Weekly meetup , End of an Era

Met my fishing buddy at West Point lake this morning.
Weather was nice except for the wind of course, 8-18mph .
Water was up , almost full pool . Problem was the Corp of Engineers raised it over two feet in two days . Probably to get the lake ready for Memorial Day Weekend coming up .
I only caught 17 small gills , warmouth and green sunfish.
As we were packing up to leave , the Corp of Engineers park ranger pulled up .
We’d seen him at a different ramp earlier, I had waved , and he waved back .
This time he had a person with him.
He announced we had to leave and weren’t allowed to fish from the boat ramps anymore.
We were told we were in violation of park rules .
He wouldn’t listen to reason , I gave up pleading my case , and told him to have a nice day .
What had changed?
Then I remembered a guy with a jet ski had pulled across the top of the ramp , then parked without getting out , for at least 20-30 minutes . He then drove over to the other set of boat ramps on the west side of the park .
When he drove up , i immediately picked up my stool and placed it off the ramp and moved over to the rocks to fish waiting for him to launch.
I wondered why he never launched . I’m thinking , he called and reported my fishing buddy and I for fishing off the ramp . I’m pretty sure it was what happened.
In three years , we’ve never had a problem with anyone .
When one door closes , one opens .
Guess this is going to force me to get my boat out and fish the local reservoirs.
Hate it . We had some great days fishing down there .
I asked the ranger how two old men are supposed to bank fish safely .
He told me they had handicap piers where we could fish . I told him seriously? Have you seen those concrete platforms 20 feet above the water level ? There’s no way to seriously fish off of something like that .
Better days ahead !
Best of the day

Hate that for you. Hopefully like you said another door opens to even better fishing opportunities.

I hate that. Karen and Darren mess over a lot of people, whining about whatever.

Glad that you had a pretty good last trip together. Some nice fish in those pics. In my case I wasn’t told I couldn’t fish there anymore, they just took all the fish home with em.

Sorry to hear about the cry baby...Some folks make want to play ma Bell...You know, Reach out and touch someone.

Hate to read this as I always enjoyed your ramp fishing posts. Now I’ll look for your boating success stories! :fish

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Originally Posted by Jamesdean

Sorry to hear about the cry baby...Some folks make want to play ma Bell...You know, Reach out and touch someone.

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I totally vacated the left side of the double ramp for him as soon as he drove up .
If he’d asked , we would have given him both lanes .
Guess he was afraid to confront a couple of elderly men with UL fishing poles in their hands. wimp :Rofl

There will always be some crybabies out there.
Bob
:banghead

We’ve talked it over and have decided we’re not going let them run us off the best location for us to meet and fish .
It’s almost midway between where we live .
We’re going to adapt our tactics and find new places to fish .
Let y’all know how it goes.

I did love that ramp fishing . :)

Ramp fishing is good no doubt. In TN many boat ramps are posted with no fishing. Some of them belong to the Corp and some belong to the state. And I have been known to fish ramps that were posted. Hope you can continue to find ramps to fish.

Regards


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

I’m kinda glad you’re going to try for another way to enjoy the time with your friend. I don’t like a confrontation or getting angry but it’s a bum deal that they’re flexing on y’all. Fish on you two!

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Originally Posted by Alphahawk

Ramp fishing is good no doubt. In TN many boat ramps are posted with no fishing. Some of them belong to the Corp and some belong to the state. And I have been known to fish ramps that were posted. Hope you can continue to find ramps to fish.

Regards


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

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The signs on the boat dock say no fishing and we didn’t use them .
The sign at this particular ramp reads ; loading and unloading only , idle speed only , no swimming or wading allowed.
Technically, it doesn’t say , no fishing from the ramp.
I was told I could fish either side of the ramp and may take them up on that . I’ll put my stool above the rocks and stand on the rocks until my legs get tired.

Maybe set-up a meeting with a Dustrict or Regional supervisor and ask for clarification. Then follow what rules thet give you. Good luck.

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Originally Posted by MCG1

Maybe set-up a meeting with a Dustrict or Regional supervisor and ask for clarification. Then follow what rules thet give you. Good luck.

