Lakes with speed limits and passing on take off

[DL]

Most of the lakes in California have speed limits, and not all boats participating in tournaments can travel at the rate of speed. But if the speed limit on a lake is 40 mph, and a boat(A) entered in the tournament can barely travel 30 mph(due to its engine size,) is it within the rules to pass that boat(A)? or do you and the six boats behind him have to wait until said boat(A) comes off plane?

This post was not meant to single out any boat owners, but rather to clarify a possible rules infraction before it happens. I know all orgs have different rules concerning the passing of boats whether on plane or in a cove during the first run of the morning, but none that I have found have a section on passing a boat that cannot travel the posted speed limit of the given lake...

I'm sure I have opened a can of worms, so I apologize, in advance, to the forum for what this is going to turn into...

[Brian]

Who has rules of no passing? I see it every tourney I've ever fished........ or do you mean only when there is a speed limit on the body of water?

[ASD]

That's a tricky 1!! If the slow boat is in the middle of a big lake and the faster boat can not tell were the slow boat is heading then passing I think would be ok. If the slow boat is going into a small cove then no passing

[DL]

Who has rules of no passing? I see it every tourney I've ever fished........ or do you mean only when there is a speed limit on the body of water?

Only when there is a speed limit on the body of water... Most of the time we run rigt on the edge of the speed limit but sometimes there are boats that can't run as fast as the speed limit. If I run right on the speed limit, and someone passes me they are obviously speeding....

[jazzwannabe]

Don't know about that one. My partner is our club's the tourney director, so we're always the first out of the chute. No one passes us at blast off even though his old boat is slow. We have about a 10-second head start, and he'd DQ someone for passing us while we're right on the speed limit. But even on lakes with speed limits like Margarita or Lopez, I see guys going faster than the limit and passing boats, and we have been passed on the way back for check-in. For the record, I've not seen anyone in our group get a ticket.

Anglers are usually the best boaters on the water — we've all seen pleasure boaters going too fast, blowing past the buoys pulling wakeboarders into coves, going against the traffic pattern, etc.

[Brian]

Who has rules of no passing? I see it every tourney I've ever fished........ or do you mean only when there is a speed limit on the body of water?

Only when there is a speed limit on the body of water... Most of the time we run rigt on the edge of the speed limit but sometimes there are boats that can't run as fast as the speed limit. If I run right on the speed limit, and someone passes me they are obviously speeding....

I hear you, When Folsom is at 5mph speed limit there is supposed to be no passing till you reach your first spot. At least in the ABA and it was the same for FBL

[Tin Can]

DTM.

[DL]

DTM.

I CAN ADD, thanks. But the first time I get passed because I am in a holding pattern behind a boat running 20 mph, someone is going to get a visit from me on their first spot...and I would rather know the rule(or unwritten rule if there is one) before I make an issue about it.

[swank]

If the boat is within 1 or 2 miles of the speed limit, i say don't pass but 10 mph come on. Another question: what if the boat takes off slow and takes a while to get on plane-what do you do then wait behind and hope they reach the speed limit? But i will say most of the time you can see the H.P. and size and type of boat and be close to guessing the outcome.

[Tin Can]

The DTM was for Brian. Sorry and carry on.

[npangler]

A TD can correct me if I am wrong but here goes, I was told you can pass as long as you DO NOT go over the posted speed limit so
if the speed limit is 35 and the guy in front of you is doing 35 you can not pass, but if he is doing 30 you can go 35 and pass.the KEY
is to not break the posted limit.

[DL]

The DTM was for Brian. Sorry and carry on.

No problem

[ash]

I think everyone in Socal should sale thier go fast bass boats and just have kick boat tournaments out of the Pud....sounds like just as much fun.

Ugh oh you passed me doing 32 in a 30....

DL is the only guy I know planning on getting a 21' bass boat with a 115 4 stroke on the back so that no one can pass him BAH HA

[ASD]

Now dat funny

[big_limits]

these could go on and on... you could spend all day policing a tournament. Are they following the lake travel pattern, is their livewell really in proper working order, are they speeding, is their registration really current, is their fishing license current, do they have the appropriate insurance, is the kill switch a dummy or does it really work, did the crankbait fish have a hook actually inside the mouth even though they bit it... on and on

[DL]

I think everyone in Socal should sale thier go fast bass boats and just have kick boat tournaments out of the Pud....sounds like just as much fun.

Ugh oh you passed me doing 32 in a 30....

DL is the only guy I know planning on getting a 21' bass boat with a 115 4 stroke on the back so that no one can pass him BAH HA

Just for that...when I get it I'm comin' to a lake near you

[ASD]

ya but you will still need to know if you can pass or not because Ash's row boat is not that fast

[Guest]

On blast off in tournaments if BOAT A has 115 hp motor and will only do 45 mph and Boat B is and allison or bullet running 250 hp motor There a real good chance he going to get too a spot first and you might as will throw the lake speed limit out nobody pays any attention to tournament or fun fishing. Its not about horsepower its how many fish you can bring to the scales that counts.

[Ron T.]

If the speed limit is 35 than go 35 . If the guy in front of you can only go 30 than I say pass . The lake rules are usually what the T.D.'s fallow . If I were in a boat that couldent do the speed limit I wouldent expect anybody to wait for me .
DL. never appoligize for a post if you believe in what your saying or asking.

[davet.]

Most tourney orgs state that all participants must abide by all applicable laws during the tourney.
If the 115 is doing the speed limit of 40 and the Allison passes him doing 89, I assume the Allison could be protested and DQ'd.
Simple as that, break a law or tourney rule, get DQ'd.
If the 115 is doing 35, I think passing at 40 is OK.
I think the rule means that if everybody is doing 40, then nobody can pass without breaking the law.

[ash]

I think everyone in Socal should sale thier go fast bass boats and just have kick boat tournaments out of the Pud....sounds like just as much fun.

Ugh oh you passed me doing 32 in a 30....

DL is the only guy I know planning on getting a 21' bass boat with a 115 4 stroke on the back so that no one can pass him BAH HA

Just for that...when I get it I'm comin' to a lake near you

You would never make it past the inspections "is your boat from anywhere south of the Tehachapies or been in known quagga waters".... Quarantine.

Hey the Pud and Elsinore...come getcha some son

[whatabunchofidiots]

Are you kidding me, when you get past that 5 m.p.h bouy it's on, but be smart and respectful about it that's all. If boat 1 is slower than boat 2, boat 2 goes safely around and see ya, at your spot jk. While in the 5 m.p.h no way it doesen't matter if your going 2 m.p.h no passing thats how it should be.

[DeltaBound]

You mean there are Rules?

[jrbasspro]

I have thought about this alot


as soon as your number is called drop your trolling motor and make one cast, outside the marina, this is your first stop.

now you can run anyware you want and how fast depends on you this really works at a lake ware the speed limit is not readly enforced.

I was stuck behind some one at mead in a 90 horse I have a 200 you do the math, and the passing rule was briefed.

any thoughts

Walt