Fishing 4-22

[branhamautomotive]

Started before day break, 2 17" jigging north west of k can, lost a couple up on turtle, got 2 in the lower 20 out in front of besse. Slow. Picked up to go troll, set up near d, ran bandits and reef runner. Finished out of 2 tickets, pink lemonade for the runner, bandits were boseman (2 fish 2 misses) and a purple with yellow head, I think dj calls it Martin or Marvin.

Marks were spread out but more prevalent from 20 ft down even though none of those were our takers. 35 to 80 back 1.5 to 1.7.

Not tons of boats but no one giving an inch and kept getting run off our line, never seen so many ppl not willing to give an inch. With the flatter water ppl could troll any direction they wanted and there for sure was no order to direction of pattern flow.

Sure would be alot easier and safer if ppl knew who should have the right away and who shouldn't, or if they know the somewhat practiced it

[D.D.E.]

It sounds like it is getting so bad, it will not be long until something bad happens. Then the Coast Guard and D.N.R. will step in and make a whole bunch of new rules, all because of a few. Welcome to the world we live in.
Even worse they shut down fishing on the reefs.

[West Basin]

ppl?

I would think the usual navigation rules apply. Yes, there are rules about fishing vessels and under tow and restricted in ability to maneuver, etc. But I would think boats fishing trolling are equals and the usual rules of the road would apply. But we all know most Lake Erie boaters don't know the rules.

You may be right. If trolling keeps trending more popular there are bound to be some mishaps when the "fleet" is large.

[Fishonphil]

We experience the same thing today, took us a long time to find some feeders and once we did we had a hard time staying with them because others came in on us.
Still a beautiful day on the big pond today.

[wakina]

Fishing vessels must be registered as such(fishing vessels) and they must be actively engaged in the act of fishing for them to have the benefit of the right of way rules for fishing vessels. They are usually trawlers pulling the large nets in the Ocean or here in the Lake Erie setting their trap nets for perch all are commercial vessels.

Charter boats are not considered a fishing vessel under the rules as written, they are considered a vessel for hire for transporting paying passengers. You must have at minimum a 6 pack licence to carry passengers(6 or less) for hire whether or not you are fishing, simply taking them to Islands as a taxi service or for a sight seeing tour.