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Got to Willard at 0600, 3rd person line when the gate opened, started in the marina and banged a Crappie and a Wiper right of the bat, fishing stayed pretty good in the marina, ventured out to eagle beach, another Wiper and some more Crappie. Then the crowds showed up, catching really slowed about 10 am, 1 or two more Crappie after the 80 boats showed up. Ended with 10 Crappie and 2 Wipers. All fish looked like the two pictured. Pat foretold the zoo today!
Now my rant, I got back to my ride and had a warning ticket for parking in a space for trailers, now to be honest I did not see any signage, but here is my beef. I paid my day use fee, I pay a state tax to register my toon, my vehicle is licensed and insured yet just because I don't have a trailer I have to park and walk farther. It seems to me that the parking should read "parking for vehicles launching watercraft" what a bunch of crap. Does anyone have a contact number for the DNR up there?
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Hmmm interesting. Did you launch from NM...if so the signs were very visible when we got there. Matter of fact there were two in plain site for me...again at NM. Signs still there when we left. Can't miss them when pulling into NM parking lot...
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Wasn't paying attention I guess, point being I pay the same fee, launch a watercraft, should be able to park in a spot up front with a trailer or not.
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Were you up there last Friday morning fishing from a pontoon and came to shore when the lightning started coming across the lake?
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Plenty of spots for a car to park that I also saw...hey you don't have a trailer pay same fee how bout the folks who pay and fish from shore...they also PAY the same fee as you and they park where cars park...so because you have a toon gives you permission to take up a vehicle with boat trailer spot. If you hauled the toon On a trailer probably no problem as I see it... You're a police officer right??? Very interesting your perspective on this...very interesting indeed... :/
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Guess we'll agree to disagree, I paid my fee, I launched a watercraft, I choose not to pull a trailer, if I would have been shore fishing I would have parked in another spot.
I think the parking should be for those launching watercraft.
Oh, and my perspective as a cop...do I think there are stupid laws....YES! l'll have to take it up with the legislature.
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I think I would definitely raise hell about that warning, you were packing a pontoon with you. I was sitting in the white crew cab with our Crestliner in tow that morning waiting for the lightning and rain to quit like you but after an hr. we said to heck with it and headed back home.
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[#0000FF]Nice work. Glad you got to bend your stick on some more of Willards wipers and crappies. Fun, fun.
Bummer about the warning. I always get there early and I park in the small space at the end of the boat parking. But most of the rangers recognize my vehicle...and I have a "geezer" pass...senior citizens. So I guess they let it ride.
But I'm with you. If nothing else they should stripe some spots closer by for those who bring in cartop watercraft...without trailers...and don't want to have to hike a mile to their vehicle after fishing.
For what it's worth, I have seen a lot of other folks park in the boat trailer spaces...without trailers...and have never seen tickets. But on busy days with a full lot there may have been some boater bitching.
Again, glad you had a nice day otherwise.
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The parking is for trailers, HOWEVER MY TRUCK IS MY TRAILER! That being said, I asked the gate attendant and was told I could still park along the edge. So if there is room for me to park along the edge, why couldn't a vehicle with a trailer park there and walk as would anyone else? Same problem at East Canyon!
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I agree. My roof rack IS my trailer. I launch a 14-foot boat from it, and I think I deserve to park in a trailer slot - especially if there's another such vehicle already there to take up the whole length of it.
I might print out a large font note to place on my dash (along with my mussel cert) stating that I am a boat launcher and that my racks are my trailer. It couldn't hurt.
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A warning is just that, take it,  and think of how good a simple warning is. Nicest thing in the Ticket Book.[cool]
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Another signal to the state park officials would be your AIS cert laying on your dash indicating a watercraft. 2 vehicles sharing one stall shouldn't be an issue to help with parking. I don't have an issue with a single vehicle parking in the lot, most of us drive trucks these days carrying watercraft of all types, I use to have a car top rack for carrying a boat.
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I thought about parking in that spot where you parked but I thought they might frown on me NOT parking in a space.
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Put my AIS on my dash.
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True, warnings are nice but still think I should be able to park there, I was there, I chose to get up early and had a parking lot to myself, launched a watercraft but then I should park in the north forty because I don't have a trailer?
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Good to know about edge parking, thanks.
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Yep I'd be happy with the warning...not a ticket. All watercraft are required to have AIS displayed. Now any paddle board, wind surfer, inflatable water bouncy toy, canoe, kayak, toon, tube etc not just boats are required to display a AIS in vehicle...additionally a vast majority I see will drive down ramp launch then park where single vehicles park and those spots are even closer to the water in some locations. The problem is during peak times 10-15 or more with growing popularity of other water craft taking up said many boat trailer spots and not parking 2 vehicles per spot...that's okay it's a watercraft and they paid the same. So a boat owner is crap out of luck for parking a vehicle with trailer because all water craft owners are entitled to park their hauling vehicle in a trailer only slot...I'm entitled as I own a water craft that doesn't require a trailer. Sucks to be you the owner of a boat that has a trailer you figure out where to park
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Ya, but in that same vein, if all the spots were taken by trailers when you got there you would still be SOL.
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Yep sure would be SOL agreed... but we get on water early...but if I wasn't on water early and lot had a bunch of single vehicles without trailers parked in obvious trailer slots you bet I'd be one of the bitching boat with "trailer" owners.
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