Hurricane creek problem......

Don't know what makes everthing legal but I do know I ran across a well marked trot line with my my main motor raised and tilted and it still hung the prop. The line was all the way across the channel and the water was less than two feet outside the channel. I know because I went around it going in and scraped bottom. Coming back I decided just to cross it between the jugs. I had no choice but to cut it to get loose. It couldn't have been more than twelve inches deep. How deep does it have to be to be legal.

How shallow can you boat and be legal? Bout the same depth.

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Originally Posted by brucec

I know some trophy catfishermen that cpr and would love to cut those lines!!!! I personally don't believe that pay lakes should be allowed to buy the general public's resources to make a profit. They should have to buy there fish from private hatcheries!!!!!! I know that there has been a big stink in your state about this problem and def would stand with the sport fisherman. Dat's all I got to say about dat !!!!!!!!!! Wait I got more, How would you feel if commercial fishermen came and caught all the 2lb and bigger crappie and sold them to pay lakes? Think about that!!!!!!!!!!!

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The uproar over the paylakes is well documented in my area you're right. And I've never been to one to fish in my life & never will. The uproar is the big boys and the hoop nets that do it for a living. Day after day after day. You & I are on the same side on that matter. But how much harm can a 80 year old man in a johnboat fishing a 1/8 mile stretch of the river bank do? If the resources are that fragile it's a lost cause. IMHO

Thanks for clearing that up for me kycreekboy, fish on brother!!!!

Kcb. I have never cut a line in all the years I have been fishing. I always try to do the right thing on the water or in the woods.We all have a right to the resources that we pay for. I hate to say it but even them water fleas.I'm glad the old feller is still able to do what he loves.

A person that will cut a line is no better than the person that cuts trailer tires at ramps. Probably the same person.

After reading thru all of this thread again I'll have to say I've never saw anyone tie jugs on a trotline. But I'm not fishing any lakes either. In the river we tie one end to something (trees, roots or stumps)on the bank, stretch it out baiting the drop lines as we go and then tie it off to something heavy and drop the other end out in the channel. We want the line on the bottom not on top of the water. Check/re-bait them 3 times a day. Chances of hitting his lines with a boat are very slim. You might hit one trolling along the bank but you should see the tag/line in advance if you're paying attention.

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Originally Posted by Big C

A person that will cut a line is no better than the person that cuts trailer tires at ramps. Probably the same person.

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If it aint marked and gets all wrapped up on either of my props...its a cut line! If they take the time and courtesy to mark it i will avoid it , or my bad for getting on it and will sit for however long it takes to get it loose, but i want waste my time unwrapping a unmarked line!

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Originally Posted by Boatbottom

Don't know what makes everthing legal but I do know I ran across a well marked trot line with my my main motor raised and tilted and it still hung the prop. The line was all the way across the channel and the water was less than two feet outside the channel. I know because I went around it going in and scraped bottom. Coming back I decided just to cross it between the jugs. I had no choice but to cut it to get loose. It couldn't have been more than twelve inches deep. How deep does it have to be to be legal.

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I posted this incident in an attempt to show that sometimes stuff happens that wasn't intentional. I've never cut a marked line before and believe me, I didn't want to cut this one. Will I be more careful in the future, you bet. Did I error in thinking the line would be sunk at least a little... you bet. (The line had no baits and no weights) Next time I'll just turn around and go somewhere else. If I knew whose line it was I would be glad to compensate them. I would also ask them to be a little more considerate by weighting their line when it's in the navigable path.

Left a pretty pink bandit on the line off beach point last year. Could have cut it but cut mine instead.