no wake zones. when people dont follow it

[ajschn06]

16 hours ago, gimruis said:

I’ve experienced this before too. A no wake zone does not mean you can go 5 mph. Because that speed still produces a wake. I think some people honestly just don’t know but it’s not my place to tell them either. There’s no wake and then there’s some areas that are minimum wake.

 

Many years ago my Father and I got pulled over by the Hennepin County Water Patrol on Tonka in May. It was a cold, blustery, over cast day with very few boats out. They pulled us over in the no wake zone and said to go slower because we were still producing a small wake with our 25 hp outboard and 16 foot fishing boat. They also checked our watercraft registration and PFDs. Never checked our angling licenses. Verbal warning only. To this day that is the only time in my 25 years of fishing here in MN that I’ve ever encountered authority on the water.

 

Why would they check your angling licenses if you were driving the boat?

[gim]

13 hours ago, scaleface said:

Some boaters dont even pay attention to the under water hazard buoys . Ive stood on the bow , waving my arms frantically trying to get them to stop .

I've seen this too but I don't wave my arms frantically trying to get their attention.  I let them go through the shallow area at their own risk.  One of these days they are going to rip their lower unit off, and it may happen soon if it hasn't already happened already, because the water is down over a foot here this season.

 

Honestly, I don't know if these recreational watercraft are equipped with any electronics so I am unsure if they simply don't know its that shallow...or they have electronics and they're just inattentive to it.

8 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

The displacement on those things is insane 

There will be new wake boat rules coming down the pipe here in MN pretty soon.  The University of Minnesota Twin Cities is conducting a state-funded research project on the impact of them on everything from fish populations, shoreline erosion, etc.  Its likely that new rules will result in a much larger distance from shore they can be used, and only during certain hours of the day.  Will be very welcome rules here IMO

[TnRiver46]

2 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I've seen this too but I don't wave my arms frantically trying to get their attention.  I let them go through the shallow area at their own risk.  One of these days they are going to rip their lower unit off, and it may happen soon if it hasn't already happened already, because the water is down over a foot here this season.

 

Honestly, I don't know if these recreational watercraft are equipped with any electronics so I am unsure if they simply don't know its that shallow...or they have electronics and they're just inattentive to it.

There will be new wake boat rules coming down the pipe here in MN pretty soon.  The University of Minnesota Twin Cities is conducting a state-funded research project on the impact of them on everything from fish populations, shoreline erosion, etc.  Its likely that new rules will result in a much larger distance from shore they can be used, and only during certain hours of the day.  Will be very welcome rules here IMO

I agree, They make it impossible to leave a boat tied to a dock here . 

[gim]

1 minute ago, ajschn06 said:

 

Why would they check your angling licenses if you were driving the boat?

Specifically, my Father was operating the outboard (tiller).  I was a passenger.  I just found it to be odd that they wouldn't even check our angling licenses, being that they were a water patrol authority.  Apparently the County Water Patrol doesn't care about whether we are fishing legally, they only care about registration, PFDs, etc.

 

@MN Fisher, do they check your fishing license when they pull you over on Tonka?  I think the primary thing they are looking for is intoxicated boaters.

[MN Fisher]

Just now, gimruis said:

do they check your fishing license when they pull you over on Tonka?  I think the primary thing they are looking for is intoxicated boaters.

The times the Sheriff's patrol pulled me over - no...they just made sure I had my registration tag, and PFD handy.

The couple times it was an actual DNR-EO, ya...they saw rods, tackle, and asked to see my fishing license.

[TnRiver46]

5 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Specifically, my Father was operating the outboard (tiller).  I was a passenger.  I just found it to be odd that they wouldn't even check our angling licenses, being that they were a water patrol authority.  Apparently the County Water Patrol doesn't care about whether we are fishing legally, they only care about registration, PFDs, etc.

 

@MN Fisher, do they check your fishing license when they pull you over on Tonka?  I think the primary thing they are looking for is intoxicated boaters.

They typically have to see you psychically cast/troll or hold a rod before they can write a no fishing license ticket. But if they ask before you cast, no harm no foul I suppose if you show it to them. Also if you are alone in a boat full of rods, they have probable cause haha

[MN Fisher]

Just now, TnRiver46 said:

They have to see you psychically cast/troll or hold a rod  before they check the fishing license 

Nope - the times the DNR-EOs pulled me over, I was just cruising to a new spot...so not actively fishing. Them seeing rods and tackle was enough to ask about my fishing license.

[ajschn06]

5 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Specifically, my Father was operating the outboard (tiller).  I was a passenger.  I just found it to be odd that they wouldn't even check our angling licenses, being that they were a water patrol authority.  Apparently the County Water Patrol doesn't care about whether we are fishing legally, they only care about registration, PFDs, etc.

 

@MN Fisher, do they check your fishing license when they pull you over on Tonka?  I think the primary thing they are looking for is intoxicated boaters.

I’ve had dnr pull up to me while I was fishing on the river and ask for it… understandable.  I’d be annoyed if I was out driving the boat and they asked for that though…

[TnRiver46]

5 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Nope - the times the DNR-EOs pulled me over, I was just cruising to a new spot...so not actively fishing. Them seeing rods and tackle was enough to ask about my fishing license.

