For those who haven't already heard, it is now illegal to operate a boat at greater than slow-no-wake speed within 100 feet of the shoreline of any lake in Wisconsin. This is primarily meant to reduce shoreline erosion and destruction of shallow-water fish habitat. The only general exception is for picking up and dropping off waterskiers. I sent an email to Randy Stark, the DNR's Chief Warden, and he indicated that the new law does include the shorelines of islands, not just the main outer shoreline of the lake. This is going to have a significant impact on boaters on the TFF, where many of the safe travel areas are less than 100 feet from shorelines. The narrow section of the channel heading out from Springstead Landing is one obvious example, but there are many other areas where following the safest route will put you within 100 feet of shorelines and islands. It will be interesting to see how active they are in enforcing the new law and whether they're more interested in issuing warnings and educating boaters this season, or just start handing out citations. PWCs already had a 200 foot restriction, which remains in effect. The previous law requiring slow-no-wake within 100 feet of any dock, pier, raft or restricted area also remains in effect.

With the early ice-out providing an opportunity to get out after some preseason panfish, it's also important to be aware of the 3 seasonal fish refuges on the TFF:

1. No fishing is allowed from April 1 until opening day on the Little Turtle River within 200 feet upstream and downstream of Popkos Circle Road.

2. No fishing is allowed from April 1 through May 14 from the Lake of the Falls dam to 1000' downstream.

3. No fishing is allowed from April 1 through May 14 within 200 feet of the shoreline of Seifert's Point. I don't think most people are aware of this one, and it isn't marked.