We need more of these…..

[MrShane]

like a hole in the head.
When is EPA going to step in and shut them down for damaging shoreline stability?
Much less the hazard they propose to other users of the lake.
I’m all for freedom of people to recreate but when your activity takes away the right from others to enjoy their activity, isn’t that a problem?
Please, please, please Utah Parks let’s go ‘every other day-no Towables’ policy already.
At least give boaters that can’t handle this activity the chance to pick their poison off of calendar dates.
The dealership is even embarrassed to list the cost of this monstrosity.

[Kent]

Yep, I experienced it firsthand on Friday. I was anchored up and a wakeboarding boat came by, towing a skier, at least 200 yards away from me. I wasn't paying much attention to them until a wave came over the gunnel facing the boat. I also happened to be standing, at that moment, and almost lost my balance.

[Mildog]

Totally agree, they affect other peoples ability to enjoy their activity. So it really is an issue. People cruising around viewing the sites, anglers working shorelines or trolling , even standard ski boats can Share the water pretty well without impacting each others enjoyment, by following basic rules. But these newer monstrosity wake boats impact shore anglers, swimmers, paddle boarders, kayakers , trollers in a very negative and at times dangerous way as well as eroding and damaging shorelines and in some cases docks etc. Even when they are observing the proximity rules, Those wakes travel hundreds of yards and carry with them a lot of energy! I’ve seen more than one paddle boarder dumped by a wakeboard wake.
I was stopped in my boat trying to read instructions in the manual on my electric motor and sitting on the bow next to my electric, when my buddy yelled looked and said grab on! A wake from a wake boat that had passed 30 seconds before made it to us and if he hadn’t warned me it might have dumped me out! Not 10 minutes later another wake came from behind us and came up over the back of the boat filled the splash well and washed up on the carpeted back deck. My boat is big enough not a big deal but a smaller boat or kayak, could be a big deal that was a huge wake!!
Maybe alternate days or wakeless only areas?

[BYUHunter]

I agree with alternating days of no towables/PWC. I do not agree with wakeless days, just by virtue of how long it would take to get to my fishing spots on some reservoirs.

I would go a step further and say that some reservoirs should be no towables period. I've noticed more and more wake boats each year, coming up to Strawberry because they've overrun Deer Creek and Jordanelle. I think the DWR needs to stop that in it's tracks.

[MrShane]

I agree with alternating days of no towables/PWC. I do not agree with wakeless days, just by virtue of how long it would take to get to my fishing spots on some reservoirs.

I would go a step further and say that some reservoirs should be no towables period. I've noticed more and more wake boats each year, coming up to Strawberry because they've overrun Deer Creek and Jordanelle. I think the DWR needs to stop that in it's tracks.

It is 100% obvious the State does not care about safety of smaller craft, they are much, much too busy counting $20 bills from the gate.
I believe the only way this dangerous/environmental un-friendly situation will get attention is through a governmental agency like EPA.
Damage to shoreline plants/animals is happening. Not unlike Carp that stripped grasses from bottom of UL, these wakes are bigger and at different frequency than what Mother Nature hits shoreline vegetation with and destroying shoreline.
I’ve always said the only good thing a wake boat is good for is to wash some Crawdads out of the rocks and start a little feeding frenzy.
Look what wake boats wake damage to the ‘Toilet Bowl’ arch at Lake Powell last year! Wink.

[BoatBallast]

The boats with ballast tanks to throw higher wake are a problem, for sure. My boat has a sharp bow and can handle more slop than most. But, I can only imagine what the little 12 foot jon boats do when they get hit with the 4 footers off the surf boats. I think they are creating hazardous conditions by creating such large waves for everyone else to deal with. I also think it is insane to be surfing a foot behind a blender blade, but, whatever.

You're not allowed to go out and create hazardous conditions for others. The threat of capsize or knocking someone overboard with the wake from those boats is a hazardous condition created by the surf boats.

