PHOTO BY NMMA
A detailed list of boating access and restrictions due to COVID-19 in each state is now available thanks to The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). The map and state-by-state breakdown is updated frequently. Access to recreational boating and fishing across the Great Lakes currently varies by state.
As of writing, Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio allow normal boating, while Illinois, Pennsylvania and New York have more limited access. Boating is not currently allowed in Michigan.
For more specific details, it’s worth checking in with your state Department of Natural Resources. For example, boat launches in some state parks in Wisconsin are still open and require no entrance fees, even though 40 state parks in the state are closed. Fishing tournaments in Indiana are canceled and all Department of Natural Resources properties are closed. State parks in Ohio are open but lodges, campgrounds, golf courses, playgrounds and more are closed, and anglers who have a non-resident fishing license can fish as long as they self-quarantine for two weeks prior. Marinas are closed in New York, but state parks, trails and historic sites are open as long as visitors protect themselves and keep a safe distance from other visitors.
To see the complete list, visit nmma.org/press/article/23200.
