You know what pisses me off?? Not just jet skiis but the idiots behind them. Its hard enough to find the time, and good water to fish, and then to have something out there that has just the opposite intent ---> piss fisherman off, and scare the crap out of any fish in the water. Jet boats are after the same thing we are generally - salmon/steelhead... BUT jet skiis on medium size rivers serve no purpose.

Hate to see one of em get hit by a 21 ft sled, or clothes lined, but it just might happen if those guys keep doing 360's 20 feet away from people. Anybody have any close encounters or ideas of what can be done to keep them in a more restricted area?

*bank walker
- If you fish it, they will come

Bankwalker,

I hear you, man. I have a jetski story for ya.

Last summer on the Snohomish I was anchored up at Crab Bar fishing for humpies and silvers when some dingus on a jet ski comes rippin' up the riprap side where all the bank fishermen were. This guy was doing at least 15 knots and was no more than 10 feet from the riprap bank. One guy decided that he'd had enough of this moron and lobbed out a good-sized rock that smacked right into the front of the jet ski. The rider immediately turned around and approached the bank. The guy on the bank was about twice his size and told the idiot that he wouldn't miss the next time. Not wanting a problem, the little pansy-ass jetskier took off, slowly this time, and that was the last we saw of him at least for that day.

Even though it was funny as hell at the time, I can't say that I would go as far as to huck rocks but I have been tempted. Yes, they may be idiots but I still wouldn't want to see someone seriously injured. I don't have a problem with people on jet skis that respect our fishing space but I have yet too see a "respectful" river jetskier.

It's sad but these jetskiers are going to learn the hard way when they crash and burn. Stupidity and jetskis doesn't mix on lakes and especially on the rivers.

Life is short...fish hard!!!

I'm catching brookies and soaking a spawn sack for rainbows on the Lake Michigan side of a containment when a pack of "jetters" 360 the water in front of me.

If their intent was to impress me with their abilities that message didn't reach me as I was scrambling after my set line pole which was trying to follow the life vest of the young man who was cursing me for being in his way. I thought he was going to attempt to assault me when he noticed the line at the back of his neck and me with my pole in my hand.

I had opened the bail to try to keep a size 12 treble hook out of his hide, and managed to part my line with my knife.

With a final jesture he sped out of my sight with over half of my spool trailing him.

Thru all of this I didn't say a word, and I felt good about myself when they came back and I didn't use the de-hooked Mr. Champ I had tied onto my long pole.

The Lake is large.

Idaho joke... whats the difference between a jet ski and a vacume cleaner ??? The way the dirt bag is attached !!! I don't see them out on the rivers but since I bought a 21 ft North west jet I have seen way more of them than I care to out on the lakes this year. Some of the new sit down models are fast. My boat on full plane runs around 50 mph and these guys come out to try and jump the wake. They get within 20 feet of the back, jump it then circle around the front and come back for another pass. Someday, one of these meatheads is gonna fall off right in front of me and its gonna make the news. Just a side question. How fast are some of these big sit down jobs. Like I said. I'm going 50 and they can do big circles around me. Thats moving out pretty fast. 70?? is that about right??

JET SKIS HAVE NO BUSINESS ON RIVERS PERIOD!
I too have had inconsideriate a..h...s buzz me when I've been out on a lake with the family trout fishing, but have not encountered them on rivers yet. I'm sure I will. My understanding is that a boat in the act of fishing is to be given a 100', 360 degrees of clearence by any water craft under power. I have written down their vessel number and reported them to the sheriff's dept. but who knows what happens after that. Plainly they are their own worst enemy and the amount of laws being enacted is proof of their mentality. As to the question as to how fast they can go, some models go in excess of 60 mph. Take a picture and send it to your county commissioners and demand action. It's worked in some counties and who knows what could happen. The one thing that I will never do is stoop too their level and do something stupid even though I've been tempted.
Tight Lines & Smilin' Faces

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[This message has been edited by rod 'n' reel (edited 06-20-2000).]

A ban would have to be carefully worded, if one ever comes about. If you say something like ban all vessels with jet/pump type engines on said waterway, that would include you fellow Steelhead Sled brethren. Hate to see that happen to a fellow steelheader. I myself own a driftboat and have encountered these crafts on the Snoqualmie and Skykomish. My best buddy and fishing partner used to pitch in college, we keep a couple of golf balls in the boat. The first time we get buzzed, we blow it off, the second time we get buzzed by the same guy, he get's a 85mph middle finger fast ball right between the eyes.

