|
|
Member
Posts: 363
Location: Kaukauna WI | Last Friday I was in process of taking my son and 2 of his friends out of High Cliff state park fishing. In the Harbor I saw a US Coast Guard Boat with 3 crew men seeking shelter from the rough water. (Boat was one of those zodiacs style crafts)
While debating to go out myself and having lunch with kids I talked to the petty officers and was joined bye their superiors from the Milwaukee office who now assign up here on Lake Winnebago.
I asked a question that been on my mind since reading about it few months ago. Is the Coast Guard going to now patrol and enforce Federal Regulations on Winnebago? The answer I got was yes. My next question was the topic of many replays on this site months ago. Will you enforce Captain Licenses on Lake Winnebago? Answer YES! I was also told it was part of one of the Home Land Security measures that was past last year that now makes this body of water a must to be patrolled by regular coast guard not auxiliary units.
Michael Dutton
[email protected]
|
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 194
| ya we really need the coast guard out there...... |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 617
Location: Oshkosh, Wisconsin | Not sure I understand the concern with the coast guard patrols... I know there are a few rules specific to federal waterways (all children wearing a pfd if under age 13), but I'm not familiar with any others what would be of real consequence - spefically the captains license. Would someone please let me know what I'm missing there?
I sure wouldn't mind a few extra enforcement eyes watching the river in Oshkosh. I'm amazed someone isn't killed every weekend with the way people tear around in there. |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 363
Location: Kaukauna WI | Brad
For years the lake and its guides have only had licenses from state not Fed Gov. Even thou Lake Winebago is a federal water way it requires a captian licenses to take people for hire. the classroom cost approx 800 and test is not easy.
It is meant to have people accontable for what they do not accontable for knowledge they have. i am told the fine is over 10k if caught guiding with out a licenses.
Michael Dutton |
|
| |
|
| There are no guides on Winnebago. It's just friends taking friends fishing and the guy who owns all the equipment just happens to be a very good friend for loaning out all his stuff to his buddies for a day of fishing!!!
|
|
| |
|
| Micheal, it has everything to do with the waterway being navagable to the ocean. The rule here applies ALL THE WAY TO LEEMAN, so being accountable due to large body of water theory doesn't wash. The Dells got the Wisconsin River removed from the federal designation in 1991 after proving that the ware was no longer navagable due to the hydro-electric dam at Prarie duChiene or Praire duSac (not sure which one) All you need to take paying customers on an INLAND waterway is the guides license and a great deal of this waterway should qualify. There is also a limited scope license that costs less and is easier to get but I for one feel that (PARTICULARILLY ABOVE THE THE MOUTH OF THE WOLF RIVER) that the Captains license is hogwash. Let's see those Coast Guard boys in thier Zodiac on the Wolf River at Leeman playing Boy Scout. This whole thing is a pile of horse manuer started by some whiney people trying to benefit themselves. |
|
| |
|
|
Doc, I should agree with you and wonder how an ocean worthy vessel could ever make it's way into any of the Winnebago chain.
And to those who have called the Coast Guard's attention to this, am wondering what they had to benefit, as most of these Captains ply their trade on Lake Michigan. Unless someone can name a Charter Captain who has benefitted by this action - I would place this in the category of pure spite...
Will further mention that these Coast Guard people are only doing their job and we need to take this discusion to our national legislators, and not to them.
Am sure there is discussion of this matter in Washington as we type.
Edited by Rick Larson 7/2/2004 9:03 PM
|
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 363
Location: Kaukauna WI | Rick and Doc
I not arguing the fact of Coast Gaurd being here for better or worse or good or bad. I just thought someone would like to know that it has come to be like reported here few months ago.
Michael Dutton
Edited by irishwebs 7/2/2004 8:00 AM
|
|
| |
|
|
Oh yes Irish. Do appreciate your getting to the facts and the report.
|
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 8
| This is how people in govt. get a raise. By collecting 800 from good people like Doc and adding to there budget money they do not have to account for they can increase the staff under them which means a pay raise down the road. Everyone should send a letter to their reps as soon as possilble or the fees, fines and patrols will increase. I do not see a viable security risk that the patrols would be able to stop on Lake Winnebago. By the way, great map Doc. |
|
| |
|
| Doug, thanks for the cudo's on the map.
Rick, I have had a personal conversation with a great number of people during this entire episode. This didn't start over night and my conversations have included people (including a Charter Captain) who are proud of the fact that they called the Coast Guard to complain about the lack of enforcement. Not sure what you ment by>> Unless someone can name a Charter Captain who has benefitted by this action - I would place this in the category of pure spite... << Just want to know your point to that statement.
Michael, glad you brought it up again, the entire situation is bull. |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 24
Location: Winneconne, WI | I have talked to plenty of so called Polititions on this matter. I have written to Ellis, Feingold, Kohl, and Petri. They all gave me the run around by saying that the Coast Guard was contacted and the Coast Guards reply was they received a complaint and are enforcing the law. I then wrote back to Petri explaining to him that I already knew that and he needed to change the status of the Lake Winnebago System. Now he sent me another letter stating he is waiting for another response from the Coast Guard. Talk about total BS, like Doc says the status has to get changed. You simply can not get from Lake Winnebago to the Great Lakes due to the current lock system and therefore should not be a Federally Navigable Waterway.....very simple... |
|
| |
|
|
Glad you asked Doc.
Didn't know who started this by complaining, and whether it was a formal complaint, or this person just rattled the Coast Guard by making a phone call. If there is an originator to this, would very much like to know who it is, and why they had the nerve to ruin the business of so many guides on the chain.
