Horsepower Limits Small Lakes - Meetings

[peter]

– The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources will hold a second series of public meetings to electronically record comments pertaining to a proposal to lift motor restrictions on several small department-owned lakes in the state.
Department officials will submit responses to comments in writing to the Kentucky Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee for review pursuant to KRS 150.027.
The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission approved the proposal at its meeting last month. The new regulation will move to the legislature for consideration once the meetings are conducted and public comments are received.
A series of meetings will begin July 22 concerning Boltz Lake, Bullock Pen Lake and Corinth Lake in Grant County, Beaver Lake in Anderson County, Elmer Davis Lake in Owen County and Kincaid Lake in Pendleton County. Adjoining landowners and the angling public are encouraged to attend these meetings.
Currently, boaters cannot use a motor larger than 10 horsepower on these lakes. The proposal would lift the horsepower restriction, but only allow larger motors to run at idle speed on these lakes. Idle speed restrictions would be strictly enforced. Boat motors that are 10 horsepower or less could continue to operate at any speed.
The series of meetings will include the following:

Elmer Davis Lake, 7 p.m. (Eastern), Tuesday, July 22, Owen County Cooperative Extension Service, 265 Ellis Hwy, Owenton.
Corinth Lake, 7 p.m. (Eastern), Wednesday, July 23, Corinth Community Center, 315 Owenton Road, Corinth.
Beaver Lake, 7 p.m. (Eastern), Thursday, July 24, Emma B. Ward Elementary School Cafeteria, 1150 Bypass North, Lawrenceburg.
Boltz Lake, 7 p.m. (Eastern), Tuesday, July 29, Curtis Gates Lloyd Wildlife Management Area (WMA) clubhouse, 230 Gardnersville Road, Crittenden. From I-75, take Crittenden exit and continue onto U.S. 25 South. Turn left onto Gardnersville Road, cross railroad tracks and continue to clubhouse.
Bullock Pen Lake, 7 p.m. (Eastern), Wednesday, July 30, Curtis Gates Lloyd Wildlife Management Area (WMA) clubhouse, 230 Gardnersville Road, Crittenden. From I-75, take Crittenden exit and continue onto U.S. 25 South. Turn left onto Gardnersville Road, cross railroad tracks and continue to clubhouse.
Kincaid Lake, 7 p.m. (Eastern), Thursday, July 31, multipurpose building at Kincaid Lake State Park, 565 Kincaid Park Rd, Falmouth.

[restornator]

I'm in favor of keeping the HP limit. The big boats can be put in any other lake and be operated safely. There are a lot of lakes where I wouldn't be caught dead in a small jon boat.

[DJD]

I'm in favor of keeping the HP limit. The big boats can be put in any other lake and be operated safely. There are a lot of lakes where I wouldn't be caught dead in a small jon boat.

The Horse Power limit would stay and you can still run at any speed if you have 10HP motor or lower, basically nothing changes there. Bigger motors that exceed the 10HP limit will be idle only.

[SLP]

When I first read about this possibility my first reaction was "great I would be able to take my boat out at a small closer lake". However now that I have had time to think about it I am against it. In theory it is wonderful and makes sense. In reality it counts on people following the rules in small lakes where there likely won't be regular enforcement present. Sadly I don't have confidence in everyone follow the rules and really it would only take one person not doing so to be an issue in some of these lakes. Like many things the majority will follow the law but there will also be that percentage that never does and ignores laws and safety. There are plenty of large bodies of water available in the state that anyone with a boat can easily find a place to go. However there are limited small bodies where both canoeists, kayakers and people in small boats can go to and not have to worry about the intrusion from larger boats. Places where a parent might be comfortable allowing a teenager to go fishing in a small boat or kayak safely without fear of being swamped by someone. I believe the law even in large lakes is that a boat is not to create a wake if a boat is still and someone is fishing from it, or something to that effect. I can say for certain that many don't follow that law, as I assume similar results would occur in the small lakes if the larger boats were allowed on it.

Leave the few smaller lakes to the people that have bought small boat to enjoy them. And if someone really wants to save on gas and fish in small lakes closer to home then they should simply buy themselves a kayak or something similar to enjoy those as well as the larger ones.

[Drew1233]

Completely agree with you SLP

[DJD]

I think Cedar Creek Lake should be idle speed at least a part of it to allow the small boats/kayaks to fish without being swamped.

[robertdilbert]

– The proposal would lift the horsepower restriction, but only allow larger motors to run at idle speed on these lakes. Idle speed restrictions would be strictly enforced.

yeah right. I fish from my kayak and appreciate the small lakes with restrictions.

[dabassking]

I seem to be the minority on this thread so I'll give my opinion. I definitely support the proposed idle only restriction and here's why:
I'm from the northern KY area and fish from a large bass boat. With the exception of Williamstown and the Ohio River, the only lakes that allow us to run our outboard are over an hour away. With gas being the price that it is and with work schedules getting busier and busier, the 1+ hour drives are taxing on the wallet and on the body. I understand that we can still fish the H.P. restricted lakes, and we do quite often, but on lakes like Elmer Davis and Boltz that we fish the most, we're practically restricted to the bottom half of the lake if we're only out for half a day.

