East Branch Brandywine DH Landowner

I wasn't going to say anything, but I too, looked at his previous FB posts and videos last night. Mental illness is a real challenge these days. This guy is exactly the type to put a hole in you for the perceived slightest thing. Stocked trout aren't worth this BS. Grab a gander...these two are real gems:

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1LJHKaXPwq/

[/URL]
You think that's bad, just read page 5 of this:

 
Dear Wild_Trouter,

Gee, he seems nice. 😉

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂
 
I follow the Brandywine trout club as my family has been members for my entire life. I commented on this post to respond to his tirade about having an armed guard and threatening to cause harm to those who trespassed. I pointed out that threatening an unarmed person with a gun would land him in more trouble than the person trespassing. He told me to come on over and find out and then promptly deleted the whole conversation. I want no parts of that and haven’t fished the DH in years.

I know it doesn’t matter but we are talking about 50ft or so of shoreline that he owns. His total acreage is 1.5 acres and is surrounded by township property.
 
For anyone who fishes the EB brandywine in the delayed harvest, just a heads up. Long thread of threatening comments on Facebook from landowner. I believe this is just above the bend pool with the “rock wall” on his side. IMO it fishes best from the other side anyway. Seems like a headache not worth dealing with for some stockers. Just wanted to share.
Whackadoodle! Sounds like this guy might be one of them there domestic terrorists. Sure sounds like terroristic threats to me.
 
I follow the Brandywine trout club as my family has been members for my entire life. I commented on this post to respond to his tirade about having an armed guard and threatening to cause harm to those who trespassed. I pointed out that threatening an unarmed person with a gun would land him in more trouble than the person trespassing. He told me to come on over and find out and then promptly deleted the whole conversation. I want no parts of that and haven’t fished the DH in years.

I know it doesn’t matter but we are talking about 50ft or so of shoreline that he owns. His total acreage is 1.5 acres and is surrounded by township property.
if an angler is standing on twp property on the other side of the creek, he can pound sand.

From the looks of it, he was upset about a waterline being installed on his property, after he was compensated for it. Has called multiple agencies, filed multiple lawsuits, lost many appeals, turned to the police, township, dep, even the FBI apparently (according to court documents), and apparently even the PFBC.
Now he is just bitter and pissed off.

The guy is a timebomb.
 
I had an encounter with this a**hole on the Brandywine last night. Will start by saying that I was unfamiliar with the DHALO section before yesterday- I only decided to fish there because I had to attend a viewing at 4pm in Downingtown so I figured I'd hit the local water for an hour or two. Parked at Dowlin Forge and walked up the trail and into the water. Eventually I fished up to his property. Was on his side of the river when I first noticed the no trespassing signs, so I immediately crossed the water back to the trail side of the creek, where I was pretty sure I was legal. My guess is that I must've tripped a trail cam because in no time this guy was barking at me from up on the hill, telling me his property owns the entire creek, that the water isnt navigable, that I'm trespassing, he's gonna call the cops, etc. I tried to have a discussion with him but instead he quickly came down the hill and crossed the creek (in pants and shoes) and got literally right up in my face with his phone out. Started threatening me and calling me names and being way too aggressive for my comfort level. At this point it was clear that this guy is a lunatic and that the only thing to do was to walk away, which is what I did. He followed me up the bank, yelling that he'd see me at the parking area with the cops. I found my way back to the trail and walked up a ways and fished a little more before calling it a day. On my walk back down the trail to my car I noticed that someone has put up signage directing anglers not to cross the centerline of the creek in the portion that abuts his property - only problem is these signs are on the trail so I hadn't seen them when I was in the water fishing upstream.

As for the fishing, the water was low and clear, there were no bugs and I landed one rainbow in a deeper run on a pink walts worm. Had a couple hits on a black bugger too. I won't be back.
 
Last edited:
This is one of those situations where everyone can see a bad situation coming and our privacy laws and personal freedoms will prevent authorities from being able to do anything. I certainly don't know the answer, but it is going to end badly.
 
I had an encounter with this a**hole on the Brandywine last night. Will start by saying that I was unfamiliar with the DHALO section before yesterday- I only decided to fish there because I had to attend a viewing at 4pm in Downingtown so I figured I'd hit the local water for an hour or two. Parked at Dowlin Forge and walked up the trail and into the water. Eventually I fished up to his property. Was on his side of the river when I first noticed the no trespassing signs, so I immediately crossed the water back to the trail side of the creek, where I was pretty sure I was legal. My guess is that I must've tripped a trail cam because in no time this guy was barking at me from up on the hill, telling me his property owns the entire creek, that the water isnt navigable, that I'm trespassing, he's gonna call the cops, etc. I tried to have a discussion with him but instead he quickly came down the hill and crossed the creek (in pants and shoes) and got literally right up in my face with his phone out. Started threatening me and calling me names and being way too aggressive for my comfort level. At this point it was clear that this guy is a lunatic and that the only thing to do was to walk away, which is what I did. He followed me up the bank, yelling that he'd see me at the parking area with the cops. I found my way back to the trail and walked up a ways and fished a little more before calling it a day. On my walk back down the trail to my car I noticed that some has put up signage directing anglers not to cross the centerline of the creek in the portion that abuts his property - only problem is these signs are on the trail so I hadn't seen them when I was in the water fishing upstream.

