Cork on September 08, 2015, 06:52:21 PM
Here's a photo of Port Lake and the Cooley's levee is outlined... It's not visible anymore do to erosion.

(https://www.ultimatebass.com/images/stories/bassfishing/mikelaurie/cooleys%20map.jpg)
Title: Re: Cooley's Lake Red River
Post by: Roborad on August 14, 2020, 11:50:18 AM
After having been a Red River oxbow landowner for many years i have obtained extensive support from lawyers, and the US Corp of Engineers on this topic. Private property is always private, even when inundated by high water from the Red River. If an oxbow connects to the river channel, and is accessible by boat, it is still private and subject to trespass laws. Just because you can float a boat into private property does not preclude trespass laws. The US 2nd Court of Appeals rendered verdicts in the past regarding this subject concerning access by hunters to private water adjacent to the Miss. River. Land owners rarely, if ever litigate this issue, but could if pushed. La. House Bill 391 (2018 Regular Session) also mentions that this law " does not mandate that landowner allow public access"....Any questions or clarification should be addressed to the Red River Waterway Commission, and if these legal opinions have been changed, i would like to know.