Just got to thinking, I fished a 10hp max restricted lake the other day in my bass boat. I have a 150hp motor. After reading a post here about restricted lakes it got me thinking that I shouldn't have fired up my motor and only should have used the TM. My thinking was that I was OK to crank up the motor and only idle around the lake.

Am I wrong? Does a 10hp limit mean only 10 hp or less or does that allow bigger boats to only idle? I don't want to break any laws but a 600 acre lake with only a TM is crazy. Thoughts?

Who owns the water? ( is it state or county operated?) on the fairfax county water authority water supply reservoir we fish, a 10 hp restricted watershed, I know bass boats are allowed to fish, just not run the outboard at all. I would say check with whomever has jurisdiction and if you are able to idle. Makes sense you should be able to but it doesn't hurt to find out from the bosses of the lake!!

On public water in Illinois using a motor bigger than the limit will get you a ticket. I don't know what idling with a 150 would hurt, but that is the rule here. I have a 9.8 HP motor that I use regularly on several HP limited lakes in my area. I make far more commotion at WOT, a blazing 7.5 MPH, than you would idling with your 150, and a couple of my friends have tried to make that case. Both have paid $75 fines.

I would say you broke the law.

Depends on the site specific lake rules. One lake near me is trolling motors only no gas. Another lake 10hp limit with no-wake with larger hp motors. Yet another lake is 10hp limit cant use larger hp at all, on same lake certain area is trolling motor only.

That would have been a fine around here. I fish one fairly often that is trolling motors only and 535 acres and you're right it's crazy. At the same time though it keeps lots of anglers off the water. We have some lakes that you can pay 1 dollar extra per HP over a 10 HP motor. So if you want to put your 250 on the lake you get to pay the lake permit plus $240! If you decide to pay all that extra money you still have to stay under 10mph too. It's insane but I guess they want to keep big motors off the water and it works.

The restricted lakes I fish hear in PA.you would have gotten fined.

you broke the law

Thanks guys. It didn't even dawn on me that I couldn't idle around until days after. I didn't intentionally break the law and if I return to the lake I would not do it again. Thats what I get for not reading teh lake rules before launching...

Guess it will be a slow go with the TM on this lake from now on

There are some restricted lakes here that allow bigger motors to idle only. Some require they be wrapped and not used at all. Some you're not allowed to launch. It's up to you to know the specifics of the rules before launching. It's just like speed limits or no wake rules on a lake.