I was taught to slow to "no wake" when going by any boat. And I always will. I do wish others would learn this, you rarely see it anymore. Not even from the law.
Runnin a trot line on Dunlap, on the bow of my boat, had a GW go by me about 3/4 throttle (you know that nice High wake), no more than 10 yards off the bow. Drenched me, put about 4 inches of water in the boat, gave the GW a "Californy Howdy". No sirens, no lights, just kept goin...

a few years ago we were fishing on thanksgiving weekend. two bass fishermen came around dead man's curve (by the softball fields) and slammed head on. two of the four guys were airlifted out. they were both running wide open and were both very familiar with the lake. no need to run as fast as you can on that little puddle!

Saw a Skeeter and a Ski boat collide on that same curve. I always slow down on curves, but when I see a boater fishing I will speed up. The faster I go the more boat out of the water and less wake. No way I'm going to stop and idle past a boat on Dunlap nor would I expect anyway one else too. If you go by, go by at full speed!

Less wake than idle?

I lived on Dunlap a few years back and am moving back next week. Have a 20I w/250, would never attempt to go over 50 on Dunlap.

Just in case anyone forgot. This is straight off the TPWD website.

It is UNLAWFUL for any person to:
1.
Operate at a rate of speed greater than is reasonable and prudent or greater than will permit him to bring such boat to a stop within the assured clear distance ahead.
2.
Operate so as to cause a hazardous wake or wash.
3.
Operate in a circular course around fishermen or swimmers.
4.
Moor or attach to any buoy, beacon, light marker, stake, flag or other aid to safe operation, or to move, remove, displace, tamper with, damage or destroy the same.
5.
Anchor in the traveled portion of a river or channel so as to prevent, impede, or interfere with safe passage of any other boat through the same area.
6.
Operate within an area designated as bathing, fishing, swimming, or otherwise restricted.
7.
Operate within a designated "no wake" area except at headway speed without creating a swell or wake.
8.
Engage in water skiing, surfboarding or other similar activity between the hours of 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise; provided that this shall not apply to vessels used in recognized water ski tournaments, competitions, exhibitions or trials, provided that the water area is adequately lighted.
9.
Operate while intoxicated (loss of mental or physical faculties, or blood alcohol content of .08 or higher). 1st conviction punishable by a fine not to exceed $2,000, confinement in jail not to exceed 180 days or both; 2nd conviction punishable by a fine not to exceed $4,000, confinement not to exceed one year or both; 3rd conviction punishable by a fine not to exceed $10,000, imprisonment for not more than 10 years or less than 2 years.
**Failure to submit a specimen to determine blood alcohol content may result in suspension of your driver�s license.
10. Operate any vessel or manipulate any water skis, aquaplane or similar device, in a willful or wanton disregard of the rights or safety of others and at a speed or in a manner so as to endanger or be likely to endanger any person or property. (Violation of this provision shall be punishable, upon conviction, by a fine of not less than $200 nor more than $2,000 or by confinement in jail not to exceed 180 days or both.)

Man I sure wish they would inforce those laws on Dunalp. That way the skiiers would never be able to ski. By law it looks like they can only idle around.

If I idled past every fisherman on Dunlap the last few weeks, I could get only plane for 2 seconds come off plane and idle, back on plane for 2-3 seconds back to idle. Should be able to make it from I-35 to the dam just about the time everyone is headed to weigh in.

All kidding aside, most are not going to idle by. I speed up to create less wake and will keep doing so. When the game wardens are running wide open out there past you that should give you a good indication.
Better off going to a different lake if you don't want to deal with it, although I don't know what lake you could go to.

Wow, I sure hope you're joking..............if not, please let us know what boat you drive and when you'll be on the lake so we can all stay home. Do what you want with your own life, but don't put the rest of our lives in jeopardy because of your reckless behavior.

The ski-boats are bad enough and that is the main reason I don't fish Dunlap once it gets warm.............and now we have bass boats passing each other at over 60MPH on that narrow, little lake.........I sure hope you were just stirring the pot.

Yes of course I was stirring the pot, but I did pass that guy running on the lower end of lake. Last couple of months I've seen some real fast boats running wide open out there though. Not to worry though, I won't be out there much until November or so of next year.
Stay safe my friends!

Good Lord! I am glad I don't fish at a place where people act like they are on a race course with other peoples lives at stake. Just no need to risk killing kids and others so you can stay on plane and arrive early to weigh in, leave earlier!

I'd bet that if you had only one finger on two hands, you would still be able to count the number of times that a GW passed you while at ancor within a distance to cause a hazard. A wake maybe, but we as fisherman are accustom to wakes; its the flyby and open throttle that is hazardous. Look the plain fact is that Dunlap is just too small to pass people in front of you, to pass withing a few yards of an ancored boat, or run full throttle into the curves. Just be considerate of others.

And FYI for all those out there that are the victims of these reckless boaters there is a course you can take. One is the director of these Tournaments. How would it look if their tournament is drawing bad publicity and complaints from the other users of the lake. The second is the local GW. Any person, with probable cause, may file a complainant for an offense that they were victim of. If their actions were so reckless then get their TX numbers, boat description, driver description, license plate on the tow vehicle, etc. Call the GW and let them know. Bear in mind these GWs are spread awful thin, they can't be everywhere and see everything so they won't know there is a problem unless they are told. Don't go calling them if your boat gets rocked by a normal wake but if you get put into a dangerous position because of the actions of a careless boater (fisherman or skier) then let them know. Chances are you are not the only one that this person is victimizing and your report of that person could save a life. Boater safety is everyone's responsibilty. Be safe and happy fishing.

Well said Nitro240. The crowds are getting heavier and the GW's need all the help they can get. Alot of people do not
know how to opperate a boat, but fishermen and women have
no excuse. Good Day,

I was on Dunlap on Thursday caught 5 fish for about 20lbs. in the afternoon there were lots of boats out there. There was a guy in a red champion with a mariner on the back came through the shallow part of the lake between me and another boat I'm just waiting till someone hits the bottom in that shallow water. I know one of the gamewardens and they have more than just Dunlap to patrol.I live down on Dunlap and fish it often. I am fortunate that I don't have to deal with the boat traffic when it gets bad. I know first hand how crazy it can get on dunlap and canyon due to me living on dunlap and patroling all of canyon lake area. With as popular as Dunlap is I wouldn't be surprised if there is not more accidents this year. A good friend of had a crash in the curve by the softball fields several years ago and is still getting over it. We all need to use common sense when it comes to boating. It makes me mad when a ski boat comes by and throws that big wake. I have a 21ft skeeter and it rocks when they go by makes me mad too.

I'm out on Dunlap twice a week in the summer. Seriously, what is the point of going that fast in ANY boat on that lake, let alone a fishing boat?! Just a waste of gas if you ask me.

There are way too many ski boats, fisherman, jet skis, and wakeboarders (me being one of them) to do that kind of thing.

Let's all share the lake and be safe this year!!!

My Dad has a gambler, and if you think your boat is fast, lets meet on a real lake, like amistad, or falcon, and i'll show you 100 passing you!!! Thats where to drive fast, oh by they way, i drive an 04 bass tracker 175, black, i'll be out on dunlap, look for me, come flying by me at 70, and you get 3 trebles from a full size zara spook embeded somewhere not so comfortable.