Big boats on restricted HP lakes??

[nikldac]

A number of lakes have 25hp restriction...but farther south, it's a 10 hp restriction. If they made the 10 hp lakes 25hp; it would make more sense and keep every lake consistent as far as a small motor lake hp restriction.

[basscubs1]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by TomCraighead &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I chuckle at the thought of a bass boat swamping someone. I have a better chance swamping you without being on plane than on plane. I get more wave out of john boats going max speed with 10hp motors than a big motor boat on plane. Only way I could see someone being swamped is if its from your PLEASURE boaters going crazy on the lake. Had the joy of being slammed into a bank we was fishing by one of these boats less than 40 yards away and they make a turn.

As for the fishing going to crap because of bigger boats and motors on smaller lakes, that is funny as well. I think the lake would sustain no matter what type of pressure it gets as long as the lake regulations are followed.

I wish most lakes that have a hp limit would let us idle with the big motors. I don't see a problem with idling around. It works real great at a small lake like Dawson Lake. Small boats and Big motor boats fishing the same water without no problem. </td></tr></table>

[FlipIt2119]

i agree. nothing wrong with big motors being able to be idle only. i really don't think its going to increase boat traffic. people that really want to fish smaller water already have a second boat or went smaller (like me) to be able to fish those waters.

[Hoosier fisherman]

The problem with big boats and idle, is that there is alsways going to be someone that breaks the law. I have seen several big boats on newton going alot faster than idle . This is when there is a 25hp restriction.

[bucketmouth4]

Ok, here is my take on this. There are some hp restricted lake around me, some of them state anything over 10hp must operate at no wake. Others do not specify this. I have idled around these lakes with no problems and nobody getting mad. I feel that there should be no reason to limit people from idleing around on there big motors. Allowing guys to do this is much safer then letting some yahoo fly around in a rented 15ft row boat with a 10hp on it. Most of these people have no idea how to control a boat, and do not belong opperating one. I do know, and have seen, the idiots with a brand new shiny glass rig crank up their 250hp big motor and take off like a bat outa hell. Those are the knuckle heads that ruin it for all of us. Ok, rant over.

[copperhead]

I am not sure if the IDNR still has it, but a number of years ago they chose a handful of HP restricted lakes to have an idle-only rule for engines over the limit. My "pet lake" was one chosen for this trial program for one season. Initially, it was great with no problems. Soon after summer started, a number of larger boats were operating on plane screaming down the lake, one of which was even pulling a skier . This lake is only 250-300 acres in size and does not allow swimming. Soon after those "isolated incidents" the idle-only trial period was removed. And, this lake is 30 minutes from both Rend and Carlyle!

Also, I'm sure some of you will agree that the definition of 'idle' differs from person to person.... andything from engine simply engaged and creeping to nose-up-plowing "but I ain't got 'er on plane".

[reelman]

Its known to bass guys here (and everywhere) that a tin boat loaded with 2-4 folks pushes a wave 3x what a bass boat would on normal plane and maybe 30mph...

Only the very very small lakes here have any hp/wake laws...that is maybe 5% thank God...we help by not playing the cowboy or running too close to pier lines.

Once the control freak non-anglers get going with "lake laws" their ultimate goal is NO gas engines many times. Bet on that. Just never give them an excuse.

[bucketmouth4]

I agree that "idle" differs from person to person, but, no wake is no wake. How hard is that to understand?

[copperhead]

Agreed, no wake means no wake... but how big does a 'wave' have to be i order to be considered a 'wake'. See what I mean?

[local16]

As said before, in Illinois it's not the wake, rather the number of boats that an 'idle only' restriction would put on the small lakes. The locals don't want twice the number of boats on thier small lakes..I tend to agree. I use my bass boat on these small lakes with only the trolling motor and do well..I'm not saying I wouldn't rather fire up the 225 and run..

[bucketmouth4]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by copperhead &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Agreed, no wake means no wake... but how big does a 'wave' have to be i order to be considered a 'wake'. See what I mean?</td></tr></table>
Personally, I consider any wave coming from a boat to be a wake.
Robert, I agree. Most locals will not want anymore traffic on the lakes they frequent. I have also done quite well on just my tm.
I guess I just don't find the logic of not letting guys idle around. It is not doing any harm to anyone.

[copperhead]

Don't get me wrong, I agree with you. Idling around wakeless with a big motor does not bother anyone. I believe it's a case of 'over-regulate to achieve desired result'.

[FlipIt2119]

maybe its because nearly every lake within 45 minutes of me is 25hp or 10hp limit but I really don't see the traffic picking up that much on all these lakes if they went to idle only. I always figured it was more safety than anything else as most of the limit lakes here are full of stumps, humps, and other items that could do some serious damage moving faster than a 25hp or 10hp motor can move.

[dtaylor]

I have a PT185 Tracker with a 115 optimax on it. I am under horse powered and to small of gas tank to fish most big tournaments on the Mississippi River. However I do it and far pretty well. I have been considering purchasing my dream boat 20 plus ft with a 250. But living where I do in Illinois I can either run that big of boat on the Illinois and Mississippi river or I have to go clear to Mark Twain lake in Missouri or Lake Shelbyville to run wide open. Heck living here I might as well keep this boat and buy a smaller one with a 9.9 to fish 90% of the lakes around here. Living in Illinois we all might as well buy a paddle boat!

[Dennis1]

Not all true. This state has the most restricted lakes of any other states in this Country in my experience. Only IL restricts HP to the extreme they do. Other states use speed limits.

[local16]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Dennis1 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Not all true. This state has the most restricted lakes of any other states in this Country in my experience. Only IL restricts HP to the extreme they do. Other states use speed limits.</td></tr></table>
I'd think HP would be much easier to patrol then speed..

[Gambler Bob]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by copperhead &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Agreed, no wake means no wake... but how big does a 'wave' have to be i order to be considered a 'wake'. See what I mean?</td></tr></table>

If you are turning up white water you are making a wake. That is what i was told by a DNR officer. That answer there is very clear.

[copperhead]

I think the point I was making was missed. I am not arguing what a wake is or what idling is. These lakes are regulated in these manners in order to dismiss any interpretation of "wake" or "idle". Therefore, patrolling becomes much easier for the CPOs.

[Hoosier fisherman]

I think the solution is simple. Buy a small boat or put kicker motor on your big boat.

[MI17Explorer]

I do fishing trips once or twice a year in Illinois (southern IL usually), and I really find the HP limits to be a Pain (followed by some pretty significant access/launch fees for "daily" permits).

"Idle" would be a good compromise. If it isn't "just" in gear and at idle speed then it isn't at idle. We have no wakes here, and boat speeds will vary by 10 mph, not because they are not making a wake but because many don't care about the impact of the wake -- they just want to get through the no wake as fast as possible. And, you really can't get much above dead idle speed without making a wake.

A speed limit may be good (been on a few of those and it was ok), but some boats will make more wake at 20mph than they will at 40pmh.

Yep, ...... idle.