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If I could say one thing to all of you that get on this site. Now, I don't want all of you to get upset with me but I am going to give you my 2 since and many other fellow rangers/road police officers (I think). Nothing in the world is more disheartening than to get a call about a reckless boater, reckless driver, speeder, etc. and to hear a dispatcher say that the complaintant is not willing to sign. I guarntee you that we will watch for them and then hope we see them doing something wrong but I guarantee you that when they see blue and red lights on a boat or car; your lucky if you see them doing the speed limit or for more than 2 minutes on a boat. Okay, in most every post on this site I see it typed somewhere about the damn wakeboarders coming to close. Don't get me wrong this happens and I know it does. As some of you have seen when I am out on the water and see you fishing, I have come up amongst you or pretty close and sat and watched. I don't think I am wrong on this but what happens. NOTHING!!!! The pleasure boaters leave (if there were any). So what am I supposed to do, and it just hit me like a ton of bricks. A gentlemen gave me an idea about posting 2 signs 150 feet away at the entrance gate to remind people of the distance (great idea). Second one was to try and get you fishermen to help and sign a complaint on the pleasure boaters or even visa versa if thats the case then maybe people will think twice about buzzing others boats. Why will they stop because they know that others aren't going to take it. If you have any other ideas on how to educcate boaters on this issue I am all ears.
Don't get me wrong I am not mad about listening to all of this but I need you to understand that our hands are tied as to what we can do if we don't witness it. Also, take a camera; it is very hard to argue with a photo. Also, good luck fishing to al of you.
Okay, now let me have it. I won't get offended.
Jeff
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Jeff,
thanks for all the help you give us fisherfok. i know ya kinda have to help while on duty but not when your on your own time and i just wanted to say thank you from all of us at BFT and to show are appreciation i've got a bigfishtackle hat for you. thanks again for helping out when you dont have to. petty[  ]
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That sign is a good idea.You should also put the fine on the sign so the people would know how much its going to cost them if they break the law.Personally i wouldnt have no problem singing a complaint on someone especially if they were doing it on purpose.Thats my 2 cents wort right there.[ ]
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i guess i can moon thegreatrandinee anymore whe he comes to close or ill get in trouble[ ] lol
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You are more than welcome. I want to help make it safer any way I can and I guess that is why I also am asking for the whole boating communities help with this. Each year around the country this is probably the number 1 law broken on the water. I really believe it is because people are not aware of it but then education only goes so far.
If I may tell a little story, it will probably all make you sick to your stomachs but hear it goes. When I worked in Michigan, a family was out fishing on the lake. The family consisted of Dad, Mom, and 8 year old boy. Dad is in the back of the boat, by the motor. Mom is in the front of the boat and the 8 year old is standing up in the middle of the boat. Along comes a water skier and probably at the time enjoying his day also. To make a long story short, Ski boat goes on one side of the fishing boat and water skier goes on other. I Probably don't have to tell you what happened to the 8 year old. He is doing fine now but was in the hospital for a while.
Jeff
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Your request seems reasonable to me. Too much "You need to do something" going around these days.
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][red][size 4] Hello Jeff, well here goes. I'm going to keep my camera in the boat all the time from now on, Thanks for helping us out and for the heads up on Boat Inspections and all the others things that you and your co-workers do. [/size][/red][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#ff0000][size 4] I really like the idea of the sign that states the proper distance to keep from another boat.Great Idea. Also you can bet your butt that I[/size][/#ff0000][/font][font "Comic Sans MS"][#ff0000][size 4] will be ready with pen in hand to sign a complaint should I have to file one.[/size][/#ff0000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#ff0000][size 4][/size][/#ff0000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#ff0000][size 4]AFDan52[/size][/#ff0000][/font]
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Great idea on the signs. I know you probably hear more whining and crying about other people breaking the rules than most of us hear, and I appreciate the work you do. I know I'd be willing to sign a complaint if needed. Thanks for all of your assistance.
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I think the signs are a good idea and they may make some people think. You talk about the blue and reds on your boat, what about an unmarked bass boat? All agencies have unmarked cars why not boats? If someone gets pulled over with an unmarked boat the word will get and no one will know who is a fisherman or a ranger.
Just a thought
apsbass
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Damb good idea, but i doubt they could fund it without a bunch of crap from lawmakers or whoever.
I would also like to thank you and you bet your but i will sign the papers!
