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Posts: 305
Location: Illinois | There is a proposed 45 MPH speed limit for the Fox Chain. Of course, there is heavy opposition from some of the locals, and area business. The speed limit in my opinion would be a welcome change and something we should all support. The Chain can get flat out dangerous. I am not only speaking to the benefits for the musky fisherman but instead all fisherman. The cigarette boats and cabin cruisers can find plenty of room on Lake Michigan. Some of the personal watercraft can go up to 80 MPH. The combination of high speeds and booze makes it serious enough of a situation that I won't fish or troll on a busy day on the Chain. This speed limit would make it safer for all. It couldn't hurt to express your opinion to:
Executive Director Ingrid Ruttendjie [email protected]
Edited by husky_jerk 12/9/2007 11:41 AM
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Posts: 929
Location: Rhinelander. | good thing, only make it 35. Its a zoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pfeiff |
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Location: Illinois | Halle-freakin-julah, it's about time! Good grief, it's silly dangerous out there!
Mike |
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Location: Minneapolis, MN | All you have to do is re-publish the pictures from the two incidents last year with high speed boats. One ran over a sailboat and a dock, the other flipped.
Seriously, this will reduce the number of trailered in go-fast boats but it will not legislate out the stupidity. My home water used to be the Fox Chain, now its the speed restricted water of Tonka. The lower speed limit on Tonka realy doesn't make me feel any safer than I did on the chain because there are just as many stupid untrained boaters. |
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Posts: 341
| It will never pass unless something really messy occurs. The mighty dollar is at risk and until the legal threats out way the revenue generated, it’s Tony Lasagna going 200 mph with 50lbs of gold around his neck going in circles, looking at his biceps...weeeeee
Hey Luke, you typing Viking code now?
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Posts: 1769
Location: Algonquin, ILL | Speed Limit on the Chain may not pass but it sure would be nice to see a no wake time, at minimum Dusk to 8:00AM, this would give a couple of hours of fishing without the threat of a 30ft offshore racer running you over
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| Let them also know that there is a NO wake 150 ft from shore, and there signs are way to small for the yahoo's to read. this would cut down on the silt build up in the summer time and also protect some of the fish from getting there tails and heads taken out. 
Ben |
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| Even if it passes, it is likely not to matter without major enforcement and a tip line to turn in violaters |
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Posts: 305
Location: Illinois | I understand the skepticism, but it certainly isn't going to hurt the fishery if it passes. Lake Geneva passed a similar regulation and it seems to have helped. Once the hot shots see there will be a speed restriction, many of them will choose Lake Michigan. That is my hope anyway. |
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Posts: 32934
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I've been out there when there was a cigarette boat company outing, two tournaments, and all the 'normal' traffic. Fun. |
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Posts: 8840
| There are 28,000 boats registered on the chain. You don't need a tip line to catch someone doing something stupid, all you need is eyes. I'd like to see this passed, for many reasons. Most important of these is that it is downright DANGEROUS out there. In fact some insurers won't even provide coverage if that's where you're planning on using your boat.
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Posts: 7090
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | Here's a dissenting opinion: the water is for everyone, and as long as they are using it in a safe and managed manner, then why change the rule. There ARE a few accidents on the chain every year, but with the AMOUNT of traffic out there, it is to be expected. Silver Lake is about 20 minutes north of the chain, and is no-wake every morning until if I recall correctly, 10AM. The Chain is not now, nor will it ever be, a place for summer muskie fishing. Even at 45mph, many large boats rolling around those little ponds is not going to be a safe place for muskie fisherman to cast or even troll. The speeds out there are maniacal to say the least, but I'd guess that not that many of them are going much faster than 55mph anyways....not because they dont want to, but because there isn't enough room to do so!
The only reason to slap the speed restriction out there would be to raise more money for the Waterway group that manages the chain. 45mph isnt slow ya know....
And for you who want to fish it in the summer, but can't....get a few dipseys, some spoons, flashers and flies and meet me at the Racine, Kenosha, or Winthrop Harbor launches! Lots of room out there, more than enough fish to keep you interested, and a chance to turn that livewell into a DEADwell! Trust me, the salmon out there taste much better than the radioactive panfish on the chain anyways!
Let the 'pleasure boaters' have the chain in the summer months, we'll take it in the fall!
