by Mike Carey, September 04, 2006

One of the things I run into on a regular basis with this web site is questions and comments about rules and fishing regulations. Sometimes I can't help but think "Why don't you just look it up yourself?". Other times I see the value of this site as a forum and a resource for people unsure of our fishing regulations. Most recently the question of using a boat that has a gas motor attached to it on a lake that prohibits gas motors came up. The reader felt that since the motor was in the upright position that it was OK. He also thought it was the lake property owners causing a fuss. Of course, the response is no and no. Reader Phil put it much better than I:

Just to echo the Editor's comment, WA law prohibits fishing from a boat equipped with an internal combustion motor on any lake where internal combustion motors are prohibited tilted up or otherwise. The key word is "equipped" and is defined in the regs so be sure to review the regs, it's our responsibility to know the rules. Believe me, ignorance of the regs won't save you from a ticket or fine.

Direct quotes from WDFW 2006 Fishing regs.........

"EQUIPPED WITH A MOTOR
A motor is attached to the floating device,
regardless of whether the motor is in the
water."

"MOTORS PROHIBITED
Fishing from a floating device equipped with
a motor is prohibited."

"INTERNAL COMBUSTION MOTORS
PROHIBITED
Means fishing from a floating device
equipped with an internal combustion motor
is prohibited."

I bring this up not to berate on the reader that didn't like the reg, but to again point out the importance of knowing and understanding the regs. Who wants to come back from a morning of fishing to receive a painful ticket to remember the day by? Not me!

Sometimes I think I should open a whole section with the do's and don'ts of our state's fishing and boating rules. Now that would be a long read! I have one myself -if a county has designated a lake as a certain horsepower or less, say 10hp, can I use my boat with the 50hp motor as long as I don't fire up the big motor and only use the trolling motor? It makes sense logically that I'd be OK, but I have a feeling enforcement uses a different set of logic. Which just goes to show, you'd better make sure you check your assumptions at the boat launch or you may regret it.

Happy fishing!