More illegal activity on Taney

[crappiefisherman]

but hes not bitter or anything.

[Bob A]

My personal thanks to MDC Agent Buck! Just wish we had more such agents.

Bob A

[Danoinark]

Griffin,

I think we agree with you that we should all become "good samaritans" and step in to report crime, and go further to save, or aid in the welfare of human beings. I think by confrontation I am simply meaning not to go beyond telling the violator what he is doing wrong and then reporting it to agents. I don't think you are expecting civilians to get hurt over a fish?

Dano

[Phil Lilley]

I's just a matter of wise judgement- when to say something and not to- and what to say. Don't let your emotions get the best of you or you may get hurt or worse hurt someone else... landing you in jail.

[Sam]

I guess I've got a little different opinion.

I'd be the first to turn in a guy who's intentionally doing something illegal that hurts everyone else's fishing. For instance, I saw a Vietnamese guy on Tablerock last spring put well over 100 crappie in an ice chest. I was right beside him, we were both catching a fish every cast - and about 8 out of 10 of mine were under 10" so I know he was keeping short fish too.

I yelled at him about it a couple of times, he yelled something back in Vietnamese and finally gave me the finger. I would have written down his boat number and called it in when I got to a phone - but his boat wasn't registered and had no number. Boy, I would have liked to find a game warden that day.

On the other hand, I wouldn't turn anyone in for violating laws I consider "revenue-makers". That one about not giving away fish to another fishermen - I'll do it every time the fish are dead when I quit and I didn't catch enough to make a meal. The one about 12" Kentucky Bass being legal to keep on the Arkansas part of Tablerock, but you'll get a ticket if you bring that legal Arkansas fish into Missouri is another. When you're in a boat fishing with your partner, do you keep your fish seperate in the live well? Do you quit fishing as soon as you get your limit while he continues fishing? I don't either - but that's a violation.

One that particularly offends me: I have a friend who takes his boat to Grand Lake in Oklahoma every spring to fish the white bass run. A couple of years ago, before Oklahoma lowered the limit to 20, he and two friends were coming back from a two-day trip with a whole bunch of legally-caught white bass iced down in coolers. They got pulled over by a Conservation Agent who routinely parks, during white bass time, on I-44 on the Missouri side and stops and searches eastbound Missouri boats. Those three guys had to pay a $250 fine each, in Joplin. Now, that ain't right.

So, I'd snitch to the "guvverment" about some things but not others.

[griffin]

crappiefisherman - If you think I'm bitter, you're going to have to try again. After all these years I still think the most of people, and enjoy each day I get to work with them........I just get a kick out of folks who cry that Law Enforcement "doesn't do anything". What we do, 90% of the time, is RESPOND to take a report and then try to solve a crime. It's very rare, but the ultimate reward, when we actually prevent a crime.....it's the nature of the beast...we play by rules, criminals don't...I don't mind that. In fact, it has to be that way. Still, we usually get the last laugh. Bitter is for the guys going to jail, not the guys who go home to hunt and fish with their kids....you can tell us apart by the laughing and smiling we do vs. the crying and whining they do.

If you truly want your pet resource to be protected, then there is no way except to become involved.

As far as a fisherman breaking the law......if you can't figure out how to make that guy feel like he's about 2 inches tall, and stop what he's doing, then that guys out of your league....and he's not even in the game.

No, I'm not advocating fighting over a fish......but there's more then one way to skin that cat....and they're all alot more fun then whining about it.

griffin

Blue Cat - we agree. You want to really see some dumb regs and laws.....go duck hunting. :lol:

griffin

[gonefishin]

Just an FYI my family has been involved in law enforcement for years also we are talking about fish not felionious assults against persons. Lets keep things in perspective. I do not agree with confrontation on the water because; where does it stop? I can guarentee there are people out there who fish a certain place who would use the law to "protect thier personal spot on the lake". If the law were to indescrimanetly ticket these people, who just happen to be in the other persons spot and not know it, then not only would innocent persons be harmed but also the law enforcement agents time would be wasted and the courts would be jammed with worthless cases.

In the case of aiding a woman being raped or someone being murdered I agree a person should help but let me ask this. What about the the guy who broke up with his gal and then doesn't like it because some other guy is dating her. Being a smart individual he thinks ah-hah and grabs his baseball bat and beats the crap out of the guy who is out with his ex. Then when the law shows up he claims he was only being a good citizen and defending her? When the cop says 'she says he wasnt bothering her' the guy says "ohh, really...it sure looked like it to me. Sorry I guess I was wrong. Then goes on his merry way because after all he was only trying to be a good samaratin. If you think this kind of thing doesn't happen then you certainly have not been in law enforcement long enough.

I am sorry but I do not agree that it is the sportsmans place to confront others on the water. If you think someone is seriously breaking the law then first make sure you know what you are talking about then second call the law. Then as Dano said be ready to do your civic duty by being a witness in court.

[OnTheFly]

I agree that if you see something that is obviously against the fishing regulations that you should say something to the guy or gal breaking the rules. I do it all the time and most the time the individuals breaking the rules don’t even know they are doing it…or they act like they didn’t know. But that being said there are some people who get down right carried away with “citizen patrol” a couple of years ago at Taney I had a couple of guys harass me over what they believe “was catching too many fish”. The actual statement was “nobody catches that many fish legally” These two knuckleheads proceeded to fish on either side of me trying to see how I was cheating. For the record I was fishing a very small tan scud during low water sight fishing and was only catching about six or seven fish an hour. That kind of vigilante BS is not appreciated and will get you poked in the nose.

[Phil Lilley]

I see it totally different.

Set aside the "danger factor"- the chance of someone assaulting me over fishing/rules advice is very slim and I'm willing to take the chance IF I see the situation warrants it.

I see several "opportunities" to confront people who are doing something wrong. First, it's to help them out. When I see a family on the bank at the boat ramp using power bait, 9 of 10 I won't call an agent- I'll go over and talk to them. "Can I save you some money and hassle". Nearly everytime they are thankful and leave. If they want to stay, I show them what to use- even give them flies or jigs. Second, I'm saving trout. If a family is catching trout- browns, rainbows in the slot- I could call an agent... takes him 30 minutes to arrive... they have 15 NICE rainbows on a stringer alive... they get a ticket and all the rainbows die- the agent takes them, does not release them. Why I don't know but that's what happens. So if I explain to them the rules, release the trout- we all win. If they don't- I lose the argument and we lose more trophy trout.

I know you guys are passionate about this subject... but keep it civil. Everyone has their right to their opinion and not everyone is going to agree. That's ok. Just don't make the arguments personal.

[Jayhawk Chris]

I have no problem educating people on the rules and I am fully aware on the risk that may be involved. As Phil stated, most times, people clearly didn't know the rules or at least claimed not to. Depending on how receptive the individual(s) is to my feedback determines my next steps. If they keep violating the law, then that is exactly the reason that I just simply take pictures and do so obviously.

Sometimes it is amazing what a camera and the act of pulling out your cell phone will make people think.