Braved the Nelle again

[Jig-fisher]

Gave another shot to Jordanelle this morning. Launched at 615, didn't catch a fish until 815. Some scattered bows and a few kokes. Power squadron was worse than 2 weeks ago, probably won't be back, at least on a Saturday.  Nothing big today, except 2 that came off near the boat.

[2knots]

Looks like the ones you got are good and fat. I dropped my buddy off at the airport at noon and when I went by Willard the north marina lot looked full and the lake was covered with boats, guess everybody was in go mood today.

[fmrusmc]

We drove past on our way back from starvation. Looked like you could walk across the lake with all the boats. That was about 5:00 P.M.

[Jmorfish]

I also 'gave it another shot' early Thurs A.M. with a buddy..Started our troll 1/2 way up the arm, to the bouys, with a few other boats in the area..4 poles deep, no hits, no errors..they left, we left, but gave it a try again...Went back to the 'Rainbow Zone', like last week, fought the Trash Boat waves, got our 'bows, then got out of there...last time Jordanelle for me this year..

[Jig-fisher]

Looks like the ones you got are good and fat. I dropped my buddy off at the airport at noon and when I went by Willard the north marina lot looked full and the lake was covered with boats, guess everybody was in go mood today.

Thanks Alan, I'm happy with what we got. It's tough with all the rocking and rolling.

---

We drove past on our way back from starvation. Looked like you could walk across the lake with all the boats. That was about 5:00 P.M.

It was bad. It would be nice if some of those wakeboard boat owners would go back and familiarize themselves with boat safety laws. Proximity just doesn't register, or they don't care.

---

I also 'gave it another shot' early Thurs A.M. with a buddy..Started our troll 1/2 way up the arm, to the bouys, with a few other boats in the area..4 poles deep, no hits, no errors..they left, we left, but gave it a try again...Went back to the 'Rainbow Zone', like last week, fought the Trash Boat waves, got our 'bows, then got out of there...last time Jordanelle for me this year..

We could have limited if we would have kept some of the bows as well. They are nice and have koke colored fillets. Nothing wrong with them at all. We just tried to eke out limits of kokes, which didn't happen.

Those wakeboard boats made it like being out in the ocean. Very bumpy ride.

[Mooseman75]

Isn't it frustrating that a group can make life so miserable for others but I just cringe at power squadron and when people tell me they water ski or jet ski I automatically picture them as a power squadron..... Mind you some are family and friends so I know they try to be respectable as they can but I automatically want to judge. Now my kids are trying to get me to take them out on a tube pulled behind my boat and I'm judging me now lol

[doitall5000]

I know your frustration. Kids just want to have fun, but not good enough for me.
I wish the state parks people would find some way of Requiring Training and acknowledging the understanding of the laws and courtesies before granting the years registration.
It is becoming so crowded and out of control I guess just waiting for some more deaths may help to convince the state. I know the paddle boarders would appreciate the help.
Please boaters report violations.

[Fowl-Hook]

I know your frustration.  Kids just want to have fun, but not good enough for me.
I wish the state parks people would find some way of Requiring Training and acknowledging the understanding of the laws and courtesies before granting the years registration.
It is becoming so crowded and out of control I guess just waiting for some more deaths may help to convince the state. I know the paddle boarders would appreciate the help.
Please boaters report violations.

The majority of State Park enforcement takes place at the ramp, any training requirement is just another excuse to do less on the water while generating lots of new revenue form paper violations. My dash is already too full of crap certificates trying to  comply with this and that pipe dream. One more online quiz and certificate will not teach you what your parents should HAVE.

[Jig-fisher]

I don't blame any of them for using the lake and having fun. I find it interesting that most of those driving the wakeboard boats aren't young, they are middle-aged and should know better. I play both sides. My family would rather play than fish. My boat is set up to remove nearly all fishing related items, trolling motor, downriggers, pole holders, etc. I remove the back seat when fishing, then put it back in when we play. When we play, I make sure I give plenty of room to everyone else. I don't have a wakeboard boat (couldn't afford one, don't want one) but I know the proximity laws and just try to respect everyone else. I had a smaller boat for years and know how easily it is to get in trouble.

[chubby chaser]

I know your frustration.  Kids just want to have fun, but not good enough for me.
I wish the state parks people would find some way of Requiring Training and acknowledging the understanding of the laws and courtesies before granting the years registration.
It is becoming so crowded and out of control I guess just waiting for some more deaths may help to convince the state. I know the paddle boarders would appreciate the help.
Please boaters report violations.

The majority of State Park enforcement takes place at the ramp, any training requirement is just another excuse to do less on the water while generating lots of new revenue form paper violations. My dash is already too full of crap certificates trying to  comply with this and that pipe dream. One more online quiz and certificate will not teach you what your parents should HAVE.

totally agree.  I've sat in the quagmire of  boats trying to come off Jordy in the afternoon and watched the officers only stay in the no wake zone going from boat to boat checking for current tags. They need too get out and patrol the whole lake and watch for yahoos going too fast near other boats. they'd meet all the quotas pretty fast if they did that.

