Small Bodies Of Water..... Motorized Vessels or Human Powered Vessels....??

[J Francho]

Looking at google maps, I see about 25 docks and only around 40% of the shoreline developed. There are a few very large homes on that lake. I'll bet they contributed heavily to have that launch built so they can have their boats. None of the boats moored look like anything I would call "high powered" but I live on an inland ocean. 

[Crow Horse]

8 hours ago, Jar11591 said:

@Crow Horse that response from the DEC is confounding to me. The DEC doesn’t own any lake but that doesn’t stop them from being the governmental regulatory body for such things. They have a facility on the shoreline so that tells me the shoreline isn’t 100% private. And even if it was, the DEC still has authority to regulate it. Unless I’m missing something, that response from the DEC seems like total pullchit. 
 

The lake I fish most is under 200 acres, and has a 5HP limit, but I rarely see any gas powered vessels out there. Another lake I fish is around 700 acres, and that lake has no restrictions and gets absolutely thrashed by power boaters, jet skiers, speeders, wake boarders, drunks, and morons. It gets downright dangerous during the day in peak season. 

I'm going to reserve judgement until I get  more information. I did follow up my first question with a second one....

 

If the DEC has no boating control of the lake, would that mean that the statewide fishing regulations are not in play?  At face value it would seem logical that both boating regulations and fisheries management regulations should be warranted.

 

I'm waiting for their reply. There's definitely a missing piece to this puzzle.

6 hours ago, J Francho said:

None of the boats moored look like anything I would call "high powered" but I live on an inland ocean. 

 

I guess "high powered" is subjective. From my kayak perspective everything is high powered.  I think we'd agree that the boat that swamped my buddy and his wife , being a 21 footer, center console, deep V with 200hp  for this body of water is overkill and ridiculous. I did learn that personal watercraft are prohibited on the lake which I'm thankful for  but it seems "bass ackwards" in logic.

[J Francho]

Logic doesn't prevail when financial influence and selfishness are concerned. On the flip side, anyone could argue that I wouldn't need a 425 hp OB for most of my fishing, but that's what I'd have on the back of my boat. I don't think I'd use it on a 70 acre lake though. My 18' pontoon or kayaks would be fine there. 

[TnRiver46]

We have no small lakes but if we did, I’d be canoeing them 

[VolFan]

Yeah @TnRiver46 but you have small pieces and backwaters of many big lakes….

[DaubsNU1]

I'm not a huge fan of Nebraska Game and Parks (don't get me started on Rainwater Basin marshes...ugh!)...but I must admit, they have hit the mark when it comes to lakes and reservoirs, especially in the Omaha metro area.

 

There is no private access to these lakes, no homes, no docks. All public.

 

There is no horsepower restriction...just a 5 MPH / no-wake rule. Kayaks and boats exist peacefully with canoes and paddle boards.

[FishTank]

I have seen few accidents and one too many close calls over the years, especially on small bodies of water.  Even with lake restrictions there are people who just don't care or have no idea. On small bodies of water, most lakes in Indiana have restrictions on what you can use. One local lake is restricted to a 9.9hp or smaller engine with a $2500 fine for using or having anything bigger.  People will argue this but I have seen enough to know that it is necessary. 

 

 

[wvhunt]

We have a 144 acre lake that requires 5 hp motors or less.  I can't imagine needing a gas motor on a 70 acre lake.

[Crow Horse]

38 minutes ago, wvhunt said:

We have a 144 acre lake that requires 5 hp motors or less.  I can't imagine needing a gas motor on a 70 acre lake.

I agree 100%.