Afield: Anglers upset after Corps of Engineers limits bass tournaments on Raystown Lake

Tournament bass anglers and tournament organizers are upset about rule changes at Raystown Lake for 2024. Tournament organizers first learned of these changes late last year when they applied for permits from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Then, on Jan. 16, a news release from the Baltimore District of the Army Corps of Engineers clarified the issue.

“In an effort to increase visitor safety, minimize traffic congestion and provide safe access for emergency vehicles at boat ramps during peak recreation season at Raystown Lake, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, requests that fishing tournament directors schedule the start and end times of their tournaments outside of peak capacity weekend hours, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, between Memorial Day and Labor Day holiday weekends, when first-come, first-served boating traffic is heaviest,” the released stated.

According to Jude Harrington, operations manager at Raystown, 125 fishing tournaments are held at Raystown Lake each year, most occurring during daylight hours during the summer. “We have made these changes, not to eliminate tournaments, but to ensure safety and lessen congestion at launches. The events, and fishing tournaments are events, have an impact and they shouldn’t interfere with regular day users of the lake.”

Tournament organizers and participants have been taking to social media to express their concerns. Some have alleged that it was an attempt to end tournament fishing at Raystown Lake, while others feared that the new rules could spread to other Army Corps lakes, such as Sayers Dam in Bald Eagle State Park.

Ashley Shope, of Huntingdon, who organizes the Elite Series tournament trail, calls the new rules “discriminatory.”

“We run our tournaments from first light until 2 p.m. Participants usually put their boats in the water between 3:00 and 4:00 a.m.,” Shope said. “Our anglers are certainly not causing ramp congestion at 4:00 a.m.”

Shope explained that, according to Fish and Boat Commission rules, tournaments cannot be longer than nine hours. Boat traffic is just crazy in the afternoon on summer weekends, so most tournaments are held to give anglers the early morning hours when there is the least disturbance from other boaters. It also means that anglers are not holding bass in their live wells when water is warmest during the late afternoon.

Bellwood angler Dale Stanbaugh has been in fishing tournaments on Raystown Lake for 45 years. He is a founding member of the Southside Bass Club.

“We have asked the Corps for data that shows that tournament anglers are causing problems, and they have none,” Stanbaugh said. “We have asked for specific examples of the problems, and they have none. I have never seen a park ranger at the start or end of any of our tournaments, so where is this coming from?”

According to Harrington, tournaments can still be held, but if tournament directors want to schedule their activities, such as weigh-ins and prize distribution, during peak capacity hours, certain conditions will have to be met.

“Project staff will continue to evaluate permit applications on a case-by-case basis and will contact tournament directors to discuss alternative scheduling options,” Harrington stated. “Tournament directors may be asked to meet special conditions for tournaments that cannot be scheduled outside of peak capacity times.”

Steve Griffin, of Schellsburg, Bedford County, organizes the Raystown Bass Buddy Circuit through the Standing Stone Bassmasters. Those tournaments average about 50 boats, with two anglers each, and are held only at Raystown.

“So far these ‘special conditions’ have been very vague,” Griffin noted. “The only thing specifically mentioned was having the tournament designate one person to control ramp traffic, but what exactly does that mean?”

At 8,300 surface acres, Raystown Lake is the largest lake wholly within Pennsylvania. The multi-use lake was built for flood control, hydropower generation and recreational activities. It is owned and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps also manages 16 other impoundments within the Baltimore District — many of which, such as Sayers Dam and Curwensville Lake, are likewise in Pennsylvania.

Contrary to what has been alluded to on social media, Cynthia Mitchell, with the Baltimore District office, provided assurance that these new rules apply only to Raystown, not the other Army Corps’ facilities.

Tournament organizers hope to work out an amicable compromise that will allow the tournaments to be held during morning hours, with weigh-ins during peak hours.

“My hope is that they realize that it is the inexperienced pleasure boaters that cause ramp congestion, not experienced tournament anglers,” Griffin said. “We want to work with the Corps.”

Ashley Shope thinks that the issue will be resolved through compromise.

“I believe that we made progress today (Jan. 17), but I was asked not to reveal details,” Shope stated. “I think that we found some common ground with the Corps defining their ‘concerns.’ I am hopeful that we can form a partnership into the future.”

Mark Nale, who lives in the Bald Eagle Valley, is a member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association and can be reached at MarkAngler@aol.com .