State of Louisiana boating laws Saline Larto boaters need to read.

RULES OF THE ROAD FOR VESSELS
A. The following regulations shall dictate the operation of vessels upon the waters of the state and shall set forth a standard of operation. In construing and complying with these rules, due regard shall be had to all dangers of navigation and collision and to any special circumstances, including the limitations of the vessels involved, which may make a departure from the Rules necessary to avoid immediate danger.
B. Any violation of the Rules of the Road as referred to in this section shall be prima-facie evidence of careless or reckless operation.
C. Boating accidents caused by deviation from the Rules of the Road shall be documented as such in accident reports.
D. The Rules of the Road for vessels upon the waters in the state shall be as follows:

1. 14. Vessels approaching or passing another vessel shall be operated in such manner and at such a rate of speed as will not create a hazardous wash or wake.
2. 16.All vessels shall be operated at reasonable speeds for given conditions and situations and must be under the complete control of the operator at all times.

Thanks for posting to remind some people. I'd post it on the other page so everyone will see it. It's unfortunate that some won't care though.

I can say that these rules are oft ignored. I do take note because I fish from a kayak. Not many bass boats can make enough wake to bug me, but bay boats and crew boats can easily swamp me.

The basic boating laws are pretty much common sense, but don't try to explain them to a bass fisherman... hehe

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Originally Posted by stumpjumper05

The basic boating laws are pretty much common sense, but don't try to explain them to a bass fisherman... hehe

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A bass boat on plane makes little wake. If a bass boat comes down, it makes huge wake twice. I appreciate the bass guys that speed up to come by me.

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Originally Posted by PMantle

A bass boat on plane makes little wake. If a bass boat comes down, it makes huge wake twice. I appreciate the bass guys that speed up to come by me.

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100% correct,ANY boat on a good plane to wide open throttle will create less of a wake than at slower speeds...........

with that said, I find more crappie fishermen than bass fishermen will slow down to less than half throttle with the bow standing straight up in the air and throw me a 3 foot tidal wave,and think they are doing me a favor, I'd much prefer them to stay on plane or slow down to idle...........

Almost got thrown out of my boat last time out at Saline/Larto buy a fishermen who thought he was being polite as he passed me at 1/4 throttle with his motor trimmed up and bow pointing at the sky!!!!!!!!!!!

And those guys wonder why I'm staring at them :lol:

Well maybe if everyone slowed down well before a sitting boat and idled by we would not even have a small wake problem. Now stopping just before a sitting boat will give the flood wake. But I have the common decency to slow down well before a sitting boater and idle by, then put the pedal back to the pedal. Gives me a chance to say hi to a fellow stranger as well.

Hey PMantle do you give the one finger salute too? Just joking but I sure feel like it sometimes. My wife is always telling me "Be Nice".

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Originally Posted by cwalt63

Well maybe if everyone slowed down well before a sitting boat and idled by we would not even have a small wake problem. Now stopping just before a sitting boat will give the flood wake. But I have the common decency to slow down well before a sitting boater and idle by, then put the pedal back to the pedal. Gives me a chance to say hi to a fellow stranger as well.

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I guess I'll just never understand that point of view. Please fly by me when I've chosen to fish in what amounts to a boat hwy. We will both be happier for it.

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Originally Posted by PMantle

I guess I'll just never understand that point of view. Please fly by me when I've chosen to fish in what amounts to a boat hwy. We will both be happier for it.

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+1

When there is 20 boats strung out 1/2 mile in a canal, i much rather you come by me on plane. Now, im not talking about the fools who run the curves of long branch at 50 either. Be safe and be courteous to others and drive as the situation allows. And its us who choose to fish in the middle of the road!!!!!!

Not taking up for bassfisherman. But I do both scalalait and bass tournaments u have a set time to blastoff and weight-in so they run the boats to what they can handle on the curves and wide open in straight sways. I ave blow past a few boats. Sitting in a curve or behind a
Tree where u can't see them. I could shut it down on them and put a wave in there boat. I holla sorry when I past them. Some understand some don't. Just saying what I think lol

Personally, if I can see the boat before I get to it, and I usually can since my boat won't run but about 23mph, I slow down way before I get to them and idle by them. It does make it inconvient when running down a bayou that a lot of people are fiahing, but I feel like it is the right thing to do, the courteous thing to do, and safe thing to do.

The first consideration should be safety. If it can be done safely I would rather they come by on plane since it creates less wake. When we as crappie fishermen choose to fish in the boat run ("Play in the highway") we need to be prepared and watch for the less considerate boaters. Just my opinion, but you know what they say.......
God Bless

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Originally Posted by ranger-go-getter

Not taking up for bassfisherman. But I do both scalalait and bass tournaments u have a set time to blastoff and weight-in so they run the boats to what they can handle on the curves and wide open in straight sways. I ave blow past a few boats. Sitting in a curve or behind a
Tree where u can't see them. I could shut it down on them and put a wave in there boat. I holla sorry when I past them. Some understand some don't. Just saying what I think lol

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That's the problem I have with tournament fish people. There thinking of know one but them selves. The hell with everyone else.

JMO
Jig Rig

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Originally Posted by Southern Chuter

The first consideration should be safety. If it can be done safely I would rather they come by on plane since it creates less wake. When we as crappie fishermen choose to fish in the boat run ("Play in the highway") we need to be prepared and watch for the less considerate boaters. Just my opinion, but you know what they say.......
God Bless

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The crappie fish person or anyone else, has the right to fish anywhere except in commercial boats lane and not be washed with someones wake. According to coast guard regulations.

