[freestoneangler]

FWP's is currently looking into new rule changes which restrict motorized craft from using certain rivers where they have traditionally not been used. With the increasing population of various small, powered watercraft, there have been increasing amounts of then showing up where many of us like to ply our trade... in solitude... well, at least w/o the annoying buzz of engines.

I've heard about similar issues in other states as more and more folks venture out with their powered watercraft... akin to ATV's and snowmobiles overrunning the back country. The world already has plenty of noise IMHO and I'm joining the restrict their use group. I'm curious what the forum thinks about the issue. I plan to draft some comments and submit them prior to the January deadline. Here is the link if you're interested.

http://fwp.mt.gov/news/publicNotices/rules/pn_0218.html

 

[Kyle Smith]

Oh thank God! I had a sled blast its way up a side channel below Craig last spring. It was not a happy experience for me. Under the new rules they have to go downstream, slowly. That's fine.

 

[Guest]

Oh thank God! I had a sled blast its way up a side channel below Craig last spring. It was not a happy experience for me. Under the new rules they have to go downstream, slowly. That's fine.

They have to go upstream slowly too. There's a no-wake rule in that section.

Personal watercraft prohibited on the headwaters of the Missouri River downstream to its confluence with Prewett Creek,

-- source http://fwp.mt.gov/recreation/regulations/boating/useRestrictionsWaterbody.html

In the late 1990s the jet ski crowd was causing a lot of river conflicts on the Missouri and not just with anglers. During the summer months the inner tube hatches were in full swing. Little kids on inner tubes floating with the current downstream vs full throttled jet skis going upstream were a death waiting to happen. It didn't but there were plenty of close calls.

Guides and outfitters found angler friendly Montana legislature folks and the law was passed banning jet skis from the headwaters down to Prewitt Creek. All motorized boats were restricted to no wake speeds.

My argument then as well as now, is there are plenty of lakes and reservoirs where a jet skier or any motorized water craft can go as fast as they want.

Red lining a jet ski on skinny water small streams may satisfy the adrenaline junky's drug habit, but when did we rule to subjugate the safety of 99% of our citizens in order to satisfy drug addicts?

I caught a lot of crap for that POV back then and I'm certain I'll get plenty of crap now.

 

[Salmo_g]

I wondered why I didn't see 22' guide boats powered by 200 hp jets plying the trout streams, eliminating the nuisance need for a shuttle every day.

Quiet waters, it's a nice idea. Do it before it's too late.

 

[creekx]

They have to go upstream slowly too. There's a no-wake rule in that section.

Personal watercraft prohibited on the headwaters of the Missouri River downstream to its confluence with Prewett Creek,

-- source http://fwp.mt.gov/recreation/regulations/boating/useRestrictionsWaterbody.html

In the late 1990s the jet ski crowd was causing a lot of river conflicts on the Missouri and not just with anglers. During the summer months the inner tube hatches were in full swing. Little kids on inner tubes floating with the current downstream vs full throttled jet skis going upstream were a death waiting to happen. It didn't but there were plenty of close calls.

Guides and outfitters found angler friendly Montana legislature folks and the law was passed banning jet skis from the headwaters down to Prewitt Creek. All motorized boats were restricted to no wake speeds.

My argument then as well as now, is there are plenty of lakes and reservoirs where a jet skier or any motorized water craft can go as fast as they want.

Red lining a jet ski on skinny water small streams may satisfy the adrenaline junky's drug habit, but when did we rule to subjugate the safety of 99% of our citizens in order to satisfy drug addicts?

I caught a lot of crap for that POV back then and I'm certain I'll get plenty of crap now.

I saw a fly fisherman on a jet ski on the Missouri. He was using it as transportation to the good wading spots. This was back in the early 90's.

The rivers in MT should be generally off limits to powerboats, except for maybe an electric trolling motor in certain areas (got to admit that run to Cascade can get l o n g.) The exceptions would be the larger rivers like the lower Mo' and Yellowstone.

Nothing worse than slipping quietly into a shallow flat with sipping trout only to have a powerboat with a 2 foot wake barrel past, sending the trout scurrying back to their holding water.

 

[NDflyfisher]

These changes are a good thing. No reason to run a sled when ramps are available and spaced correctly on the stretches proposed. The noise issue is one thing but boats running up and down the river takes a lot out of the enjoyment of getting on the river. A river can handle lots of drift boats and it never feels crowded. Most of the time you will never see 90% of the other boats. Only a few jets and it feels busy. It's too easy to run down river and fish a little, then back up to fish someplace new, then back to the ramp for lunch, back down to a spot, then come back to get a friend or drop someone off, back down and then back up at the end of the day. I'm a jet sled owner and they have there place. A necessary evil for some rivers and places. But in the proposed stretches jets are not needed.

 

[freestoneangler]

I caught a lot of crap for that POV back then and I'm certain I'll get plenty of crap now.

None from me... think you're spot on. I also see this as another example of how well Montana gets out in front of issues; particularly those that can wreak havoc on their tourism.

 

[River Pig]

Before you pat your adopted state on the back to much I think it's important to remember that it's a lot easier to get things done in a state that has half the population of King County whose largest urban area is slightly larger than Yakima.

 

[freestoneangler]

Before you pat your adopted state on the back to much I think it's important to remember that it's a lot easier to get things done in a state that has half the population of King County whose largest urban area is slightly larger than Yakima.

Why should that be reason not to celebrate how Montana takes care of business? Perhaps some would feel better if all states had to conduct/manage to the lowest common denominators. Thanks for the advice, but I'll keep applauding a system that works well and balances individual rights with needs of the entire state population.

Back to the topic, seeing historically quiet, serene places we fish turned into noisy shit-shows is plain stupid. I'd be interested to hear from those who think otherwise. When I first saw ads for those Mokai jet-craft in NWFF, I thought oh shit, here we go. Fortunately they haven't seem to catch on... at least on waters I fish.

 

[River Pig]

Why should that be reason not to celebrate how Montana takes care of business? Perhaps some would feel better if all states had to conduct/manage to the lowest common denominators. Thanks for the advice, but I'll keep applauding a system that works well and balances individual rights with needs of the entire state population.

Back to the topic, seeing historically quiet, serene places we fish turned into noisy shit-shows is plain stupid. I'd be interested to hear from those who think otherwise. When I first saw ads for those Mokai jet-craft in NWFF, I thought oh shit, here we go. Fortunately they haven't seem to catch on... at least on waters I fish.

No, you're right, it is a good proposal. Sorry for being a Debbie Downer.

 

[Hem]

I support quiet waters 100%.

 

[freestoneangler]

Oh thank God! I had a sled blast its way up a side channel below Craig last spring. It was not a happy experience for me. Under the new rules they have to go downstream, slowly. That's fine.

But they can still go upstream at full tilt? What has historically been the policies on powerboats on the Missouri? Craig seems like a pretty far upstream distance... getting into the hallowed water section. I for one would like to see more "no internal combustion powered watercraft" on more lakes and rivers.

 

[Kyle Smith]

But they can still go upstream at full tilt? What has historically been the policies on powerboats on the Missouri? Craig seems like a pretty far upstream distance... getting into the hallowed water section. I for one would like to see more "no internal combustion powered watercraft" on more lakes and rivers.

The way I read it, they can only go downstream and slowly.

 

[Guest]

The no-wake rule applies both upstream and downstream in that section of the Missouri. Jet skis are banned completely there.

 

[Gary Thompson]

I don't care what state you live in, just say "NO" to PWC on moving water.
I live three blocks for the Columbia river and the noise from the PWC and the ski boats is annoying to say the least.