Illegal outboard motor use

[thetr20one]

Come on guys. Wayne P. is so right it makes my head spin reading everybody trying to make a wrong a sorta o.k. We live in America, the most powerful democracy on the planet. We vote for people or things including change. Somewhere along the line a vote was or will be taken on LAWS. Zellamander how about coming to Ohio for deer season? Gotta leave the ole .270, 7mm or any other non-muzzleloading rifle at your house and buy or bring a shotgun with slugs. That is our LAW here and you will have your rifle seized and possibly destroyed for using it. I have no halo and do break the speed limit alot more than I should, and problably break or bend other laws too. Not so much anymore but, I was a pretty wild kid. I got lucky too many times to chance it anymore especially having a family. I have just learned life is much easier to go through following laws and leading MY life. I vote and hope others vote the way I do but, not everyone will. I don't expect everybody here or anywhere to agree with me. Just like I don't really expect to make you see this issue my way, WayneP.'s way or anyway but your way. Continue along your path and do your thing your way. We will all meet up at the great big BASS RESOURCE in the sky and see who fared better in the game of life. Be safe and VOTE thats what I say to those walking the edge.

[fishfordollars]

And many vote to restrict our fishing priveleges.

[Wayne P.]

zellaander, thanks for that question. If you will read my first post, you will see that the lake is a HP (horse power) restricted lake with a 10HP gas engine max limit. Only gas motors of that power and less are allowed to be used. You can also use electric, or paddles. No wind power though-its not a recreational lake-its a fishing lake.

Lots of small lakes in the East have those type of restrictions. A bunch are electric only especially drinking water resevoirs of less than 2,000 acres.

I guess the history of boaters and their behavior has resulted in those restrictions. If larger boats with large engines were allowed with no-wake speed restrictions only, someone would be doing 70mph, water skiiing, tubing, jetskiing because they bought a boat and felt it was their right to do so-they paid that tax that fishfordollars mentioned. High speed on crowded small lakes is a disaster waiting to happen.

Most of those lakes that I fish are public, Game Commission managed, no ramp fees, and no permit required.

If I was thinking about hunting an area with certain weapon restrictions, and I didn't have the appropiate one, I would get one or not go. Just as good is not good enough when it comes to obeying the law/rules. I got enough weapons of each type to cover all species that I would encounter on the North American Continent. Excellent question though.

wagn, Just because laws are broken by some doesn't mean its OK for one to do so. I get that speed limit justification analogy all the time. If the speed limit was increasd by 10 mph, people would still go 5-10 mph over that because they can, not because its legal. Enforcement of those limits varies all over the country. Just try and go 5-10 mph over the limit in a school zone in some locations.

[zellamander]

First off Wayne P hasn't answered my questions about what he said. He claimed he had an outbourd on his john, and he never use to until he fished that lake, and that he can run 25 mph... does anybody see a contradiction here?

I have family that live in Ohio, and if I myself lived in that state, I would disagree, and protest the no rifle law. That to me, seems like it was another person whining about another sport. Not pointing fingers at you, or anybody personally but it seems like this to me: Poor me, I hunt all day long with a slug gun and I have to wait for a deer to come in...(i don't know what the range on one is) and the guy next to me can shoot one down at 400 yards with his high power and scope. Boo hoo hoo.

Use the resources if you have them. I understand that there are restrictions, but as I said, put a speed limit to it. It's unfair and actually discriminatory to others when you can allow a john boat and trolling motor to move at a set speed, but you won't allow the outboard to do that same speed.

[Grey Wolf]

First off Wayne P hasn't answered my questions about what he said. He claimed he had an outbourd on his john, and he never use to until he fished that lake, and that he can run 25 mph... does anybody see a contradiction here?

I have family that live in Ohio, and if I myself lived in that state, I would disagree, and protest the no rifle law. That to me, seems like it was another person whining about another sport. Not pointing fingers at you, or anybody personally but it seems like this to me: Poor me, I hunt all day long with a slug gun and I have to wait for a deer to come in...(i don't know what the range on one is) and the guy next to me can shoot one down at 400 yards with his high power and scope. Boo hoo hoo.

Use the resources if you have them. I understand that there are restrictions, but as I said, put a speed limit to it. It's unfair and actually discriminatory to others when you can allow a john boat and trolling motor to move at a set speed, but you won't allow the outboard to do that same speed.

