Northwest Fishing Reports

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if it's on the boat, it's a ticket. Period.

I just posted your report. The guy has incorrect information. It's a county ordaniance and the "warden" was wrong. The law is there for water quality issues. I've seen the same violations on Rattlesnake and Star, and it really bugs me. It's all about protecting the water quality.

As far as reporting, I guess you would contact the police, report a non-911 violation and if they have the time they would come out, then of course the officer would have to be aware it was an ordinance violation as well.

We have another thread elsewhere on the site that lists some of these lakes. It is confusing, because there is also a gas motor size restriction (for example, Cassidy lake), which says no motors over 8hp "may be used" meaning you can drop your bass boat in BUT you can't fire up the big motor.

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I saw a a boat with a motor while at steel lake the other day and wondered the same thing. I was told be another angler that the boat was there looking for possible growth of milfoil. They were putting around and not a fishing rod in the boat.

Remember folks, the point that Mike made is correct. It has nothing to do with the WDFW fishing regulations. Do not look to the reg. Pamphlet for the deciding info.
It is county ordinance. Yes, a few lakes in rhe regs will mention it, i.e. maybe Pass lake, etc..

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gfakkema wrote:Thanks Mike. I'm not here to nag or "police" the lakes myself, and I know that some people simply don't know the rules. It just really bothers me when they are repeat offenders that just don't care. I thought that the giant "no internal combustion engine" sign would be enough of a deterrent, but I guess they don't test for common sense or the ability to read when you get your fishing license. If I see the same people out there with gas motors installed, I may consider calling. I always try to talk to them first. I just wanted to make sure that I knew the exact rules first. Thanks again Mike, tight lines.

Once upon a time. It was okay to bag the outboard motor on the offending boat. Then row, or crank on the electric motor while on the water.

Assuming that has changed. I am curious, if the sign prohibiting use of internal combustion motors, say's the motor cannot be mounted on that boat when under way?. Or, are the sign's at the boat ramp, the older generation stating gas motors are prohibited from use.

Because the lake could be under WDFW, County, or City municipality control. That presents way more red tape than most of the General public is willing to deal with. I mean, that sign would be the most efficient method for proper education for the general public.

I just recently called The WDFW, Snohomish County, and Snohomish City parks. In an attempt to rectify questions regarding the use of Internal Combustion Motors on a Lake. After hours of searching for the "Agency in control" of that lake. Leaving voice mail messages, and waiting for the return phone call. In the end, one thought they had control, and allowed gas engine use at the time. But control had changed hands 10 years earlier, so the answer was no to the current use of motors. Of special note is, neither agency new if bagging the offending motor was allowed.

A recent post on WaLakes by a member, was informed by a WDFW officer, bagging the engine was still okay. So, some offenders don't care, others find it to difficult to get a straight answer, still others ( the older generation) is applying stale information.

I share in your frustration.

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If there are about 3 topics that come up on hear every year, and never seem to get resolved its"
1. What exactly is snagging on salmon in the rivers, and is it right or wrong.
2. Just what are those fish in Riffe lake?? Are they landlock silvers, Coho, large Kokanee? or some other termed name.
3. Where is "Exactly" is my Discover Pass good at?, and what about that pass that comes with the fishing license? and then
what about that other pass that Big 5 sells for 10 bucks??

4. And finally Who controls the management of the lakes and the gas motor issue? and just what does it all mean?

I spent one day a couple years ago calling every city govt. office, sherrifs office, county govt. WDFW etc. regarding the gas motor question. I'm TOTALLY SERIOUS about this! I got completly passed around by all offices. Nobody in the business of the cities or counties really knew how to answer the question, including law enforcement, i.e. county sheriffs.
Some of these groups tried to give me generalized answers. I explained that if you count every body of water out there, larger than 20' across, there are 1000's of them. I explained they don't all have signs at the lake.

My decision was to by every pass that is sold, Discovery, WDFW licenses passs, The Big 5 one etc.. Put them all on the dashboard at all times, at all lakes.
On gas motor restrictions...... it sucks to remove my 175lb motor, but I either do it, or I go in a float tube.
On Riffe lake's Silver, Coho, whatever Bob Johanssen. calls it..... If I don't know what it is in a lake, I just catch and release it.

It's like public breast feeding, or abortion, or gun control, or the middle east...... these are just questions that nobody seems to have answers for, so you just arm yourself with all the passes, take the motor off, and cover all your bases.

Undoubtedly, someone will recite what those fish are in Riffe lake and the truth about the various passes.

I love fishing lakes that have a restriction of no outboard motors. It certainly makes for a peaceful day of fishing. But I have an outboard that weighs more than what I care to man handle off my boat. I honestly cannot see a problem with having an outboard on a boat as long as it is lifted out of the water, which I do. And I have fished many restricted lakes without a problem. Infact, 3 years ago I was fishing Benson Lake in Mason County. There I was approached by game warden in his boat. Because the motor was out of the water, the thought never even entered my mind I was doing something illegal. And guess what. Other than asking to see my fishing license and life vest, he never said a word about my outboard. Infact he complimented me on my boat.