Rules are Rules...They need to be followed
I believe that rules are rules and they need to be followed. I do not care what type of boat it is or what the people in the boat are trying to do, if there is a rule like the 150 foot rule, all must comply. My personal opinion is the 150' rule is the most important rule we have regarding boating safety. If everyone complied with this rule, the lake would be a safer place.
That said, I also boat in the ocean, out of Boston Harbor, where there is no 150' rule and no limit on speed. It gets interesting in the harbor on weekends. However, we all know what to expect in that environment and we are all aware of the situation.
On the lake, the expectation is within 150', you get to headway speed. Catching a bass, or trying to catch a bass in a tournament, is absolutely no excuse to violate the 150' foot rule. Anyone that thinks this is a valid excuse is missing a very important point. With the wide variety of different boaters on the lake, the 150' rule should always be adhered to. I have always felt this rule is key to safe boating in our mixed-use environment. The bass boaters have to comply, as all of us have to comply.
Please boat with full respect of the rules, even if you do not agree with them. If you do not agree, work to change the rules or leave the boating environmet, but until you are successful in effecting changes or until you leave, you have to comply.
There is a very recent, now permanent, rule that I personally do not like. I will comply with that rule, but I am selling my place on the lake and I will be moving my boating, and my boating dollars, full-time to the ocean because of my personal opposition to what I believe is behind this rule. Until I sell, I will comply with the rule because it is the law.
Good luck with your fishing, but please mind the rules.
R2B
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