Power Auger Rules

When a lake listed in the CT fishing guide is listed with the phrase "Use or possession of internal combustion engines is prohibited". Does this apply to gas powered ice augers during ice season?

I certainly hope not or I will have to assume the position!

Hmmmmmmmmm.

My take is that it is not in the lake, or in the water, and it doesn't hafta be registered. If someone says no, does that mean an electric auger is out???

Our philosophy has always been to be respectful of the neighbors and locals. If it is a little pond down in a hollow, we always use only hand augers. If there are residences close by we try not to run the power auger too early or late in the day. Big public lake, we make swiss cheese.

It does on Ball Pond. The rule is no motors of any kind including gas or electric ice augers, ATVs, and snow mobiles. It is enforced by the local PD and Encon.

We'll have to wait for EnCon to weigh in here but it was my understanding that the rules that state no gas motors DOES NOT apply to augers UNLESS it is a town ordinance. If it is printed in the anglers guide, that is a state mandated rule, not the town so you should be OK. But to 100% sure, you need to check with the town.

We get asked all the time at the shop, that was the way I remember the explanation...

It is a New Fairfield town ordinance for Ball Pond.
That said, these rules issues are usually discussed within the stakeholder groups before they become law. The town(s), lake authority, local politicians, various advocate groups and the DEP (boating division, inland fisheries) all offer an opinion which is negotiated and then an ordinance is offered up to lock the rules in that everyone agrees on. It is rare that something is imposed on a unilateral basis.
So when you go to the Ball Pond launch it says "no motors" period. It may not be what the DEP would do by themselves but it is what the town and the other stakeholders wanted due to some problems that happened in the past and the DEP supported the ordinance because the pond is only 88 acres and there is Squantz Pond and Candlewood within a few miles where you can run most anything you want.
This is why virtually every body of water in the state seems to have its own set of rules and as Blaine says above you need to know what rules are in place for every little spot you fish.
Seems like a hassle but without this dialogue and negotiation local stakeholders would push for total closure of "their" waters. This is how stickers for Candlewood has evolved, basically an effort to limit who uses the lake.

There is no easy answer for this one......

Generally the restrictions that you see in the Boaters Guide that prohibit the use of internal combustion engines are restricted by boating regulation. If this is the case then the only way you would be restricted from using a gas powered auger is if you hung it on the back of a boat and tried to use it as an outboard.

HOWEVER.....if the restriction is based on a town ordinance that prohibits the use of internal combustion engines under noise control, air quality standards or water pollution control (gas spilling in the water...)then you are stuck. You would not be able to use a gas powered auger on those water bodies.

You need to do a little research if you are not sure about the lake or pond you want to fish. If you see that there is a restriction in the Boating Guide then you should contact the town hall and determine if there is a town ordinance in addition to the state regulation that carries the prohibition from just boats to all engines.

Skip, do you know what category the new propane-powered augers will fall into?

In one sense, it's still a combustion engine. But on the other hand, it burns cleaner, quieter and there is no fuel that can spill into the lake.

They would still be considered internal combustion engines. If a lake/pond has a restriction then the only augers that could be used are hand-powered or electric. Unless someone wants to invent a wind driven auger, that would be allowed

Thanks. Haven't seen one of these new propane augers in action yet, but they sure look interesting.

I'm saving up for an Ice Gator myself! The Stealth Auger.....

Wind driven? I like that idea Skip. We could have used it on Ball pond today!

A wind driven auger? Zach would have liked that when he was on Tyler Lake the other day.

I am very impressed with Paul D's input and cannot agree more. A little consideration goes a long way, just as inconsiderate behavior goes a long way. The same philosophy would apply to guys who use extremely high- volume foul-mouthed language when people are around with their children, and to that group in the NW corner (if you've encountered them you know who I mean) who toss their trash and empty vodka bottles around just like they did in the "old country", (not that they care who they offend, Comrade). Thanks for the reminder Paul. Tight lines.