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He had his supervisor with him .
When I saw him earlier at a different ramp , the ranger was alone in his truck .
I’ve seen their trucks several times over the past three years and I’d wave as they drove by .
That what makes me believe we were called in on .
He picked up his supervisor before confronting us .
We’ve had our license checked by DNR rangers , including just last week.
One of them last year told us it was a COE rule about no fishing off the ramps and we could be made to leave if someone complained.
No complaints, until yesterday.
I was pretty upset yesterday. I never thought much of those people who ride jet skis, now I’ve got another reason to dislike them.
We’ll comply and find some other spots to fish . It’s a big reservoir.
Won’t be as easy footing for a couple of old guys as the boat ramps , but we’ll manage .
It’ll be easier once they draw the lake back down this fall .

We call the jet skiers Lake lice around these pars, or water fleas. Don't particularly want nor need either...just a neuscence. Yes they have a right to use the water but not the way most do, aggravating those that are trying to fish, cause they think its fun...

I’ve have no use for them

I spent ten years as a ranger at Enid Lake . Things that seem minor can turn into problems quick . Common sense does not exist anymore . You would be surprised the number of folks that will cover the ramp with fishing rods tackle , children , coolers ect . If no rules exist the officer has no authority to tell them to move even when boats are trying to launch or return . Most lakes have piers for bank fishing .Either way get a copy of "title 36 " pamphlets everywhere on corps lakes . As a ranger you have no right to chose when /where you enforce the regulations or enforce a rule not found in title 36 .. Failure to do your job in a professional manner will end your employment quick . Always remember most all rules are there due to past conflicts with those who know the rules but have no common curtsey , ethics , or moral values . After all boat ramps are there to launch boats . We also had those that wanted to fish in swimming area as well . Had people with jet skies in swimming areas . Certainly anyone with sense at all would understand the danger of these actions . How ever without rules / regulations there would be chaos everyday . Parks are covered up with signs with rules and regulations posted with things like "one camper per pad . Why ? if its not posted ,it can not be enforced . It becomes obvious when a three year old getting off a nice boat ride steps on a fish hook and has to be taken to the emergency room . Rangers are there to protect the Lake and you .All have the right to use the lake but must do it in compliance with established rules . Very few can purchase a 7,000 Acre lake and "if " they did , they would have rules also .

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Originally Posted by gillchaser999

I totally vacated the left side of the double ramp for him as soon as he drove up .
If he’d asked , we would have given him both lanes .
Guess he was afraid to confront a couple of elderly men with UL fishing poles in their hands. wimp :Rofl

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The issue here is that they would not have to ask you to move . You were in violation of the rules . Look at it like this . What if a truck backed down the ramp with a trailer and ran over a tackle box or you sprained an ankle getting out of the idiots way . Having been a Ranger I see your reasoning . Only problem is the rules gives the boater the right to be there but not you . You can always resort to cussing and fighting and maybe go to jail . That is exactly why you have rules . Yes I agree 99 % would not do such a crazy thing but it happens .

I’m not going to comment on the subject anymore.
There’s circumstances that I’d rather not discuss here that I don’t think are fair for everyone that uses the facilities.
Everybody’s not being treated the same , is all I’m going say .

I hear you and not trying to stir the pot . I had a issue when the coe / state decided to require anyone fishing in a boat less than 16 ft to wear a life jacket "ALL"the time . Being 6'4" I thought it was stupid to be crappie fishing in 3 ft of water and required to wear any type jacket when not underway (like boats 16 ft . and over )and it 80 degrees . The second time I faced this stupid rule was going grabbling . I had the lifevest on and was taking it off to get in water . I was told to get in water before taking off life jacket . Being much easier to take it off in the boat than in the water I ask him " you kidding , right ? ". I then asked him if he thought I was in more danger with the jacket off in the boat than in the water . He replied a lifejacket is not required to swim in Enid lake "But" to be in that size boat a life jacket is required . Dumb as it seamed I upgraded to a 16 ft boat to escape that dumb rule that still exist today .I still think the state or government should not be able to require me to wear any safety vest,its my life and I never ran a big motor without a life vest . Again those who drown with taking chances in bad conditions or ability to swim allowed Federal waters to see fit t0 make and enforce this rule . Bottom line ? their water, their rules even if I pay taxes .

As I said , enough said .
Moderator please lock or delete this thread . Thank you

Closed…..