First let me say I am new to the area and trying to learn all the regulations.

I bought a little 11' Boston Whaler recently with a 20HP motor. The little boat currently has wheel steering with cables etc. Not possible to slip it off like a smaller tiller unit. I want to fish near Bellevue. Lake Washington and Sammamish seem a bit too big. Checked out Pine lake but with my jeep off the bank the little boat was still off the water. Drove over to Beaver lake and launched OK. Sign says no gasoline motors or something similar. We propped the unit up out of the water and fished with the electric. Another fisherman told me to check the regulations as the motor must be removed from the boat to use the lake, same at Rattlesnake. I checked the regulations and sure enough that's the letter of the law. I called Fish and Game. They said they used to allow wrapping the raised motor in a plastic bag but the Dept of Ecology says that isn't enough.

Question: Why such a rule. Is this really a valid concern or just BS? Are there any sportsman's groups who are trying to stop what appears to be over-regulation?

Anybody else feel the same way? No flames please. I'm just trying to understand the thinking on this rule. I've never seen anything like all the rules and regulations here.

Anybody suggest some alternative lakes?

Thanks