I was at Strawberry on Saturday (7/2). I was disappointed at how many "recreational" boaters I saw there. Tubers, Wakeboarders, Surfers, and not just a couple, literally 5 or 6 different families having fun. People have discovered that the usual recreational lakes (deercreek, jordanelle, etc.) are jam packed so they are willing to endure a little colder water and go wakeboarding and surfing on fishing lakes. I used to be a wakeboarder/waterskiier, so I can't really fault them. I would do the same. Now that I'm a fisherman however, I wish they would go pull the tubes and surf somewhere else. Strawberry is kind of a fishing lake, but it's a free country. As long as they obey the laws and are considerate, I guess I'll have to put up with the rocking of the boat caused by their wakes.
Back when I used to go camping with family and neighbors, East Canyon was our favorite lake. We camped every weekend. You used to be able to camp in the parking lot in our camping boats. Surprisingly...4th of july weekend was always quiet compared to most weekends. I guess everyone else thought the same thing, that it would be crowded...so they stayed away. Good old days!
This weekend it's going to be hit or miss. Just plan on crowds and you won't be disappointed. Also, plan on people not knowing how to launch/load their boats properly, or that they need to prep the boat BEFORE backing down the ramp. Plan on lots of people going fast in their boats too close to you. Park accordingly in the parking lot...try to park where you WON'T get hit by someone pulling out that has never driven a trailer before (pet peeve: I hate it when guys drive the boat off the trailer and have their wives go park the truck...really?). Plan on the ramp being clogged up at noon, and if the wind comes up. It's all good. There are a LOT of new boat/truck owners the last 2 years and most are extremely inexperienced and don't know the real rules, nor the etiquette rules. Don't cut in line because you think you can launch/load faster then others. You are still cutting and it makes the ones that obey the etiquette rules very mad. You are not more entitled than anyone else.
I'll just stop now.
P.S. I stayed home today.
Back when I used to go camping with family and neighbors, East Canyon was our favorite lake. We camped every weekend. You used to be able to camp in the parking lot in our camping boats. Surprisingly...4th of july weekend was always quiet compared to most weekends. I guess everyone else thought the same thing, that it would be crowded...so they stayed away. Good old days!
This weekend it's going to be hit or miss. Just plan on crowds and you won't be disappointed. Also, plan on people not knowing how to launch/load their boats properly, or that they need to prep the boat BEFORE backing down the ramp. Plan on lots of people going fast in their boats too close to you. Park accordingly in the parking lot...try to park where you WON'T get hit by someone pulling out that has never driven a trailer before (pet peeve: I hate it when guys drive the boat off the trailer and have their wives go park the truck...really?). Plan on the ramp being clogged up at noon, and if the wind comes up. It's all good. There are a LOT of new boat/truck owners the last 2 years and most are extremely inexperienced and don't know the real rules, nor the etiquette rules. Don't cut in line because you think you can launch/load faster then others. You are still cutting and it makes the ones that obey the etiquette rules very mad. You are not more entitled than anyone else.
I'll just stop now.
P.S. I stayed home today.
I used to N.ot have E.nough T.ime O.ff to go fishing. Then I retired. Now I have less time than I had before. Sheesh.