Actually I to have had the most problems on the public lakes with nonfisherman boaters. They have no concept of respect for anglers. And I have had property owners try and shut me out of a lake by harrassing me.
A few years back when I did a outdoor column for a local newspaper, I put out a feeler to see if there was interest in reviving a 10 mph speed limit in the morning on local lakes to give the average angler a level playing field. I did have lots of interest, and even had one tournament fisherman say he could live with it, as with the size of our local lakes (most under 200 acres) there was no need to be racing around the lake.
Problem was the boating law administrator that sat behind a desk in Indianapolis didn't know his butt from a hole in the ground. When I referred him to a lake on the Michigan line that had a 10 mph speed limit and that it worked quite well he said he WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY LAKES like that in INDIANA and would have to check with the head of law enforcement up there. (Obviously he had never been there as there is a big sign at the boat ramp saying so) I then informed him, "I hate to tell you this but that guy has been retired for at least 3 years!"
Anyway what it comes down to is it's a good idea but no one wants to go out on the limb to push for it. And anglers are not organized. They're too lazy. As far as DNR employees it would jeapordize their jobs of which they want to keep and collect a pension on. And it would be political suicide for a politician as the boating industry is very strong in this state. (We make most of the major brands of boat here)
Case in point: All of the major fishing programs in this state, musky program, trout program, walleye program, steelhead program etc have been started by private individuals and then the state takes over and takes the credit. State employees do not think out of the box! They want to play it safe.