Also just want to know what this complainer had to benefit by this action. Or, whether it was done in pure spite.
In my book there is a sentence that reads; "what goes around, comes around"!
Edited by Rick Larson 7/2/2004 9:10 PM
|
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 1406
| Rick, There was a crackdown on lake Michigan last year by the coast guard against a few local guys many from Lake Link that were having an "outing" I believe. The local guides and charter captains had a legitimate gripe that food was being taken out of their mouths by some. They had asked for people to chip in for gas and that then constitutes for recieving payment to guide which requires the captains license on Lake Michigan as you know. So if there was a person to look to for this recent uprising on the Winnebago system I would look to the professional guides that are trying to make a living at what they enjoy. Rules are rules and even if out dated they should be followed. Personally I would rather pay a "professional guide" (one who is held to higher standards) than the local guy who pays the state a 40 dollar fee for a license. There are many good guys out there that know how to fish the system and don't have the necessary requirements. I would feel more comfortable as a client if the guy I was fishing with had all the qualifications. This may weed out alot of riff raff!
Good luck
Tyee |
|
| |
|
| wy havent we heard a word on this issue from eny of these full time guides still guideing on the Winnebago system.i have been seeing him all summer long guideing not missing a beat.
am i missing something?
bjh |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 378
Location: Omro,Wi. | TYEE, who can you name that guides on the Winnebago System,that would be considered "Riff Raff"? All the guides I have met on this system,are fine fisherman,tournament fisherman,and straight up, knowledgable individuals,who share secrets,and locations with other people.Most locals won't even tell you if they caught a fish,let alone where and on what.As far as the other qualified people,good fisherman you refer to,if they want they can join in, and start teaching others there secrets,anytime they want to.I ask for gas money,and so do my friends,when we go out togeather,it is only fair to pay the boat owner for the gas,and lost baits,etc. that is encountered in a day on the water.Can giving someone 20 bucks for fuel,be considered guiding,or is it just fair,common sence?How much do you think,a guide makes in pure proffit,at the end of the year?????I'll tell you something,and that is if I break even with gas and equipment,thenI'm lucky.90% of my clients money goes for bait,gas,equipment,not to mention the 2 or 3 days of pre-fishing that is needed to make them happy.Not having been on the other side of the fence,you should not dictate terms,or critisize others.....Hafe |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 378
Location: Omro,Wi. | TYEE, who can you name that guides on the Winnebago System,that would be considered "Riff Raff"? All the guides I have met on this system,are fine fisherman,tournament fisherman,and straight up, knowledgable individuals,who share secrets,and locations with other people.Most locals won't even tell you if they caught a fish,let alone where and on what.As far as the other qualified people,good fisherman you refer to,if they want they can join in, and start teaching others there secrets,anytime they want to.I ask for gas money,and so do my friends,when we go out togeather,it is only fair to pay the boat owner for the gas,and lost baits,etc. that is encountered in a day on the water.Can giving someone 20 bucks for fuel,be considered guiding,or is it just fair,common sence?How much do you think,a guide makes in pure proffit,at the end of the year?????I'll tell you something,and that is if I break even with gas and equipment,thenI'm lucky.90% of my clients money goes for bait,gas,equipment,not to mention the 2 or 3 days of pre-fishing that is needed to make them happy.Not having been on the other side of the fence,you should not dictate terms,or critisize others.....Hafe |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 378
Location: Omro,Wi. | TYEE, who can you name that guides on the Winnebago System,that would be considered "Riff Raff"? All the guides I have met on this system,are fine fisherman,tournament fisherman,and straight up, knowledgable individuals,who share secrets,and locations with other people.Most locals won't even tell you if they caught a fish,let alone where and on what.As far as the other qualified people,good fisherman you refer to,if they want they can join in, and start teaching others there secrets,anytime they want to.I ask for gas money,and so do my friends,when we go out togeather,it is only fair to pay the boat owner for the gas,and lost baits,etc. that is encountered in a day on the water.Can giving someone 20 bucks for fuel,be considered guiding,or is it just fair,common sence?How much do you think,a guide makes in pure proffit,at the end of the year?????I'll tell you something,and that is if I break even with gas and equipment,thenI'm lucky.90% of my clients money goes for bait,gas,equipment,not to mention the 2 or 3 days of pre-fishing that is needed to make them happy.Not having been on the other side of the fence,you should not dictate terms,or critisize others.....Hafe |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 378
Location: Omro,Wi. | And why do my posts come up three times?????? |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 378
Location: Omro,Wi. | And why do my posts come up three times?????? |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 378
Location: Omro,Wi. | And why do my posts come up three times?????? |
|
| |
|
|
Your right Tyee, rules are rules.
But, (but is the most controversial word in the english language :-)) so here it is again: BUT, the problem is the guides on the system have been active for many years - and in plain sight of the everyone - yet there was no problem until now.
In my mind (it's only me in here!), it appears this was started by someone just to cause trouble. Sending the Coast Guard boys out in a knee jerk reaction to this complaint in a effort to "clean out the riff raff", is way out there in leau of the many years most guides have plied their trade without trouble.
Just doesn't seem fair to me and hope these boys can all pass the test and continue this service. |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 378
Location: Omro,Wi. |
Edited by Hafe 7/4/2004 8:29 AM
|
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 378
Location: Omro,Wi. |
Edited by Hafe 7/4/2004 8:31 AM
|
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 378
Location: Omro,Wi. | did i fix it or does it still post 3 times...lets see |
|
| |
