Northwest Fishing Reports

While fishing with a partner today, he related to me an incident that he witnessed 3 days ago on Medical Lake. When a couple guys showed up with a boat outfitted with 2 electric motors, some other folks kindly informed them that motors of all types are prohibited on Medical Lake. The boaters became irate and stated that they had read the regulations, motors were OK, and proceeded to launch and fish, motors and all. I don't know what the endstate was to all this, but the Medical Lake listing under Eastside Lakes that I'm looking at says "motors prohibited". I'd like to think they at least got a warning and were told to obtain a copy of the 2007-2008 regulations.

There was some confusion in the past. Last year's WDFW regs (2006-2007) did not prohibit motors according to selective gear, but this clashed with the town's ordinance, which prohibits motors of all types. Confusion reigned, chaos ensued, and warning and tickets were issued.

Anyways, gents....don't take your motorized boats down there. The City of ML and the WDFW are now on the same sheet of music. Get on your sticks! Not only will you disregard a huge white sign prohibiting motors and state regs, you'll drive it right down a lake in a town where dozens of concerned locals will call 565-5003 and report you. See all those houses? People actually live in them, and...gee whiz, they have phones! And so do most of the other fishermen who will most likely be looking at you funny!

And so it goes, Raff. I'll be out there later this week and see one myself.

I am amazed how many people I see violating regs there just driving by on my way to and from work daily. I am going to start calling on them as well.