Laurel Lake GONE CRAZY!!!!

[ewyrick1215]

Have you guys heard about the new tournament rules that the department of wildlife has implemented as of Jan 1 for Laurel? They have decided that permits are now $50 a piece and must be applied for 30 days in advance and they decide whether or not to approve you. On top of that, each tournament approved is required to purchase insurance for the boats involved in the tourney. This means that if you have a 10 - 25 boat tournament that you would like to host at Laurel, it will cost you a $50 permit and roughly $150 - $200 for insurance. What are they trying to prove? On top of the tourney expense, you have to pay for a pass to park your truck ($30 for an annual parking pass). Does anyone have any insight on what is going on here? Our fishing club decided to not go to Laurel at all this year where we have always gone there 3 or 4 times a year on our 10 tournament schedule. This post is to express my anger as well as try to get some additional info.
Watch your languange.

[ironhead70]

were did u find this info at

[ewyrick1215]

This info was mailed to our club president last week in a form letter. I am not sure whether it is federal or not. I am all for protecting our habitats and fishing, but this is the only lake in the area making these efforts. As a club, in the past we have always gotten the proper permits and followed all rules. If you want to punish someone running a tourney, then I feel that you should have wildlife people at these ramps making sure fish are handled properly and that the proper steps are being made. I dont feel you should add expenses to people wanting to run tournaments.

[redrockerbassnutt]

i look for fish and wildlife to get involved in all lakes before long!i think they should do something to limit the number of tourny. boats on the lake.make all tourny. directors put in thier schedules and go from there.sometimes it is totally insane how many tournys are scheduled.however for them to make up a bunch of fees to generate more money is unfair,are'nt we already being taxed?!?!now i'm in a bad mood(as if mondays are'nt bad enough!)

[Ky Trophy Fish]

Can't find anything on new rules on KDFWR website.Could these changes be federal regs due to Laurel being in DBNF?

[RIBLUEFISH]

I have not hear or read of this yet, but, it does not surprise me. I am from New England and this is becoming a standard practice up north. There is alot of money to be made with all of these bass tournaments. I hear what you are saying about how much more do I have to pay,but those fees are not going to deter someone who spent 30-50 grand on a bass boat from not showing up to fish. I think the next thing we will see is cwr tourneys. Thats where there is no weight in during spring tourneys. You catch, weight or measure, and record it on a card like a golf score and turn them in at the end. Also a ban on lead weights under 1oz. will probably come this way this decade.

[dcbasser]

Yeah this is the buzz going around for laurel. The problem with laurel is the tourny scene has got way out of hand over the last few years. two and three tournies going out a night from april thru october. it was getting unreal and not to mention not very safe to be on the water at some points. all for tournaments and enjoy fishing them very much but they definatly need to be regulated a little better, hopefully this will help some.

[ewyrick1215]

Just received some more detail on this whole mess. My fishing partner spoke with the district office and was told that this was a new rule due to the liability of the Forestry Dept. It seems that the forestry folks own the surface area of the lake due to it being a national forest. Because of this they want touneys to carry $600,000 (roughly $350 to purchase)of liability insurance for any tourney so that if a wreck happens during that tourney the parties involved in the accident cant sue the foresty people. The biggest issue here is that they are singling out the fisherman because they are not making any other pleasure boating activities have permits or prove insurance, because there is not a law requiring boaters to carry insurance. So other than fishing tourneys if there is a wreck, the forestry department can be held liable because they own the lake. THIS SEEMS SO FAIR DOESNT IT???? I am aware there there are a lot of tourneys on the body of water, but not once did the forestry department tell my partner that this new rule was to help the habitat or fishery, but simply to cover their own rear ends. GIVE ME A BREAK. IT IS TIME FOR FISHERMAN TO TAKE A STAND AND MAKE A POINT!!!!!!!

[CATCHEMALL]

If what is stated above is true about the forestry owning the lake then why cant they just make every tournament sign a waiver stating they are not responsible. I also agree about the pleasure boaters should have to have the same insurance. Just me 2cents worth.

[fishalltime]

I dout weather there are any bass boats that carry $600,000 dollars of liability insurance ! So what happens if a individual or more than 1 have wrecks on the water with injury ? This is rediculess !

[phoenix]

I dout weather there are any bass boats that carry $600,000 dollars of liability insurance ! So what happens if a individual or more than 1 have wrecks on the water with injury ? This is rediculess !

Hey Jeff;
I have $500,000 on mine........required by HCR if you moor your boat there annually. But the ones that are just there on weekends or a temporary stay don't have to have it. Its just more of the Marina trying to lessen their liability ins cost. This could be the reason for these new requirements of tourneys on Laurel.
Its a dam shame we have to pay to use something the public has already paid for over and over again in tax money.

[kygorski]

So whats the big deal on liability insurance on your boat, I've had it for over 30yrs along with hazard insuranceand so forth.If the premiums are goping to break you, dont fish tourneys.Some guys pay 16 bucks for one hard bait, and but several at a time, plus boats are not cheap, and niether are good tow vechicles.Even golfers need liability insurance.