[cowboyfisherman]

First let me say this: Our boat is classified as a Fishing/Ski boat.......so, we enjoy fishing on it, as well as going out of the No Wake area and having some fun. Yes, we have passed (not real close however) to people fishing, but any lake that allows ski boats, skiing and Wave Runners has to be shared by all. Unfortunately, not all ski boat and Wave Runner drivers are courteous, but that is just the way it is.
One thing to remember guys, there are lakes and Reservoirs in Colorado that don't allow gas motors (ski boats/Wave Runners). But, as long as you "choose" to go to Chatfield, CC, Sterling, Bonny, etc., there will be
ski boats/water skiers and Wave Runners out on the lake having fun also.
Last weekend, after doing some fishing, we got out of the No Wake area and cranked up our boat to 30 MPH. That is fast on water, but it's still not 40 MPH (speed limit). Now, that 30 MPH that we were going might have seemed like "speeding" to anyone fishing, but we were well within the speed limit.
Just try and take it a little easier when "bad-mouthing" the ski boats, water skiers and Wave Runners........they are having fun on the water like you are.
Cody

 

[Guest]

Cody-

I have a fish-n-ski model, too. And sometimes I put it in "go-fast" mode. But I stay away from other boats and fishermen. The nitwits don't. So I'll continue to badmouth them all. And I'll continue to keep a rod rigged with a 2 ounce lead spoon to let fly when they come within casting distance.

Let them learn some common courtesy like the rest of us. The hard way if necessary.

 

[Guest]

I'm not radical enough to throw stuff at people but I've got a bass boat that I've had up to 35mph on lakes. I try to be as careful as I can to stay clear of people when I am going that fast. I always do my best to stay away from people wading (I won't be going that fast in shallow water anyway), slow down around float tubes, kayaks, canoes, Pontoon Boats, etc. I think it is common courtesy and I appreciate the same in return. That being said, I've been splashed by a water skier at Cherry Creek (the skier got within 10 feet of the boat - I was fishing in 4 fow), I've lost crankbaits while trolling to water skiers at McConoughy (passed across my lines, nearly broke the rod and would have if my drag wasn't loose enough), and I've been buzzed by a boat while I was fishing at Chatfield.


I agree with tolerance towards others but there is a line between reasonableness and stupidity. Reasonableness and accidents deserve tolerance. The water skier at Cherry Creek that splashed me could have wiped out in the shallow water head first and broken his neck (I doubt the driver knew anything about the topography of the lake), and the water skier that crossed my line at Lake Mac could have gotten hooked and was going fast enough it would have ripped a lot of flesh. I reserve the right to get pissy at any time stupidity is involved.

I've never had a problem at North Sterling with skiers or personal water craft - it's one of my favorite lakes (though I do have a LOT of funny stories about campers I've run into who were just traveling across country and needed a place to stay for the night). Blue Mesa is another lake that banned personal water craft because of the liability. I upped the insurance on my boat to $1 million coverage last year just because I don't feel comfortable in the metro area lakes (and why I continue to travel east - in the opposite direction of most recreational boaters).

 

[work2fish]

Well, I don't like inconsiderate boaters any more than the next guy. Last year, I lost two ENTIRE OUTFITS from boaters that ran too closely behind my lines and yanked the rods out of their holders (expensive lesson: be sure to check your drag settings on busy lakes :'( ). However, we all have to share the limited amount of water we have in the metro area and there are other places to go such as less populated lakes, no-wake lakes or mountain lakes where the cold water and high altitudes keep the yahoos to a minimum. If you are trolling in the middle of Chatfield on a weekend, then I think you are foolish to believe that all boaters will understand there are fishing lines dragging behind your boat and that they will be careful. At the same time, tickets for such poor behavior should be given freely and it would probably be a good idea to require boaters to have some sort of education as I'm sure the vast majority of boaters don't even know many of the regulations.

So, like in other areas of life, there are some things we have the power to change and others we don't. Until either new regulations are in place or there is more enforcement of existing regs which can make strides toward ensuring that boaters will be respectful, we will have to understand the risks of sharing the water and practice defensive boating and fishing!

Just my $.02

 

[cowboyfisherman]

Well.........even though I wrote this topic, I must say that I have to agree with what has been stated so far. For myself and my wife, we are just glad that we have total respect and courtesy for any of you fishing, when we are just cruising around the lake having fun.
We have never (yes, we said never) had a problem with skiers or ski boats because we have only fished once outside of the No Wake area at Chatfield. But, with the way trout or ? are not biting inside the No Wake area, we will probably end up fishing by the dam or other places at Chatfield and take the chance of being drowned by a ski boat, skier or wave runner.
Cody

 

[fisherbob]

Man could I go on about this. Well I have never really had a problem with anyone in a boat, but the idiots on personal water craft, thats a different story. I am not a very big guy but if I can hit one with a rock they are to close to where I am fishing. That is exactly what the dow officer told the poor guy with the welt on the side of his leg. Funny story but I will tell it later.

 

[shunt]

One thing that I've noticed at "no wake" lakes are the number of idiots who can't read the signs stating "no wake"...... Maybe they ought to give people an IQ test before letting them operate a boat...

 

[NeWcS]

I don't understand why these types don't have to have some sort of a license? We have to have fishing licenses & pay to get in the parks. They just have to pay to get in. Doesn't seem very fair to me. I haven't had any really problems, directly, but I have been to where I could have thrown something at someone. There should be a rule that if a 10yr old girl could throw something and hit a passing boat than that boat is to close to you!!!

