Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Fishermen, tackle shop owners and individuals concerned about regulations that will restrict organized activities on Indiana waterways are invited to a meeting Saturday at 10 a.m. at Goshen Inn to learn more about fighting proposed legislation.
Tuesday, Ken McIntosh said proponents of the proposed laws have twisted information regarding fishing tournaments to get the waterway restrictions passed. He said a study of the lakes already concluded that bass fishermen are no threat to the lake. Yet, he said, 50 "spoiled lakers" continue to claim Lake Wawasee has reached its critical level for bass fishing.
"You have 50 spoiled lakers who want the lake to themselves," he said. He said bass fishermen are being singled out.
And as for property owners who claim bass fishermen are causing injuries and damaging property, he said that wasn't true either.
"We're not damaging anything, we're not doing anything," he said. "We've got nothing to hide. We've got the state's numbers."
The reason for Saturday's meeting is to get the facts out about fishing tournaments and to fight the new restrictions. An alliance of all those concerned and involved will also be formed, he said.
On July 1, 2000, the Indiana Legislature told the Natural Resources Commission they modified state statute that says the department may adopt rules for the regulation of watercraft engaged in group or organized activities or tournaments. The commission then put together a series of regulations that affect organized activities. According to the DNR Web site, legislation expanded DNR's authority to regulate additional watercraft activities involving more than 15 boats on public waters, including fishing tournaments. The DNR previously had permitting authority for watercraft activities on public waters only in regard to water-skiing events and boat races.
The proposed rule established a process by which local organizations or the DNR could request regulation of fishing tournaments or other organized boating activities on specific public waters. As a result, the rules would not automatically require permitting on all public waters but focus attention only to waters where there is a perceived problem. An individual or organization could request that a petition be forwarded to the department through a local entity (town board or county commissioners) or could petition directly through a DNR deputy director.
The department would review the proposal and within 90 days forward a recommendation to the Natural Resources Commission. If the petition has merit, the NRC would then hold a local public hearing and make a decision.
Under the legislation, there are seven conditions the license holder of the permit must meet to conduct a fishing tournament or other organized activity including obtaining permission for an activity to be held, meeting with designated authorities, removing equipment and providing officials to supervise the event.
