Launching canoes and pontoons

[lskiles]

I am not sure if this is where I need to post this, but it seemed good to me.

I have a canoe and just bought a used pontoon. When I have launched my canoe in the past I have seldom used the launch ramp in the places I go because they are mostly concrete planks and look to be rough on the bottom of the canoe. Given that I do not use the "launch" I do not pay the fee.
Do you think I am suppose to pay the fee even though I am launching from the gravel or sand beach next to the launch?
Do you all pay the fee in this case?
It may sound like a goofy question, but I do not want to spend money I do not have to spend. I also do not want to be breaking the law. I considered asking WDFW, but they do not own most of the launch areas that charge a fee.

[Anglinarcher]

Good question, and I don't have an answer that fits all cases, but consider this....

If the launch spot is on a piece of land that would not exist were it not for the concrete launch, than does the fee not go to cover the entire piece of land, not just the concrete?

In other words, I think the fee is charged to access the location, not the official launch. JMHO

[Gringo Pescador]

I basically feel the same as Anglingarcher. I only pay for launch (of my canoe or pontoon) when there is no other option as to where I am launching other than the boat launch or no other place to park, then I kind of chalk it up as a parking fee. But I have found that most places I have gone, if you look hard enough there is some nook or opening around where you can put in, then it is down to parking your rig. Of course having a dolley helps in case you do have to park a ways away.

[Gisteppo]

Two pieces to this topic.

First, its seven bucks. Cmon, not a ton of cash. The property is being provided to you for the sake of launching your boat (and IIRC, it actually is required to be paid by those using the launching facilities, which includes the dock, ramp, and parking area unless otherwise stated. It also depends on who you are launching with, be it parks, DNR, USDA, BLM, BIA, etc etc) and is not otherwise available for your use. If you launch at a day-use park which has no boat facilities, then you are not required to pay anything.

Secondly, remember where your dollars go. These funds pay for our statewide weed abatement program to reduce milfoil infestations and improve our parks with boat launches. These are good dollars to spend, as they directly serve those of us who are fishing and using the state waterways.

E

[Lotech Joe]

I've always considered those fees as access fees to the water. To me, Sprague Lake is a perfect example. Whether I use the launch ramp or the sand or the gravel along side the ramp, I'll pay the price. Some landowner has opened up his property for public use and makes a small profit by charging an access fee. He maintains the ramp, the road to the ramp and provides ample parking. It all works for me, so I'm happy to help him out with a small fee.

[samm3]

The main reason i've heard of a boat launch fee is to cover the cost of the rebuilding/building the boat launch. If someone doesn't use the launch i dont think that the person should pay. Good point on the property though. Some boat launch's are within a park (spanaway lake) so i wouldn't feel the need to pay if i launched from the beach at the park.

My .02.

[Gisteppo]

State parks links:

http://www.parks.wa.gov/launch/wcfaq.asp

[Marc Martyn]

The main reason i've heard of a boat launch fee is to cover the cost of the rebuilding/building the boat launch. If someone doesn't use the launch i dont think that the person should pay. Good point on the property though. Some boat launch's are within a park (spanaway lake) so i wouldn't feel the need to pay if i launched from the beach at the park.

My .02.

Regardless if you use the concrete or not, you are still using the facility. While you are at a launch, do you use the toilet? If one is supplied, do you use the trash container? Both of these have to be serviced and maintained.

[lskiles]

The main reason i've heard of a boat launch fee is to cover the cost of the rebuilding/building the boat launch. If someone doesn't use the launch i dont think that the person should pay. Good point on the property though. Some boat launch's are within a park (spanaway lake) so i wouldn't feel the need to pay if i launched from the beach at the park.

My .02.

Regardless if you use the concrete or not, you are still using the facility. While you are at a launch, do you use the toilet? If one is supplied, do you use the trash container? Both of these have to be serviced and maintained.

The only lake I go to that charges a launch fee is Battle Ground. There is a fishing dock there a play ground and a gravel/sand "beach" between the play ground and the dock with a boat launch right next to the dock. I launch on the "beach" and have not paid the fee in the past. I have also gone there just to fish the dock and the shoreline without getting out on the water. So should I pay the fee then? Nobody pays the fee to use the dock or shoreline.
I have read all the posts on this and appreciate the input. I can see where the fees go to a good purpose.
I also realize that "its seven bucks. Cmon, not a ton of cash." But, I have very little disposable cash. I have to make decisions about how I spend my cash very carefully. I had to save up for two months to buy a used pontoon for $150 (that is 22 launches). I am now saving for a fly rod/reel combo and that will take a month or so to get enough together for that.
I guess what I could do is to avoid the launch fee facilities and just go to free public launches.

[Bscman]

Whether you use the ramp, or the gravel next to the ramp....you're still using the property that is provided (and maintained) by a given landowner (whoever that may be....private, state, federal, etc).

If you park in that parking area, use their trash cans or other facilities, or reach the water by any means via that property...I tihnk you should pay. Whether or not that is the specific "rule" or not....I don't know.

I always looked at the launch fee as compensation for using ANY facility or piece of property while in the effort of launching your craft.

If you don't want to pay, don't park/walk/use facilities/launch at that given site. JMHO.

[VHMLLC]

marc you are right. i agree withthe way you worded your reply, i was not snotty in tone and you got your point across. as i say when in doubt pay the fee. im with iskels though i dont have a lot of extra cash so i use the free parks when im broke and go to the nicer parks when i have money the burn.
stan

[Marc Martyn]

I think that on the west side of the mountains you have a lot more fee accesses than we do on this side. Most of the launches I use are state owned and maintained. The national forest campgrounds have a fee for parking (day use) and using the launch. That is usually around $5 a day. I don't mind paying that since it does cost a fair amount to maintain the campgrounds and launches. I think that state parks also charge.

I once used a parking facility in a Wisconsin State Park to fish a river. The parking fee was $5 and all I had was a $20.00 bill. The fine for not paying for parking was $35.00 so I put a $20 bill in the envelope and expected to never hear from them. A few weeks later after I got back to Spokane, I got a letter from the state of Wisconsin. There was a check made out to me for $15.00. Totally surprised me.

[hewesfisher]

Lewis - If you're launching at a WDFW facility, and you've got a current fishing license, then you simply need to hang your access tag from your rear view window and not be concerned with paying to launch, you already did when you bought your fishing licenese. If you don't have a fishing license, then you should purchase the access tag from any licensing outlet. This gives you access to a number of WDFW access sites.

If you are talking about a "pay to play" facility, then I have to agree with others that point out use of the "facilities" is not, IMO, limited to the literal interpretation of trailering your watercraft down the launch ramp, it includes all facilities provided, parking, launch, docks, swim areas, beach, trash, toilets, etc. At those places, then I would say you should pony up.

State park areas have separate charges since they are managed by the parks department, not WDFW. Your access tag does satisfy the charges for those areas and fees need to be collected. Same holds true for private parks/launches. I buy a season pass for the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, but learned it didn't include Banks Lake, and neither did my WDFW access tag, so I paid the launch fee there.

Fines for failing to pay are much higher than the fee to use, so I just stuff the bills in.

[racfish]

For me personally I pay at most pay sites whether I'm parking or just driving thru checking out the fishing.I' hope the monies go to the preservation of said areas ,cleanup and maintaining these areas for all of us in the future.In most cases its 5.00-8.00. That just wont bust me so I pay and hopefully it will keep the area in good working order.JMO.