Float Tube Warning for Idahoans

[rbflds]

Last week I was fishing from my float tube on Lake Lowell when a couple rangers boated up to me and asked if I had a life jacket and a signal whistle. I said "no" and he warned me that it is law in Idaho to have BOTH of those things when float tubing on any body of water that is 200 surface acres or bigger (which is most lakes around here). IF you are on a pontoon craft, it is ALWAYS required. This was news to me, I have been fishing in this state since I was a child and had never heard this rule. Apparently my dad hadn't heard either cuz we fished alot together in our tubes without life jackets and whistles.

Anyway, the ranger let me go with a warning but told me to get out of the water immediately. You will not find this rule listed in the fishing regs (though it should be), I finally found it on the Parks & Rec's website...
----------------------------------------------------------------
[size 1]Go to [/size][url "http://www.idahoparks.org/"][#333366][size 1]http://www.idahoparks.org[/size][/#333366][/url][size 1] then click on "recreation">"boating">"faqs" to see the requirements. Here is how it reads on the site....[/size]

Are float tubes really a vessel? Do they have to be registered?
Fly fishing float tubes are considered a vessel in Idaho and do need to have a Coast Guard Approved PFD and a sound producing device on board. They are exempt from registration. You need not carry a life jacket when on lakes smaller than 200 surface acres at natural high water.
----------------------------------------------------------------

Hope this helps, don't get a ticket and/or lose your fishing privileges over this law. Maybe someday F&G will include it in the regulations, had it been there, I would've known about it.

Cheers,
Rob
[signature]

[idahopanfish]

Thankyou for the reminder.
[signature]

[vegasback2id]

I had read that, before I went up this last summer. Most states require them. I also thought that you needed a light. So I carry a pfd, whistle and waterproof flashlight.
[signature]

[idahopanfish]

Good idea on the light. I know that on a boat with a motor you need a fire extinguisher I wonder if that pertains to a toon?
[signature]

[rbflds]

Not sure about the flashlight. That website didn't mention it so I would assume that it is not "required" but I do agree that its a very good idea. I will probably get one.

Cheers,
Rob
[signature]

[rbflds]

Hi Panfish,

Here is what I found pertaining to fire extinguishers for your pontoon...

[url "http://www.idahoparks.org/recreation/boating/regulations/fireextinguishers.aspx"]http://www.idahoparks.org/[/url] ... then click "recreation", then "boating", then "regulations",, look for the "fire extinguisher" link...

....Vessels less than 26-feet in length, propelled by outboard motors, of open construction which will not permit the entrapment of explosive or flammable gases or vapors, and not carrying passengers for hire, are exempt.....

Sounds like you don't need one. Especially if your motor is electric.

Hope this helps,
Rob
[signature]

[idahopanfish]

Thankyou for looking that up for me concerning the extinguisher.
[signature]

[hpb]

Your are lucky- some of the people I have seen did not get a warning but did get a ticket
[signature]

[flygoddess]

So have I on the life jacket thing. Thought about a whistle or a horn of some kind but, I don't carry one. Is it the law?
[signature]

[rbflds]

Yes, its law. If you refer to my original post, I posted the link to the site that explains it, I also quoted the part from the site that talks about the lifejacket AND "sound producing device" (which could be a whistle or a horn).

Hope this helps,
Rob
[signature]

[flygoddess]

[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]Tried to click on the site and it comes up Page Cannot Be Found[/size][/black][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3][/size][/black][/font]
[#ff0000][/#ff0000]
[signature]

[rbflds]

Sorry bout that, the forum is truncating my link for some reason. Try this...

Go to [url "http://www.idahoparks.org/"]http://www.idahoparks.org[/url] then click on "recreation">"boating">"faqs".

That should get you there. I fixed it in my original post as well.

See ya,
Rob
[signature]

[flygoddess]

Thanks, that worked. Guess I buy a whistle.
I don't get this part however "You need not carry a life jacket when on lakes smaller than 200 surface acres at natural high water." I would think with safty being the game, there would be no exceptions.
[signature]

[flygoddess]

Spent the weekend at an Idaho Res. I had in my mind the whole time about the WHISTLE that rbflds has been trying to warn us about. I even mention it to my husband and he said we'll be alright.
Saturday, I was in my toon in a bay and this gentleman walks up on the shore and asked how the fishing was. He then asked me about my pontoon (the fact that it is 11 1/2' long, he had never seen one like it)
He then opened his zip up sweat shirt to reveil a patch. That's right....showed him my licence, then showed him the flies I was using were debard. He thanked me and walked away. Fewwwww
I lucked out.....cause here is the sign going into the res:

[signature]