How far do you run your boat

[roosevelt tom]

.My daily milk run is about 10 to 12 miles total

[lakebouef5]

Well, with 200 sq. miles of water in this Delta, and 24 maps covering it....there are not many ...short runs....

[pavi69]

I fish a lot at night.... I believe it is against the law here to run at night....

Here is the law in Texas. Lots of room for courtroom interpretation.

§ 31.095. Excessive Speed
(a) No person may operate any boat at a rate of speed greater than is
reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the conditions and hazards, actual
and potential, then existing, including weather and density of traffic, or greater
than will permit him, in the exercise of reasonable care, to bring the boat to a
stop within the assured clear distance ahead.
(b) The commission may provide for the standardization of speed limits
for moving vessels. No political subdivision or state agency may impose a speed
limit not in conformity with the commission’s standards.
Acts 1975, 64th Leg., p. 1405, ch. 545, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1975. Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg.,
ch. 313, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

§ 31.096. Reckless Operation and Excessive Speed (Class B P&W
Misdemeanor)
No person may operate a vessel or manipulate water skis, an aquaplane, or a
similar device on the water of this state in wilful or wanton disregard of the rights
or safety of others or without due caution or circumspection, and at a speed or in
a manner that endangers, or is likely to endanger, a person or property.
Acts 1975, 64th Leg., p. 1405, ch. 545, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1975. Amended by Acts 1985, 69th Leg.,
ch. 267, art. 3, § 10, eff. Sept. 1, 1985.

[D.O.C. 989]

Here is the law in Texas. Lots of room for courtroom interpretation.

§ 31.095. Excessive Speed
(a) No person may operate any boat at a rate of speed greater than is
reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the conditions and hazards, actual
and potential, then existing, including weather and density of traffic, or greater
than will permit him, in the exercise of reasonable care, to bring the boat to a
stop within the assured clear distance ahead.
(b) The commission may provide for the standardization of speed limits
for moving vessels. No political subdivision or state agency may impose a speed
limit not in conformity with the commission’s standards.
Acts 1975, 64th Leg., p. 1405, ch. 545, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1975. Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg.,
ch. 313, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

§ 31.096. Reckless Operation and Excessive Speed (Class B P&W
Misdemeanor)
No person may operate a vessel or manipulate water skis, an aquaplane, or a
similar device on the water of this state in wilful or wanton disregard of the rights
or safety of others or without due caution or circumspection, and at a speed or in
a manner that endangers, or is likely to endanger, a person or property.
Acts 1975, 64th Leg., p. 1405, ch. 545, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1975. Amended by Acts 1985, 69th Leg.,
ch. 267, art. 3, § 10, eff. Sept. 1, 1985.

So basically they spent thousands of tax payer dollars and man hours coming up with a statute that could have just read Common Sense!!

[billius]

On my local lake, I usually run no more than 3-5 miles one way. Also I seldom run much over 40-45mph. My wife is my fishing partner and just doesn't like to go much faster.

[BigSexyPhoenix]

I probably don't run 20 miles total all year long. Biggest lake i fish is around 40,000 acres and I've never really seem the need to run all over it. 95 percent of the time I'm on the trolling motor fishing in about 3 minutes.

[Cfrench085]

I run 30 miles a lot in tournaments.
As for night I have no problem with running 60 or so. I have a headlight. Any obsticle is highly visible. I don't burn it continuously. By flipping it on and off I can see other boats easily. I don't shine it directly at other boats either.
As for fog at night, I've figured out a combination of slowing down, flipping the lights on and off, and gps works pretty well. Other boats are seen as the lights are flipped to off and a glow can more easily be seen in the fog. For me this situation is usually late fall when lakes are drawing down. Not much floating to start with. I discovered a boathouse without lights that had broken loose once in fog like this. Several trees. Haven't hit anything. Just a simple dodge. Just need to pay attention.
Fog in the daytime I'm not a fan of. Very spooky to run in.

[Squatchy]

Ran 70 miles off shore a few times.

[local16]

Rarely run more than 7-8 miles.

[bigkahuna71]

70-80 mile one-way runs not uncommon in Suwannee river tournaments depending on season and conditions.

[brolland]

I have fished the Ohio River during a tournament and locked thru to the Tennessee River and ran to the KY Lake Dam....about 72 miles one way!

[jdw174]

I've got more miles on the trolling motor than I do the outboard.

[Nova Kaw 650]

5 miles is a long run for us.

[Whitebeard]

My home lake is 1,200 acres, but I have to run about 12-13 miles to get out of the narrow river and on to the wide/flatter portion of the lake. Make this run most every trip out. I fish primarily at night, the river does not fish that well after dark so I usually stay down on the main lake. 90% of the time I literally have the lake to myself. Nightly fog, logs(timber country) and the bank 30-50' on either side of you makes for some VERY stressful runs (or LONG idles)back to the ramp.

[mrc.in.wi]

Anywhere from 200 feet to 10 miles. Depends on which lake I'm on.

[Alan S]

I usually run just far enough to get me to where I'm going.

[pavi69]

So basically they spent thousands of tax payer dollars and man hours coming up with a statute that could have just read Common Sense!!

Correct and if you look up our laws about speed on the highways, it says pretty much the same thing. Our posted speeds are basically a suggestion.

[Les Brown]

Lakes like Rayburn, Toledo Bend, Amistad, Texoma can be long runs on tournament days depending on where you fish.

[Basscaster]

I fish small lakes of Wisconsin and Southern IL. I usually run to the other side of the Lake.... It is always better Fishing on the other side of the Lake. Boat takes off and gets on plane and then shut her down.

[joefish]

Rainy is a huge lake. Easy to make 20 mile plus runs. I think it's 50 miles to the tip of the North Arm

Fish Rainy for 25+ years. Sorting Gap dock to Cascade Camp, where we stay, on the north arm is 28 miles.
That's about the longest run I make. Local lakes 3-4 miles is average.