Bald Eagle Launch on the 4th

[Sandmannd]

Went out at 6 yesterday and didn't catch much. We came back in to get the boat out of the water (had a lady from work with me) and it was pretty packed. Anyway, when I came off the lake a sheriff was there and asked if I had a two rope. Someone with a 2WD went too far down the landing and couldn't get out. So I said I would go get my rope. I went up and unhooked my trailer and drove own to the landing. When I got there someone else was pulling them out. I was a little chapped that I had gone through the work when they asked me to pull them out and then ended up having someone ese do it but whatever. So I get in line and waited and waited. It went pretty slow and I couldn't figure out why. When I got up close to the landing the guy told me if I was pulling a boat out just to come down the center and get it out of there and make those launching wait. So that's why I was waiting so long. Again, he could have told me this when I was getting the two rope and such.

Is this proper for the landing? I've always got in line and used the landing in turn.

[polarsusd81]

Seems like a mess to me. I have used that launch many times. Was he telling you to use the center to block other people or use the center to get between others? I don't know how you would do that. But using the center to block others is not the correct way to go about launching or trailering a boat. I am sure it was a zoo there yesterday though, father's day was insane. There are a lot of people who don't get out in their boats enough to know how to efficiently load and launch their boats. I wish there were a training course a person would have to go through when they buy a boat to certify them allowing them to use a ramp. That is a utopian thought though, so I have decided that when I see someone struggling to launch or load, I will help them out and give them a few tips.

[Sandmannd]

He was making people that were in line wait and then someone would back all the way down the center and load up their boat. He said when an officer is there that's how they do it, but even if one wasn't there that's how it should go. I've never heard anything like that before. I know it cheesed me off because he could have told me that when he asked me to get my tow rope and then coulda told me again when he said he found someone else. Just wasted my time so I was a little cheesed.

[polarsusd81]

That just doesn't make sense. Why would they have two docks there for people to use if they only wanted one lane of boats going in and out of there? I have launched my boat in that access alone in about 2 minutes and can load it back up in about the same amount of time if there is enough room to tie it off or beach it. Something fishy there, and its not the catching.

[BoxMN]

The east side lane of the launch is really bad, as it tilts quite sharply. This is a problem for people with roller trailers, or at least if they care about getting their boat back on straight.

I am not sure if that was why, as I have never seen only one lane being used. As you can launch no prob from the east side. But I will only use the west side lane when pulling my boat out from there. Tried to get the east side lane to work many times, but it is always crooked. Maybe that is why, not sure, but thought I would throw that out as a potential reason.

[Sandmannd]

I think I was miss-understood. They were using both lanes at the launch but he as telling people that were pulling their boat out to come down the center of the parking lot instead of getting in line and just jump into one of the spots. So basically cutting to the front of the line, but still using both lanes.

[polarsusd81]

That makes more sense than only using one lane, but still not a good idea. If they need someone out there telling people how to do it, it obviously isn't the way people are accustomed to loading. All that will do is lead to confusion and make people launching get mad because others get to cut in line. Granted this will clear the parking lot so there are spots for launchers to park, but that is not enough of a reason to do something like this. Just doesn't make much sense at all. It has always been...get in line and wait to launch, then when you are ready to leave, get in line and wait to load. No reason to change it now.

[hunting4walleyes]

I am thinking I might know the answer to backing down the center. Was the lot full? We were at a access on the 4th and it was completely full. So there was 3-4 boats just sitting there waiting for someone to come off in order to launch and park. Therefore you should not have to wait an hour for them to go to get your boat out. They were right in line parked. We just pulled out of the spot and backed right down the center. Alot easier than waiting hours in line. I will say however it is not right to do this if there are parking spots and everyone is moving along. It was just a weird circumstance. Not sure if that was your deal on Bald Eagle, just thought I would share.

[kunk]

Quit fishing BA 20 years ago. At that time you had to be off the lake by 8:00AM on the weekend to be able to get the boat out in a reasonable time. Not for me.

[Slyster]

SO SAD. What's it going to be like in 20 MORE years? Unreal the traffic.. and I admit I myself am part of the problem! I got my boat/motor only 4 years ago and now LOVE fishing and am always going to local lakes.

Maybe steep permits would limit lake usage? But then again that's not fair.. just like how lower and middle class.. even upper middle class?.. citizens can't buy lake property anymore.