More illegal activity on Taney

[Greg]

My wife, son, and I were at Taneycomo last evening and witnessed a bust (ticket) by a MDC agent. I talked to the agent at the end. My wife and son were in the car and witnessed the whole thing.

Evidently this guy had well over his limit of fish - some of which were in the slot and had one brown less than 20". We were in the rocking chair area and he confronted and wrote the ticket in the parking lot there. My wife said the agent was very firm with the guy stating that he had already warned him last week and that if he did it again he was going to take him to jail. Good for him I say.

The agent who's name was Buck seemed like a really nice guy who is very committed to his work. He offered us the fish he had confiscated and spoke to us for a while. I didn't realize there were only 2 agents for the whole county. And they have several lakes to cover.

Kind of ironic that I would witness this after saying on this board just a few days ago that I just don't see MDC agents out much. But it's pretty understandable given the area they have to cover. Also it was reassuring to me to witness this agents no-nonsense demeanor with this particular law breaker.

Greg

[Phil Lilley]

Buck grew up in Forsyth. And I agree he's cut out to be an agent. Both him and Quinten are great people who are passionate about their work. But I can honestly say on Taney- their job is a bit overwhelming.

Between the herons and poachers it's a wonder we have any trout in the upper lake.

[Mike B]

I know they guys are down there writing tickets, but I think there is just so much going on that they can't keep up with it. Prime example of the problem was I took the family camping to Roaring River last night. THis morning near our campsite I started fishing in the fly only area and there was a man fishing with a plastic twister tail bait. When I politely informed him of his wrong doing, he acted as if he could not hear or understand me, however, he knew I was talking to him from across the stream. When I then said to my son standing next to me that the guy was using illegal bait and that we should let someone know, he then grabbed his tackle and headed up the bank. I think its a good excuse for some of these people that they cannot understand what your saying when they actually do.

I hope they keep enforcing it tightly, or our fishing will be gone very quickly.

Maybe we could have one of the TV news stations do an piece on the number of tickets written down on Taneycomo. It might help.

Thanks guys,

[Fozzy]

I think it would be nice to have a video cam corder with you when you saw these guys doing wrong doing. If they only had a camera shoved in their face...or even a flash camera!! If i was a poacher i think i would get scared straight rather quick!

Of course i know that isn't practical...but would be a good detourant!

Could you imagine having a guy snap a picture of you "say i'm turning your face into the game warden you poacher" etc.....it would scare a criminal to death!

[Jayhawk Chris]

I don't know about most of you but I carry my digital camera with me all the time when fishing. When I see illegal activity, I make it very obvious that I am taking pictures of them individuals. I have even gone so far as to take pictures of their vehicles. It is amazing how fast people can run or will stop what they are doing when they know they are being caught on camera.

[gonefishin]

This discussion has been on here before. I reckon what we should do is start local vigilanti groups at various fishing spots in the state. That way we can keep the people we don't want in "our" areas out. I mean its not as if everyone in the state pays taxes for these public lakes and parks.

Sorry guys I am being a little sarcastic but, I do not believe anyone other than law enforcement should confront others because they might be doing something wrong. If you think someone is breaking the law call the the enforcement officer.

Earlier this year there was a post on here about a fly a guy was using in the fly fishing only area at Taney. I would have bet money it was an illegal fly. I just knew the guy was a 'poacher'. Guess what. I was wrong. It was legal. Best bet is if you think someone is doing wrong, call law enforcement and let them handle it. Thats why we pay taxes and have these guys trained.

[Danoinark]

I have to agree with Gone Fishin...its better to leave the confrontations to the law enforcement personnel. Speaking from one who is involved in the Court system as an occupation, you must also be willing to testify in Court to anything that you may have seen or witnessed. You may be called as a witness. I personally have no problem with it, but some people are intimidated by it. So if you call in a report of any illegal activity you better be prepared to be supoeaned to testity or make statements to a Court...Dano

[MoCarp]

to chime in here--to be openly confrontational to obvious law breakers could be dangerous--a reason MDC COs carry a gun! just observe write down a tag number--

[Phil Lilley]

You know where I stand.

[griffin]

I've been in Law Enforcement for 18 years.

I'd advise against confronting an armed robber....but I'd call you a coward (and it'd fit) if you didn't confront a rapist in the act of committing his crime. I wouldn't suggest that you try to stop a guy on a shooting spree without some help, but I'd call you a useless member of society if you didn't intervene while you saw someone trying to break into a car, or leaving the scene of an accident.

Care to guess where I stand on confronting a guy keeping too many fish??? :lol: Good Lord.......please be sure not to offend the guy with the fishing pole. :lol: :lol:

What you're talking about here are people who don't care about the same things you care about....the things your father and grandfather tried to hold over for you. It really is up to you, there is no way on this planet that a Conservation agent, as dedicated as almost all of them are, can keep up with the constant stream of violations of game laws.

I'm not talking about the guy who makes an honest mistake....he's not a law breaker. I'm talking about the guy who just doesn't care that his kid has a chance at a trophy fish.

I'm not going to argue this.....but if you are the type that thinks it's best not to get involved...then you best NEVER complain about Law Enforcement not doing enough.

griffin