Parking Permit? What Parking Permit????

[Marc Martyn]

Today I went to Davis Lake up by Usk to do some fishing. I got on the water about noon and there was one other vehicle in the parking lot with a parking permit hanging from his mirror. About 5:00 p.m. I headed back to the launch and found about 50 people on the launch and shoreline swimming, sun bathing and having picnics. There was no room at the launch area to beach my pontoon boat. Finally a group left a sandy area and I was able to land the boat.

Looking around the overfilled parking lot, I saw 3 vehicles(one of which was mine) with a WDFW parking permit hanger and the other 9 with no permit, either a WDFW or Discover Pass.

It made me wonder if there are that many people out there that are misinformed about the new law, or is it that they just don't care. It seems that only the sportsman are educated on this and abide by it.

Davis Lake has a "WDFW Boat Launch", not a county park and swimming beach.

[Lotech Joe]

I know what you mean Marc. It's like when we were at Medical Lake a couple of years ago and there was a family picnicking at the public LAUNCH when there was a public PARK about 100 yards away. You remember that time don't you? When their dog tried to get into my float tube with me while I was trying to get out of the water. Lately, the more remote the location, the more I like it.

[hewesfisher]

Today I went to Davis Lake up by Usk to do some fishing. I got on the water about noon and there was one other vehicle in the parking lot with a parking permit hanging from his mirror. About 5:00 p.m. I headed back to the launch and found about 50 people on the launch and shoreline swimming, sun bathing and having picnics. There was no room at the launch area to beach my pontoon boat. Finally a group left a sandy area and I was able to land the boat.

Looking around the overfilled parking lot, I saw 3 vehicles(one of which was mine) with a WDFW parking permit hanger and the other 9 with no permit, either a WDFW or Discover Pass.

It made me wonder if there are that many people out there that are misinformed about the new law, or is it that they just don't care. It seems that only the sportsman are educated on this and abide by it.

Davis Lake has a "WDFW Boat Launch", not a county park and swimming beach.

This is one of my major pet peeves about going to Silver Lake. The boat launch dock is used as a swimming dock all the time, and you have to negotiate around people swimming and fishing in the launch lanes to launch or recover a boat. Like you said Marc, it's a WDFW public launch area not a swimming/picnic/park/fishing area. [-x

I still think WDFW should post signs at the launch areas stating they are for launching/recovering boats only, no swimming, wading, picnicking, fishing, etc.

I don't want to go into the numerous vehicles parked without a pass.

[Bodofish]

There's a couple things you can do:

1. B1tch about it on a forum that neither the offenders or controlling Govt agency read (Save for one, Stacie.).

2. Call the Sherif and make sure they know it's a safety hazard. They can write tickets just like the WDFW officers can.

3. I know this one is repugnant to darn near everyone on the list. Go tell them what they are doing wrong. Most WDFW launch and fishing sites have a sign with a WAC or RCW outline what can and can't be done at the facility.

[Steelheadman12]

I would have to agree with Bodofish. Simply being upset about it on the forum does nothing. I am not in anyway passive/agressive. I let them know and if the offending party does nothing about it simply turn them in. It's that simple. I educate prior to turning them in giving them every chance to fix the issue. Do something about it or it will continue.

[Marc Martyn]

I thought about calling it in, but one problem. Zero cell phone coverage at the lake. No coverage until you drive back into Riverside, 20 miles from there. Then you have one deputy and one WDFW officer for the entire county.

[Steelheadman12]

I would still place a call to the WDFW just to be on the up and up. Maybe that way they can swing out there from time to time and check on things when they aren't busy.

[Bodofish]

There ya go! If the powers that be don't know, everything is good. Ignorance is bliss. Say can you pass me another donghnut?

[fishingboy]

A discovery pass are for State parks. The WDFW permit is for fishing on boats, or fishing by shore. If you bought your WDFW permit by July 1st You can you that for state parks but still have to pay 7 bucks!

[edge540]

I have placed several calls upon arriving at lake wilderness to find the whole launch area and parking plugged with non permitted vehicles. They use the area for picnic, tennis court, swimming and park access.

I printed 200 flyers and keep them in the glove box. It simply explains that they are parked illegally and must have a valid permit. "The area inside the gate is for fishing access only"

Hoping some education helps

[MarkFromSea]

"WDFW maintains Water Access Sites throughout Washington state offering boaters and bank fisherman access to lakes and waterways." from WDFW website.

Occasionally there are tickets on illegally parked vehicles with trailers in the Kenmore ramp. Kenmore police swing through there pretty frequently, I suspect and applaud the Kenmore police for ticketing these vehicles if they are writing them. Lots of local police or deputies are unaware of the rules surrounding game regulations and how important their role is in enforcing these regulations. They have been trained to target moving violations, domestic violence, drugs, and other crimes against property and persons. WDFW enforcement officers are spread quite thin. It might take a lot of anglers calling and writing letters directly to your local sheriff to encourage them to scoop up that revenue from parking offenders and in so doing reduce congestion at the ramp in the future. In this case, I believe it's the police/deputies that need to be educated.

[hewesfisher]

There's a couple things you can do:

2. Call the Sherif and make sure they know it's a safety hazard. They can write tickets just like the WDFW officers can.

Done that, but it didn't do any good.

3. I know this one is repugnant to darn near everyone on the list. Go tell them what they are doing wrong. Most WDFW launch and fishing sites have a sign with a WAC or RCW outline what can and can't be done at the facility.

There's another thing you can do, quit using the facility and go somewhere else. I got tired of being chastised by those who felt it was their "right" to put their lawn chair and cooler in the launch lane so they could fish, or sit and watch their kids and dogs swim, or just sit and get drunk. What do you mean I have to move so you can launch a boat??? I can only tolerate just so many idiots, and Silver Lake is no longer a place I go as it exceeded my capacity.

[Matt]

Bottom line is a lack of enforcement. Just like any of the other 1 million or so stupid rules we all abide by. I can't even put a number on the amount of times I have just parked and forgot to put my pass out but have NEVER been ticketed.

I have not even had my fishing license CHECKED by WDFW enforcement in over 10 years..... and I fish over 40 hours per week.

[tnj8222]

I have never been checked in my bass boat, but have been multiple times shore fishing. I think shore fishers are the worst offenders and they know that.

[Rich McVey]

There's a couple things you can do:

1. B1tch about it on a forum that neither the offenders or controlling Govt agency read (Save for one, Stacie.).

2. Call the Sherif and make sure they know it's a safety hazard. They can write tickets just like the WDFW officers can.

3. I know this one is repugnant to darn near everyone on the list. Go tell them what they are doing wrong. Most WDFW launch and fishing sites have a sign with a WAC or RCW outline what can and can't be done at the facility.

4. Back into the launch with the motor up and running. The spinning prop will clear the way...

[Bodofish]

You don't even need to start it up. So far my score is two lawn chairs and zero dumb@sses. The squaters know there is no enforcment. It's also a good time for open carry......