$200 deposit to fish New Melones??? :?

[stevey]

so i'm submitting our clubs 2006 dfg fishing permits and
i realize that new melones is asking for a special use... excuse me... a Right-of-Use form.

they... the bureau of reclamation for new melones wants a $200 deposit submitted with the form. if the application is received 45 days in advance the reduced administrative fee is $35, but if the app is submitted less than 45 day it cost $70.

i'm not sure if i should be upset! what is up with that?!

our club currently has 10 paid members, this is starting to take a bite out of fishing. it wouldn't be bad if melones had bass like clear lake. but the last time i went there, i was lucky to catch 2 keepers.

what's next?? no 2 stroke engines and a slot limit on the lake?

is melones better than millerton or don pedro?

what clubs out there are paying this $200 deposit?

s

[Bill K]

I have always said that small clubs, and even larger events, should not have to pay to fish. Our tax dollars support, Dept of water, F&G and in some case's the ramps and parking lots on PG&E lakes already. To have to pay extra via special use permits is just plain double taxing, etc. USFS and F&G especially say it covers maintanence/paperwork, but that is just a excuse for more dollars for them to mis-manage.
Up my way (Lake Almanor) most the time the restrooms are locked and the facilitys we pay special permits fees for are so dirty, if they are open, you would not want to use them anyway. That is why most people just head out to the trees for calls of nature, etc.
Sorry for the rant, but it is a sore subject up in this part of the woods. Bill K

[FATGUY]

and remember the same people who run new melones are the ones who are supposed to take over berryessa under that new plan !!!

[Guest]

In my opinion New Melones is not worth the drive. I would suggest changing to Don Pedro to avoid the situation completely. I had a two day club event last year at New Melones and was very disappointed that we were event wasting our time there. With the added fees and given the size of your club I would suggest going elsewhere.

[BassTraveler]

Someone's got to pay for all those "Free" stickers for our boats.

[stevey]

i found the Right of Use application they sent me.
it's from the Bureau of Reclamation.
form #7-2540

http://www.usbr.gov/pmts/lands/7-2540.pdf

Item 3 says...

3. Enclose an initial minimum deposit fee of $200, payable to the Bureau of Reclamation.

the letter head they sent with the application says Special Use Applicant.

[Clark]

Stevey, how did you find out about this new requirement for New Melones. I could not find any information on the Bureau of Reclamation's website or DFG's website, which does not surprise me. Our club is planning to fish Melones in Feb., but may change our plans now.

Thanks!

Mike

[bassindon69]

It is free to enter the lake and fish. Maybe they are trying to find a way or loop hole to get more money without charging to enter. I thought they tried to do something like this before and it was dropped because Glory hole and other stores were losing income because clubs stopped using the lake. I think it is a bad idea again.

Don.

[stevey]

hi clark -
yeah... when we submit our annual DFG permit FG775 which cost $45 this 2006 year.
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/fishing/assets/do ... 201_05.pdf

and last year when we submit our monthly fishing reports
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/fishing/assets/do ... 203_04.pdf

someone at the DFG office sees melones and kicks a cover letter to us about submitting a fee for fishing the lake this year.

the reason we submit the permit and reports is because of item 2 on how to obtain permit

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/fishing/assets/do ... /No_41.pdf

and yes our club was asked for a DFG proof of tournament fishing permit number. luckily we had one or copy of the application with the check we sent to DFG.

this reminds me of the time i went fishing on superbowl sunday and was asked to show my fishing license... even though it was properly displayed around my neck in a water tight permit holder. i had to remove the license from the holder and they asked me questions... like... so you weight 190 lbs?

the police on the street call this... "contact with the public".

i'm just glad i know better... man i'm starting to sound like an old timer. scary.

[Glory Hole Sports]

Not true!!!
The form you were sent is a generic form that all federal lands must send- the Bureau is handling tournaments differently than most federal land users, even though the form is the same. New Melones Lake will only be charging bass clubs the usual $35 permit application. Furthermore, according to Ranger Chris Robbins who is in charge of processing the permits, it may be possible to only fill out and pay for one permit for the entire year's worth of tournaments! Call Chris Robbins at (209) 536-9094 Extension 215. If you need help filling out your application (It's kind of confusing since most of the questions on it don't apply to tournaments) call me at (209) 736-4333 and I will fax you a sample that is filled out.

[stevey]

thanks... this sounds better... but the cover letter doesn't say the fee covers the whole year. but then again i haven't called chris.

i almost forgot to fill out the exemption form for slot limit lakes too.
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/fishing/html/Publ ... ontest.htm

i guess new melones gets so much tournament fishing pressure that it needs additional help 45 days ahead of the activity.
with all the cut backs... good help is hard to find.

yes i will submit the new melones Right-of-Use application with our $35.

btw... i like your webpage.

[stevey]

don't forget ur proof of insurance too

the new 2006 DFG form FG 775
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/fishing/assets/do ... 201_06.pdf

also the proof of insurance request from BASS Federation
http://espn.go.com/winnercomm/outdoors/ ... RT_REQ.mht