To address the statements about kayaks, canoes, and other small crafts I want to point out an observation that I have made. I see more kayaks and canoes on lakes like Williamstown, Cedar Creek, Nolin, Rough, Barren, and even the Ohio than I have in Boltz and Elmer Davis. (I keep referring to these particular smaller lakes because those are the two that we usually fish). The big ski boats and bass boats don't seem to bother them on those large bodies of water so I do not think a few bass boats idling around at the same speed observed in "No Wake" Zones will effect them very much.

I am definitely not trying to start an argument on this thread by posting what I am. I just thought the other side of the coin should also be addressed.

[MagikSmallie]

When I first read about this possibility my first reaction was "great I would be able to take my boat out at a small closer lake". However now that I have had time to think about it I am against it. In theory it is wonderful and makes sense. In reality it counts on people following the rules in small lakes where there likely won't be regular enforcement present. Sadly I don't have confidence in everyone follow the rules and really it would only take one person not doing so to be an issue in some of these lakes. Like many things the majority will follow the law but there will also be that percentage that never does and ignores laws and safety. There are plenty of large bodies of water available in the state that anyone with a boat can easily find a place to go. However there are limited small bodies where both canoeists, kayakers and people in small boats can go to and not have to worry about the intrusion from larger boats. Places where a parent might be comfortable allowing a teenager to go fishing in a small boat or kayak safely without fear of being swamped by someone. I believe the law even in large lakes is that a boat is not to create a wake if a boat is still and someone is fishing from it, or something to that effect. I can say for certain that many don't follow that law, as I assume similar results would occur in the small lakes if the larger boats were allowed on it.

Leave the few smaller lakes to the people that have bought small boat to enjoy them. And if someone really wants to save on gas and fish in small lakes closer to home then they should simply buy themselves a kayak or something similar to enjoy those as well as the larger ones.

So if you are against this because you are worried people won't follow the rules, then what is keeping those same people from running their +10HP motors right now? If the rule is currently that you can launch but can't run your motor as opposed to you can launch and idle only I don't see what is stopping those "rule breakers" from just launching and running as they please. However, I don't see any of that going on when I go to these restricted lakes. The current rules still count on people obeying them, a change in the rule doesn't alleviate that same requirement, there are still rules that are supposed to be followed just as before.

[MagikSmallie]

I seem to be the minority on this thread so I'll give my opinion. I definitely support the proposed idle only restriction and here's why:
I'm from the northern KY area and fish from a large bass boat. With the exception of Williamstown and the Ohio River, the only lakes that allow us to run our outboard are over an hour away. With gas being the price that it is and with work schedules getting busier and busier, the 1+ hour drives are taxing on the wallet and on the body. I understand that we can still fish the H.P. restricted lakes, and we do quite often, but on lakes like Elmer Davis and Boltz that we fish the most, we're practically restricted to the bottom half of the lake if we're only out for half a day.

To address the statements about kayaks, canoes, and other small crafts I want to point out an observation that I have made. I see more kayaks and canoes on lakes like Williamstown, Cedar Creek, Nolin, Rough, Barren, and even the Ohio than I have in Boltz and Elmer Davis. (I keep referring to these particular smaller lakes because those are the two that we usually fish). The big ski boats and bass boats don't seem to bother them on those large bodies of water so I do not think a few bass boats idling around at the same speed observed in "No Wake" Zones will effect them very much.

I am definitely not trying to start an argument on this thread by posting what I am. I just thought the other side of the coin should also be addressed.

I agree I think that the idle only speeds for motors over 10HP would be a great thing! and I own both a large bassboat and a kayak.

[SLP]

So if you are against this because you are worried people won't follow the rules, then what is keeping those same people from running their +10HP motors right now? If the rule is currently that you can launch but can't run your motor as opposed to you can launch and idle only I don't see what is stopping those "rule breakers" from just launching and running as they please. However, I don't see any of that going on when I go to these restricted lakes. The current rules still count on people obeying them, a change in the rule doesn't alleviate that same requirement, there are still rules that are supposed to be followed just as before.

For the most part I don't think people with larger boats go now since they would only be allowed to use their eclectic trolling motor. Even if they were inclined to occasionally go if any law enforcement even heard their engine running at any point they would be easily proven guilty and it would be a much greater risk of them getting caught. So with the risk reward I don't think people even try it although I am sure at some point some have. However allowing those larger engines to run and expecting to not have more people occasionally hit the power now an again is another thing entirely from not allowing them to even start the engine.

I have a boat that I could use on these lakes but the thought of going through the hassle and limitation of only using the trolling motor all day and then loading without the help of the outboard doesn't make it sound appealing so I have never done it. If however I was able to use my motor even at only idle and I would have taken it to smaller lakes many times already instead of trailering it an hour away as I usually do.

IMO the entire "spirit" if you will of these smaller lakes would change dramatically if they are allowed and it wouldn't be for the better.

The KY Fishing and Boating manual states people need to use only idle speed when passing anyone actively engaged in fishing. Every time I go fishing I usually will see people ignoring that. People might be cautious when first introduced, but give it a little time for it to become just another rule and I think people will end up not following the law.

[Wormin]

It hasn't hurt Wilgreen and it 's a smaller lake. I'm all for it all to be idle speed and not just big motors.