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Signatures | Total: 212

 

# NameComments
51 evan
52 Paul McCain
53 Russell StevensonI believe the proposed regulation is unnecessary and unwise.
54 Howard Mark
55 James M. GrecoI am against this regulation. It ignores the impact on handicapped and disabled fishers who have no ability to access the river unless it is from a watercraft.
56 Susan Solomon
57 Anonymous
58 Jared LucarinoWatercraft nec. for fishing and recreation on West Branch. Dont want to lose the experience of floating and fishing.
59 Josh BensonI have been going to the Upper Delaware to fish for 12 years. I am against this proposal for many reasons. For one, banning water craft such as drift boats will hurt the local guides. Local people that depend on using water craft for their business. I can understand banning rental boats, that would most likely help guides in the area, and your cause as well. Another problem I have with this new proposal is the early season in April and May. The Hendrickson's are just starting to come off, but the river is way to dangerous to wade. During the early season a drift boat is almost a necessity. And lets face it, access is not exactly everwhere. It is getting harder and harder to find a good access point to the river. Lets not forget about the oldtimers. I don't even want to think about older men and women forced to wade strong currents! I hope that my voice has been heard, and that the powers that be will terminate such a hasty proposal. Sincerely, Josh Benson --Ocean City, NJ
60 Bruce MattI feel drift boats should be allowed on the West Branch any time. The drift boat guides have been diligent about allowing the wading fisherman room.
61 AnonymousIt's hard enough to make a living as a guide . Now DEC wants to take away a fishing guides most profitable way to make a living. People's livelyhoods depend on that money! As a guide I try to give everyone their space. What's the difference if someone is going to come up and fish the same hole your in ,from ten feet away from you, Or I drift by in a driftboat . Besides if it's effecting peoples ability to fish it is also helping people to fish who might not be able to. ie: elderly, handicap and children . If people who fish from the bank do not want to contend w/ driftboats let them fish smaller waterways that cannot support driftboats?!
62 gregory schickdrift boats cause no more disturbance than pontoon boats, canoes, float tubes, etc. There are plenty of them on the river also. nThere are so many places on the river that are only accessable by boat. It is totally unfair to administer such a ban.
63 Donald BeierWhen the water is low, NO BOATS can float anyway!! There are no conflicts...The State if NY already has many,many streams and rivers that are IDEAL for wading..The Delaware system is NOT one of them, but rather, is perfect for watercraft...
64 Paul ShahinianI fish the West Branch of the Delaware River and am strongly against proposed regulation # R4-5. > > Thank You, Paul Shahinian
65 David Tolin
66 Anonymous
67 richard gradyThis is an un necessary and foolish proposal
68 Norman P. Booth
69 Ed MooreThe put-in and take out points are clearly defined on this river. This is a difficult river to fish with the plentitude of micro-currents, numerous hatches,etc. The challenge is part of the fun, but with limited wading access, the number of fisherman will be severely decreased by eliminating boats. The DEC should consider the trickle-down effect to the local economy, as well as the increased traffic on the shores.
70 Joe ManningThis proposal is crazy! I have several physical impairments which restrict my walking/wading abilities. If boats are banned from the system, I will be denied access to some of the best wild trout fishing East of the Mississippi. I've been floating the system for years and I can't think of one logical reason for your proposed prohibition of boats on the West Branch and/or any other part of the Delaware River system.
71 Francis Baczek
72 Joseph R. LorahThe problem is access sites in NY not restricting watercraft and fishing from them!
73 John WyciskalaI own property along and fish the West Branch of the Delaware an am opposed to the proposed regulation.
74 Joel Czachorowski
75 Peter Nilsen99.9% of the guides and operators of water craft that I've encountered in my 10 years of fishing the West Branch and Main Stem of the Delaware have been courteous, considerate and actually go out of their way as not to infringe on the wading angler. There's always one that may not have been taught the proper stream manners, and that goes for wading fisherman. I've had more trouble with other wading fisherman than I've had with drift boats. If I'm seriously fishing for rising fish most all guides try and work their boats to the back of me as to not spook any rising fish. I've seen them even get out of their boats in shallow water and pull their boats so as not to disturb me. I've even gotten tips from them as to where a hatch might be happening up steam from me. No one group owns the right to a river, it has to be a give and take propsition. The Delaware is a vast river and there's room for all.
76 Jay SilvermanThis is one of the worst pieces of regulation I've seen proposed. There is no legitimate reason for it.
77 Glenn R. MeyerThis type of discrimination makes no sense!! I certainly would not argue we should ban wading anglers because they interfere with boats but the logic would be just as valid.
78 Ivan M Wittel IIII have fished the WB of the Delaware for a number of years with several different guides and they have always been careful to not interfere with wading anglers. Penalizing everyone for the actions of a few ignorant boaters is not a proper solution to this allegedged problem.
79 Edward ShawI fish the west branch on numerous occasions from my kayak, practice catch and release, and enjoy it thoroughly. I have never encountered a wading fisherman voicing their displeasure about me being there. It would be a great disservice for all fisherman if this ban were to take place. Please reconsider.
80 Joseph CapraI fish the West Branch and this proposal is ludicrous!