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| Like you said Slamr, the chain is for everyone, not just for the pleasure boaters in the summer. More then just the speed limit, respect for others and the shore lines need to be enforced drastically. If we settle for just let them have it we all loose.
Ben |
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Posts: 7090
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | MuskyFix - 12/10/2007 2:01 PM
Like you said Slamr, the chain is for everyone, not just for the pleasure boaters in the summer. More then just the speed limit, respect for others and the shore lines need to be enforced drastically. If we settle for just let them have it we all loose.
Ben
I totally agree, but if folks arent respecting the existing rules about shore line distances and basic safe boat handling, isnt a speed limit just going to be another rule that isn't enforced? |
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| I agree with that, it's more about the rules.
Ben |
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Posts: 8840
| Slamr, I think the idea here is that if they impose a speed limit restriction, the people who want to speed around the lakes as fast as their boats will go all day long will be forced to do so elsewhere. One one hand I think that's great -- some of those boats out there are just not suited for lakes that size. You've been out there, you've seen what I'm referring to.
On the other hand, I think its a bit unfair to single those people out when there are many fishing boats capable of going 50 MPH and above. A speed limit, if enforced, is a nice way to help make it a little safer, but still give the go fasts and skiers a place to enjoy. I do like what Silver Lake has done with their no wake restrictions. Simple stuff -- 7:00 pm to 10:00 am, no wake. That way everybody gets their turn. And if its anything like it was back in the 70's, you disobey that rule and you WILL get a ticket. |
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Posts: 7090
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | I admit, I only go out there about a dozen times a year, but I've only seen an officer of the law MAYBE once, and I can't be sure of that. Just a thought about enforcement. |
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Posts: 305
Location: Illinois | Slammer,
Agreed, if we were just talking about the quality of the musky fishery, it would be selfish or at least self-serving, to push for this proposal. I have a season launch pass at the Thirsty Turtle. There are plenty of times that I would like to take my 2 boys out, cruise the lakes, maybe do a little bluegill fishing. In other words, recreate. I believe the largest of the boats on the Chain make it nearly impossible for me and many others as well. This agenda was not developed by or for musky fisherman. As for the police, you are probably out there in Spring and Fall, when the Sheriiff is less likely to be seen ,but those are also times when problems are fewer. In summer, the Police are quite visible and busy.The lakes on the Chain are small, and 45 mph is plenty fast to get you around. I would view it as compromise to added no wake restrictions. We should all be able to stand up in a boat when theres no wind.  |
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Posts: 485
Location: On my favorite lake! | This would be a very welcomed change. I have almost been hit numerous times and some people are just out there to drink. If they would slow people down some it would be a lot more enjoyable for all. The jetskis are constantly to close to you I could hit many of them with a half cast if I wanted to. Something needs to be done becasue every year it just gets busier. |
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Posts: 62
Location: chicago | Being a homeowner on the chain, I am on the water almost all season. The speed limit is an excellent start. I have seen the baja idiots almost hit the smaller boats, then laugh about it. They blow through the weedbeds at 60mph, not realizing they are in 2fow. Most of them have no clue about boating safety. The FWA should be putting out no wake buoys along the shores instead of charging the homeowner 150 a pop. The real problem is enforcement. They just don't have the manpower to enforce the laws. Our buddy blago took care of that. It kills me to see a father bring his kids out, have a baja blow by about 25ft away and watch them hang onto the sides of the boat for dear life. They have to try something, because it's only a matter of time before a major tragedy occurs. P.S. Once the water hits 80, I switch to panfishing till it drops back below 80. They are not radioactive. That hurt Slamr. |
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Posts: 7090
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | I was kidding about the radioactive panfish. |
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Posts: 327
| I was fishing alone this spring in the fog , I could hear a boat coming and getting closer fast !! It was one of those pontoons with a giant outboard on it just flying right at me in bad visibility , din't know what to do ... jump out ?? Lay down ?? Just hold on ?? Scary !! Much less the baja's and waverunners an a good day !! I will say this , I've probably pi$$ed a few of them guys off trolling a time or 2 ... they have the right to go 60 mph ... I too have the right to go 5 mph with 6 lines out !! |