As for the fishing, the water was low and clear, there were no bugs and I landed one rainbow in a deeper run on a pink walts worm. Had a couple hits on a black bugger too. I won't be back.
I never want to be in this situation, but had I not known like you, and this deranged ape approached me like that, I probably would've pulled my firearm out. The getting up in my face part and threatening me would've done it. No fish is worth that kind of hassle, but something seriously needs to be done there. The guy is a ticking time bomb who is going to go off on some unsuspecting person, and that's not right- especially in lieu of the fact that he is well-known to local authorities.
 
I never want to be in this situation, but had I not known like you, and this deranged ape approached me like that, I probably would've pulled my firearm out. The getting up in my face part and threatening me would've done it. No fish is worth that kind of hassle, but something seriously needs to be done there. The guy is a ticking time bomb who is going to go off on some unsuspecting person, and that's not right- especially in lieu of the fact that he is well-known to local authorities.
Agreed.

I won't be going there, and anyone aware should avoid it at all costs. Even then, that doesn't sit well with me either. All that conveys is if someone is on the other side of the creek, which is legal to do, as long as a landowner gets mental or screams loud enough for long enough, they can keep the public out of public land and govern it as their own.

But yeah, had it been me I would have probably drawn my firearm too.
 
I don't do guns and I haven't been in a fistfight since around second grade (I'm 58 now) so retreat was definitely the right move. Agree with y'all that this guy is a disaster waiting to happen.
 
Few years ago, I was walking our small dog along the Struble trail. Stopping to watch feeding fish in the pool directly across from his location, he allowed and watched his Shepard run down the hill, cross the stream in the shallow riffle water just above the pool, scramble down then up the bank and went after my leashed dog.

I was able to lift high my small dog while screaming at this dude to no avail. I know he heard me. Dog went north on the trail and I was able to retreat south back to my car while informing numerous dog walkers as they approached.

I never fish this pool due to it being "too slow" for me, but I do enjoy and have had much success on the stretch just above starting at the "craggy" wall. Never had a "trespassing" encounter with him, but wonder if he would lay claim to that section also if he saw me.
 
Few years ago, I was walking our small dog along the Struble trail. Stopping to watch feeding fish in the pool directly across from his location, he allowed and watched his Shepard run down the hill, cross the stream in the shallow riffle water just above the pool, scramble down then up the bank and went after my leashed dog.

I was able to lift high my small dog while screaming at this dude to no avail. I know he heard me. Dog went north on the trail and I was able to retreat south back to my car while informing numerous dog walkers as they approached.

I never fish this pool due to it being "too slow" for me, but I do enjoy and have had much success on the stretch just above starting at the "craggy" wall. Never had a "trespassing" encounter with him, but wonder if he would lay claim to that section also if he saw me.
Someone is going to seriously get hurt and/or his dog.

As to that last part, what is stopping him? The police force might as well let him lay claim to the whole watershed.
 
I never want to be in this situation, but had I not known like you, and this deranged ape approached me like that, I probably would've pulled my firearm out. The getting up in my face part and threatening me would've done it. No fish is worth that kind of hassle, but something seriously needs to be done there. The guy is a ticking time bomb who is going to go off on some unsuspecting person, and that's not right- especially in lieu of the fact that he is well-known to local authorities.

As someone who often open carries where legal when fishing, drawing or brandishing a weapon will probably turn out worse for you legally than the perp.

That's why mine is where it can be seen without me even lying a hand on it. So far, that's all the deterrence I've ever needed...
 
I don't know of anyone who, while being threatened by a lunatic, is concerned by legal ramifications when they decide to draw their weapon. It's one of many reasons we have the right to carry. Every situation is unique and it is impossible to armchair quarterback how any given situation will turnout legally without all facts.
 
In today's society, being right doesn't always give you the right...

You can do what you want...

However, considering Clams de-escalated the entire threat by walking away makes me pretty confident from this armchair to speculate he would have been the loser in this situation if he pulled a gun on this nut case.

In the meantime...

I once had a somewhat similar situation on a stream I frequent when a friend was challenged by a landowner when he was LEGALLY fishing on the side of the creek owned by others.

When I got home, I reviewed the county parcel maps that showed the aggravated party possibly didn't even own to the center-line of this stream. I then contacted the other owner (a real estate company) and was assured I could fish there and that they owned the property.

I gave the information to the county WCO who called me back to say he verified the information, the other landowner was a known bluffer and he was headed out to his home to straighten out the situation.

That was 10+ years ago, I fish there all the time and have never had a problem since...

I'm not saying this fix would work in this situation, but at minimum I'd call the WCO for the region and tell him/her the story.
 
The guy is a ticking time bomb who is going to go off on some unsuspecting person, and that's not right- especially in lieu of the fact that he is well-known to local authorities

He's gonna go off in the wrong person and get a free self defense lesson.

Nothing good can come of this. Stay away. He will create his own undoing eventually. I can see him striking someone, getting sued and losing his property.
 
Top