I just had to reply to this one. I'm a new member and enjoy reading the posts from time to time.
But I just have to voice a huge amount of frustraion in the "system" and how stupid some "no motor" restrictions are. On small lakes, no problem, no complaints from me, I can plainly see the point. But about 2 years ago I fished Coldwater in Cowlitz county I believe. This lake is quite large and regularly gets very rough and windy I'm told. I saw a sign at the boat launch restricting gas motors on the lake. But I had just driven 2 1-2 hours and was not about to turn around a go home. I have an 18 1/2 ft boat w/ a 100hp outboard and a small electric troller. So in attempting to comply with the restriction tilted the OB completely out of the water and trolled around with the electric. After a couple of hours a small 12-14 ft aluminum boat w/ a 20-25 hp outboard launched and came over to where I was fishing (under gas motor power mind you) and ordered me off the lake because of my motor (that was tilted up). I believe him to be from Fish and Game or Forest Service judgeing by the brown uniform. So being quite far from the boat launch and only having electric power I made my way back. I watched their boat make 4-5 trips all the way to the far end of the lake shuttling crews to work on trails at that end. The restrictions apparently do not apply to them only the suckers that buy licenses. Their motor put out 100 times the amount of gas/oil that mine would if it was leaking fuel, which it was'nt. I cant tell you how much this BS fires me up. For a state or Govt. agency to enforce rules they dont even comply with themselves is sickening and sets such a poor example that they should be ashamed. I understand that somebody has to enforce the rules for everybodys safety, but in a lake this large a motor restriction makes NO SENSE. Interactions like this one put a very bad taste in my mouth and jade any future decisions I might make to pay out hundreds of dollars each year to hunt and fish in this state.
Thanks for the oppourtunity to ventilate.
FM