Crawler Season

[Don House]

I seen them twice last week taking 12 inch fish or just about everything they catch, so here is what I do, worked for me last week, yes I did it and will every time I see someone doing this, I can tell a short fish every time and law is law.... Place this number in your cell phone 1-800-392-1111.. MO Conservation poaching hotline. Give these guys the boat numbers, colors and type of boat and were they are (location) on the lake. They will take it from there, do not talk or confront these guys, some are real rednecks with guns not worth your life, also don't give them any clues as to what you are going to do to them, let them keep going so our good guys can get them in the act!! They will be watched and caught. I've talked to other guides and there are MDC reps out there right now checking everyone up by the DAM and all over the lake, so the word is out.

Good Fishing everyone

Capt. Don House

[Bill Babler]

Probably the best advice yet. Don and I are out there every day and see it all.

One of the guides got checked way up the James this Am. His client had forgotten to buy his one day lic. even after the guide had reminded him as early as just last night.

Ruined a great day of fishing.

You have to be responsible for yourself. Great to see these guys out.

[skeeter]

.... Place this number in your cell phone 1-800-392-1111.. MO Conservation poaching hotline. Give these guys the boat numbers, colors and type of boat and were they are (location) on the lake. They will take it from there, do not talk or confront these guys, some are real rednecks with guns not worth your life, also don't give them any clues as to what you are going to do to them, let them keep going so our good guys can get them in the act!! They will be watched and caught.

Good Fishing everyone

Capt. Don House

OUTSTANDING !!! Thanks very much for posting the phone number, just finished inputting to my cell phone book. Want to encourage anyone else reading this thread to do the same..

Maybe if enough concerned anglers start reporting the meat hogs they will find out it's cheaper to buy fish at the grocery store. Depends on which Judge they come up in front of as always so I hope there's some outdoorsmen/women on the bench in Stone & Taney Counties. Again, enforcement Officers can't be everywhere and I would think they would welcome some valid tips.

[gonefishin]

I seen them twice last week taking 12 inch fish or just about everything they catch, so here is what I do, worked for me last week, yes I did it and will every time I see someone doing this, I can tell a short fish every time and law is law.... Place this number in your cell phone 1-800-392-1111.. MO Conservation poaching hotline. Give these guys the boat numbers, colors and type of boat and were they are (location) on the lake. They will take it from there, do not talk or confront these guys, some are real rednecks with guns not worth your life, also don't give them any clues as to what you are going to do to them, let them keep going so our good guys can get them in the act!! They will be watched and caught. I've talked to other guides and there are MDC reps out there right now checking everyone up by the DAM and all over the lake, so the word is out.

Good Fishing everyone

Capt. Don House

You must have a lot better eyes than I do. I have seen and/or caught fish I just knew were short that turned out to be legal.

Just to play devils advocate....How many times do you reckon people have had the law called on the because they were fishing in someones favorite spot or because they were catching fish and someone else wasn't "so they just had to be doing something illegal"?

I have the poacher hotline number programmed in my phone. I have yet to use it and I won't unless I see someone who is purposely and vagrantly violating the law.

I am certain there are some people who are so adverse to anyone keeping a fish that they would call the law just to harass the fish keeper.

Point I am trying to make is a person should know for certain what they are talking about if they call the law on someone.

[jcoberley]

GF Tht thought never came to my mind however now that you bring it up I could see some people doing just that. However maybe the offcer checking and finding nothing wrong would go back on the would be caller and fine them for making a false report.

[gonefishin]

GF Tht thought never came to my mind however now that you bring it up I could see some people doing just that. However maybe the offcer checking and finding nothing wrong would go back on the would be caller and fine them for making a false report.

They should. The point I was trying to make is there is no balance of power in an issue like this. There is no check in place to stop people from abusing the hotline and wasting law enforcements time.

[bassman1308]

GF, IMHO, its really pretty simple. When you know someone is violating the law, you should do what you can to report them, even if you have to go out of your way. This helps all of us in the long run. I'm sure there will be abuses, but thats another issue. It use to be when laws were made, people used them as a guide to live by. Now it seems, a lot of people only think the're guilty if they get caught. Again , only my opinion.

[J.E.]

They should. The point I was trying to make is there is no balance of power in an issue like this. There is no check in place to stop people from abusing the hotline and wasting law enforcements time.

Gonefishin,

I'm sure Capt. Don does have better eyes than you do when it comes to legal and illegal fish as he does it every day. Even with that a mistake can be made however, I've never seen or heard of DNR running someone off a spot. A livewell check is perfectly legal and if you have short fish you receive a ticket, summons, and or a fine but as long as you have a legal fishing license you can keep on fishing.

[gonefishin]

Like I said I don't have any use for poachers but, I also know that people can be vindicative and aren't above calling the law on someone just because they don't like the fact that they are in their spot or they are catching fish and I am not or whatever the reason. This is a total waste of game law enforcement time and money and there are no stops in place to counter potential abuse.

Getting checked once in a while when fishing is no big deal and I am always happy to comply. If a person were to get checked 4 or 5 or 6 times a day it would get to be a real problem.

Most I have been checked in a day is 3 times. After the second time it was getting annoying.

OHHH, I almost forgot. I am a crawler fisherman and I eat fish. Is there a local chapter of Crawler and/or Bluegill anonymous around here somewhere? I need to kick the habit.

[ryan]

Guys great comments on poachers but one of the most abused fish around is the walleye. People love to eat them and think that every one they catch should meet their fate on a fillet board. Bass are much more prev. around these local lakes than walleye yet every walleye that people catch they keep. I love to fish and enjoy catching a variety of fish we should all work together to preserve our outdoors. Conservation is an important issue and everyone should do their part whether its walleye, crappie, or bass any type of over harvesting can devastate a fishery.