Rivers and streams, Laws concerning streams Options

[amethystguy]

I posted this question on another site and got some good responses but you have a special section on here so I assume I will get a good answer to my question. Waht are the laws concerning property rights with rivers and particularly streams. I found info on a corundum deposit near a stream. I wanted to go and prospect the stream but there was private property on both sides leaving the road upstream. I have been told that if you step foot on either bank that is the owners property and I also heard that the PP runs to the center of the stream but not the actual water so if you hypothetically floated down stream you would not be on PP. I have no problem asking permission from property owners but I wanted a clear picture of the rights. I am here in Georgia. Do the rights apply the same in most of the country or differ from state to state? Thanks

[amethystguy]

Thanks CO PROS. It can be very confusing. I don't want to step on anyones toes and I also don't want to trespass. We don't have very much public land here in the South-east so it's a touchy subject. Thanks for the info.