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

FM, I know what you mean. I have a ton of frustration in regards to this topic.

Here is what is frustrating for me. As you know I am on the other side of the boat... so to speak.

As an agency, we as well as the Forest Service have a duty to the public. That is to provide recreational opportunities. There is the expectation from the public that we not only provide these opportunities, but, that we also maintain them.

This includes, keeping trails clean, keeping rest areas clean, monitoring fisheries within the lakes and streams, stocking fish, maintaining as safe an area as possible among a hundred other things.

Those jobs are a small percent of all the things that we have to do in our daily duties. So, we have to do these tasks as efficiently, but as quickly as possible.

This is why we and other agencies are allowed to use motors on waters that the public is not allowed to. So we can get to the work area, get the work done and move on to the next work area. If Coldwater Lake or Kress Lake were the only waters that we had to maintain then sure, we could use a rowboat to get to the end of the lake and maintain trails and to electroshock fish to monitor fish populations because we would have all the time in the world to do them.

But that is not the case. We have literally hundreds of bodies of waters that we have to take care of.

It's not like we are flaunting the fact that we get to go on a body of water using a motor or disobeying rules. We are out there to do a job, a job I might add, that is to benefit the public's recreational experience.

I get a lot of complaints like this and sometimes I just don't understand them. It is not realistic to expect us to use an electric motor to power a 18 ft. several thousand pound boat to monitor a population of fish that we are trying to provide for the public's fishing opportunity. In a lot of cases we are on restricted motor waters at a minimum of a few times a YEAR.

At any rate, there's another side to consider.

stace

Point taken!

I agree with the restrictions on motors in certain lakes. I have the fun of working at a service shop and half the boats that come in need alot of repair work done. Most elect not to do the repairs(leaking prop shaft seals) etc etc.
Alot of outboards when tilted up leak fuel from there carbs when in position. Very few boats have ZERO oil ,fuel leaks. My 2 cents worth.

Stace, I appriciate the job that you do, and the fact that you took the time to respond to mine and others frustration on this topic. I am also a publicly paid employee and know all too well the current standard of having to do more and more with less and less. No doubt in my mind that fish and game has too much to do with not enough funding or people to do this job with. But this is an area that is quite hypocritical to me. Its comparable to a cop arresting a drunk driver while being intoxicated himself. Whats good for the public should be good for the folks charged with enforcing policy/law. And if Forest Service/Fish and Wildlife cant abide by the law, they shouldnt come down on the public (who PAYS for the system) for doing the same. I will never question the quality and quantity of work you have to do, but this is simply a matter of FAIRNESS. Again I appriciate your job and your dedication its plain to see, I just hope you can see my point is all. Thanks again
FM

Let's see, 1 boat with a well maintained motor a few times a year vs 100s (or thousands) of boats with many poorly maintained motors per year. Seems like a no-brainer to me.

A better comparison would be:
a cop car, or ambulance racing to an emegency scene - should they be forced to follow the speed limit and come to a complete stop, ect...

Have you ever been on a trail that does not allow motorized vehicles or horses? I sure enjoy those trails sometimes. And I am able to enjoy them because they occassionally use horses\mules and motorized vehicles to haul in supplies to fix bridges, ect...

It's not a double standard - it's working smart and efficiently.

But don't get me started on the motor boats used in Green Lake by the crew team coaches. That's a whole other story

Hey Phish Phreak-
Youve got to be kidding. Its a complete double standard that PISSES people off.

Are you seriously comparing a response by trained Emergency driving certified personnel to a Emergency life and death scene to a boat floating on the water??!!

The fact remains that if its SO critical to make a blanket rule for everyone, then EVERYONE should have to follow the rule, and trail maintenance and convienience is not a good enough reason to justify breaking the rules. Damage to the environment is what it is, weather its done by Joe fisherman or Joe gamie, it either should or should not be allowed.

When law enforcement officers take an oath it is to uphold and enforce the law and that goes for themself. NO BODY is above the law, including Fish and Wildlife, Forest Service, Park Ranger etc. Thats all Im saying.

To me THAT'S a no brainer.

Just a quick note.

Emergency vehicles are by law not allowed to speed and must stop at lights etc.

But if we stopped them for speeding and running lights no one would ever call for help again and people would die.

So in short using motors on motor restricted waters by Fish and Game and other public agencies for their short intervals to help the lands and water is something I can live with.

I can't say I understand your point of view, but I do respect that it is your point of view.

And I don't agree, but that's okay too!

I still think there is a difference between working and recreating - but maybe I am just too darned biased. Personally, I don't feel like I am breaking a law - especially because I am doing something to provide for the public.

Glad to have known your thoughts either way though.



stace

fish medic - I didn't say my analogy was perfect, just better than yours...

There are plenty of issues out there worth coming together as sportsman and fighting for. Choose your battles carefully, or you just end up sounding like a chronic complainer - and make it harder for the real issues to get addressed.

Like Stacie, I respect your opinion, but I also respectfully disagree.

Stace - any chance we can get you transfered to King county?

Well, probably not.

But thanks for the thought anyway!

I have a pretty good gig here in the southern part of the state - but will always be willing to help anyone not in my area!!

stace

Phish, and Stace,

I as well appriciate and respect your respective opinions. I doubt in this forum we will convince the other that our points of view are the right ones. But apparently, judging from the number of posts, this issue touches a nerve in people one way or another. Nothing stirs up more emotions and debate than when whatever subject involves the appearence of fairness and consistancy (except maybe religion and politics). I added my 2 cents to this topic after a negative experience I had a couple of years ago at Coldwater, and to this day it has left a sour taste about motor usage on motor banned lakes and who exactly that applies to.

Stace, you do a good job of representing the WDFW's point of view and explaining to the lay-sportsman where WDFW is comming from. I for one really appriciate that.

Phish Phreak, I hear you, but just disagree is all.
I dont believe there's anything wrong with questioning the status quo to improve what needs improving, and eliminating what needs to go. Its good to have this forum to exchange ideas and perspectives.

Later,
FM

right on bro