What the heck are you talking about ?

[zellamander]

Wayne P, disregard my first comment on my last post. You beat me too it. haha.

Also, you said that you can do 25 mph on the water with that motor, now I ask you this. Leave the law out of it for this question:

IF YOU CAN GO 25 MPH WITH YOUR 10HP MOTOR, WHY CAN'T I GOT 25 MPH WITH MY 200HP MOTOR? WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

Since this is America, we have the right to speak, and the right to protest. So laws may be protested. In my opinion and many others, just because it is a law, doesn't make it right. Do you disagree? If you disagree then listen to this. This is completely off the subject but it reprsents a law that i feel is not right.

A friend of mine met a girl in high school and they began to date. He was 17 and she was 15. They dated for a year and they began to sleep with eachother. Everything was consentual. Unfortunately she got pregnant with his kid, and him being 18, and her just a few days from 16, he is going to spend 10 in Federal Prison for statutory "rape", be on the sex offenders list for the rest of his life, and never be able to see his kids, go to football games, kids plays, anything. All this as the girl is fighting desperately to save her boyfriend from this. The state found out, and put him in this.

Do you agree with that law?

[MARSH MASTER]

If he not hurting the fish, not hurting the lake, and is not harming you or anyone why would you even care? I see people braking the law every day but I don't go around taking pictures and telling on them If there not hurting someone or puting them in danger.

[Wyattsdad13]

I really like to read and learn from this board, but this whole thing is messed up. I went lookin on line and that is a great little lake. Why somebody needs a gas motor much less a real big one on that little thing I dont know. I also read where the powers to be prefer you to have the gas motor tilted up and use electric. There is something really wrong with anybody calling themselves a avid fisherman and outdoorsman that wants to ignore rules set in place to preserve a cool place for future fisherman. My point being this sounds like a great place to take a little kid, not have hotboat competitions. When we were young we were taken to a very similar lake, Lake Anna Va. had just been flooded and I have to say they were great memories and it made me feel a lot of respect for that resource. Now that lake is hotboat heaven and is no place to teach a kid to fish. While we are fisherman, we are also stewards of the enviorment and have a responsibilty to leave as we found it for future generations. Ya know NASCAR was a lot better before they got too big for their britches too.

[thetr20one]

Wayne P, disregard my first comment on my last post. You beat me too it. haha.

Also, you said that you can do 25 mph on the water with that motor, now I ask you this. Leave the law out of it for this question:

IF YOU CAN GO 25 MPH WITH YOUR 10HP MOTOR, WHY CAN'T I GOT 25 MPH WITH MY 200HP MOTOR? WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

Since this is America, we have the right to speak, and the right to protest. So laws may be protested. In my opinion and many others, just because it is a law, doesn't make it right. Do you disagree? If you disagree then listen to this. This is completely off the subject but it reprsents a law that i feel is not right.

A friend of mine met a girl in high school and they began to date. He was 17 and she was 15. They dated for a year and they began to sleep with eachother. Everything was consentual. Unfortunately she got pregnant with his kid, and him being 18, and her just a few days from 16, he is going to spend 10 in Federal Prison for statutory "rape", be on the sex offenders list for the rest of his life, and never be able to see his kids, go to football games, kids plays, anything. All this as the girl is fighting desperately to save her boyfriend from this. The state found out, and put him in this.

Do you agree with that law?

I bet her daddy did! Kid, go down to the ramp start a protest and demonstrate til your done pushing buttons. Our gun law in Ohio is meant to keep unskilled marksmen who believe they can shoot 400 yards all pumped up with adrenaline, from shooting me instead. I personally use a muzzleloader during gun season that is good well past 200 yards but, I have never taken a shot over 40 with ANY deer hunting device. My biggest buck was shot through the throat because he looked strait up at me from under my stand 145 inch typical with a compound bow PSE with only 65% let off. Second biggest 139 typical was taken with a slug at 35 paces. Patience pays huge rewards! Your friend would not be facing 10 if he would have waited 2! Some people will just never see the forest through the trees!

[wagn]

wagn, Just because laws are broken by some doesn't mean its OK for one to do so. I get that speed limit justification analogy all the time. If the speed limit was increasd by 10 mph, people would still go 5-10 mph over that because they can, not because its legal. Enforcement of those limits varies all over the country. Just try and go 5-10 mph over the limit in a school zone in some locations.

