I haven't seen so many Utah anglers gathered together since the last time I launched a boat at Strawberry Reservoir. They came in waders, carried nets and hoisted fly rods.

Being on the steps of the Utah State Capitol, as they were, there was nary a fish within casting distance.

They also were not alone. Duck hunters provided appropriate sound effects and kayakers waved paddles plastered with signs.

When the crowd of 300 or so broke into the chant "We want access!" it sent chills down my spine. This show of solidarity has been a long time coming. It is unfortunate that it took a threat to their passion for fishing, floating and hunting to bring them together, but there they were, ready to fight for their right to walk stream beds across the state.

Uniting them at the capitol was HB187 -- Recreational Use of Public Waters on Private Property -- sponsored by Rep. Ben Ferry, R-Corinne. The bill is a response to a unanimous Utah Supreme Court last summer that said citizens own the water and have a right to float and touch the bed of the streams.

That ruling changed no laws in Utah, but clarified a law that had been misinterpreted in favor of landowners for too long.

Ferry, who says he is trying to clarify the stream access issue with HB187, is in fact taking away access that existed on major rivers even before the ruling, at least under the bill's current wording.

Landowners claim they are losing their rights as private property owners, but as was already noted, the Utah Supreme Court only clarified the existing law and trespassing on private land is still punishable.

Not since 1994 have so many recreationists showed up to voice collective concern for their rights to lawmakers. Leading that charge 15 years ago was Don Peay, who used the success of that rally about better regulating Utah's mule deer population to launch Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife (SFW).

SFW representatives were a notable no show at Thursday's rally and have been absent in communications between anglers organizing to battle the bill. Anglers seeking support from SFW have been told the group is still deciding how to get involved. Interesting words coming from a group whose Web site claims: "We are sportsmen serving sportsmen and are motivated by our passion for hunting and fishing. We are committed to making every necessary policy and political change to benefit wildlife and sportsmen alike."

Also missing from the rally were representatives of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Anglers, some 400,000 strong in Utah, provide a hefty portion of the wildlife agency's budget and they should be supported. Is losing some of the state's best waters to HB187 going to help stem the trend in declining fishing and hunting sales?

Brett Prettyman is a columnist. Reach him at brettp@sltrib.com