Wednesday Night

[OzarkFishman]

Got to Beaver about 6. We fished swimming minnows the whole night (1/16th ounce jig). I started out with smoke and picked up my first fish about 6:30. Caught another 5 by 7:15, then another 6 by 7:45. During this time I lost 2 fish when I reached down and missed lipping them and they shook the hook. There for a little while, it was a fish every few casts. After 7:45, the bite slowed. I missed some bites and one fish broke me off big time (walleye is my guess). One guy I was with caught 8, mostly on blue and the other guy only caught one (he is admittedly novice at fishing).

The biggest fish I caught was 18 inches (which is my personal best). The single fish in the picture was my second biggest, which was by mistake when I picked the wrong fish off my stringer. I was rushing to get a picture before the light got too bad to take a picture with my crappy cell phone.

On a side note, I saw a guy that I thought was fishing a casting spoon on baitcasting tackle. For a while he was catching a fish on every cast. This morning I talked to one of the guys that went and he thought he saw a snagging hook on the guy's line (a casting spoon could easily snag fish). Either way, I don't think all the fish were caught by the lip.

Good luck to you all,

OzarkFishman

[OzarksRiverman]

Yeah I know a guy that was grabbing whites down there. I told him he's an idiot and he'll get fined, I told him 1000 dollars a fish lol, he's only 16 so maybe that'll make him quit.

[slider]

There were 3 guys grabbing them at swan last Thursday evening.

[Stoneroller]

If you witness or suspect a wildlife violation, report it to your local conservation agent or call the toll-free number —1-800-392-1111— which is manned 24 hours a day. You may remain anonymous, and you may ask to be considered for a reward if you wish.

If you provide information that results in an arrest and you’ve asked to be considered for a reward, your agent will refer this request to a citizen board of the Conservation Federation of Missouri. That board assigns a reward based on the severity of the violation involved. Rewards range from $50 to $1000.

Program 1-800-392-1111 into your cell phone— so you can act fast!

Your cell phone programmed with the toll-free number will help you take immediate action when you see violations in the field. Do not attempt to intervene yourself.

When you call, you will be asked simple questions, the answers to which will be vital to the investigation. Here are a few things to remember when you witness a suspected violation.

Nature of suspected illegal activity

Date and time of violation

The suspect’s identity, if possible

Description of the suspects and vehicles

Poaching hurts all Missourians

You may not “feel the pain” of poaching personally, but this crime can affect you in specific ways.

Poachers steal your opportunity to hunt, fish or collect legally.

Those who cheat the permit system cheat every Missouri taxpayer. The Conservation Department depends on revenue from hunting and fishing permits to manage wildlife populations and habitat.

How can you tell if someone is poaching?

A person “spotlighting” and shooting deer from a vehicle is poaching. He’s gaining an unfair advantage over his quarry—and over other hunters. The term “poaching” covers all wildlife violations.

A person is poaching if he or she…

Sells venison, deer sausage, fish or small game to acquaintances or at work.

Collects live animals for sale

Many native species of reptiles and amphibians (turtles, lizards, snakes and frogs) are illegally taken for worldwide pet trade.

Hunts without a permit or with an inappropriate permit

Some non-residents will try to buy lower-cost resident permits, even though they are not qualified to do so.

Collects native seeds, plants or roots on Conservation Department lands.

[Phil Lilley]

He's lucky he wasn't caught. Both agents have been over there watching - almost every day last week when they were running good. They mainly catch people double dipping- catching a limit, taking them home and then returning to catch more.

[OzarkFishman]

Ya, they have been around. The night before I went, a friend of mine went fishing without his permit at Beaver (got caught and ticketed). Of course he tried to blame it on his wife. He said the agent was nice and respectful, and did his job very well. It is always nice to hear about law enforcement agents that can be civil and do their job.

Good fishing to you all,

OzarkFishman