Please read and tell me what you think..

Today Wes and Steve and I paddled the Sacramento deep water channel from 630- noon ish.

The row teams that paddle there were having trial races, from around the private boat launch up into our boat launch.
So there were about 20 races, each time a spotter boat would strt telling us we were in the race lanes and to move. He called us out each time saying we were in their race lanes..

And also they were paddling about 20 feet from the docks with one of those security guys sitting there watching without saying a word.

After 3 hours I left before doing something really really bad to that short balding MFR...

How are we supposed to deal with that shit?



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

seems to me it is public waters...right???

Contact the River City Rowing 2012 Board of Directors and let them know whats happening....I see nothing on their calendar for today about races. 

http://www.rivercityrowing.org/club/contacts.html

seems to me it is public waters...right???

+1  I woud stay where I was and keep fishing. They can go around!

That's interesting. I have no idea, but am curious to hear the answer. Does an event, such as a race have a right to public waters over other people? I wonder about larger vessels having the right of way and how that can affect them being able to tell you to move? The security guards not saying anything to them sounds like bullshit to me. If it turns out they were just being dicks with no right to be, I say we have a big hook up during their next trial session and flood the place with yaks.

Sounds like BS to me Matt!  That is a public waterway and they have no more of a right to it than us yakers do.  I say we swarm the port with soooo many kayaks it makes it IMPOSSIBLE for them to have their practice races.  Push them off the water and give them a taste of heir own medicine.  Way to keep your cool though.

John

I say we swarm the port with soooo many kayaks it makes it IMPOSSIBLE for them to have their practice races. 

Occupy the Channel!!  We'll do a skirmish line, 10 abreast, and then lets see somebody mouth off

I understand what you went through, but from the other side also. Here is what I mean. I was at a offshore powerboat race in SF bay in the early 2000's. The bay was supposed to be secure for the race course. Public waterway right? Well, a couple of the SF ferrys decided it was their waterway also and decided to cut the course. The result was a rogue wake not expected, large at that. Clark Donnely, an acquaintance more than friend, ended up hitting the dash of his race boat at about 90MPH, and then into the water. Before rescue could get there he was gone. the boat I was crewing for also had an incident at the same time and my driver and throttle men were both thrown from their boat also. Both survived. Now, if the ferrys were asked to avoid the area during the race, just a short period of time, why did they not? It was an inconvenience to them for a short time. It cost someone their life. I know this was not life or death, but maybe the periods of time you were asked to move for there race, you could have fished in a different local for those short periods. I'm not taking sides, just another point of view.

Sorry about the long story. Fish on my friends.

Hey Matt , are you referring to the inconsistency from the security guard? That would be my bitch. He chased us off their too. So whats with the change in his style? I would be more upset about that than just the waterway for a bit

I used to have a PB when I lived in South Carolina, Clemson University clearly had lanes marked on a section of lake hartwell.  Guys fished the area some times but more often than not they got snagged on a marker. I always stayed away as I supported the local school.  As it was a marked area anyway.  If it isn't marked, I say you have no more right (rowers) than anyone else, if the lanes are clearly marked, than that is a different story.  I would respect the lane.  Now, myself you catch more flies with honey, I think the team should of have A posted their practice times some where publicly near the launch or docks, and been nice enough to ASK kindly if it would be okay for you guys could move as this was the area where they practice, as they were getting ready for a big event or whatever.  As for the security guard, can't expect much from some one who makes minimum wage.

As it was a marked area anyway.  If it isn't marked, I say you have no more right (rowers) than anyone else, if the lanes are clearly marked, than that is a different story.

It was "marked" by large numbers hung on the bridge at entrance of the canal.  The races started near the concrete dock and finished at the launch in the canal.  Hardly sufficient markings to designate race lanes. 

It wasn't just the racers that we got pushed aside for either.  After each heat the racers had to paddle back to the rowing club, and we were "asked" to move by screaming at us with a megaphone both coming and going.

As suggested by Abdiver, I contacted the president of the rowing club, and am waiting for him to return my call to discuss the happenings on the water.  I just want to know if they do indeed have permits and such and if they could use some courtesy  with us on the water.

Will let you guys know what comes of it.

Responding with your own megaphone would get their attention too. Stay the course.

70 degrees and sunny.  Little to no wind.  FAC conditions.  In March.  Guys lining the bank fishing, tons of people out walking their dogs and enjoying the sun, a few power boats all headed up the channel, dock guys happy to be working even on a Sunday, same with the parking lot full of rigs picking up rice/grain bags, the club parking lot full of people either participating or watching the rowers, the Franklin bridge lined with people cheering on the competitors, a bunch of college girls out rowing, and fish being caught.  Horrible, just horrible.

Maybe it was just me, but the ladies on one of the power boats (catamaran style) came by early and let me know that they were having races and although it shouldn't be an issue their helms people (?) were not always the best so I might take a wide berth when they come through.  Staying along the outside edges should keep us out of the danger zone. 

The stripers we are chasing are running in packs not suspended.  No real use to be sticking to one spot anyway.  Trolling was what we were doing.  The race did go right over the drop off so the normal trolling pattern was affected.  Probably affected the bite as well.  We still caught fish though.

I'll take college girls over a bunch of idiots on jet skis any day.  Plus, I am now a seasoned veteran of the Salmon wars at the mouth of the American.  Girlies on rowboats don't faze me a bit.

Ok, now that I've had 24 hrs to cool off I have to agree with Steve the conditions were great.
But still, when you are trolling and trying to find schooling fish and have to change direction because of a dude on a loud horn yelling at you it takes your toll.

Thanks for all the replies and I am digging the occupy idea.

RacinRob, that's really a sad story about the guy who died.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

If it only happened once, I'd let it go. Not worth the stress and time to persue. BUT if it happens again, I'd fill the tanks on my flame thrower