[Mildog]

Yep, it’s ridiculous up at Jordy the whole lake can be open and 5 wakeboard boats choose to surf in the narrow channel right among boaters, fishers, kayakers, and paddle boarders all at wakeless speed not bothering anyone else. Their activity disrupts all of the above we now call out approaching waves so nobody loses their balance by getting caught off guard! We Have several every trip at full wake speed less than the required distance just 50 feet away. Had one the other day that always seemed to lose surfer right by us so we got waves from surfing, stopping, turning and restarting all in sequence!! Quite the ride!! To top It off, just the driver of the boat and surfer no flag no observer in the boat as required!! Took a picture no bow numbers on the boat!!
Should have sent it to rangers but didn’t bother!’
I try to head home before noon before it gets bad!

[doitall5000]

Yep, it’s ridiculous up at Jordy the whole lake can be open and 5 wakeboard boats choose to surf in the narrow channel right among boaters, fishers, kayakers, and paddle boarders all at wakeless speed not bothering anyone else. Their activity disrupts all of the above we now call out approaching waves so nobody loses their balance by getting caught off guard! We Have several every trip at full wake speed less than the required distance just 50 feet away. Had one the other day that always seemed to lose surfer right by us so we got waves from surfing, stopping, turning and restarting all in sequence!! Quite the ride!! To top It off, just the driver of the boat and surfer no flag no observer in the boat as required!! Took a picture no bow numbers on the boat!!
Should have sent it to rangers but didn’t bother!’
I try to head home before noon before it gets bad!

Required distance  150 feet

[Redrebel]

Yep, it’s ridiculous up at Jordy the whole lake can be open and 5 wakeboard boats choose to surf in the narrow channel right among boaters, fishers, kayakers, and paddle boarders all at wakeless speed not bothering anyone else. Their activity disrupts all of the above we now call out approaching waves so nobody loses their balance by getting caught off guard! We Have several every trip at full wake speed less than the required distance just 50 feet away. Had one the other day that always seemed to lose surfer right by us so we got waves from surfing, stopping, turning and restarting all in sequence!! Quite the ride!! To top It off, just the driver of the boat and surfer no flag no observer in the boat as required!! Took a picture no bow numbers on the boat!!
Should have sent it to rangers but didn’t bother!’
I try to head home before noon before it gets bad!

Required distance  150 feet

It’s easier to get their quota at the ramp and on the freeway. Just look at the local news. Big article on DNR officers trying to play highway patrol. So laughable.

[MrShane]

Not only are these surfboats causing potentially life threatening situations to humans in small boats or float tubes, their waves are causing environmental damage to shoreline soils and vegetation.
Their waves are larger and at different frequency than what Mother Natures throws at the shoreline.
The simple solution is alternating days of ‘no towables’ every other day and lakes close to each other (ex: DC and Jordy, Willard and Pineview) could even alternate their days so that a surfer boat always has a place to play and at least the fisherman can pick their poison if they wanted to be bashed around on that particular lake/day.

[Mildog]

I totally agree with you MrShane. The distance requirement includes staying 150 feet from
Shore as well as boaters paddlers anglers etc. Up at Jordy they surf right next to the shore and way to close to other boats. I’ve seen paddle boarders get thrown off and I’ve come close to falling when a wave surprises me and I’m reaching out of my small boat to hook up to riggers. The wakes that travel much further than the minimum distance still have a lot of energy that absolutely erodes the shoreline and negatively impacts others. Yes they get to use the lake, but their activity impacts others to a much greater degree, than others doing their activity affects them. That’s the big difference!
Maybe they should consider making the entire river arm at Jordanelle wakeless. Many kayakers, paddle boarders and others launch at rock cliffs and stay in the arm to avoid the main lake.

[MrShane]

In the late 80s/early 90s when Jordanelle was being planned/prepared to build, I swear I remembered seeing a master plan from the State showing the entire Rockcliff arm as wakeless.
If I did not imagine that and that proposal could be found, it could be used to petition the State to designate the entire Rockcliff arm as wakeless, but I can’t find it in any of my searches.
While we are at it, Deer Creek from the island straight across to the railroad tracks up to Charleston bridge should also be wakeless!

---

In the late 80s/early 90s when Jordanelle was being planned/prepared to build, I swear I remembered seeing a master plan from the State showing the entire Rockcliff arm as wakeless.
If I did not imagine that and that proposal could be found, it could be used to petition the State to designate the entire Rockcliff arm as wakeless, but I can’t find it in any of my searches.
While we are at it, Deer Creek from the island straight across to the railroad tracks up to Charleston bridge should also be wakeless!