I'm Really, Really Sick Of This...

[jdmidwest]

Some of them are also quite drunk, and they are carrying around gigs for Christ sake. Once again, no thanks. I would report them, but I am probably not going to confront a bunch of gig-wielding poachers in the middle of the night. It just doesn't seem like a good idea for some reason.

For Christs Sakes Man, Don't you carry a gun while fishing?

[Gary Lange]

For Christs Sakes Man, Don't you carry a gun while fishing?

You just end up in jail for the confrontation. Just take down the boat numbers and ignore them your life should be worth more then ending up in jail because you shot some drunk on the river.

[Tightline]

Chief,Forsythian you guys are right on as usual.

[ness]

Man up buddy, fish cops only solve crimes, citizens prevent them! If you see a violation, confront them. They are the worthless cowards and will usually cut and run.

Usually? You wanna play tough guy, feel free. Me -- I'll let the guys who get paid to confront law breakers do the confronting.

Let's not let this spin off into a politics or gun rights debate either.

The original premise of the discussion, and the opinion of the overwhelming majority of people who have posted, is that gigging is legal and gonna stay that way. The problem lies with the bad apples that don't give a rat's arse what the law says, or can't see past the end of the day, THEIR day, when they're out having a good time.

[fishinwrench]

Man up buddy, fish cops only solve crimes, citizens prevent them! If you see a violation, confront them. They are the worthless cowards and will usually cut and run.

LMAO ! You are confusing roughneck country boys with the neighborhood punks that siphon your gas. Chances are they are already on probation for something, and have a lot more to loose than you do.

So if you start something with them you best be prepared to finish it.

My Grandpa was a bad butt ol'riverrat and one time he suspected someone was stealing fish off his limb-lines on a Salt river trib. He hid on the bank for 3 evenings and sure enough on Sunday evening here came a couple of boys in a Paris water co. boat. As soon as the guy on the bow seat touched his limb-line my Grandpa shot him in the shoulder with a .22 Hornet, and then showed up at the water co. early the next morning to see who didn't show up for work, and where he lived. He paid the guy a visit and sure enough there he was recovering on the couch. They had a long talk and oddly enough became best of friends. Years later at a get together they were telling the story and the the guy (Bob) asked my grandpa "why did you ask the water co. where I lived and then come to my house, was you gonna kill me"? And my Grandpa said "No, but I knew you had MY address from the tag on the limbline....and I was afraid to fall asleep at night".

So that's pretty much how hillbilly justice works, I think.

[eric1978]

As soon as the guy on the bow seat touched his limb-line my Grandpa shot him in the shoulder with a .22 Hornet

Good thing Grandpa's iron sights were lined up right, or that could have turned out badly. Stories like that are exactly what keeps me from doing anything except saying "hi, hello, how are ya, nice weather we're havin', any luck?" to anyone I see on a river. You just never know.

[ozark trout fisher]

For Christs Sakes Man, Don't you carry a gun while fishing?

No.

[patfish]

For Christs Sakes Man, Don't you carry a gun while fishing?

No.

JD, OTF can't even carry a camera much less a weapon.

[ozark trout fisher]

JD, OTF can't even carry a camera much less a weapon.

Good one.

[zipstick]

In a way I started this thread when I told Al about the good smallies that were gigged my best wintering hole about a month ago. I should have taken pics also. In that hole I was catching on average, more than 15 good smallies 15-21 inches each trip this Sept-early Dec. over 8-10 trips. On the week after I caught three gig wounded smallies, my catch went to one fish combined on the next two trips. I don't think I forgot how to catch them, they just disappeared. Like Al, I'm thinkiing the two tied gig boats about 1/2 mile above the spot were responsible, but I couldn't be sure. Interestingly, both of these boats pulled out about two weeks after I couldn't get any more bites in that honey hole. Maybe they couldn't find any more bass to stick.

My plan next year is to post a sign(s) on gravel bars warning the illegal giggers not to take bass from the river. At least they will know that they are being scrutinized. I expect my signs will be shot at and destroyed. More can be made. I may even sit out a few evening in holes where I know big bass live just to keep an eye on things. I'm not against legal gigging, just against the morons who abuse the privelege.

Also, I seriously doubt that our frustration with illegal gigging has even been heard of by some on the Directors of Conservation. If anyone wants to try to bend their ears a little, I'll get involved. First, we can bring up this issue at any of the board's public meetings, and that wouldn't be a bad idea. The season is too long, and the rules are nearly impossible to enforce. I do not think anyone in the state has documented the demise of the sucker population either. If this is true, some control of gigging would seem like the sensible approach to take.