[zellamander]

1, I'd rather you not call me kid. I've fought cancer for 2 years of my life, I'm 19 years old and have already graduated college. I've lived on my own since I was 16 years old and my mother and father told me that they didn't want me. So please, don't call me a kid.

2, Put your son or daughter in that place, I bet you're a big shot and would press charges if it where your daughter, but I bet you'd be in the corner crying your eyes out if it where your son. Right?!?!

Wyatts dad:

I'm not saying it is ok for a 200 hp motor to go out there and go on full plane, but there should be nothing wrong with a boater in any boat able to do the same speed that a 10 hp motor could do.

Put yourself in a full size boat with a big motor all trimmed up, here you are trying to get over to the other side of the lake with your trolling motor, and here comes a jon boat with a 10 hp motor on it flying past you and boom, you are stuck. If your are going to allow some, you need to allow all.

I don't see why a lot of you don't see that a simple SPEED LIMIT would solve the problem.

[zellamander]

Wagn, I've asked the same question about why not just a speed limit instead of a hp limit on the lake. They can't answer the question.

[Turtle.]

Wagn, I've asked the same question about why not just a speed limit instead of a hp limit on the lake. They can't answer the question.

I think you guys answered the question already.It was said we all speed driving or some do 5 to 10 mph over, whats to stop you from doing this on the lake?I feel a 10 horse limit sets the speed limit on these lake.There are several 10 HP restricted lakes that I mainly fish and love them.I dont have to worry about some guy with a big motor blasting past me while I am out fishig with my son.I'm sure there are other resons but these are just my thoughts.

[Wayne P.]

So the consensus is that it is OK to break the law if it doesn't harm anything, doesn't bother anyone, don't care, don't agree with it, don't know why it exists, or lots of other people do it.

Thanks for your comments, I must be in the wrong place.

[zellamander]

Pretty sure that it was stated a few posts back that a jon boat with a 10 hp motor throws bigger wakes then a 200hp motor.

[shorefisher]

For what it's worth all the HP restricted lakes I've come across up here in upstate NY just don't seem appropriate for a big boat with a big motor. It seems to me they passed the 10hp law to really restrict the size of boat more than anything but along with that you get all the other benefits such as reduced wake, erosion...etc. Then again, we have a water authority reservoir that should be electric only (it's tap water after all) but allows <10hp. On top of that you cannot swim there (I learned that the hard way ).

There are plenty of lakes to take your big bass boat to, if you want to fish the smaller ones, buy a smaller boat.

[thetr20one]

1, I'd rather you not call me kid. I've fought cancer for 2 years of my life, I'm 19 years old and have already graduated college. I've lived on my own since I was 16 years old and my mother and father told me that they didn't want me. So please, don't call me a kid.

2, Put your son or daughter in that place, I bet you're a big shot and would press charges if it where your daughter, but I bet you'd be in the corner crying your eyes out if it where your son. Right?!?!

Wyatts dad:

I'm not saying it is ok for a 200 hp motor to go out there and go on full plane, but there should be nothing wrong with a boater in any boat able to do the same speed that a 10 hp motor could do.

Put yourself in a full size boat with a big motor all trimmed up, here you are trying to get over to the other side of the lake with your trolling motor, and here comes a jon boat with a 10 hp motor on it flying past you and boom, you are stuck. If your are going to allow some, you need to allow all.

I don't see why a lot of you don't see that a simple SPEED LIMIT would solve the problem.

I can't help but to call you kid. Kids disobey and that is the vibe I get. As far as your cancer is concerned I really am feeling for you. Here is something for you I have never let out in these forums. Last october my 7 year old daughter was diagnosed with ALL. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. I know all too well of clinic days, spinal taps, and chemotherapy sickness along with extended hospital visits. She will be on maintenance chemo and bactrim until Dec. 09'. Here I try not to use this as an excuse for my roller coaster fishing season, but I am definitely not the same man I was in September 07'. I am very much broken but I can not let her know. My wife and I know there is a light at the end of the tunnel and we will hold it together as long as needed. This is why I stress living life to the fullest under the law. There is so much else to worry about besides bending rules. If the sign says no, fishing find another hole! If it says electric only so be it! If my sign says don't walk on my grass (I HATE THIS ONE) don't walk on my grass. Life is not hard. YOU in particular should know! Cancer treatment has a protocol and life has a basic one too. Don't feel bad for me or my daughter. Feel joy we found why she was feeling so bad and had prompt proper treatment. I hope you are on your way to a great life and full remission. By the way, my daughter would problably not end up in that rape type situation. She has too many people looking over her shoulder at 8 let alone 15. And three mean cousins that would break faces for her. I am not in anyway a bigshot either I work very hard for what I have.

