Post by subzero350 on Apr 17, 2015 13:22:39 GMT -5
This question concerns the West Lakes Chain in Noble County which includes Tamarack, Steinbarger, Waldron & Jones lakes; and a branch of the Elkhart River.
The new Fishing Guide specifies what equipment is legal to use for taking suckers, common carp, gar, etc; per body of water being fished; and that equipment differs depending on the type of body of water being fished. My question concerns the definition of the type of body of water I'm fishing so I don't end up using illegal equipment for the location I'm fishing...
For example, the guide states that only a bow and arrow and crossbow can be used on small streams or partial streams.
It says bow and arrow, crossbow, gig, fish spear, spear gun, and underwater spear can be used on "non-flowing waters (including lakes, ponds, and reservoirs)".
I assume that dead-end channels that attach to lakes that do not have "flowing waters" are considered part of the lake. But I have specific questions about the definition of certain other waterways attached to these lakes and these questions are:
1) Is a channel that connects two lakes together that has water flowing thru it considered a "non-flowing waterway" (ie: part of a lake) by the above definition or is it considered a stream? The channels in question connect Steinbarger and Waldron lakes and Jones and Waldon Lakes. Water does flow thru these channels from the upstream lakes (which are filled by drainage) and this lake chain does dump into the Elkhart river system, so it always has water flowing thru it. How are such lake-to-lake connecting channels defined as it pertains to these regulations?
2) The West Lakes chain drains into a branch of the Elkhart River. Some lake maps suggest that Waldron Lake extends to the public boat launch west of Duke's Bridge, even though you could classify this section of waterway as a channel. There is a water control structure (dam) about 1/4 mile west of the public boat launch. Shortly downstream of the public boat launch (buy upstream of the dam), the maps I'm referencing suggest Waldron Lake ends and a branch of the Elkhart River begins. I assume the Elkhart River branch is classified as a small stream. My question is at what point does the DNR consider Waldron lake officially ends and the Elkhart River begins? (I do not want to trust unofficial maps for legality of equipment being used to take carp and gar.)
The new Fishing Guide specifies what equipment is legal to use for taking suckers, common carp, gar, etc; per body of water being fished; and that equipment differs depending on the type of body of water being fished. My question concerns the definition of the type of body of water I'm fishing so I don't end up using illegal equipment for the location I'm fishing...
For example, the guide states that only a bow and arrow and crossbow can be used on small streams or partial streams.
It says bow and arrow, crossbow, gig, fish spear, spear gun, and underwater spear can be used on "non-flowing waters (including lakes, ponds, and reservoirs)".
I assume that dead-end channels that attach to lakes that do not have "flowing waters" are considered part of the lake. But I have specific questions about the definition of certain other waterways attached to these lakes and these questions are:
1) Is a channel that connects two lakes together that has water flowing thru it considered a "non-flowing waterway" (ie: part of a lake) by the above definition or is it considered a stream? The channels in question connect Steinbarger and Waldron lakes and Jones and Waldon Lakes. Water does flow thru these channels from the upstream lakes (which are filled by drainage) and this lake chain does dump into the Elkhart river system, so it always has water flowing thru it. How are such lake-to-lake connecting channels defined as it pertains to these regulations?
2) The West Lakes chain drains into a branch of the Elkhart River. Some lake maps suggest that Waldron Lake extends to the public boat launch west of Duke's Bridge, even though you could classify this section of waterway as a channel. There is a water control structure (dam) about 1/4 mile west of the public boat launch. Shortly downstream of the public boat launch (buy upstream of the dam), the maps I'm referencing suggest Waldron Lake ends and a branch of the Elkhart River begins. I assume the Elkhart River branch is classified as a small stream. My question is at what point does the DNR consider Waldron lake officially ends and the Elkhart River begins? (I do not want to trust unofficial maps for legality of equipment being used to take carp and gar.)