Jig Rig

You're correct Jig Rig. I said "we need to prepared for less considerate boaters". I never mentioned legalities. If you're not in a No Wake Zone how large a wake is legal................?

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Originally Posted by Southern Chuter

You're correct Jig Rig. I said "we need to prepared for less considerate boaters". I never mentioned legalities. If you're not in a No Wake Zone how large a wake is legal................?

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I should have read your post twice. My Bad.

Copy and paste from the WLF handbook.

"Careless Operation of a vessel is operating a vessel in a careless manner or at a rate of speed that does not allow the vessel to come to a stop within the assured clear distance ahead. Examples of illegal, careless operation are:

* Causing danger or damage from the wake of your vessel
* Operating a vessel at speeds that may cause danger, injury, or damage; be aware of and obey all regulatory markers"

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Originally Posted by jig rig

The crappie fish person or anyone else, has the right to fish anywhere except in commercial boats lane and not be washed with someones wake. According to coast guard regulations.

Jig Rig

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I agree, but if I come by you on plane, you will not be washed with my wake. If I come down, you will, and maybe even twice.

I always slow to idle way before I get to a fishing boat, and then I idle by without so much as a ripple in the water. That's the way I was taught and that's the way I have taught mine. That courtesy goes a long way in building friendships and it's tops in the safety category. Arriving at a fishing hole 10 minutes or 1/2 hour later is better than any accident or death. Those few minutes are not worth putting my life or someone else's life in jeopardy. Now if I met a boat that's underway I follow the rules of the road as to passing or overtaking and pray that the other also knows the rules.
"gene"

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Originally Posted by PawPaw "gene"

I always slow to idle way before I get to a fishing boat, and then I idle by without so much as a ripple in the water. That's the way I was taught and that's the way I have taught mine. That courtesy goes a long way in building friendships and it's tops in the safety category. Arriving at a fishing hole 10 minutes or 1/2 hour later is better than any accident or death. Those few minutes are not worth putting my life or someone else's life in jeopardy. Now if I met a boat that's underway I follow the rules of the road as to passing or overtaking and pray that the other also knows the rules.
"gene"

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Well said,, Gene

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Originally Posted by PawPaw "gene"

I always slow to idle way before I get to a fishing boat, and then I idle by without so much as a ripple in the water. That's the way I was taught and that's the way I have taught mine.

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I really wish people would quit teaching people this. It's not courteous at all, and is the biggest frustration I have with other boaters.

Well lets just pray that no other falls pray to a speedster.
"gene"

Mr. Gene I agree with you on slowing down way ahead of time, it also gives you a chance to BS with the person who is fishing. I have also taught my 2 daughter this too, I have even seen my oldest one get on her husbands behind for not slowing down. Man I was loving that one, she has actually listened to what I said!!

Tickets were being issued in Open Bayou yesterday.

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Originally Posted by PMantle

I really wish people would quit teaching people this. It's not courteous at all, and is the biggest frustration I have with other boaters.

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Why is it not courteous to slow down and idle by without creating a wake, thats the way i was taught also. I totally understand if your talking about people slowing down to half throttle and throwing up a tsunami wake

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Originally Posted by 20watt

Why is it not courteous to slow down and idle by without creating a wake, thats the way i was taught also. I totally understand if your talking about people slowing down to half throttle and throwing up a tsunami wake

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Because they think they are at idle. They are not. So we have: 1. come down wake, 2. non-idle wake, and 3. get back up wake. Happened to me at least 5 times at Spring Bayou 3 weeks ago.

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Originally Posted by cwalt63

Well maybe if everyone slowed down well before a sitting boat and idled by we would not even have a small wake problem. Now stopping just before a sitting boat will give the flood wake. But I have the common decency to slow down well before a sitting boater and idle by, then put the pedal back to the pedal. Gives me a chance to say hi to a fellow stranger as well.

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I disagree, I HATE it when someone slows down, when you slow down you create a bigger wake. I know most you guys think you are doing the correct/right thing, but its not. I would never get to my fishing spot if I slowed down for every boat I pass in saline/larto. Faster you go , smaller the wake and the waves smooth out fast for the fisherman.

PMantle ,,,,,,,, I agree agree AGREE. they think they are at idle, and the front of their boat is so high they cant see over it, LOL. just stay at full speed and get by me.

Gatrotrax35, obviously some people don't know what idling without a wake is.......

I guess I better not fish Lardo cause there would be a few sunken boats if the pass me at full throttle or I would find them and run full throttle in circles where they fish. We call that fair play where I live

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Originally Posted by rbeaux

I guess I better not fish Lardo cause there would be a few sunken boats if the pass me at full throttle or I would find them and run full throttle in circles where they fish. We call that fair play where I live

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Without question, the most ignorant thing I've read on any message board, and I read a lot of them, including some where the posters are not very educated.

I'm with you pmantle. I would much prefer that a boat stay on plane and go on by at a decent distance. It makes less wake and gets through making waves faster.

Rbeaux, stay in the marsh then, thats a good way to get your self shot. If you act the a** jeaprodizing my boat, my safety, and my kids lives, I can assure you the outcome would not be very nice for you.