Thread: Launch Fees

How does the expense for an existing concrete ramp go up?

ripoff!

Just my opinion,they're aint 10 dollar's worth of fish in herrington lake unless you have figured it out.I can't catch a cold on that thing.

Is that per launch or per season? If per launch, somebody needs to accidentally dump a load of concrete on the ramp.

I don't have a problem paying a reasonable fee for my outdoor activities but lots of marina operators are acting like fishermen are just too much trouble to mess with. Kuttawa Harbor used to allow free launching at their ramp (built by the Corps) and we ate at their place, bought supplies and bait. They went to $5 per launch and we and most everyone else went to the public ramps and I will never buy another red $,01 worth of anything from them. Just my own private little protest for them charging for something my tax money paid for in the 1st place.

Originally Posted by HunterShewmaker

I just noticed that Herrington Lake Marina increased there launch fee to $10 from $5. That does it for me. I'm unable to afford to fish from this ramp. With the increase in gas and bait and ramp fee it's not cost effective. What are the launch fee's at other ramps on Herrington.
Herrington Lake Marina is a great place. I'm not slamming them for increasing the ramp fee. I understand there expences are going up also. But it seems to me that if you raise the ramp fee that fewer people will use it. Sells will decrease at the marina in return.What do you think?

Herrington Lake Marina hasn't been all that crazy about fishing people, since they opened. They cater more to the ski crowd and those that moor their boats at the marina slips. I don't think they'll lose much sleep over not collecting launch fees, as the restaurant & boat slips probably keep them in the $$

I don't know what the rates are, at the other ramps ... but I'd sure like to know (if anyone out there can fill us in) !!
......................

Now - to address the questions/statements of:

Quackrstackr - these are not "public" ramps ... all the land around Herrington Lake is privately owned. The water is owned by the Elec Co that operates the Dam/Power Plant.

Slipped Cork - yes, it can be quite intimidating/humbling, at times. But, believe me, there are good fish in that lake !

mrdux - the launch fee is "per launch". Like everything else, it's increased over the years. I've seen it rise, over the years ... but, $5 per launch has been the normal fee for quite some time. And Herrington is not a Corp lake, or state lake ... As I told Quackerstackr, water is owned by utilities conglomerate, land is owned by private citizens (homes/marinas). The Marinas built & maintain their own ramps. Everything costs everybody more ... so, we, the end users (anglers/boaters), pick up the tab to keep them in business.

.... cp

I wasn't questioning who actually owned the ramp.

It's hard for me to imagine any increased expense in the cost of a static, concrete ramp that was poured years ago unless there has been recent upgrades or repairs. The ramps around here are pretty much maintenance free.

If there were any Corps or state funds that went into the ramp, they couldn't charge a nickel for it's use. They tried to start that on KY lake several years ago and had to recant after it was challenged.

I would imagine that your first statement was 100% on. Most of these marinas cater to pleasure boaters with big cruisers that spend big $ renting slips and don't want their boats dinged up from any lowly fisherman's wake. They are the reason that fishing in several of the bays on lakes across the state have been deemed off limits to fishing entirely (still not sure how that one can stand). They are also attempting to have the state legislature tell the Corps and the TVA when they can raise and lower the water levels on KY and Barkley lakes and are once again up in arms to have all of the grass killed off.

Originally Posted by Quackrstackr

I wasn't questioning who actually owned the ramp.

It's hard for me to imagine any increased expense in the cost of a static, concrete ramp that was poured years ago unless there has been recent upgrades or repairs. The ramps around here are pretty much maintenance free.

If there were any Corps or state funds that went into the ramp, they couldn't charge a nickel for it's use. They tried to start that on KY lake several years ago and had to recant after it was challenged.

I would imagine that your first statement was 100% on. Most of these marinas cater to pleasure boaters with big cruisers that spend big $ renting slips and don't want their boats dinged up from any lowly fisherman's wake. They are the reason that fishing in several of the bays on lakes across the state have been deemed off limits to fishing entirely (still not sure how that one can stand). They are also attempting to have the state legislature tell the Corps and the TVA when they can raise and lower the water levels on KY and Barkley lakes and are once again up in arms to have all of the grass killed off.

Not all ramps at Herington are "concrete" .... some elected to use asphalt :p ... but, nonetheless --- with the rise/fall of 20-30ft of water being the norm, the ramps do suffer erosion. And since it's their property/business ... they can always profit from the use of the ramps, by us.

Used to be a fee to launch at Taylorsville, but that's been removed ... probably part of the launch fee debaucle you're talking about. My heartiest appreciation to those that challenged that deal.

.. cp

Just filled my truck up with gas 109.00 dollars'.Stopped at kroger 97.00 dollar's and only got 7 bag's of grocerie's.I wont pay 10 dollar's to launch my boat at my favorite lake or anywhere else in the US,and my boat need's gas now,along with lawn mower,tiller,weed eater and wife's car.I understand it is all private at herrington and they can keep it private.I wont support their fee's and that's just from my point of view.