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Post by okieman71 on Jun 23, 2017 11:30:17 GMT -6
Fished the EH on Thursday 6/22 PM. Was getting into some fish around 6. Most ate either size 22 RS2 or Size 14 Jig Head Hares Ear(Natural). Worked my way up to the faster water and then had Six Kayaks Come through the EH from the bluffs. Its the first time I have ever seen fisherman leave the EH because of Kayakers. They parked their Kayaks at the confluence of river right/river left and stayed a bit there. They then worked their way down to just above the EH bridge and stopped again. By this time I had moved below the EH bridge and actually caught 4-5 fish all 16" and better. They must have stocked some quality fish. The largest was around 19". Pretty good color for stockers. Park Ranger actually stopped and talked to one of the Kayakers and then they stayed a bit more before working their way downstream. This type of thing is extremely frustrating for anyone fishing. What ever happened to the signs that said "ENTRY TO WATER BY ANGLERS ONLY"? Those were supposed to be put back up a year ago. So, the EH circus has begun once again this summer. It is only going to get worse until the proper authorities enforce the Regs.
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Post by turfdawg on Jun 23, 2017 14:32:08 GMT -6
Father's Day weekend there were a large group swimming at the bluffs. I told them they better watch out for the park rangers because they were not supposed to be swimming except at the designated area. One guy told me to just call the blankety blank rangers and that he had already talked to them and that it was ok for them to be there and the blankety blank fisherman didn't own the river.
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Post by okieman71 on Jun 23, 2017 14:43:08 GMT -6
No surprise there. Park Authorities are not doing a very good job of enforcing the regs. in my opinion. The signs warning people to stay out of the water unless fishing have never been put back up. Complete apathy is what it boils down to I guess. I am pretty sure swimming, canoeing, kayaking. tubing. etc. is prohibited form the spillway all the way down to the EH bridge. This has really gotten out of hand since the flood. May not ever be the same again.
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Post by turfdawg on Jun 23, 2017 16:40:12 GMT -6
No surprise there. Park Authorities are not doing a very good job of enforcing the regs. in my opinion. The signs warning people to stay out of the water unless fishing have never been put back up. Complete apathy is what it boils down to I guess. I am pretty sure swimming, canoeing, kayaking. tubing. etc. is prohibited form the spillway all the way down to the EH bridge. This has really gotten out of hand since the flood. May not ever be the same again. Well, if the rangers are not going to say anything and let them then I guess I will just keep my mouth shut. |
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Post by greenman on Jun 23, 2017 17:08:26 GMT -6
Without signs says 'Entry by Anglers only' it is hard for the Rangers to really say anything. It would make me want to assume that they have changed the rules since the flood and are allowing it. I will have to admit, It would be fun to kayak from spillway down to evening hole.  |
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Post by hankinsfly on Jun 23, 2017 19:21:36 GMT -6
What's danimal have to say here? To yak it or not to yak it?
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Post by Fenwick on Jun 23, 2017 21:30:27 GMT -6
Those observations really have me steamed. The Lower Mountain Fork River Foundation meeting is to be held Saturday June 24 in the Forest Heritage Center building where the park rangers dispatcher is located and where the rangers are often found. These foundation meetings often have a few of the park rangers, game wardens and forestry service staffers in attendance. Will any fly fisher at the meeting speak up about these recent observations? I suppose there isn't a fine involved after all, that all a LEO can do is to suggest to people that it is "swim / kayak / wade fish / enter the water by any means" at your own risk and leave it at that but they can't actually evict / eject you from wherever you are doing whatever it is that you are doing. Odd that they can cite you for having kept some trout in a Red Zone but feel free to tube right on by. The former Cold Hole / now Warm Lake is large enough to accommodate a center console sport fishing boat so I suppose one or two of those will show up this summer. Surely a jet skier will make an appearance in front of we fly rodders one day soon. Why skinny dip way down in Zone 2 when the Evening Hole is right there? You'd almost think the Chamber of Commerce / Tourism folks dissuade the LEO's lest revenue generating park visitors have a bad experience this money making season.
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Post by danimal on Jun 23, 2017 21:32:57 GMT -6
What's danimal have to say here? To yak it or not to yak it? As much as I love kayaking, I wouldn't support kayaks being allowed above EH bridge. Just not enough room for both boaters and fisherpersons up there. But I'll say this (and I'm probably about to step in a puddle here) -- I'd LOVE to see a special release of about 750 cfs (or so) just 1 weekend a year on Spillway for experienced boaters to get our ya ya's on. Outside of that, Spillway/EH should belong to anglers. Hope I haven't ruffled any feathers here.  |
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Post by Fenwick on Jun 23, 2017 21:53:18 GMT -6
Couldn't happen there in Beavers Bend as a one time favor would instantly become a carved in stone fact, the event streamed and instagrammed on the interwebs drawing yakkers daily year round in unstoppable fashion. You'd never get that genie back in the bottle, signage, rules and regulations or not. There'd inevitably be violence between yakkers and fishermen too.
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Post by danimal on Jun 23, 2017 22:39:10 GMT -6
Couldn't happen there in Beavers Bend as a one time favor would instantly become a carved in stone fact, the event streamed and instagrammed on the interwebs drawing yakkers daily year round in unstoppable fashion. You'd never get that genie back in the bottle, signage, rules and regulations or not. There'd inevitably be violence between yakkers and fishermen too. That's somewhat true. It would most likely open up a can of worms where you'd have idiots with inner-tubes, inflatable dolls, and pretty much anything that floats showing up every day (which seems to be already happening). Most serious whitewater boaters (myself included) wouldn't be interested in running spillway at a hundred cfs.
