Undercover Rangers

[Drifter]

Bill,

I just read with much interest, the NGTO fishing reports about Smith Creek. The posts from last year speak of large numbers of trout being caught and released, and what a success this project has been. The more recent reports mention that the trout seem to be fewer and far between. The one common theme is the abundant poaching going on at Smith Creek.

What if:
Would the DNR consider dressing a couple of rangers in Orvis duds with flyrods, and let them walk up and down Smith Creek on a busy Saturday arresting violaters. Seems to me that after a couple of Saturdays, the word would be out. I can't help but believe this would have a deterrent effect on other streams as well.

The Drifter

[Jimmy Harris]

Drifter,

As a matter of fact a couple of plainclothes arrests have occured on Smith Creek within the last couple of weeks. Cool, huh? Even better, the plainclothes ranger caught a few trout while on the stakeout! I love it.

JH

[SHAWN]

Plain clothes rangers is a great idea. Wish they were everywhere. Wouldn't that be great.I'm sure that would scare the heck out of people.
Shawn

[NightOwl]

Do they arrest you now for poaching - Ithought it was just a fine?! Well, if they do it's just as well - everybody is told the rules when they sign in . Good for us !

NightOwl
catcher of 3 fish all day at Smiths.

[SHAWN]

Arrest should be a conciquence of poaching, along with at least 40 hours of community service work on said stream being poached along with a nice little fine to make it difficult to get drunk over the weekend. Just my thoughts.
Shawn

[Flyguy]

How about not only smaking them with a fine, but make them pay a replacement fee for the illegal harvest of the fish...so much$$$$$ per illegal fish.

Also...remember that you can report this to the DNR and the tag # of the get away car/truck would probibly help too.


Flyguy