Clinton and Lake Decatur Spillways

[JPIKE]

Originally Posted by irydhard

i guess it depends on what officer you talk to then i will call the park office tomorrow

what did u find out? seems like u have to talk to a certain person for each place. Talked to a officer yesterday about three places and he gave me 2 dif numbers to call and didnt know about the 3rd place

[HNI_Christine]

The problem with bowfishing at the spillway is that, as far as I can tell, there is no 'rule' about it. It's up to interpretation by the CPO who happens to be there at the time. Each CPO seems to have a different idea. I can tell you that the last one Kendall talked to was not even aware of the actual rules (150 ft... not 200 yards). This is something that will need to be settled from higher up the food chain. Kind of like getting bowfishing allowed down at Carlyle's spillway.

[JPIKE]

thats what that guy said...No "rule"saying u cant but there might be lake specifications or in decatur spillway might be city laws stopping it..like in my town ur not suppose to even shoot the bow in backyard

[pure havoc]

I was told that because it is a recreation area is why were not allowed to bow fish it , What ever that means > its not shown on a map as a recreation area so I had a very confused look on my face when I was told that . I also found that northfork salt creek some of that area is electric motor only . Just a heads up
Page 7
http://www.ifishillinois.org/pdf/Clinton.pdf

[HNI_Christine]

When we first got Clinton lake opened, they put a 200 yard no bowfishing zone around any 'improved recreational area'. The 200 yard was pretty ridiculous so Kendall asked Garthaus (regional fisheries biologist) to recommend that it be changed to 150ft. Which is now the rule. However, the CPO Kendall talked to didn't know that it has been changed and was kind of cranky when K told him that it had. So K didn't push it.... and I think the CPO still doesn't realize he's going by the old rule.

We have also been told, multiple times that the spillway itself is not a 'recreation area' per some definition. That only the fishing structure by the parking lot is a improved recreation area. (that thing with all the stairs and ramps) So, if you stay 150ft feet from that, you should be good.

Should...

I'll look into this in more detail after this week. (have to cram for my statistics final.. ugh)

[pure havoc]

Originally Posted by HNI_Christine

When we first got Clinton lake opened, they put a 200 yard no bowfishing zone around any 'improved recreational area'. The 200 yard was pretty ridiculous so Kendall asked Garthaus (regional fisheries biologist) to recommend that it be changed to 150ft. Which is now the rule. However, the CPO Kendall talked to didn't know that it has been changed and was kind of cranky when K told him that it had. So K didn't push it.... and I think the CPO still doesn't realize he's going by the old rule.

We have also been told, multiple times that the spillway itself is not a 'recreation area' per some definition. That only the fishing structure by the parking lot is a improved recreation area. (that thing with all the stairs and ramps) So, if you stay 150ft feet from that, you should be good.

Should...

I'll look into this in more detail after this week. (have to cram for my statistics final.. ugh)

Christine , sounds good ,but it sure would be nice if the officers knew what was going on a little more on how and where the rules apply , Sure seems if they wanted to write you a ticket for being there they could and it would probably stick with nobody really knowing the rules and regs .