In Ohio the water is public but the stream bed is private.  I found out the hard way while wading a small stream and arguing with a land owner who later in the discussion revealed a gun.  It was at that point that I was told to walk on water.  This somewhat irritated land owner followed me to my car which was over a mile upstream with a handgun at his side.  That was a long walk.  I stopped fishing there and also stopped arguing with strangers that day.  A law I will never forget.  Cedarstripper