I Got Someone In Trouble Today.

[Chief Grey Bear]

My son and I were down at Hickory Creek this late afternoon and I was enjoying him catch the dickens out of the trout as the creek received a new truck load the night before. I was really surprised the creek was not over run with those filling their freezers. Maybe they just weren't lucky enough to get a 4-day weekend like I was.

So as I was sitting there, I noticed this older couple in a near foot race to their secret honey hole. By looking at the gear they were hauling, Wal-Mart rods, a 5-gallon bucket, fish basket, big ol' tackle box, I just had a hunch I was fixing to watch some good old time poaching going on.

I must say they didn't let me down. I watched as he quickly added his 4th and finally trout to the basket. I thought to myself, ok now if he keeps adding to the basket, he may not know the limit or he plans on saying that both his and hers are in the basket and I'll walk over and kindly tell him of the regulations.

The poor misses hasn't caught a fish yet. She has been playing heck with the snags and like a good husband, he helps her out. Numerous times he had to wade the stream to retrieve the lure. I thought for sure I would be witnessing bait fishing at its finest, but it appeared they were using rooster tails.

Well, I witnessed him catch his 5th trout. This one though did not go into the basket. Quite by surprise he whipped out a rope stringer and strung him up. It was at this point I decided this person new exactly what he was doing and it was no mistake that he was taking, sorry, poaching, extra trout over and above his limit.

It was also at this point I decided that yes, cell phones are a good thing and called my local MDC agent. I gave my location and he responded within 15 minutes.

He stopped and talked to me for a second and then drove over to the offending couple. I witnessed the whole operation. After speaking with the couple and checking their license, the agent and the older gentleman walked back to the agents truck. After being in there for a few minutes, they both walked back down to the creek and a few words were exchanged and as the agent was walking back to his truck gave me a thumbs up.

He drove back over to where I was and stated that not only did the man admit to catching all the fish that I saw, but to my great surprise, had lost another stringer full of trout that he caught.

I may have cut into their firecracker fund this year, but yeah, I feel I did the right thing.

[Bob A]

My son and I were down at Hickory Creek this late afternoon and I was enjoying him catch the dickens out of the trout as the creek received a new truck load the night before. I was really surprised the creek was not over run with those filling their freezers. Maybe they just weren't lucky enough to get a 4-day weekend like I was.

So as I was sitting there, I noticed this older couple in a near foot race to their secret honey hole. By looking at the gear they were hauling, Wal-Mart rods, a 5-gallon bucket, fish basket, big ol' tackle box. I just had a hunch I was fixing to watch some good old time poaching going on.

I must say they didn't let me down. I watched as he quickly added his 4th and finally trout to the basket. I thought to myself, ok now if he keeps adding to the basket, he may not know the limit or he plans on saying that both his and hers are in the basket and I'll walk over and kindly tell him of the regulations.

The poor misses hasn't caught a fish yet. She has been playing heck with the snags and like a good husband, he helps her out. Numerous times he had to wade the stream to retrieve the lure. I thought for sure I would be witnessing bait fishing at its finest, but it appeared they were using rooster tails.

Well, I witnessed him catch his 5th trout. This one though did not go into the basket. Quite by surprise he whipped out a rope stringer and strung him up. It was at this point I decided this person new exactly what he was doing and it was no mistake that he was taking, sorry, poaching, extra trout over and above his limit.

It was also at this point I decided that yes, cell phones are a good thing and called my local MDC agent. I gave my location and he responded within 15 minutes.

He stopped and talked to me for a second and then drove over to the offending couple. I witnessed the whole operation. After speaking with the couple and checking their license, the agent and the older gentleman walked back to the agents truck. After being in there for a few minutes, they both walked back down to the creek and a few words were exchanged and as the agent was walking back to his truck gave me a thumbs up.

He drove back over to where I was and stated that not only did the man admit to catching all the fish that I saw, but to my great surprise, had lost another stringer full of trout that he caught.

I may have cut into their firecracker fund this year, but yeah, I feel I did the right thing.

[Bob A]

Hi and you did exactly what I'd have done. It's time these people learned that they arent't as special as they think they are.

Thanks for getting involved inthe right way!

Bob A (Springfield)

[jdmidwest]

Nothing wrong with that, might even stop him from doing it in the future. It was probably not the first time he did that.

[Danoinark]

Chief

You absolutely did the right thing and the gent given the ticket will probably be the better for it.

Think of all his buddies that he will tell the tale to who might end their poaching practices also.

Also Hickory will get a reputation as being a place you can't get away with it because of the enforcement. You did good.

Dano

[techo]

What Dano said. Kudos.

[RSBreth]

Awesome. I usually take pictures and send them to the CA of the county it happened in, but catching them in the act? Priceless.

[snagged in outlet 3]

Bravo!!!!

[Terry Beeson]

I can't say I'm pumping my fist or anything over this, but I have that "cast the first stone" syndrome. I will admit to fishing from the dock on a lake overpopulated with Crappie, having good luck while the only other fisherman there could catch nothing but small bluegill. I knew she was not going to waste the food and the local wardens had both confided in me that the lake was TOO full of Crappie (and they drained that lake a year later to reduce the population.) So, I intentinally slipped a limit of nice slabs into her 5 gallon bucket before completing my limit.

However, you did the right thing. I agree that there is a need to crack down on poaching. I'm not sure I would be offended if the couple had walked out with eight fish, though, even if he had caught the majority. Now if they came back later with clean stringers and buckets, I'd have a big problem.

But, regulations are regulations... Don't feel bad about what you did.

[ollie]

Thanks Chief, you did me a favor that's for sure! I also get tired of people doing that down here. I'm still waiting to see the seining going on from our southern brethern. I just normally fish the other creeks for smallies right now. I think what you did is great! I remember seeing someone last year keeping two when the season was closed, but didn't have the cell phone on me and they took off before I could even say anything. Was Englebreck that got them?