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OK, MY time on the Pissssssn`n post!
Just one question. Why do fish cops want to see your liense before you fish?? I`m very irritated when i go to any water to fish (or not) WHEN i GET"CARDED!!
If I have nothing in the water..how can I be fishing? If I`m pack`n a few rod`s, that gives an idea that I`M GONNA fish, BY DEFINITION. BUT no line in the water to me says NADA! If I`m standing by a car can a traffic cop
ask me for a legal license to drive, even though I`m not drivng?? These Q&A things happen all the time! That is more than one question....but who`s counting??? CAN I SEE YOUR (fishing/hunting/upland/waterfoul/big-small game..this and that license/tag?? BEFORE YOU WET A LINE OR BUST A CAP? (If you don`t want a hard time, show your stuff when they ask ...even if your doing what you`ve paid for ,but not been doing!
GOOD NIGHT!
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I'm 59 years old and been fishing since I was 4 or 5, and have fished in alot of different states including several foreign countries and have never had that happen. I'm not saying it doesn't but it has never happened to me since I became old enough to carry a license. Personally I don't mind getting checked by a CO when I'm in the field hunting or fishing it let's me know that at least they are out and about, and I enjoy chatting with them. Heck I've even guided for them on Deseret during the antlerless elk hunts. Most are great people just like you and I. Just my 2cents.[  ]
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Sorry to hear your frustration.. It's apparent that you hear many complaints but noone feels it's worth pressing charges or confronting the offenders. I for one will stand by my allegations, if someone commits an offense that I feel is intentional, I will turn them in and I will press charges (sign). How else are these idiot boaters gonna learn. Again, Sorry to hear of your frustrations. You guys do your best to keep us all safe and I appreciate the work you do.
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As someone new to owning a boat, I have a question. When you registar your boat, could the State give rules and regulations with the paper work that you get from them?
If people are reminded about rules they may be mors apt to follow them. The signs will also help.
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We have a 16 footer which looks like a fishing boat and a PWC. I prefer the PWC but we'll have to get the 16 footer out to. The only problem with the 16 footer is that we are required to wear lifejackets while on our boats, so I may stand out just a little that way. You'll see it soon.
Jeff
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I can relate to the mishap with the young boy getting injured.I was fishing with my kids about 8 years ago in a small cove when out of nowhere a jetskier came around the corner and damn near sawed my boat in half.It terrorized my kids something fierce.He probably missed us by 2'.Also,before they put put wipers in Willard, we use to fish almost exclusively next to the dike.It always amazed me that with all the thouasands of acres of open water in the middle that the skiers would ski right next to the dike right where we were quietly bottom bouncing along the rocks
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First most offenders are young people, intoxicated, & have members of the female gender aboard. Just the right combo for showing off.
I tell you what is worse; trying to run the gaunlet to get back to the ramp. 50 boats out there, some drifting, some putting people in the water, some on skis, some already in the water, and only half of them have their orange flags raised. Once you see the flag trying to locate the person in the water who is wearing a dark blue or green life jacket and a dark colored wet suit. Half the time the boat is making a turn to get the downed skier and is 200 ft from the person in the water. Add the boat wakes or windy conditions and it makes it darn near impossible to see them. Many times I have had to come off plane because I couldn't locate the person in the water. ONLY to realize a 10 year old is playing with the orange flag!!
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Jeff, what we sorely need is a behavorial attitudinal adjustment...
1. A sign at the mouth of the harbor or anywhere there is a boat dock or ramp, mandating 150 feet rule.
2. There should be a boater education before obtaining the tags. Even better as an double reinforcement- when obtaining insurance, there should be insurance papers warning against getting too close to other boaters, creating dangerous wakes. Once the violation happens, the coverage will be covered only once, and then youre on your own
3.A hefty fine for the violation. A minimum of $1,000 fine for the infraction. (now we are talking an eye-opener!) Plus a lawsuit if there is a tip-over with loss reparations.
I cannot think of a better, civilized way to approach this situation than this. This non-sense has gone on way too long. A camera onboard is an excellent idea!
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Good idea except for only covering it once. Then if they do do it a second time, the one(s) who suffer are their innocent victims.
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MAKE THE SIGNS BIG AND EASY TO READ. The number to call teh ranger dispatch would be nice. I maybe not looking in the right place , but what is the number to call so I can program it in my cell phone
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