Won't be fishing Lake Tapps this summer

Is a $30 daily launch fee, for non-Pierce County residents, insane?

  • Yes

    Votes: 12 63.2%

  • No

    Votes: 1 5.3%

  • Not sure, where the hell is Lake Tapps?

    Votes: 6 31.6%
  • Total voters
    19
I don't know the details, but things cost money to maintain. If the choice is raise taxes on the local residents vs "use tax" for visitors who haven't been paying as much, then I think it makes sense in some scenarios.
 
A huge water utility conglomerate with many municipalities and water districts involved owns Lake Tapps. It’s a reservoir for Cascade Water Alliance. They have quite a hefty budget.
I tried fishing it once from my canoe. It was too much a water ski party lake for my tastes, especially from a human powered craft. It’s not in my rotation. And now it really won’t be.
 
Take your Commander. No trailer.
 
Evan B said:
I don't know the details, but things cost money to maintain. If the choice is raise taxes on the local residents vs "use tax" for visitors who haven't been paying as much, then I think it makes sense in some scenarios.
Click to expand...
Totally understand and agree. I would be willing to pay $12-$15 to launch. I think it was $12 last year. That's fair.
I think $30 is not fair and actually prohibitive.
And the real kicker is this-
"Pierce County Parks is no longer offering seasonal boat passes."
And, how much of residents tax is going to the boat launch and boat parking operation and maintenance?

City of Renton runs the Gene Coulon boat ramp and charges a hefty $25 daily to launch for people that are not residents of Renton, but also offers an annual pass for $130 for non-residents. So if I go 10 times then only $13 per trip. Cool. And if I only go 5 times then the city is ahead.
And that launch serves WAY more people. So the tax angle seems upside down...Renton population is only 104k while Pierce Co population is almost 929k.

Seems weird that Pierce County is not keeping the annual pass option. I have my ideas on why they're dropping it, but my momma told me if you don't have anything nice to say....

And yes @clarkman if I do fish Tapps it will be with the Commander or Striker and I'll concentrate on the bays close to the park.
 
I think (could be wrong) it’s free before Memorial Day weekend. Was this year anyway. Not ideal for some species but tends to work for what I’m usually after. Almost no hair band blaring ski boats or jet ski gangs early in the year either :).
 
Yep, today was the first day of pay season. I paid $7 since I just brought the Commander. I got there at 11:20 and it really wasn't that busy with boats. LOTS of paddle boards though.
I wanted to check out the bays right by the park at mid-day for carp. Saw 1 even though most of the flats were not disturbed by paddle boarders. :(
Also learned I cannot stand on my Commander like I saw a much younger guy, with better balance, do a few years back. 😁 It at least was an easy way to skip from flat to flat today and not pay $35.

I think the carp might move in a bit more as summer goes on, but I'll probably wait until after pay season and fish for musky from the boat.

I might be giving up on the carp game there...for now. I do have a few places I like so I'll still pack the carp rod, but that will be in September and October when it's a bit tougher to see them.

I did get the boat out today. Took my wife out on Lake Washington for her maiden voyage in the Lowe. I wanted to check out a few carp spots and just cruise around to enjoy the view.
That launch at Coulon is nice because they have a log boom protecting it from waves. Now if they just put some rubber on the sides like Tapps it would be even better. I know, so demanding. 😁
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top