Belly Boats / Float Tubes

[Flysmallie]

I'm going to take another run at getting Float Tube access to one of our Greene County lakes. I do not currently own one but would buy one in a heartbeat if I could use it on one of these lakes. Looking at the list of activities that are available for these lakes it does list Belly Boats but doesn't say Yes or No for any of them. We all know the answer has been No. I've never been able to get them to tell me their concerns for the use of float tubes but when I was ran off of Fellows a long time ago all the guy could tell me is that they don't allow swimming. Maybe they are afraid that it would turn into a fiasco loop hole that would allow everyone with some type of flotation device to float around the lake and say they were fishing, that I could understand. But it seems that the parks in and around Springfield have been eliminating as many fishing opportunities as they can over the past several years. Even the little park lake where Wheatenhiemer first took me to fly fish is off limits to fishing now. At some point we have to get this moving in the other direction so that we are giving the kids of this area an opportunity to fish.

I have put together an online survey that I would like as many people to answer as possible. I hope this will give me some added leverage when I approach this again. Everyone's response is appreciated and I will keep everyone informed on the progress.

Belly Boat / Float Tube Survey

[timsfly]

I was out at Fellows last week, the lady told me no swimming and that float tube fishing wasn't allowed.

I ask her to make sure, I was fishing out of my Kayak so it wasn't an issue, fishing was good

for me, I had a big musky take a swipe at a fly and caught several

crappie, no size to them but they were fun, the musky looked to be about 30"

[solus_vero]

I've never fished the lakes your talking about but if I had the chance I would. It is a GREAT way to fish. I would like to know the state regulation on float tubes and local regulations as well.

If a guy has on waders there is no way he could "Relieve" himself in the water. That is the only kind of pollution I can think a float tube could possibly cause. The new PFDs are small and comfortable so there's no reason NOT to wear one.

If you ever hear of a float tube turny, please post it. I would love to try it.

I took the survey and I encourage everyone to do the same.

Good thread. Keep up the good fight and keep us informed.

[Flysmallie]

I was out at Fellows last week, the lady told me no swimming and that float tube fishing wasn't allowed.

I ask her to make sure, I was fishing out of my Kayak so it wasn't an issue, fishing was good

for me, I had a big musky take a swipe at a fly and caught several

crappie, no size to them but they were fun, the musky looked to be about 30"

That musky would have been fun in the kayak!!

I have asked that lady probably a dozen times over the past couple of years with the same response. But it's not her call either. I have asked someone within City Utilities before and after several emails was told no. Hopefully if we can get enough response to the survey, good or bad, I will be able to plead my case and will start with someone a little further up the food chain at CU this time.

[jbeenemd]

I am not trying to rain on your parade, but maybe you don't understand why they don't want "swimmers" and/or tube fishers in Fellows, and Daniels Lakes. These lakes provide drinking water for Springfield. It is a common practice to disallow these activities in waters that are part of municipal water supplies.

I lived in Little Rock for several years and fished on one of their lakes that provided water to Little Rock. When launching my boat I slipped and touched the edge of the water. Had "tennis shoes" on and did not even get enough water on them to get the fabric wet. The "ranger" there saw that and raised all sorts of hell with me. I know that it does not make any sense that the boat motors, fish and other wildlife contaminate the water. Just can't let those clean humans in it.

Bottom line is that you will not get any traction with your survey. Does not matter how many people sign it. It just "will not fly"!!! Might try addressing this to the State Dept of Natural Resources and State Health Dept and see how far you get.

Jackie

[Wheatenheimer]

Even the little park lake where Wheatenhiemer first took me to fly fish is off limits to fishing now. At some point we have to get this moving in the other direction so that we are giving the kids of this area an opportunity to fish.

Belly Boat / Float Tube Survey

And what a shame, too! I would like to see them open it back up as catch and release, or even kids only. That was the perfect place to learn to flyfish. You could practice your cast and be rewarded with very eager, monster 'gill's that didn't care about how hard you slap the water with your line.

I don't care if I wasted the last 35 seconds filling out the online survey. If there is even a slim chance this will help, it was worth it!

Keep fighting the good fight, Brother!

[Flysmallie]

I am not trying to rain on your parade, but maybe you don't understand why they don't want "swimmers" and/or tube fishers in Fellows, and Daniels Lakes. These lakes provide drinking water for Springfield. It is a common practice to disallow these activities in waters that are part of municipal water supplies.

I know exactly why they don't want swimmers, even though they still allow it. I've put more time into this than most would even consider. This all started back in 1987, the first time I was ran off the lake for "swimming". But it's funny how they will stand there and argue with me about not being allowed to swim when I'm standing there in waders but a bunch of kids can be out waist deep wading around and throwing rocks at each other and they say nothing. Even after I point out the obvious.

The survey is not meant as a petition. I don't care how many people take it. It has no signatures and there is not a way to track it back to the person that filled it out. Will it help? Absolutley, if I can get in front of the right people I can get this done.

One thing we have going for those of us that care is that they allow water skiing on Fellows lake. From their website: Skiing permitted May 15 - Oct. 1, in defined area, Monday & Wednesday 2pm until one hour before sundown. Saturday & Sunday 10am-3pm. Contact Marina for details at 833-2058.

So I can roll over and play dead as you suggested, or I can stay determined and get this done. And trust me, I will get it done. All it takes is time, patience and speaking to the right people.

[crawfly]

"These lakes provide drinking water for Springfield. It is a common practice to disallow these activities in waters that are part of municipal water supplies."

Stockton lake is a supplier of water for Springfield. Water is treated from every source before distribution.

I had an incident at Springfield lake in the early eighties. The cops were called but I got out of the water and loaded up before they ever got there. I was wadered up and essentially isolated from the water as much as any others fishing but I didn't feel like getting arrested over the issue as I got pretty vocal with the guy before I launched. The policy and argument for it makes no sense but it has never seemed to make any difference. They, City/CU, have been approached before including by fishers who also were employed by CU. That doesn't mean things can't ever be changed though.

Good luck with this.

[hendernt]

Tim, I caught a 16" musky at fellows on monday while crappie fishing w/ my ultralight man that was fun...I to do not understand the logic of no wading or bellyboats bt we will allow water skiing. Afriend and I were out there last summer while some people were skiing made it hard to fish in a canoe w/ them buzzing around the lake by us, but none the less still had fun fishing. One other thing I do not understand is why they dont allow canoes or boats east of the bridge or at mcdaniels. On another note while I was fishing on monday a couple of guys were out there checking out the stairs on the east side of the bridge and from what I gathered someone fell off of them and got hurt so they closed the steps.

[biggbear]

i to think that it should be allowed there is no reason that it should b regulated in this way it would also be nice if they put in more docks on the lake i have fished small lakes in florida and they had docks to fish from all around them not just one thats to small for a real family to fish from