Felt sole ban in RI

[tlapinski]

Just saw this link posted on the Saltwater Edge's FB page.

Newsflash: Rhode Island Bans Felt Soles Without Telling Anyone

[striperman36]

Rip tide anglers reports ditmo in the farmington .
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[JoeBass]

I went through this in Vermont this year. Here it makes sense because it is all fresh water and we do have rock snot spreading. But they only gave us about 11 months notice. I looked around for ways to convert my felts to studs. No one did it around here and if you sent them away it was expensive. My buddy ground the felts off his and slipped on yak tracks. He lost them in a muddy river patch. Think about the cost....me and my son each wear chest waders in spring and fall and hippers in the summer. We both got new stocking foot chest waders ( about $250 each) with outer "eco boots" (about $125 each pair) and stocking foot hippers (about $140 each). That's over $1,000. It was a huge hit and It still hurts.

[piemma]

I don't know about the rest of you guys but I just bought a pair of Cabelas Lite felt sole boots which I just put $50 worth of Wearbar studs into. I am wearing mine until they catch me and fine me.

Like Bryan said, good luck catching me at 2 in the morning out on some reef.

[striperman36]

Dave at riptide said it was all water salt and fresh
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[piemma]

I just did a pretty good search on the Rock Snot. The remediation is to soak the felt soles in a 5% solution of saltwater.
So let me understand this: You can't wear them in salt water but saltwater KILLS Rock Snot.

Same folks running DEM in RI also run the DMV who assessed my TrailBlazer with 214,000 miles at $10K.

[Liv2Fish]

Lets hope Coupe Deval doesn't catch wind of this. There'll be a new "felt Sole" tax in mass.

[striperman36]

Pete g of swe blogged that dem is evaluating the total ban including shore fishing in salt, based on inquiries from Risaa. Hopefully the dem will get their understanding of what actually kills ditmo soon.
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[JohnR]

RISAA is looking into clarification but this may not impact Surfcasters along shore but may affect those fishing estuaries

[striperman36]

Originally Posted by JohnR

RISAA is looking into clarification but this may not impact Surfcasters along shore but may affect those fishing estuaries

Yes dear
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[Redsoxticket]

Cabela's Ultralight 2 Lug Wading Boots with stud pods are marked down from 69.99 to 49.99 SALE
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[tattoobob]

Originally Posted by Redsoxticket

Cabela's Ultralight 2 Lug Wading Boots with stud pods are marked down from 69.99 to 49.99 SALE
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Thanks I just ordered a pair

[Backbeach Jake]

States start banning felt-sole waders - USATODAY.com

[DZ]

Deputy Chief of RI F&W replied today that he has not yet heard back from the Freshwater Division yet because of the holiday break. He said that they (Freshwater Division) have no jurisdiction over marine waters which are under authority of the Marine Division with advice from the RI Marine Fisheries Council. He speculated that this laws "intent" may have been to cover waters "upstream" of the official fresh/salt water boundaries when high tides intrude. I'll post when I hear the official explanation so don't sell your felts yet.

DZ

[piemma]

Originally Posted by DZ

Deputy Chief of RI F&W replied today that he has not yet heard back from the Freshwater Division yet because of the holiday break. He said that they (Freshwater Division) have no jurisdiction over marine waters which are under authority of the Marine Division with advice from the RI Marine Fisheries Council. He speculated that this laws "intent" may have been to cover waters "upstream" of the official fresh/salt water boundaries when high tides intrude. I'll post when I hear the official explanation so don't sell your felts yet.

DZ

See, I told you guys to wait for DZ to get the real story. Thanks Dennis!

[tattoobob]

Originally Posted by piemma

See, I told you guys to wait for DZ to get the real story. Thanks Dennis!

I told you HAH

[landwave]

Anyone want to buy some felt soled boots?

[striperman36]

Originally Posted by piemma

See, I told you guys to wait for DZ to get the real story. Thanks Dennis!

You're acting like spence now, you never said that
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[piemma]

Originally Posted by striperman36

You're acting like spence now, you never said that
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Yes I did Mr. Smarty Pants. Look at post #30 in this thread.

[TEAM7x]

A comment left to a posting on my blogsite:

"FYI, an executive member of RI Trout Unlimited Ch225, specifically requested the banning of felt bottom waders in RI fresh water at the last public RIDEM fishing regulations meeting held at the Warwick Police station at the end of this past summer. His request and comments should be in the public record."

Well...a check of the DEM website does not show a public hearing agenda item concerning adoption of this regulation, nor any hearing in "late summer." There MAY have been a meeting, but no evidence exists of a properly noticed "hearing" as required by law. If anyone can find that notice or minutes thereof, post it up!
Further, an "executive" of TU RI 225 speaks for whom?...The thousands of salwater anglers represented by RISAA and others that were completely unaware of this proposal? Was this issue brought forward as a result of a vote by TU members? Again a check of TU newsletters shows no agenda item concerning felt sole ban.

Appears we have one "executive" TU member persuading RIDEM to adopt a regulation in the dark of night! Priceless!

[DZ]

Originally Posted by TEAM7x

A comment left to a posting on my blogsite:

"FYI, an executive member of RI Trout Unlimited Ch225, specifically requested the banning of felt bottom waders in RI fresh water at the last public RIDEM fishing regulations meeting held at the Warwick Police station at the end of this past summer. His request and comments should be in the public record."

