A few things from this weekend.
 
1) Have they changed the rule on the lake, that you can now jump off of your boat and swim in the middle of the lake, outside of the designated swimming areas?  There were at least 2 different rental pontoons with large blow up rafts, and adults in the water.  Of course, anchored right on the road bed...  I am noting rental, as if this isn't legal, what are the rental people thinking when the renters show up with these things and strap to the top of the pontoons?  Another private pontoon anchored on the road bed, with people swimming but no blow up rafts.  It seemed like about 1:20 boats on the water, had someone in the water.  Granted, it was sunny hot, humid and fishing was slow.  Besides the one back troller, that seemed to be the only one catching.  I think that dude catches whenever he is out, which seems to be EVERY time I am out, and probably 10 times that too!  I'm sure it is one of you guys.
 
2)  What is going on at the Bear Run launch?  Not talking about how crowded.  That was touched on above.  But the small "jetties" between the launch and pier jetty?  Are they going to expand down there?  They need about 5 more ramps to keep up with the demand.
 
3)  I agree with MyWar on the rental pontoons.  I have always felt that way.  I am under the impression that most of these guys have never driven a boat before.  Half are getting drunk on the lake.  Half think since they spent $500 or whatever ludacrisp amount, gives them the right of way.  Most do not understand that boats and cars drive a bit differently...
 
4)  This really just comes down to how packed the lake has become.  Kayaks are much more popular than they used to be.  More places to rent as well.  Stand up paddle boarding is getting huge too.  All of these are combined with the sail boaters and pleasure boaters that have always come out more in the July-Aug months.  Fishermen are pretty much in the minority on the lake at this time of year, be it kayak, shore or fishing boat.  Sure, some rentals have people fishing from them, but l am talking guys that their only reason there is to fish.  We need more still water in SWPA to keep up with the demand.
 
5)  Arthur is the Dead Sea!!!  Ha, ha.  A few small nibbles and one nice take and miss was it for us.  Was still good to get out and enjoy the day.  I'm glad fishing is slow when the lake is so crowded.  Imagine adding 100 more fishermen to this equation.  
 
For how crowded it was, I didn't have any major incidents.  Granted, there was a line at Bear Run, and parking lot was so packed, that I blocked in a car, making a make shift staging area and not tie up the launch area. 
 
Lake Arthur Regatta this weekend, if you thought last weekend was crowded...  No thanks!

Bring on the ice fishing!! I hate summer fishing for all the reasons mentioned above,oh and mosquitos!! Now that west Nile has bin confirmed in Allegheny county, I ain't messing around with no dam skeeters these days hahaha

There was someone pulling planer boards.  My father in law says, "now I have seen it all, that guy is pulling a tuber behind him"...  I was pleasantly surprised that it was planer boards.  Not sure how he controlled the boards in that mess.  Guessing they didn't stay out too long.  If I saw someone pulling a tuber on Arthur, I do think that I would hang it up until Labor Day.  Only heading out if 50% chance of showers or more until then.

I think it was the same.  Yes, nice boat and moving at a pretty good clip.

I swear I remember PFBC being all over the lake when I fished as a kid. Now I hardly ever see them. Granted I avoid the lake during busy days, but I do end up there on Friday and Saturday mornings from time to time.

i do not care for them.  as stated by others, they're often untrained and unaware of general lake going laws.  twice this year on different lakes ive had rental pontoons come well within fly casting distance to ask if yinz is catching any?  both times ive called the rental company a few days later to ask them to remind their renters to please stay the F away from others.  

The Moraine State Park director/manager sometimes drops by this site, and seems to check on this thread.  To be honest, part of my list of concerns was somewhat directed at him...  I am not overly concerned of the items to bug them at a busy time of the year, just more curious if some rule changes.  I would imagine he and most know that many renting boats, are not experts on boating (or would likely have a boat or 4 of their own).  Not saying those of us that own are experts either, but at least have figured some things out.
 
Luckily, most boats on the lake are topping out around 10-12mph.  Usually the 14' w/ 20HP tiller, that can get up on plane, are being operated by guys that at least appear to know what they are doing.  I am still kind of surprised that any fiberglass boat with 2 adults can get on plane with a 20HP or under...

post script:  it was not an army corps lake.  it was after april 30.  he did not have to have one required by law.  
 
just fun to have dig at someone preaching grey area laws to me.  

GilliganJR
i was on a lake this year. 
 i then asked if he knew that a PFD is required to be worn at all times on a kayak??  
 
he paddled off.  

 
I see signs at the Fish Commission Launch in Freeport that a PFD is required on the river for kayaks and canoes year round. Week before last, a kid and his girlfriend carried two yaks down and put them in part way, still on the ramp, then proceded to sit in them and BS for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, I'm sittin' on the ramp with the trailer already on the steep slope waitin' to launch, engine running, brake lights and reverse lights on. Finally, they got the hint and paddled down Buffalo Creek to the Allegheny. Neither had a PFD on. The river is under control of the Corp, so they should have had vests on.
 
