Carlyle Spillway is a no go for bowfishing!

[RobinAim Low]

Folks, be careful about regulations. A HNI member emailed me asking me to check on the regs at Carlyle spillway in IL. He had been ushered out of there by a couple rangers.

I have checked with the lake (I work for the Corps). The spillway is considered a recreational area, and as such, per CFR Title-36 327.13, no bows and arrows are allowed.

I did give them a repy asking them to reconsider that rule with 4 quick points including bowfishing is common in spillways all across the US, bigheads and silvers are invasives that bowfishing can help remove, bowfishing is safe with no reported accidents involving the general public, and that bowfishing is a potential draw for the public to the area. I doubt it will matter, but I at least planted a seed there.

Should anyone want to voice their opinion you can find conact info for the lake at http://www.mvs.usace.army.mil.

[HNI_Christine]

Thanks Robin.

Anotherissue that kept coming up is that they don't know where the border of the recreation area really is. Mike kept asking and kept getting different answers. Apparently it's okay to bowfish in that backwater area?

Anyhow, this is something that we will be bringing up at the Asian Carp Symposium in August. There will be several legislators there, we'll press the issue while we're there.

[RobinAim Low]

Well the rec area has definite boundaries, andI believe their a map link in the website I linked earlier. I have not looked at it to know first hand what the boundary is or isn't. I would guess the backwater area would be fine, but I wouldn't put a trip together based on only having that available. Not worth it, IMO.

[HNI_Christine]

No, I wouldn't plan a trip just to shoot the backwater, tho it was neat with all the shad and gar.

I did look at the link, briefly, and didn't see a boundary map. I'll look more after I get some work done. (darn work)

I think what Mike was trying to get out of them was if that whole stretch ofriver was within the boundary. The Corps having control of the land and shore is understandable, but how much of the river is within the boundary? Nobody down there could come up with a solid answer at the time.

I certainly wouldn't want people to go down there and flaunt the rules. If I can find the actually boundary map and the specific rules, then I can try to change them to allow bowfishing. (hey, it's better to attempt to big things and fail than to not try at all and succeed..... [8D])

[carpsniper]

Thanks for the help Robin. As with the fishing 'under power' and lakes that are currently not open to bowfishing, sometimes you just gotta ask the right people.

We'll keep asking!

[Allseasonhunter7]

robin we fish the spillway boardering a river and a wildlife refuge becuase where in the water no one cay "say" anything but they do ..just were legal in case the cops come so it doesnt matter

[roman1]

Hey guys & gals I'm new at this forum, I didn't know that Carlyle tailwaters was off limits to bowfishing. I was out last monday & no one said a word to me all day. I ended up shooting 17 bigheads, 2 buffalos, 16 gar, 1 common carp. I gave all the bigheads away to various people on the shoreline. It sure would be ashame to lose this great bowfishing ground.

[RobinAim Low]

Unfortunately, it is probably lost unless you do something about it. I say "probably" because it now only hinges on who does or doesn't see you and whether or not they are in the mood to let you fish, run you off, or write a ticket. I am getting lots of questions, and unfortunately I cannot go any further with this due to my connection with the Corps. As far as "asking the right people"...I would start with the lake, but would also speak up with the Carlyle Chamber of Commerce as well as any tourism organization the city might have (if none, move up to the states tourism org).

This is a segment of my email response to the lake folks:

I would offer up the following and ask all of the lake personnel to consider allowing bowfishing there:
[/align]1. Bowfishing is rapidly growing and is done in spillways all across the country on a normal basis.[/align]2. The explosion of asian carp, specifically bighead and silver carp has made its way to Carlyle Dam. Bowfishing is one of few viable removal techniques for these harmful invasive exotic fish. Biologists across the country are promoting bowfishing and its "catch and keep" method.[/align]3. The bowfishing arrow is shot down into the water and is attached to the bow by line. The effective travel range of the arrow is measured in feet, not yards. It is safe. There is no record of any accidents anywhere regarding the general public and bowfishermen (I personnally have done the research a couple of years ago to help a law change here in MO).[/align]4. Bowfishing is another "draw" of the public to Carlyle Lake and the city of Carlyle.[/align]

Good luck with it.

[roman1]

THANKS FOR THE QUICK REPLY, I'M GOING TO TRYTO CONTACT THE TOURISM BOARD AND TAKE IT FROM THERE. AND I'M ALSO GOINGTO TALK TO A FRIEND OF MINE WHO KNOWS A STATE REPRENSENTIVE AND GET HIS VIEWS ON THIS SITUATION.

[HNI_Christine]

ORIGINAL: RobinAim Low


I have checked with the lake (I work for the Corps). The spillway is considered a recreational area, and as such, per CFR Title-36 327.13, no bows and arrows are allowed.

I was reading CFR title-36 327.13 and it says:

(a) The possession of loaded firearms, ammunition, loaded projectile
firing devices, bows and arrows, crossbows, or other weapons is
prohibited unless:
(1) In the possession of a Federal, state or local law enforcement
officer;
(2) Being used for hunting or fishing as permitted under Sec. 327.8,
with devices being unloaded when transported to, from or between hunting
and fishing sites;
(3) Being used at authorized shooting ranges; or
(4) Written permission has been received from the District
Commander.
(b) Possession of explosives or explosive devices of any kind,
including fireworks or other pyrotechnics, is prohibited unless written
permission has been received from the District Commander.

Section 327.8 says:

Sec. 327.8 Hunting, fishing, and trapping.

(a) Hunting is permitted except in areas and during periods where
prohibited by the District Commander.
(b) Trapping is permitted except in areas and during periods where
prohibited by the District Commander.
(c) Fishing is permitted except in swimming areas, on boat ramps or other areas designated by the District Commander.
(d) Additional restrictions pertaining to these activities may be
established by the District Commander.
(e) All applicable Federal, State and local laws regulating these
activities apply on project lands and waters, and shall be regulated by
authorized enforcement officials as prescribed in Sec. 327.26.


So, since bowfishing is fishing, unless the District Commander has actually forbidden fishing in the area, then bowfishing should be okay.

If the District Commander has forbidden fishing or singled out bowfishing, then we need to talk to him.