West branch delaware rumor?

[Steelchef]

I heard from my neighbor, who was a guide and has some good sources, that there is action taking place that would not allow drift boats on the West Branch of The Delaware River. Apperently too many bank and wading anglers are complaining, and are being heard. The messed up part about this is that some of the very best spots on this branch are only fishable with a drift boat!
What does this mean for pontoon boat fisherman like myself?
Maybe what they should do is something like they do out west and put a max number of boats on the river for a particular day.
In my opinion , they should close a place to drift boats like the East Branch wich is a lot less river in width. What do you all think about this?:mad:

[Stonefly]

They are not trying to ban Driftboats from the Delaware, they want to ban fishing from a Driftboat. This is from the DEC site.

Delaware County
West Branch Delaware
Proposal: West Branch Delaware River boating regulation.
Proposal Description: Angling from boats is prohibited on the West Branch Delaware River (time period is yet to be determined).
Rationale for Proposal: The complaints by wading anglers about the growing number of drift boats on the West Branch Delaware River interfering with their fishing are increasing, These anglers would like to see the drift boat fishery regulated. Options to consider may be a ban on a section of river, day(s) of week ban, or ban before and after some specified date, or a ban after a certain hour or combinations thereof.
It is not known if the complaints are being made by a vocal minority or is representative of the angling public. A creel survey conducted by the Department in 2006 will provide valuable information for evaluating this proposal. Shore or wading anglers were asked if drift boats interfere with their use and enjoyment of the river. The response to this question during the 2006 creel survey will contribute towards further evaluation of this proposal.

[ecsteelheader]

Thats terrible if they pass such a BS law like that....But its ok that they let sewage go into the WB:confused: ...You could see the color difference all the way by where i live... Its all about the $$$$$$$ >))>

[Browntrout5]

Hey if you cant use your drift boats on the West Branch go up above the Cannonsville Resevoir and fish the tail waters of the West Branch. There is some trophy carp fishing and all the 9" stockies you can shake a rod at :rolleyes:

[Willy]

Not a bad idea... I fished the Deschutes in Oregon this Summer and they have a similar rule. No fishing from boats. They also have a section that only walk in fisherman can fish. There's tons of river, and it actually works quite well. You drift (or jet as we did on the Deschutes) into your spot, get out, and fish.

I was really skeptical at first. I thought the rule was silly, but watching the way people fish out there, it seemed to really be a beneficial regulation.

I think the options the DEC is looking at are all viable and they will likely choose what is best for everyone. An outright ban of drift boats would be ridiculous and ill advised, so exploring other options is a good idea that I think will benefit all anglers.

[FISHON!]

they should close a place to drift boats like the East Branch wich is a lot less river in width.

that isnt true. It is actually much wider.

[Briscoe]

The East Branch is not very wide at all in certain spots but it is extermely wide in others, where I fish in the head waters it is very narrow but fast. But where i fish on the west branch it is huge. it is where you are fishing

[FISHON!]

The East Branch is not very wide at all in certain spots but it is extermely wide in others, where I fish in the head waters it is very narrow but fast. But where i fish on the west branch it is huge. it is where you are fishing

you are right i should clarify that. The upper east above where the beaverkill enters is a very small stream. But the lower east is much wider than the west branch.

[flyman23]

I fish the West Branch quite often. My complaint with the guides and drift boats is that the stop and anchor at areas that are acessable to wading anglers. I always thought that if I spent the money to go out with a guide, I'd like to hit some spots that other folks couldn't get to. As far as not fishing from boats, I heard that the thought was that the trout don't get a break from the fishing pressure and if you couldn't fish from a boat the fish would have a place to go and get a break. I don't know if this is correct and if it is I don't think its much of an idea.

[trout 4u]

PA. is charging us $400 a year for a guides license to work the Delaware. That is on top of the N.Y. license. It's all about the $$$$$$. I have had some very old clients who can't navigate the shoreline.They want to try and stop these people from fishing from a boat?
Also, there is much more room on the Delaware for boats to go behind the streamside anglers.

[Craydaddy]

PA. is charging us $400 a year for a guides license

Why is that a bad thing??? You got to guide for basically free in PA for the last how many years????

[Oncorhynchus]

The messed up part about this is that some of the very best spots on this branch are only fishable with a drift boat!
What does this mean for pontoon boat fisherman like myself?
mad:

Chef,

I disagree, there is not one spot on the West Branch that you cannot get to by foot. Sure, it's easier by boat and you may be more successful by boat, but the West is easily accessed, almost too easy.

Unless you are speaking of two local businesses that have laid claim to the water in which thier property borders? That's a whole other issue altogether.:censored:

If there is 6 inches of water, a drift boat can operate. Sure, not optimal operating conditions, but can be done. A friend of mine and I ran a boat down the Beaverkill in 2000, it's amazing what you can do with them. We put in a campground that gave us permission, where we took out we dragged the boat up a 40 foot embankment using a rope tied to the hitch of my truck.