the channel of walnut . the pro's & con's

i was just wondering what everyone on this board's opion about haveing a law issued about boater's leaving or entering the channel of walnut .to be made by law to blow a horn or whistle when they go out the channel and come back in the channel of walnut. or should the pfbc stop & band all fishing from the marina to the lake from may till nov. what is your feeling's about this matter?

how can the shore fisherman & the boater's both win?
 
i would really like to read what your opion's are. positive or negative.
 
you have to addmit something need's done.

dave.

Keep it civil and say no fishing in the channel unless handicapped or a child with an adult.
The stream fisherman have been on the good side of the Lake Erie Stamp money for the past few years with little spent on the boaters. Let's give the boaters a brake.
Chris

while i only fish the mouthes a few times a year(wind/wave conditions and docks get removed at the end of october) i have never witnessed a boat that has not sounded a horn/noise device while entering or exiting the channel. no reason not to sound a device. its the boater thats going to have a problem if theyre not seen.

as far as entering the channel too quickly, i've posted this encounter many times. there were bad conditions one morning a few years ago, and while waiting at the courtesy dock a wco(short bald fella/white hair on sides/last name started with an "S," dont' remember his last name) came running out and issued a ticket to a boater for making a wake in the channel. best part was that the wco admitted to the guy that he didnt see the boater but one of the "computer broads/bathroom attendant/picture taker"(my words) said "whose mr. speedy coming into the channel"(wco's words)? fella pulled up to the dock and a wco told him to take his boat out and return to the dock. fella was issued a ticket for entering the channel/basin too quickly and making a wake. he apologized to us for making a wake and everybody's response was "i didnt see a wake." reputable charter captain was also there and said the same thing. anyway, shore fisherman may see conditions differently and there may not be a way for a boater to control the vessel in the channel.

personally, i always blow the horn and if conditions permit i will do my best to slow down/stop for somebody to pull in a line/fish. however, if the conditions do not permit and if other boats are coming through and cannot be steered around without causing a problem, i'm coming through. it's up to the shore fishermen to be responsible for their lines, not the boaters. you dont see boaters trolling, anchoring, or casting lines in the marina/channel.

ORIGINAL: *commander*

i have never witnessed a boat that has not sounded a horn/noise device while entering or exiting the channel.



Realy?....Wow I spend maybe 3-5 days each early fall fishing the wall always on the south side away from the boats but most times I have fished thier I have seen boats( it does vary each time thier from all sounding off to almost half quiet as a mouse) never make a sound coming in and out, with many in very calm conditions making very exsessive wakes while going at a way to fast speed. I boat myself and know from just looking at the water and waves if its bad or not. Had this one guy come in so fast one day I though for sure he was going to crash into the wall making the turn in, he did not crash but did push enough water in a calm condition that it splashed over the wall. zero excuss for that behavior.



I can understand what Chrisrowboat is saying and I would not have a problem with making it a handicapted/ kids area after say Oct 1st (but be a all access again after December so the ice fisherman could enjoy it )after the fish have had a chance to get upsteam a spread people out a bit.

ORIGINAL: *commander*


did you say anything to the boat/boats that did this? not saying its you as ive never seen you comment on this topic before, however, like many topics, it seems like theres a lot of guys that say something about issues/problems here that dont say anything to the people that are causing the problem at the time it happens.

Yes I did give him an ear full but all I got was a lame excuse about his motor having staled so he had to come in that fast so it did not stale again all the while having a good working kicker.lol



Myself I will not complain about something I see after the fact of observing it. I will let the person know as politely as possible(most times but can get a bit nasty if prevoked..lol) they were out of line. If I had a nickel for every time I called someone out for breaking fishing ,hunting and boat rules I could very easily aford to take my dream trip to Alaska.

I just can't make my self fish on the wall with 40 other people. It just doesn't seam like fishing to me. It's more like a carnival game for 6 year old toddlers at the fair. 
 
 
MM

If you make it a law at Walnut Creek, you have to make it a law for every marina / harbor in the United States. How else would any boater entering Walnut Creek by boat for the first time be aware of any such law. Understand that not every boater that uses a marina launches, or permanently slips their boat there. There are manu people that travel (vacation) by water, stopping at marinas along the way to re-fuel, or maybe transient slip for the night, and it might be their first time at Walnut. What are you going to do, install huge lighted signs stating this law at the entrance of the channel at Walnut?

Exactly, why can't we all just get along?! After all boaters and shore/wall fisherpeople have a common goal, catching fish. Please, everyone try and show a little humanity and follow the laws. Even if you don't agree with the law always, we still need to obey big brother or pay a fine. Sounds pretty simple to me. Maybe there should be a WCO officer that makes sure he informs everyone on the wall of the laws, I mean lets keep them busy, thats our money at work! After reading the post about the wake violation, an officer needs to watch the wall better.