Don't remember if it was this latest Pa Angler & Boater or the last issue, but in the field notes where the wardens write in about their experiences, there was one in there where the water cop was driving along and noticed 3 people in a 14' aluminum boat on a private farm pond. No PFDs. He stopped and wrote all three of them for no PFDs. How is this possible? Private property! I'd have told him to get the hell out! Surely the law can't regulate you on your own farm pond. Might not have worked out any better, but I know I would have had my say!
 

Experience on Arthur is highly dependent on where you launch, what time and day you go, and the weather.  If you don't like kayakers and SUP people you must avoid McDaniel's launch.  There are several places that guide/rent using that launch.  They aren't all bad people, but they ALL seem to think they need to scream to hear each other.  They paddle up and down that whole finger.  And the non_fishing kayakers will run right through your lines, between you and shore, withing 5 feet of you without blinking.  
 
Back in the day (20 some years ago) if you fished Arthur on a weekend you WOULD get checked.  Now I'm not even sure that's still a possibility.  I have not been stopped or even seen a PFBC boat on the water in the last ten years.  Outside of one time they were called on a PWC idiot, and they were in cars not boats.  I see the warden from the Bear Run launch occasionally drive down to the loop.  He never talks to anyone, never gets out of the car, never chases any of the illegal fools fishing right next to the launch.  It's pathetic.  Rule of law on Arthur is a joke.  
 
Then again, when they used to stop us twice in the same day we'd complain, and now that they aren't there we complain.  So we probably deserve our fates.  
 
Fished last Friday night.  Lake is murky pea green soup.  Alwives are a bit scattered and the cats we cat were all pretty small.  Not much else doing.  Typical summer doldrums.  I was planning to fish Saturday... what's this regatta business?  That sounds like bad times.  

Yinz dudes really expect to see an actual PFBC "enforcement officer" on the water, seriously?   Ummm, let me rephrase that, yinz seriously expect to see a PFBC "biologist" enforcing laws and/or teaching safety.    I mean, honestly dudes, that (in my book) would be most difficult while wearing those heavy rubber yellow suits when they do get, out of the office, onto their pontoon boat.  Although, I must say I have learned a lot about invasive weeds, that have been growing, in our waters since the beginning of man made lakes?  Can yinz even begin to imagine writing a warning, let alone a citation, while wearing rubber gloves??? 
 
No need to remind avid PA. Anglers of the miles and miles of streams, rivers, lake shores (in Western PA. alone) that have been assigned to one (as in "1") "enforcement officer".  Now, should the "enforcement" responsibilities work like some other PFBC departments where there is a "Supervisor" with enough staff, specializing in each area of responsibility as well as, less area to patrol (did I mention, or "more" staff),  yinz might expect to see those problems you speak of, non-existent. 
 
Anyways, it looks like our legislators won't be needing to oust John "SOS" Arway after all.  Unfortunately I don't know, if there will will be an improvement with the "enforcement" department as a result but, the PFBC will have an opening effctive Nov. 2nd 2018.
 
Anyway, being the guy I am, please join me in wishing Mr. Arway a happy and well deserved retirement.
 
https://www.pennlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/08/pa_fish_and_boat_commissions_j.html
 
 
 
PS.   Should the above link, fail to work.... not my problem.

What they need to do is hire a real administrator, not promote a biologist, LEO, or conservationist. Someone with a business background that can make hard, data driven decisions about the financial situation and react accordingly with regard to resources, staffing, revenue streams, legacy costs, etc.

psu_fish
Cant blame him for getting out while he can. Highly doubt the new director will have much success bringing in new $$

Agree, none of the legislators want their name attached to a license increase (i.e. tax increase), to be used against them when re-election time comes.  Even if it happens to be the smart thing to do.  Granted, from this article alone, I have no clue what the smart thing to do is.  Maybe there is a lot of waste and data driven decisions weren't made (which always seems to be the politician's promises to change to be elected, but find it impossible to do)?  If so, they can cut waste, besides those scamming off of tax payers, who would argue with that approach?  I'm kind of doubting it is the reality though.  Like most things wrong with government, it will likely come back to legislators worrying about their personal future, and not the future of those they were hired to worry about.  
There are advantages and disadvantages about hiring from the outside, as are hiring from someone that knows what is really going on.  Proctor and Gamble, stream lining production, does not work for a company like Rolex or something that quality would suffer from streamlining.  If they could hire someone with a business background that runs something very similar, sure.  If hiring, say, a really arrogant real estate mogul.  No thanks.  Proven to fail.

One weekday night during the last week of June my wife and I were loading up the boat to leave, around midnight, when two PFC LEO's dressed in full uniforms came walking right up to us from out of the dark. They walked on through the 528 parking lot and continued onto the shoreline.
They're definitely around.

My uncle said he's been stopped 5 times in the last 2 years fishing from shore.  One of the times they pulled up on him in a boat.