Water Patrol

[Blazerman]

We are in our new house now which is located in Linn creek at LOTO and one thing I have noticed is the water patrol sit right at the entrance to Linn creek pretty much all weekend long.

Yesterday he came and paid me a visit while I was fishing and I was surprised when he asked me for my fishing license.

He actually watched me catch a crappie then pulled up and said that looked like a good one and I said yeah it was about 12”. And he said yeah looked like it. Then he said mine if I check your license? And I said really? And he said yeah. And I said I didn’t think you guys did that. And he said yeah we do.

So he looked it up and then checked everything else on my boat and I was all legal and we chatted a bit about his job and the lake and how crazy it probably is.

And then he was own is way. Nice guy and I have no problem with them being there but like I said I did not know they check for fishing licenses.

[Seth]

If you have your ducks in a row for the most part, they are usually pretty cool IMO. I've been checked a few times and can't recall every having one act like a jerk. I'm sure they appreciate it though too because I have a buddy who does water patrol and he deals with some humdingers.

[fishinwrench]

I don't like them messing with people unless there is reason to believe they have broken the law.  To just randomly hassle someone is not cool.   Most kind citizens say they don't mind because it doesn't happen to them very often....but if it happened every time you went fishing I guarantee you that crap would get old, whether all your ducks were in a row or not.    

The WP randomly checking folks is a sign that there are incentives for racking up as many citations as they can.  And that's the crap that got Brandon Ellingson killed.  Apparently they didn't learn anything from that after we (the taxpayers) paid $30,000,000.00+ to the Ellingson family.  

The officers that do that always get all pissy when you don't RESPECT THEM.... But bygod if they interrupt my day for no reason at all then WHO began the disrespect?  

[Flysmallie]

1 hour ago, fishinwrench said:

The officers that do that always get all pissy when you don't RESPECT THEM.... But bygod if they interrupt my day for no reason at all then WHO began the disrespect?  

I had one stop me once when taking off for a tournament out of Hwy 83 Marina on Pomme de Terre. Had to check EVERYTHING on the boat to make sure it was all legit. All this while all the other boats continued to head out to start their day. I was held up for at least 20 minutes but it felt like hours. I wasn't real happy about it but I also knew I had it coming too. Sometimes payback is a beyotch. 

[nomolites]

I have been stopped numerous times and never had any issue - did have one follow me home from Millstone back in the day after a day of drinking on the lake - I guess he wanted to confirm I was coherent and aware and I’d bet he’d have hauled me in if I wasn’t.  That was the old days though.

I have not been stopped recently, too much low hanging fruit on the water these days - I am an old guy following the rules safely.

There, now I have almost assured myself a stop next time out....🙄

Mike

[tjm]

If they aren't going to check randomly, they don't need to be there at all, save the tax money until the crime happens. 

But wait, fishing without a license is a crime and the only way to find out if "that guy" has a license is to check him. If these guys were doing their jobs they would check every single angler every single time they saw one.  Lazy bums sitting in a boat all day and not issuing tickets as they should be.

[Johnsfolly]

I have been checked much more here in Maryland than in MO. During crappie spawn at the lake outside of. Columbia lake they will check every person along the bank. They are there at least two or three times a week. It's a popular spot so likely to have some folks breaking the law. I don't have any issue with being checked whether it looks like I am doing something wrong or if it is a random check. They need people to see that they will check you. They also catch quite a few folks.

[ollie]

Lol, from a guy who has been asked more than once to prove I am legal to fish that is always what they ask for first!😒

[Johnsfolly]

I have caught a fish at least three or four times just as I was going to get checked. Do these folks go to the same training that wait staff do where they learn to come to table just as you have a mouth full?

[fishinwrench]

The most annoying part for me is when they ask you questions then verify each question to make sure you're not lying.  Why bother asking if you're not going to believe anything I say ?

Guess we just need that RFID chip so they can just scan you from 50ft. away and immediately know everything they think they need to know.  Instead it goes like this:

What's your name and date of birth?

(......)

Show me some ID.

Do you have any weapons?

(No)

Raise your arms behind your head.

Do you have any illegal substances on you?

(No)

Empty your pockets right here.

Have you had anything to drink today?

(Just sweet tea)

Here blow in this.

 

I mean we can at least get this over with in half the time if they just immediately started demanding things without the BS interrogation exam.