[beerbatterbum]

My solution is no wake boats before noon. Let everybody else enjoy the lake for the morning before they churn it into a washing machine. Violators to be dealt with by torpedo. 

If we can’t solve this problem then we might as well allow monster trucks on the freeway.

[dubob]

I'm 100% in agreement with the fact that there is a MAJOR problem with multiple uses on most Utah reservoirs.  I also believe that venting our anger on social media will never get anything changed legislatively.  It will take one heck of a lot of dedication and work to convince our state legislators that there is a problem and offer acceptable solutions that possibly could be tried on select bodies of water for a set length of time (2 or 3 years?) to see if the desired outcome is achieved.  A good place to start would be maybe a half dozen State Park reservoirs and maybe go odd/even days during week days only.  At least that would show the boating community and legislators that it could work or doesn't work if given a chance.  

[BYUHunter]

Unfortunately, our state legislators and DWR leadership only speak one language: $$$

The state loves these ridiculous $300k monstrosities, because the sales tax revenue is tremendous.

The DWR/State Parks like them, because they line up for hours to give them their $20.

Little old fishermen aren't going to get a seat at the table. We just don't generate enough $$$$. We'll be pushed to the off-seasons like we have been.... October through April are our months to use the lakes without headache.

[SkunkedAgain]

I kind of like BBB's suggestion of morning/afternoon half days rather than odd / even myself.... Later J

[MSM1970]

There are some states back east starting to address the problem, most likely it will be like getting a stop light put in where one is needed. the best thing we as fishermen can do is contact representatives and any time you make contact with law enforcement ask if there is anything that can be done about the problem, who to contact, who to send the pics to you took, always be ready to video or take pics, I try to get as many DNR numbers as I can, I have yet to find one that wont talk to me about anything, they are willing to give me there cards, ask when you get inspected or at the entrance for the local officer to contact,

https://recreation.utah.gov/boating/extr...uncil-bac/

[Mildog]

The other thing would be to alternate odd/ even at water bodies within reasonable distance so they could go to deer creek Utah lake on odd and Jordanelle rockport pine view on even etc. that way with enough lakes to spread it out there would be plenty of places to go but spread the pressure around and give boaters anglers and wake boaters options on any given day!
Wake boats pay the same fees and it’s always about the money!!

[MrShane]

I would like to see a couple hundred fishing boats unite on Deer Creek the morning of July 5.
We all SpotLock in a grid pattern 299’ apart from each other with video cameras rolling in one hand and State Ranger on speed dial on our phones.

[Gone Forever]

I agree about the damage, it is massive on lakes that do not have rip-rap to stop it.
I like that Pineview has the large "no wake" area by the dam arm. Jordanelle could have the same thing.

The other lakes are just to small for such regulations, Lost Canyon is wakeless but as was stated, 300K boat taxes and park fees outbid us.

Good luck on getting changes, let me know if I need to come to the capital this spring.

[MrShane]

I agree about the damage, it is massive on lakes that do not have rip-rap to stop it.
I like that Pineview has the large "no wake" area by the dam arm.  Jordanelle could have the same thing.

The other lakes are just to small for such regulations, Lost Canyon is wakeless but as was stated, 300K boat taxes and park fees outbid us.

Good luck on getting changes, let me know if I need to come to the capital this spring.

I’ve mentioned this before but in the years preceding building Jordy’s dam, there were some Master Plans floating around somewhere.
Maybe I saw them in the newspaper or up at State Park building.
I will go to my grave swearing I remember the entire Rockcliff arm being a wakeless area, not just a little pathetic area where the Provo dumps in.
And, while I am on the subject of wakeless, it would be very reasonable to have the entire Charleston arm at DC from island to railroad tracks be ‘no-Towables’.

[RockyRaab2]

There ought to be a lake size restriction. Wake boats on Willard is acceptable; not on tiny Hyrum.