More illegal activity on Taney

[Phil Lilley]

I would be careful about the pic part. I pulled my cell phone out one time and got chased with a paddle.

[gonefishin]

Agreed Phil. There is nothing wrong with being helpful. I have done the same thing, and if the people are interested then everything is cool but if they are clearly not interested - I leave them be and let the law handle it.

Like OnTheFly I have been harassed when on the water. I like to fly fish but I don't as often as I used to because I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. I was in the -fly only area- a couple of years ago using my spinning rod... from the way people acted you would have thought I was some kind of mass murder or something. I finally left. It sure ruined my day of fishing. Why should I be harassed? I pay my taxes and by my licences just like everyone else and was not breaking the law. My point is people have to be careful and not get carried away.

My position is the same as Dano. There is nothing wrong with being helpful and if we see a serious violation then the law should be called but, that is where it should end. The enforcement part should be left up to the law.

[Cheese slinger]

Personally I don't understand why people purposely break regulations - it seems funny to me to risk a fine and the ruin of your trip by doing something you know you could get in legal trouble for.

As far as confronting people when you see them doing something illegal it's happened twice involving me at Montauk, once was a foreign guy who had no idea there were bait restrictions in the park using cheese in the fly area, he was grateful I saw him before a ranger did. I gave him a spiner to use and we chatted a bit, he was cool. Another time I was absolutely tearing up a hole on a rooster tail (on my ultralight spinning rod), and a fly fisherman came over and got down right nasty with me because he honestly thought I was breaking a rule by not "fly fishing" in the fly only area.

So I guess I see both sides of when to intervene and when not to, I would say we're all adults and can use our own judgement in any situation. I'd like to think 9 of 10 regulation infractions are a result of honest mistakes, and who wouldn't want some friendly advice when making an honest mistake?

lol Phil and where did you get chased with a paddle? People are hilarious.

[Phil Lilley]

Oh about 5-6 years ago I boated up on a guy fishing at lookout island when the water was running high who was anchored in the eddie using power bait. I asked him how he was doing- what he was using and informed him the bait was illegal in the area. He said he wasn't keeping any so it didn't hurt anything. I said it really did kill fish even though they were being released. He didn't move so I pulled out my cell. He started yelling at me to mind my own business. I couldn't get through to an agent- no answer but by that time he had pulled up his anchor and started motoring towards me. He had such a small motor my trolling motor was faster so I kept my distance. He had his paddle in hand wanting me to fight "like a man". I called the sheriff and told him what this guy was doing. They said to call the water patrol. I finally started my engine and headed down- didn't want to mess with it anymore. I did get his numbers and turned them into both MWP and MDC. Two years later he recognized me on the water. He was with his wife and young daughter. He still wanted to fight. Wanted to go to Fall Creek and get it on there. I mostly ignored him until he motored off. He had upgraded to a beat up old bass boat.

[crappiefisherman]

sam now for a little old fashioned ribbin...........was that vietnamese guy in a black hydrosport boat????? If he was hes the best crappie fisherman ive ever seen> was a regular on bull shoals.I hadnt seen him in a while and i asked a friend and understood he passed away.now the ribin part, 100 fish in a ice chest?????????hmmmmmmm , have a good one,,,,,,,,,,also when i said bitter to the other fellow i was being facesious.lilly you ned spell check on this thing..

[Wayne SW/MO]

Now, that ain't right

I have to disagree Sam, we are bordered by 8 other states and if we didn't follow some possession limit, I would think it would be a nightmare for the agents.

[Brian K. Shaffer]

Great story and excellent reading - thanks for posting this.

[Phil Lilley]

Crazy to think the forum is almost 20 years old.