Yeah I edited that. You being alone with rods is pretty good case haha. They also look at anyone with binoculars before they ever pull up on you here 

 

however had you been unlicensed and they didn’t see you fish, they wouldn’t have a case 

[ajschn06]

3 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Nope - the times the DNR-EOs pulled me over, I was just cruising to a new spot...so not actively fishing. Them seeing rods and tackle was enough to ask about my fishing license.

Is it though?  I have rods in my boat, so if my wife takes the kids out swimming she needs a license to drive a boat with tackle in it?

[TnRiver46]

1 minute ago, ajschn06 said:

Is it though?  I have rods in my boat, so if my wife takes the kids out swimming she needs a license to drive a boat with tackle in it?

Well he offered to show it to them so you’ll never know. Like I said they’ve usually already been watching 

[cyclops2]

They are supposed to ask while you are holding a line in the water. NOT just  driving around.   The license is for ACTIVLY fishing. Not possession  of fishing boat or equipment.

Open your car trunk !!  Guilty.

[MN Fisher]

3 minutes ago, ajschn06 said:

Is it though?  I have rods in my boat, so if my wife takes the kids out swimming she needs a license to drive a boat with tackle in it?

If the rods and tackle aren't spread out on the deck...I wouldn't worry it. Mine were 'strewn' about, so obviously 'in use', if not at that exact moment.

[cyclops2]

Do not buy fishing gear without a license ?   Really ?

 

  I humor them. What a dull job.

[TnRiver46]

Just now, MN Fisher said:

If the rods and tackle aren't spread out on the deck...I wouldn't worry it. Mine were 'strewn' about, so obviously 'in use', if not at that exact moment.

It was the fisherman’s hat that gave it away 

[MN Fisher]

Just now, TnRiver46 said:

It was the fisherman’s hat that gave it away 

Actually, I was wearing a Blue Oyster Cult ball cap one of those times...no hat the other.

[TnRiver46]

3 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Actually, I was wearing a Blue Oyster Cult ball cap one of those times...no hat the other.

Well you most certainly don’t fear the reaper 

 

also impressive that you could recall your hats on those days 

[MN Fisher]

3 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Well you most certainly don’t fear the reaper 

 

also impressive that you could recall your hats on those days 

If I wore a hat out on the lake back then, it was always the BOC cap...so easy-peasy.

[TnRiver46]

6 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

If I wore a hat out on the lake back then, it was always the BOC cap...so easy-peasy.

[MN Fisher]

Just now, TnRiver46 said:

Still have the cap too - got it when I hit their 'Fires Tour' back in the early 80s - Lincoln, NE when I was in Omaha courtesy of the USAF.

[Bird]

Was recently fishing a lake in WV with multiple wake zones due to large resort. 

Watched several boaters at full speed inside wake zones and slow down outside of it.

The signs even said entering and exiting. It was frustrating because I was deliberately fishing inside of wake zones. 

[David 7]

I fish a variety of different ponds and lakes but the small ponds are always the most peaceful. No motors. Sometimes it’s worth getting in a kayak and going on a small pond if you’re able. 

[Bankc]

I don't think I've ever seen a lake patrol boat in Oklahoma in my entire life.  Every time I've been asked for my fishing license or boater registration, it's always been at the dock.  I'm sure they exist.  But I can't recall ever having seen one.  

 

Anyway, most of the things people do on the water would annoy me if I let them.  It seems like the more someone spends on a boat, the more entitled they feel to do whatever they want with it.  But fishing isn't about getting angry over things you can't control.  Fishing is all about focusing on the things you can control and reacting proportionally to the things you can't.  

[gim]

1 hour ago, ajschn06 said:

I’ve had dnr pull up to me while I was fishing on the river and ask for it… understandable.

Let me just clarify that the Hennepin County Water Patrol is a completely different law enforcement entity than the DNR Conservation Officer/Game Warden.  The Hennepin County Water Patrol mostly just operates on Lake Minnetonka (although I have seen them on other lakes on rare occasion) and they are out there to enforce boating laws, watercraft requirements, and especially looking for drunk boaters.  I don't think they are checking game/fish laws or checking licenses.  They didn't check ours the one time I referenced above, which is why I wanted to hear if they had checked @MN Fisher when they stopped him.

 

I think if you had rods/reels/tackle in the boat tucked away in storage but didn't have an angling license, I don't think that would be cause for citation.  If they were strewn about and/or they saw you using it without a license, that would be a problem.  However, there are lake-specific rules here too that state you cannot even possess specific gear when there is a closed season.  For example, there is a night ban for walleye fishing the entire open water season on Mille Lacs from 10pm - 6am and you cannot possess walleye "tackle" during those hours.  Only muskie fishing is permitted at night, and therefore that is the only gear you can have aboard.

[scaleface]

5 hours ago, gimruis said:

I've seen this too but I don't wave my arms frantically trying to get their attention.  I let them go through the shallow area at their own risk.  One of these days they are going to rip their lower unit off, and it may happen soon if it hasn't already happened already, because the water is down over a foot here this season.

I would rather prevent an accident than witness   a fellow tear up his rig .