Burke Lake

[rondef]

My son and I were out on Burke Lake today and we were lucky to experience a visit on the water by the VDGIF Game Warden for the first time, man were they thorough. They had a clip board with them and checked everything on the boat as well as our fishing licenses. When we got back to shore I asked how often the game warden is at Burke Lake and was told they have one on permanent assignment, he is there every day. Guys make sure you have everything with you. I guess they are cracking down on this lake due to the large volume of boats on the water. After they were done they headed over to another boat in the cove we were in and I am sure they were going to experience the same fun we did. One thing that was kind of funny was that their outboard almost wouldn't start back up, I wanted to laugh but didn't.

Things He wanted to see:

Boat registration

Fire extinguisher (he had me take it out of the boat so he could inspect it)

Fishing licenses (my son's and mine)

Emergency aids/devices (I showed him my flare gun and radio)

PFDs (personal and throw)

[VABasser]

Hmm, I've only encountered a game warden twice in VA and both times it was wading the Rapp.  I would've been good on everything but emergency aids/devices, we have no flare gun or radio in our boat.  :-/  Is it mandatory or some new reg because I don't remember those being necessary last year?

[rondef]

I don't know, he just asked if I had any. That one didn't seem like he really cared about the answer because they didn't check that one off on their list.

[flippin4it.]

     Wow, they wanted to give you a ticket!

      Did you guys have any luck? Was the water still clear as gin?

[cjbs2003]

Boat size predicates whether you need flares as well as the number and type of PFD's you need. I am not aware of any law that says you need a first aide kit with you... The VA Game Wardens are a bunch of nice guys compared to the ones in PA. The PA Fish Wardens at least the 4 different ones I have met were all A holes! So, how did Burke Lake treat you???

[rondef]

They were cool, they were also very thorough which I guess is a good thing.

Rob the water was crystal clear.  I caught a dink, Jay hooked into something big that was pulling line from his reel but lost him.  

[Chai]

oh man! me and my buddies left before that happened. I cough a nice 2lb 2oz bass there from the boat launch dock. I'll post a picture up as soon as i can get it from my buddy, its on his camera. Also caught like a half pounder in the morning. Good Fishing day. Oh its also my first bass out of Burke for the Season! Stoked. ;D

[rondef]

Chai,

Thanks for helping Jason get the boat off the trailer. Next time I launch there I will hook up the rope to the back of the boat which will make it easier to get the boat off the trailer. That lake is real low and I appreciate the extra help. Congrats on the catch today, I am looking forward to seeing the picture.

Ron

[flippin4it.]

When the water is clear at Burke, it sucks. The fish at Burke are so pressured and when you thrown in the fact that they see you too.......Forget about it.

[Trevor in Burke]

My question is why the heck do you need a fire extinguiser for an electric motor?, i don't have one all the time because I don't bring my outboard out a lot, would I have gotten a ticket for not having it? Also, since when is it a law to have flare guns an first aid, that's ridiculous.

I have a 12 ft. Jon boat with a mounted trolling motor and to my knowledge I am only required to have pfd's for each passenger, a throw cushion, a bail bucket and maybe an anchor (not sure about the anchor but i have it nyway)  I don't even think it's a law to have a fire extinguiser when i have my 9.9 mounted because it's under 10HP, boating laws are so wishy washy and hard to understand the way they're printed out, can someone clarify their interpretation of the laws for boats 12 ft and under and less the 10HP

[vaparrothead]

If you go to the VDGIF website and click the Boating link and then click the VA Watercraft Owners Guide it explains what equipment is required for what size boat and exceptions if any.  Very through site with lots of good information.  If you're a boat owner you should be very familiar with this site.

[rondef]

I had everything that was required.