[Daniel My Brother]

Wow, this has been an amazing thread to read. Zellamander and thetr20one, you guys certainly have been through the wringer. Best of luck to both of you, and especially your little 7 year old daughter. My six year old had to spend a couple of weeks in the hospital at the end of last year with a bone infection and it tore me up. She's just fine now, but I can't imagine battling the big c at such an early age. You've got my prayers.

Back on topic. I agree with Wayne P. If the law say 10hp, just run 10hp. If you don't agree with it, then write your congressman, start a petition, raise a stink...but in the mean time, obey it.

Excellent thread. I do appreciate both points of view, and the passion behind them.

[fish-fighting-illini]

 One question,

 Is everyone with the long posts about how illegal this is going to drive to their local police station tomorrow and turn themselves in for driving over the vehicle speed limit yesterday?

 No offense but if everyone with a big motor drove their boat like those guys then there would be no problem.

 If there is a problem then by all means report it if there is no issue then just mind your own business.

 just my .02c no offense meant

[George Welcome]

General result for non-compliance by a sector on controlled waters is the closing of that body of water to all use.

I cannot comprehend the advocacy of non-compliance just because one thinks the ruling is inane.

[Team_Dougherty]

Wagn, I've asked the same question about why not just a speed limit instead of a hp limit on the lake. They can't answer the question.

My guess would be how would you enforce it? How many boats have a speedometer? How many boats that have a speedometer, that is accurate? Would the police use radar to check your speed?

If you are driving your boat with a 5 MPH current  pushing you and your speedometer in your boat uses a pitot tube to indicate speed is showing you are moving 10 MPH, which happens to be the speed limit, a cop marks you with radar and it, the radar, says you are going 15 MPH, which you are, you will get a ticket for speeding. Even if the cop used the known distance between two points and a stop watch you will still be going 15 MPH. it is very hard to get accurate speed reading on the water. Now if you used a GPS on your boat to get speed and it said you were moving at 10 MPH that would be more accurate.

Now just to make this post longer ;D.

If you were heading against that 5 MPH current and your pitot tube speedometer said 10 MPH you are actually going 5 MPH.

Now if that cop is in a boat with waves, current and wind. How would that affect his radar?

[SPEEDBEAD.]

To me, the bottom line is people know the law.  If you choose to break the law, prepare to suffer consequences.

If you are unable to deal with the consequences, dont break the law.

Ultimately, people are going to do things to break or bend written laws.  What I dont want to hear about is when these people point fingers around and say "Well, everyone else does it too!"

It's a simple concept to grasp.  Obey the law or pay the fines.

Pretty cut and dry if you ask me...

[CFFF 1.5]

Is it possible the HP restriction is becuase the smaller outboards will produce less pollution.

[zellamander]

thetr20one: I feel for your daughter, and she sounds like she has the strength and the family support to over come any obsitcle. You and your daughter are in my prayers.

Team_Dougherty: The lake that I live on is a very small lake. There is a speedlimit on the lake as well. No hp limit, just a speed limit. There are coves in the lake and docks and all that stuff, and that all is marked as a no wake part of the lake. Our ranger's sit up on the dam and radar boats. I've heard people say that the lake that they are talking about is understaffed, well, don't put that kind of law on the lake if you can't watch it over.

I think a simple no wake would be a better choice.

CFFF 1.5f: I've seen some of those old johnsons throw more smoke than a freaking steam engine.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

I've heard people say that the lake that they are talking about is understaffed, well, don't put that kind of law on the lake if you can't watch it over.

That is a very dangerous way of thinking...akin to saying that since there are not enough fish wardens, then I can keep as many fish as I want.  Since there are not enough game wardens, I can kill as many deer as I want.  Since there are not enough police officers, I can steal as many things as I want.

As long as I dont get caught, I didnt do anything wrong?

Like I said, very dangerous way of thinking....