Electric Only Lakes MN

[Savage Brewer]

So, odd question here.

I notice there are a number of electric only lakes.

Does that mean I can go on them if I only use the electric trolling motor even though my boat does have a gas motor on it?

Or is that against the rules?

[RumRiverRat]

Trim your outboard up, drop the TM and have at it!

[B17]

Yup. Just keep the outboard out of the water and you are golden.

[h8go4s]

Yup. Just keep the outboard out of the water and you are golden.

Just curious if there's a regulation stating that the outboard has to be out of the water. My tin boat tracks a lot straighter with it down, and I figure if it's not running, I'm in compliance with at least the spirit of the law. Not a big deal, I think the last time I fished a HP limited lake was the mid-1980's.

[MuskieJunkie]

I would think every lake is different. I know the Minneapolis lakes have a rule that you have to have it trimmed up. Like you said running the trolling motor is much easier with it trimmed down so I leave mine down and haven't had an issue.

[Savage Brewer]

Yeah mine tracks a bit truer also with it down.

Also being a tiller boat, fishing out the back seat is difficult with it fully trimmed up. I could trim it part way, but hopefully no one harasses you if it is touching water...

[Wanderer]

Lighter aluminum boats will always track better with the lower unit in the water; it's your rudder. And typically if you have only one person in the aluminum boat running a bow mount trolling motor, the weight balance is way off making the stern draft very shallow adding to the problem.

As I was told, the reason to have the motor completely out of the water (on MPLS lakes) came about after they caught people running their outboards tilted down and at low or idle speed but still standing in front acting like they were running their TM only. This would make going from spot to spot faster plus save battery life.

They've seen people skirt the rules all sorts of ways so following the spirit of the law may not be as good of an idea as following the actual law.

[Tator2k]

I've fished the Mpls chain quite a few times and I've always left the motor down and never had an issue. There's always a park officer or DNR around and they've never said anything. The worst I had was yahoo from shore yelling at me telling I can't even have my boat on the lake 'cuz it's too big.

[pinkfloyd4ever]

The DNR should offer a stamp or something for electric only lakes, buy a stamp use your outboard, even if its at a no-wake speed only.

On the other hand, elec only does keep boat traffic way down especially on holidays and weekends

[Grum]

The DNR should offer a stamp or something for electric only lakes, buy a stamp use your outboard, even if its at a no-wake speed only.

I think it is more about the environmental impact from the petrol motors more than wake and noise, but they also have a role in the decision making of regulating the type of watercraft propulsion.

However, I'm still waiting for the day when someone launches a steamboat on the chain of lakes! Just think of this, "African Queen guide service and launch"

[Savage Brewer]

I am waiting for someone to make a 2000# thrust electric outboard!

Problem is you would need 2000 pounds of batteries...

[DaveZman14q]

I think they should open the chain of lakes to Jet Skis on the 4th... then ticket everyone for DUI's and put that $$ toward more muskie stocking!

[Grum]

Check out the Torqeedo Deep Blue. Comparable petrol outboards 58 kW / 80 HP