It's sad, as fisherman/woman we have to either resort to fishing at night or drive for a couple hours just to find water we can enjoy.

[me=Jay_In_Parker] [/me]

ps: the worst is when you got a good troll/spread going and some a-hole water ski'er falls in your path and you have to change course. Really pisses me off.

 

[bferg_80002]

One thing I have noticed is that this conversation seems to be "fisherman vs. others" but I think ALL boaters in Colorado get way too close to each other. (Maybe this is because we do not have very many large lakes). I moved here from Missouri when I was 12 and still go back there every summer and I can PROMISE you that hardly anyone back there gets as close to another boat as boaters in Colorado do. That goes for a lot of fisherman as well.

As for Chatfield. I will NEVER take a boat out on that lake past 8:00 AM on a weekend. The bottom line is they allow WAY too many watercraft on that lake and it is only a matter of time before there is another accident there. There is simply not enough acerage to support the numbers of watercraft they allow there.

A major issue I see is a lack of law enforcement on the water in this state.

 

[NeWcS]

A major issue I see is a lack of law enforcement on the water in this state.

Amen to that.


[me=Jay_In_Parker] [/me]

 

[Guest]

A major issue I see is a lack of law enforcement on the water in this state.

Amen to that.

I complained about the lack of enforcement on Cherry Creek last year to the State Parks Department. I was very matter of fact (didn't want to come across as a trouble maker) and express my thoughts about safety concerns at the lake. I received a response from the area director that amounted to "sorry you had a bad day - please come back and visit us soon".

I'm saving the response for when someone gets hurt - I'm sure the media would love a copy of the letter.

 

[cowboyfisherman]

I'm not sure if it would be reasonable to limit the number of boats that can go on a lake, but it would be safer. CC and Chatfield are to small for the amount of boats that go on them, but most folks don't want to drive down to Pueblo or out to Sterling for 1/2 to 1 day of fun. Then, sometimes these big 4/6-sleeper, fully contained boats get on CC or Chatfield and take up room.
But remember, for the people who live in the southern part of the Denver metro area, there are only two lakes (reservoirs) that area available for PWC or skiing.......CC and Chatfield. And with the number of people in that southern area, both of these waterways are going to get filled up with fishermen, PWC and skiing.
As far as Park Rangers go, I don't think they get on the water until Memorial Day Weekend for the summer. Those Rangers are a part of the "summer crew" (I guess).
Anyway, since the population on the water isn't going to get any better, all we can do is be as safe as we can and PRAY a lot for no accidents.
Cody

 

[Guest]

Then, sometimes these big 4/6-sleeper, fully contained boats get on CC or Chatfield and take up room.

Three weeks ago I drove through Chatfield - when I was leaving (on the west side) there was someone with a house boat backing up the entrance - the house boat was too tall to clear the roof over the entrance to the park. I've only seen house boats that big on the Colorado River Lakes (Powell, Havasu, etc.). Guess the person didn't know about the east entrance?

I have to admit - there is something to be said there about the entertainment (and WOW) factor.

 

[NeWcS]

I think the thin air here makes people just plain stupid!


[me=Jay_In_Parker] [/me]

 

[TimberlineArcher]

When I go to lake powell... I get buzzed by stupid skiiers and personal watercraft all day when I am fishing!!!! then again... um... its my dad's ski boat and wave runner that are doing it all... lol...

In actuallity, if you slow down from 30mph to 20mph for "courtesy" it actually makes the wake bigger because the stern sits lower in the water, creating a bigger wake. The most annoying thing is when the big cabin cruisers pass us at LP going through the cove we are in, and they slow down, actually caused some damage to one of our boats one year.

 

[vc5150]

Great post.
My biggest complaints are about Boyd and Horsetooth. Mostly because I'm based in the north.
Boyd is unfishable on the south end from May until Sept. on the weekends. The only place people can water ski is on the south end and sometimes that's where the fish are. The problem is that many of them feel that if they can't ski on the north side, that we shouldn't get to fish on the south side. So they're complete a-holes about it.
Horsetooth isn't bad because of the skiers, but the yahoos that go into the coves to party. I'm all for hanging out and drinking beer on the water, but for the love of God turn the music down. I don't need to hear the latest 50 Cent CD like it's in the boat with me. Noise pollution is just as bad.

That being said, I sincerely hope no one ever intentionally tries to screw up my gear while trolling or otherwise. The beat down will be epic.

 

[fisherbob]

Man I am really starting to like jay in parker he sees it the way it is if it were monkeys driving them boats none of us would have any problems. HaHaHaHa

 

[AZbassernco]

i like the way Arizona fisherman deal with idiots on the water. I have seen many a time when some idiot jet boat gets way way to close. The answer we have used for years with jet boats cus it seams that alot of ski boats in AZ ar jets is a thin peice of wire behind your bout with little tiny peices of plasctic about a hundred feet back tied off with mono af about 20 lbs. what happens is jet boat comes rippen in on your stern and sucks up said stuff and they stop real quick lol man is that funny. and the law enforcement says if one of them complains about it it that it is there fault for getting in the way of guys who are fiswking and have access to nasty damage inducing things like bobbers witres weights and hooks so stay away from fisherman or learn some respect

it is hillariouse to see a 400 hp jet boat come to a screaching smoking halt

 

[bnc04]

ps: the worst is when you got a good troll/spread going and some a-hole water ski'er falls in your path and you have to change course. Really pisses me off.

You mean.. re-adjust your aim?