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Post by Fenwick on Jun 24, 2017 11:52:14 GMT -6
How'd you know about my inflatable doll? *looks around*
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Post by danimal on Jun 24, 2017 12:07:52 GMT -6
How'd you know about my inflatable doll? *looks around* Mine are twins... |
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Post by Fenwick on Jun 24, 2017 13:50:05 GMT -6
Ha! Sick minds think alike. Buy that man a beer!
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Post by turfdawg on Jun 27, 2017 19:56:03 GMT -6
Did anyone find out if the park people are letting folks swim in areas other than swim beach?
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Post by okieman71 on Jun 27, 2017 20:14:18 GMT -6
FACT: Pre-flood there were signs stating "Entry to water by anglers only" Question nobody seems to know the answer to?? Who originally put the signs up and is there actually legislation against swimming in SC & EH. My thoughts: The signs were put up for some reason at some point. So someone with authority either knew or thought is was not allowed. Im sure it wasn't a random person who initially put up the signage. It is also my understanding that there are signs ready and waiting to be put back up. Not sure why they haven't been. Most likely and unfortunately it will prolly take someone getting hurt up SC a which could very easily require air evacuation depending on the circumstances. SC is not a safe place for folks to be swimming, especially kids. Hopefully not but it seems that there are large numbers utilizing SC in all manners and the majority during the summer do not appear to be anglers. That bedrock which now lines SC is really an accident waiting to happen. Requires great care even by strong waders with good equipment. Definitely not for flip flops or bare feet. Just my humble opinion.
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Post by Fenwick on Jun 27, 2017 21:36:14 GMT -6
In casual conversation with a ranger after the first flood it was stated that people are indeed injuring themselves by falling down along the crazy exposed Spillway bedrock and calls for assistance are not unusual. As for the signage you mention I suppose it'll all go back up once the river hydraulics anywhere in the park do their worst. I had also heard that some new signage that was put up after the floods had been vandalized and not yet replaced. The staff from The Darwin Awards will surely find appropriate candidates in Beavers Bend Park.
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Post by golferjeff on Jun 28, 2017 7:31:15 GMT -6
Original signage destroyed in flood. Replacement signage vandalized and removed. Trying to wait on some new regs to get approved before anything new is put up. Next item is the new Bridge and then a discussion on zones. I think I have that right.....
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Post by okieman71 on Jun 28, 2017 7:35:46 GMT -6
I think you are correct Jeff. I do think the new signage is ready but hasn't been put up. Not 100% that that is correct. Was/Is there any regulation that pertains to swimming in SC & EH?? If not, then how did we ever have signs??
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Post by Fenwick on Jun 28, 2017 21:24:22 GMT -6
There'd have to be laws on books specifying in exacting detail what can and cannot be done in Beavers Bend as far as swimming, kayaking, tubing, jackass stunts and anything else goes in order for a fine or court case to be made. Signs without written laws to back them up have no teeth. Maybe these feral swimmers are not fishing so there are no game laws being broken, not piloting a motorized water craft so no boating rules broken there...no specific offence already in the books so without a law that they are breaking it looks like all that can be done is to warn people that they are doing whatever it is that they are doing at their own risk to life and limb and thats it. If they don't appear to be under the influence or are not in possession of illegal substances, not vandalizing property, no indecent exposure, no nothing other than swimming where common sense dictates otherwise...welll...they win. Even if the signs were up all over the place about "entry by wade fishermen only" you'd still have to have written laws saying so and a legal system that'll enforce them. For now the signs would serve only as a mere suggestion.
FWIW: I had also heard from a ranger that many swimmers in the fishing areas are finding out in painful bloody fashion where all the broken off treble hooked lures are on submerged rocks and logs. Some of those deep black swirling holes on the Spillway can and surely will pull someone under. The water immediately below the power generation discharge looks inviting too but that area has already claimed a few.
Just sad to know it's going to happen again up there. Totally preventable but it's sure to happen again just the same.
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Post by captwoody on Jul 1, 2017 16:20:01 GMT -6
Is it actually illegal for people to tube or kayak in the red zones? I hope so, but couldn't actually find where the regs stated that.
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Post by Fenwick on Jul 11, 2017 5:36:18 GMT -6
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Post by turfdawg on Jul 11, 2017 6:04:54 GMT -6
So no more fishing below swim beach bridge? |
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Post by booglerz on Jul 11, 2017 7:23:15 GMT -6
So no more fishing below swim beach bridge? I'd too like someone to verify this, below swim beach bridge is one of my favorite spots... |
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Post by okieman71 on Jul 11, 2017 10:29:10 GMT -6
If you cannot fish for the first 300 feet below any dam structure then this would mean first 300 feet below Spillway, Old Park Dam, Rereg Dam and Hydro dam. I was under the impression you already were not allowed below Hydro Dam. However, below Swim Beach Bridge is above the Hydro dam so......Of course I haven't seen the buoy line that goes up to Sb bridge but it sounds as though it may be off limits. We need to be increasing the amount of fishable water and instead the geniuses are taking it away. Ignorance is bliss.
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Post by booglerz on Jul 11, 2017 11:10:38 GMT -6
If you cannot fish for the first 300 feet below any dam structure then this would mean first 300 feet below Spillway, Old Park Dam, Rereg Dam and Hydro dam. I was under the impression you already were not allowed below Hydro Dam. However, below Swim Beach Bridge is above the Hydro dam so......Of course I haven't seen the buoy line that goes up to Sb bridge but it sounds as though it may be off limits. We need to be increasing the amount of fishable water and instead the geniuses are taking it away. Ignorance is bliss. I think you are correct, my current understanding (after contacting a few people) is that from swim-bridge to the bouy line is still fishable, you will get fined if you go into the water below the bouy line. And I guess by 'dam structure' stop-logs do not really count and they mean physical dams. |
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