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| Man, you guys and your stereotypes. I own a Baja and treat all those around me with respect. i also see many of the fountains and checkmates obeying the no wake and slow area's with more respect than some of the cabin cruisers and bass fisherman (which i think some go fast because they have small boats and make less of a wake) but hey, wake is wake. what do you think makes more wake? a 100 mph skater, or a 35 mph cabin cruiser? your argument is dead there. the reason (supposedly) for the speed limit is to limit noise. fine! have a limit in place between 8 pm and 10 am when people are sleeping or trying to relax, but they already have a 25 mph limit at night. your telling me there is a big difference in sound between open exhaust at 45 and 65? sure, a few decibels, but guess what, loud is loud, and the only way to regulate that is to have an exhaust decibel limit. personally at night, i always have my captains call exhaust route it through the drive so there is no exhaust noise. there has to be a compromise out there. i can see the fisherman wanting there time, and the rec boaters have their time. a night time and morning time limit would solve many of the issues that are brought up. you will always have the drunk idiots out there and boats are still dangerous at 45, you are still going to have accidents no matter what. |
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Location: Windy City | Absolutely love the idea of a speed limit on the Chain. I fish the Chain a good deal and I still dont understand the point of having a boat that size in small water. Take those monsters off the Chain and go out to Lake Michigan where you can cruise as long as you want. Fishermen have a good idea of the contour and structure of the lake so they dont go around the lake in circles in 3 or 4 feet of water. I have pictures of a number fish in the last two years that have been runover by props in some way or another as well as seeing a nice mid forty dying on the surface this May with three steaks cut out of its back. Extending the no wake buoy line out farther is a good idea as well. Hopefully the speed limit would chase some of those boats off to Lake Michigan.
Tim
Edited by one last cast 12/12/2007 3:26 PM
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Posts: 156
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | What is the boating/alcohol law in IL, I thought none in the boat! And what about jetski's doing 180's in front of a motoring boat? Almost clocked a guy this year when he pulled a 180 |
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Posts: 62
Location: chicago | Their already is an exhaust decibal limit on the chain. |
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Posts: 1769
Location: Algonquin, ILL | ENFORCEMENT - ENFORCEMENT - ENFORECEMENT
Where the He## is the Enforcement, I pay big bucks each year for a Chain sticker yet rarley see any type of Police activity.
Extending the No-Wake areas further out into the lake does no good unless there is Enforcement, I've seen jet skis & skiers using the no-wake bouys as slolom markers but no police around
I've seen 30 footers and cruisers almost on plane going through channels but no police around
I could go on and on, any law / ordinance does no good with-out enforcement
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Posts: 95
| I fish on the chain a lot I own a ranger and a scarab and I like to go fast the last thing this country needs is more regulation. The next thing you know they will be making it a law to wear your life jacket. Or else who knows maybe you might not be able to smoke on your own boat. What happened to america the land of the free. |
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | Scarab....them things go like 70 MPH dont they? |
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| esoxriebe - 12/13/2007 5:02 PM
I fish on the chain a lot I own a ranger and a scarab and I like to go fast the last thing this country needs is more regulation. The next thing you know they will be making it a law to wear your life jacket. Or else who knows maybe you might not be able to smoke on your own boat. What happened to america the land of the free.
Wow, this land is free because of laws. |
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| there was a meeting on Last week, 85 people attended, but there were no fisherman, the next meeting is 6 p.m. Feb. 14 at the Fox Waterway Agency, 45 S. Pistakee Lake Road, Fox Lake.
http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2007/12/14/news/local/doc47625bede... |
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Posts: 485
Location: On my favorite lake! | I sent in a letter about the proposed speed limit. They told me it had to due with noise more than anything. I was almost hit twice but the person at the waterway I wrote to said they took my email with them to discuss. |
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| According to the article the proposed speed limit is just for the river, not the entire chain.
A lot of people have suggested a no wake zone in the morning and evening as a compromise. What about the guy who wants to get up early and go fish for walleyes or muskies in the morning. Is he going to have to troll all the way across the lakes to reach his fishing spot? Doesn't sound like a good, practical solution to me. Something to think about... |
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Posts: 317
| the coast guard is stepping in to enforce the rules on the chain, and they brook no bullsh*t, so go ahead and speed, drink, and act like idiots in general. |
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Posts: 561
Location: Monee, Illinois | Why the coast guard, because its a river system? Shouldnt it be DNR or Local Police? Just a question |
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Proposed Speed Limit on Fox Chain