Well...a check of the DEM website does not show a public hearing agenda item concerning adoption of this regulation, nor any hearing in "late summer." There MAY have been a meeting, but no evidence exists of a properly noticed "hearing" as required by law. If anyone can find that notice or minutes thereof, post it up!
Further, an "executive" of TU RI 225 speaks for whom?...The thousands of salwater anglers represented by RISAA and others that were completely unaware of this proposal? Was this issue brought forward as a result of a vote by TU members? Again a check of TU newsletters shows no agenda item concerning felt sole ban.

Appears we have one "executive" TU member persuading RIDEM to adopt a regulation in the dark of night! Priceless!

team7x.com

Just heard back from RIDEM: Public hearing was held on June 1st, 2011. I have the minutes, names, etc. Proposal for felt sole ban was made by a member of Northern RI Chapter of Trout Unlimited, a member of Narragansett Trout Unlimited, and a member of Federated Rhode Island Sportman's Club. Seems the RIDEM Enforcement Division incorporated the rule to cover all waters for "ease of inforcement".

Good news is there is a vehicle to get this rule changed: petition for change at this years public hearing for 2013 rules. Who knows how vigilant enforcement will be this season. I asked the division to post some clarification on their web page because there was all sorts of misinformation about this controversy.

Our first step might be to ask RISAA to get the Marine Fisheries Council to bring up the topic and send a memorandum to the Freshwater Division recommending that marine waters be deleted.

Letters to the DEM director would also be beneficial - she would be the only one who could possibly alter the regulation for the upcoming season. I believe she has that power.

DZ

[Bill L]

The ban on felt soles is in the freshwater fishing regulations. Section 2.6 of these regualtions clearly defines the boundaries of freshwater and saltwater sections of the streams where these regulations apply. These regulated sections do include tidal and marine state waters, where felt soles would be prohibited.

I think it is clear that these reglations do NOT apply to any of the seaward portions of these rivers and streams from these boundaries, and could be legally argued to that point.

[DZ]

Originally Posted by Bill L

The ban on felt soles is in the freshwater fishing regulations. Section 2.6 of these regualtions clearly defines the boundaries of freshwater and saltwater sections of the streams where these regulations apply. These regulated sections do include tidal and marine state waters, where felt soles would be prohibited.

I think it is clear that these reglations do NOT apply to any of the seaward portions of these rivers and streams from these boundaries, and could be legally argued to that point.

Bill,
I totally agree with your reasoning but that is not the case from what I was told.

Quote from F&W: "It (the regulation) was made inclusive of all waters for Enforcement purposes; so that anglers were not confused as to where the freshwater/saltwater boundaries were in estuarine areas."

Basically what the above statement means is that instead of trying to figuere out where you can or cannot use them it would make it simpler to just include all waters including marine. I don't like it, don't feel it's necessary in the open surf, and will do my part to get it changed. I encourage all others to do the same.

DZ

[Bill L]

That may be their intent, but the exact wording of 2.6 is: "Boundaries - The defined boundaries for the freshwater and saltwater sections of the sate's rivers and streams, with regard to the areas where Freshwater Regualtions apply, are as follows:"

I guess they may try and enforce it on the ocean front, but at least maybe anybody that is caught could argue that they are outside of the regulated area, and possibly get off and avoid a fine. I realize that the regulation regarding the felt soles says "any state waters", which is contradictory to the later definition of the boundaries.

And if the boundaries are clearly defined in the regulations already, why do they think we would be confused on where the boundaries are (aside from someone not reading the regulation)?

[JohnR]

Team7x - PM on the way - thanks...

[Justfishin']

Basically what the above statement means is that instead of trying to figuere out where you can or cannot use them it would make it simpler to just include all waters including marine. I don't like it, don't feel it's necessary in the open surf, and will do my part to get it changed. I encourage all others to do the same.

While it does stink to have it be all waters inclusive of marine, there is a logic to it- this will keep the weekend warriors who don't give a s**t about what they spread or where in check. Unfortunately, thats about 2 in 5 "anglers'. And as much as I really hate the reg., I don't feel arguing boundries or mean high tide marks will serve any useful purpose. I think that the best that might be done would be post any area where fresh water runs to the salt, but again, there's going to be the jerk factor to screw it up for the rest of us.

[MakoMike]

From what I understand the Freshwater fisheries dept does not have the authority to impose any regulations in the marine district.

[Stewie]

I just ordered a new pair of boots from Cabelas. I'll just have to carry two pair. Felts for the canal and rubber soles for Rhody. The Felts were a wee too tight anyhoo.

[DZ]

Our fishing club letter to Fish and Wildlife requesting "marine waters" be deleted from the new regulation is on its way. Looks like RISAA is also on board with support. Stay tuned.

Don't dump your felts yet.

DZ

[stripermaineiac]

LOL Years ago they tried to ban 4x4 beach rigs from historic access due to the risk of possible oil leaks. Some smart A-- brought the sales figures for sun tan oil and other oils used by bathers to the meeting.Over 100,000 gals sold on the Cape alone.Puts a nice sheen on the water and helps kill most fish larve. the oil issue was dropped.You never hear them tell other rec users they have to stop using something or going somewhere due to the damage they may cause just hunters n fishermen.Wait till it still spreads due to birds ,animals,swimmers an such. They'll try to tell us we can't fish in the water due to our lines scraping the stuff off the bottom.No point in looking at the issue an dealing with it just target fisherman an such--MMMMMM Makes a body wonder who is pushing the issue.