81 tony pernoi would like to be able to float west branch of de. river
82 Michael SaylorI fish the West Branch of the Delaware River and am strongly against proposed regulation # R4-5. I come up from Maryland several times per year to fish the West Branch. Floating the river is the only way to get access to much of the prime water on the river. I spend a lot of money at local businesses on these trips and if I cannot float the river I'll be staying in Maryland.
83 George HuffI strongly (STRONGLY) object to the proposed change in fishing regulations.
84 Frederick EgeI regularly use a guide and drift boat on the West & East Branches of the Delaware, and find that most all problems aren't with guide boats, but with waders. Being handicaped, the only way I can fish the West Branch is with a guide and drift boat. Also as this is navigible water how can you band boats?
85 S. J. HoltzI see no need for this regulation. While I have frequently encountered boats on the river while wade fishing I do not consider this to be a problem. The use of boats by guides located in that region provide a source of income which this proposal would eliminate, and economic opportunities in that region are already limited. I see no strong justification for acting on this proposal.
86 Marshall C. LucierI love fising from a boat and I love fishing from the bank, I have found the guide boat captains to be very considerate to bank fishers and I have been asked by guides to not disturb the bank fishers. If it ain't broke don't break it.
87 Arnold R ZipfI am 99 percent a wading fisherman, I have no problem with boats, they are usually out of my casting range anyway, most boats are courteous and I really enjoy the oportunity to float once or twice a year. There is enough water for everyone.
88 Paul Mahonstupid
89 Larry VawterI have fished this river in the Spring and a lot of water flow . It seems to me that the safest way to fish is by boat . I think this idea would hurt not only the guides but the Fishing Camps along the river system and all comerece from the out of state and out of county fishermen
90 Jack WelchThere are a number of reasons I am STRONGLY AGAINST this proposal. 1) Allowing drift boats attracts professional guides who are very aware of river courtesy, promote good environmental behavior with clients, and bring a great deal of business to the area. 2) 50% of my fishing on the river is as a wader and over the past 10 years I have experienced only a few instances of rude drift boaters. 3) I have never been surveyed and would suggest that the surveying methodology be extended to visitors of the Delaware and not just the local fisherman. 4) I would suggest that the survey and the regulation be more specific about the specific watercraft the waders are objecting to. It may be that the real objection is to non-drift boat craft (ie pontoon, and tubes). 5) I have been coming to the river for 12 years, employingnthe services of professional guides, and have only once had a wader complain about our crafts position relative to his spot on the river. The Delaware River is wonderful sporting resource and I would look for another place to vacation if I can not drift the river with the guides I ahve hired in the past.
91 Capt.DinoI think this is horrible. You will be hurting alot of the fishing industry & the public. Why would you want to stop something that has been going on so long & hurt people that love to fish.
92 kenneth wicksremoving drift boats from the delaware river would have a tremendously detrimental effect on the economy of delaware county
93 Hugh McMahonI am not in favor of Proposal R4-5 for the following reasons: Most boat anglers are respectful of people fishing from shore. Those who aren't probably disturbed shore fishermen unitentionally. The DEC should observe the situation for themselves to get a better understanding of the situation and if there is a problem then write rules to modify behavior. Don't totally ban boats from the river. That's like throwing the baby out with the bath water. Boat anglers have the same right to fish the river as do shore anglers. Try to make the boat anglers aware of some common courtesy rules when approaching shore anglers. Again the key is to observe the situation first and then come up with ideas to accommodate both shore and boat anglers. A ban on boats from the river would be a big mistake and could also hurt the local economy. Respectfully, Hugh McMahon Float tube and shore angler of the West Branch of the Delware River.
94 Stephen ShenThere are much bigger things that need to be worried about, than boats on the west branch.
95 Steve SteklenskiI strongly oppose the proposed rule change which would prohibit angling from boats on the West Branch of the Delaware River. I am a long time fisherman of the Delaware as well as other Catskill rivers & streams. I strongly believe that it is in the best interest of all anglers - wading and driftboating - to not restrict this important access. Thank your consideration of public input on this important question.
96 Matt SheridanThis is a ridiculous idea based on that rantings of a vocal minority. Having been on the river for over 15 years I have only once talked to a DEC officer on the West or East Branch. These surveys must have been conducted in a vacuum.
97 Captain Steven KowalskiI personally feel banning fishing from driftboats will discriminate against the physically disabled angler that may not be able to get in and out of the boats and wade around the river. Therefore I am against the DEC proposal #R4-5
98 walter e strohl jrLets Ban wading !!!
99 gary fanningA ban on drift boat fishing on the delaware river, is just as absured as putting a ban on shore and wade fishing. I for one have done both, and yes there are problems to be discussed pro and con. I do feel a common ground needs to be established. A little courtisy from both sides should go a long way. I do hope this will be worked out in a fair and equidable manner.
100 Shane Thoamsthis proposal is ridiculous! it's a free country and we don't need any more dumb laws like this one.

 

Signatures | Total: 212