Kev

[This message has been edited by Kev (edited 06-19-2000).]

Had quite a few encounters last fall on the Snohomish, and have seen them on the SKY already this year. Some jet skiers are considerate, but there seems to be more of the hotshot guys that think they own the river. Just keep your cool, unless they REALLY provoke attention then clamp down the drag and hold on! hehe (just kidding)

Yes, there is really no place for them on our steelhead/salmon rivers. Darn yuppies

- Bank Walker
* All things come together, and a river runs through it

I'm curious...Are jet skis catch & release only, or is there a slot limit like bass? I think any ski over 750 cc that is caught & banked with a single barbless hook should be kept. Sure would look nice mounted over the stove in my garage.
Murff

[This message has been edited by ComputerGuy (edited 06-19-2000).]

I encourage all to reread the last sentence of rod-n-reel's reply. I incurred a tarnish on my record during an incident, nearly ten years ago, involving a jet skier. Fisherman versus jetskier, tempers flaring on both sides, nobody wins. To make a long story short - I was buzzed twice, invectives were exchanged, jetskier attempted third buzz but this time I was ready with heavy jig, jig goes flying and jetskier was struck by trailing mainline, force of impact breaks rod and throws jetskier into water. Later I spent the weekend in jail. While in court, I found out that the other dude was just like me, at the time, an irreverent young punk who thought his [Bleeeeep!] didn't stink. Needless to say, I learned the error of my way during the year I spent "volunteering" at the food bank.

Have had jet skis buzz me when fishing for late winter natives on the Sky, in march when the day temp only reached the upper 40s. Two jet skis thrashing the water where I was fly fishing just ruined my day. And again last week, had one jet ski attempt to buzz the drift below me untill he saw the drift fishermen, then he beat a hasty retreat. Jet skis have been banned in and around the San Jaun Islands, dont see why they couldnt be banned on rivers also.

Everyone of you saying Jet Ski's have no place on the river are just plain wrong. I use to own 2 Jet Skis and i can tell you Jet Ski's do no more harm to the river than a Jet Sled. You need to focus your anger on the operator because that is where the problem is. Their are 2 types of riders out their. Type 1) The inexperience, often youthfull, sometimes drunk, with a F*** you attitude. These are the guys that give everyone a bad name I always cringe when I see these guys. These guys will ussually disregard all no wake rules and are most likely to purposly try to ruin someones day. Type 2) This is the Family, Adult, casual, I just want to have fun type rider. These are the good guys but Fisherman still seem to lump them together because rider number 2 will often appear to be trying to screw up your fishing but they are not intentionally trying to. They are trying to be cautious when they go up a river so the fastest they will go is prob max 30mph they will stay where it looks deep because of fear of hitting a rock or obstruction. The deep spot is ussually the slot (Hey where do we like to fish) They most likely don't fish except for trout with friends and family on opening day so they don't understand what good steelhead and salmon water is or how to read water to best try to avoid the slot when your fishing (Neither do a lot of jet sledders or they are just trying to stay in the slot to avoid the possible hidden bar.) The Jet Ski crowd from what i have seen is 90% type 2 riders and 10% Type 1. Its that 10% that sticks into everyones head. %10 percent of the boaters out their do the same stupid things but people seem to ignore it and pretend it doesnt happen. Go figure.

As far as scaring the hell outta fish, I use to think jets sleds would destroy a hole after they went through it. my attitude has changed on that. Last week we were fishing a slot for about 45 min with no bites then along came a sled and ran right over the spot we were fishing. We bitched and moaned as he went by but about 5 minutes later we were all smiles as we netted the first fish a nice 8lb summer hatchery.

The reason i loved riding in Rivers so much is that the scenery is always changing. Their is a big trill in seeing whats around the next corner, wondering if you will be able to shoot that riffle, you don't have boats and skiers everywhere so you get to enjoy some solitude. The whole river experience is like a big adventure. Lakes get boring fast since nothing changes and doing circles and spraying water gets old pretty darn quick.

