Ice Fish Ohio Forum

Ice Fishing Reports and Ice Conditions by lake. => West Branch Reservoir (Michael J Kerwin Lake) => Topic started by: eman2000 on March 01, 2015, 12:55:54 PM

Title: west branch ATV?
Post by: eman2000 on March 01, 2015, 12:55:54 PM

I was thinking of going to westbranch and wanted to know if you can bring a ATV on the ice???

Title: Re: west branch ATV?
Post by: eyecatchum2 on March 03, 2015, 08:56:05 AM

Ohio does not permit ATVs or snowmobiles on any State controlled lake. Would definitely help reach those areas I would like to try but are too hard to get to with all this snow.

Title: Re: west branch ATV?
Post by: fishingful on March 03, 2015, 09:09:13 AM

Westbranch does have snowmobile trails. They do not allow atv on the lake.

http://www.lrp.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Lakes/MichaelJKirwanDamReservoir.aspx (http://www.lrp.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Lakes/MichaelJKirwanDamReservoir.aspx)

Title: Re: west branch ATV?
Post by: fishingful on March 03, 2015, 12:37:28 PM

Ahhhh news to me.

Title: Re: west branch ATV?
Post by: Strongpersuader on March 03, 2015, 12:46:52 PM

Quote from: fishingful on March 03, 2015, 12:37:28 PM

Ahhhh news to me.

Yea me too! I lived like two mins from the east boat ramp for 4yrs and didn't know it. Fished a lot in the boat but always trekked it ice fishing. Game changer for sure.

Title: Re: west branch ATV?
Post by: rangerjulie on March 03, 2015, 02:59:50 PM

Folks,
 
STRONPERSUADER spoke to me earlier and I was wrong. I was going by what was said in a conversation with the State Park once. I checked with Brian Andrews, Law Enforcement Manager, and received the following reply:
 
"We only allow handicapped persons using [snowmobiles, ATV's] as mobility devices for the purpose of accessing lake for ice fishing. ADA law takes precedence over park rules prohibiting. No joy riding, no passengers, only for mobility and operator assumes all responsibility for ice conditions. ATV's and Snowmobiles must be registered."
 
I apologize for my error regarding this.

RangerJulie

Title: Re: west branch ATV?
Post by: fishingful on March 03, 2015, 03:19:17 PM

Quote from: Strongpersuader on March 03, 2015, 11:58:08 AM

They said with the upcoming temp fluctuations, it would be wise to stay within 100 ft of shore.

That does not really make sense either because the shore ice will usually melt first.....

Title: Re: west branch ATV?
Post by: slabslayer on March 03, 2015, 03:38:56 PM

True, but west branch has a channel and lot of current flow thru the middle. With all this run off from rain and snow melt, I'd think twice about machining out on the middle of that lake. You'd probably be fine for a few more days, but I'd spud and walk if I was going over the channel. ATV's and snowmobiles are too expensive to lose thru the ice.

Title: Re: west branch ATV?
Post by: Strongpersuader on March 03, 2015, 04:02:10 PM

Thanks for the clarification rangerjulie! Appreciate it!