HAYDEN - Under gray April skies, Bill Whisner pulled his fishing boat ashore at the Honeysuckle Beach ramp on Sunday.

Hayden Lake was cold and high, and the dock alongside the launch was partially submerged. Guiding the boat and trailer into position, the fisherman jumped through a couple inches of lake water that had washed over the walkway.

Whisner had launched his boat free of charge, per usual. But starting next month, fees will be collected at the Honeysuckle Beach ramp, city of Hayden officials said. The fees will be in effect from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

The daily access fee for boats is $6 for city of Hayden residents and $8 for everybody else. A season pass is $30 for residents and $60 for those living outside the city.

The daily access fee for commercial users and water sports users would be $15. A season pass is $150 per vehicle.

Whisner, who lives in Hayden Lake, said the fees "wouldn't be a bad idea. It'll help Parks and Recreation, and everything else."

Honeysuckle gets very busy on summer days, he added. New fees might keep the overcrowding under control.

"The bad thing is, this is the only boat ramp on Hayden (Lake)," Whisner said.

Suzanne Cano, Hayden community services director, said the fees were approved on Jan. 11. The collection period will run from May 30 through Sept. 5.

Cano said the city investigated rates in Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls before setting its prices.

A daily parking and launching fee in Coeur d'Alene is $4 for residents, and $8 for non-residents. The season pass is $40 residents and $80 for others, she said.

Post Falls' daily boat launching fee is $6 before 3 p.m. and $5 after that time. The season pass is $25 for residents' boats and $50 for others.

Cano said the city aims to offset maintenance costs. The boat launch and docks experience heavy traffic during the peak boating season.

The Press reported in July of last year that the city of Hayden's Parks and Recreation Commission recommended implementing the boat launch fees.

The commission had settled on prices of $4 a day per boat for residents, and $6 a day for non-Hayden residents. The daily access fee recommended by the commission for commercial users and water sports users was $15.

The city will use a fee-collection box, sometimes called an "iron ranger," for receipt of boat-launching payments.

Fishing boat in tow, Bob Metier of Otis Orchards, Wash., arrived at the Honeysuckle launch on Sunday afternoon. He was planning a short run to test his boat's engine.

"I'm only going to be (on the water) half an hour, maybe," Metier said, and a 30-minute trip would not be worth the launch fee.

Metier said he wouldn't use the Honeysuckle ramp if a season pass were not available. On other lakes, he can launch at a federally-operated boat ramp for just $15 per year, he added.