I no longer own Jet Skis anymore because i found i hardly used them. especially in the winter, they would sit and collect dust and depreciate while i fished all season. Finally i outfitted one with a rod holder and used it to get to better fishing spots on the river. i did that twice and decided i needed a drift boat so i sold them. Best decision i ever made.

If this state would issue a boating license similar to a driving license and required classes a lot of these problems would not happen near as often.

Drivers liscenses and tests sure have kept a lot of idiots off the road. Another case of a failed system.

the banned in the san jauns is because money talks to many rich people living up there not to mention some popular people sad isn't it

[This message has been edited by DOUG KELLY (edited 06-20-2000).]

Hawk, Their would be a lot more idiots on the road if the drivers license system wasn't in place

Here in Thurston Co. they have several jetski banns in place on the local lakes some are wake restrictions within certain hours and others I beleive just say no to jetskis.But on rivers ..man that seams like a tuff place to ride,if you fall off then what? swim like hell to catch the damn thing ... that would be in entertaining to watch it's a small percentage that give the rest a bad name,just like fisherman...except the ones over at nwfishing then the percentage really goes up

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Row Quietly and fish a Cataraft }<<(('>----<'))>>{
Release all Wild Fish

Hey QwikSticks. That is one of my favorite summer run tricks. While everyone is bitching at the sleds, you'll find me to be the first one to cast behind the moving sled.

More often than not, the sled will "wake" the fish up and get them to strike my presentation.

Just a theory here. No real proof on my part. Summer runs tend to enter a river than race like mad to their spawning grounds. Once there and in the holes that they like, the summers tend to stay put - for at least a couple of months. During this time, they tend to relax quite a bit. A moving sled forces the fish to move. Any quick or startled movents by the fish results in higher adrenaline levels. Higher adrenaline leves result in a sharper sense and alertness. It's at this time, the fish seems to readily pick/chomp at anything that floats past them. In a couple of short minutes, the bite will quickly stop as it had started.

I don't see this as much if there is contstant sled traffic over a hole. I think the fish only take so much noise and excitement. Too much, and the fish turn off.

Drift boats don't seem to make any difference when going over fish, unless the water is painfully low and clear.

ObBackToTheOriginalPost - The Snohomish Sheriff Dept was all over the Snohomish on jetskis last year. They were citing many a jetskier (and fisherman) up near Douglas and Crab Bar.

Parker

From my experience QuikSticks got the jetskiers numbers mixed up. It's really 90%type 1 and 10% type 2. If they would just go by once they wouldn't be so bad, but they have to go back and forth and around and around and get right in your face. They need some designated area for these obnoxous people and their jetskis. The problem would be finding an acceptable place,maybe the settling ponds at the sewage treatment plants.

Sorry to sound like a redneck, but I get burn't out on everyone talking about new rules and regulations to handle issues. It's a proven fact that we don't enforce the laws that are already on the books. Why create more with the same results. No, I don't belong to a militia group, but our government has got most people convinced that we aren't smart enough to make our own decisions, so they need to make them for us. As a result, we sit by and watch them pee away ever principle this country was founded on. We need to get back to basic common courtesy, and the consequences of what happens when you treat other people like cr*p.

Rivers may make for neat scenery, but seem like the most unsafe place to ride a jetski. If a guy wants a scenery change, take an Amtrack trip across North America. I'm off the podium now. Sorry for venting my pie hole.

Hawk...Right on,wanna run for pres.you got my vote.

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Row Quietly and fish a Cataraft }<<(('>----<'))>>{
Release all Wild Fish

What a buncha hypocrites!

First off, I am not too thrilled when a jetski rips in front of my hole either, but if its the only spot on the river deep enough to ski, that's my tough luck.

Of course, there are the inconsiderate bastards that don't slow down one bit, but that goes for sleds as well. As a matter fact, I've come across more ass-hole rednecks in sleds than I have "yuppie" jet skiers. Even though we don't appreciate someone else's form of entertainment when it detracts from the optimum fishing experience, we must deal with it.

Next you'll be wanting to put restrictions on rafts like their talking in Oregon. Then maybe only guys that own 4x4's with gun racks and Confederate flags will be allowed to use the river.

I love it how some of you make claim to the rivers as if they were your own.People enjoy the rivers for all kinds of different reasons, not just fishing.

Just remember we're all endangered species when it comes to regulations, fish, fishers, jet-skiers, hikers, and rafters alike.