All of us have come across these areas on lakes around the state. Be it a discharge or intake on a power plant lake, an area near a damn, etc, these areas always seem intriguing.

I have fished them before with buddies when not in my own boat and had great success, including a 7 this weekend on a swimbait. I suspect this is because the lack of pressure on these areas as the vast majority of anglers don't mess with them.

Though moving your boat into these areas is wrong and often impossible, what is the etiquette towards fishing in them? Will it cause you problems with the good ole GW? Is it just frowned upon? Or is it perfectly acceptable.

Thanks,
Shanklin

I would have to say it's roped off for a reason.

It's roped off to not put your boat in a precarious situation. Hence why it will say "No boats". But casting over the top is still possible while staying in the safe area.

As far as fun fishing as long as your boat is not in the restricted area it has never caused an issue to cast into it. Gets a little expensive sometimes since I always get hung up and can't go get it unhung. I've seen game wardens and lake patrol go by when someone was doing it and they never stopped them. I'm pretty sure it is illegal to tie up to any of those bouys or cables though.

In tournaments its subject to the tournament director but in all the ones I've fished its the same as above. Can't put your boat inside the restricted area but casting into it is ok.

Cast on my friend!

yes sir!

most larger tournys ie:weekender series, if its buoyed off, its considered a "wall" and you are not allowed to fish over the bouys, for fun fishing, id say have at it

exactly...in many tournaments if it is a state, or lake rule to not pass them and you can be ticketed by the GW, you will be DQed

I would ask director. In my eyes no boats is different than no fishing. Fun fishing go for it.

Law says no boats. Doesn't say no fishing.

Lake Fork Dam huh?

Haven't we all had 100 fish days at the Monticello roped off discharge ?

For all of those that think that if it says No Boats and should be interpreted as no fishing, then what about all those individuals that fish from the bank inside that buoy line?

The vast majority of the buoy's state "No Boats" It does not say "No fishing"

If in doubt always ask the tourney director before the tourney.

There's a buoyed area on eagle mtn across from Lakeview on the west side that has 3 buoys out in front of the water intake pipes but the north side of that area has no buoys. I've wondered how the off limits would be interpreted in that area. It's definitely not clearly defined.

Fishing Fayette up at the dam, the overflow concrete structure is about 50 feet out from the dam, and on the open water side has 2 buoys. Was drifting with the wind fishing down the dam and was stopped by the Game Warden, who explained the whole section was off limits, from the dam to the buoys. He was nice and was told me next time he would write me up. Aint Happening. Talked to a few people about it and was told if I was ticketed, the way its marked I could fight it and win. Easier to leave that lil stretch alone.