How many times did you get checked last year by your local fish officers.

[The Smalleye]

[eyedoktr]

I was only checked 2 or 3 times and I wish it had been more. I love to see the boats and shore fishermen scatter when the DEC pull up. I always thank them for being there and doing their job. Unfortunately the budget doesn't allow for more enforcement.

[Kaz]

I was checked at least three times. I seems they have a staff member at the landing on Wheelers Point most days. They even helped me load my boat on two different times, when they were not busy. At least they know whats going on at LOTW so they can manage our game fish!! Waiting FOR SPRING FISHING....Kaz

[sib]

I was checked twice on the same river, and not checked again at any other body of water. My honey hole is about 6 miles upstream from the launch. There a 1/4 mile stretch of prop killing rocks, which I wade the boat up. I'm only used to seeing one other boat in that stretch, but the CO can make it up there no problem with his Seadoo.

The other time I was checked was during duck season, different CO. Both exchanges were positive and both officers acted very professional. After the check we talked a while longer about the river, quite often CO's are a wealth of information, that's may experience anyway.

[ezmarc]

I was checked 3 times on Erie last year and all 3 times were positive and educational experiences. Prior to last year it had been at least 10 years since I was checked. Must be the Yar-Craft! I say raise the fee and hire some more of them.

[Tom (mich)]

Checked once on the Detroit River by the Ontario fish cops - extremely pleasant and professional. Checked once on Erie by the Ohio fish cops (must be the Yarcraft) - again, extremely pleasant experience and they were very professional. I am 38 years old, and have fished in Michigan by entire life, and much to my dismay I have NEVER EVER been checked by Michigan DNR - either in the water or in the field. I simply can't imagine where my license fees are going in this state...

[Fish Hound]

I was checked 3 of 4 times that I remember. Once at Rocky River as we were getting the boat out of the water by ODNR. Then at Edgewater on Lake Erie in Cleveland. My son was holding up his 2 fish Ohio Eyes and an officer came over and took scale samples and witnessed his form for the pin. Once while fishing from shore an Ohio DNR officer came up to us and said "I checked you guys yesterday so good luck". We weren't there the day before.
The Fish Hound

[Greg P]

Along with a couple of normal checks, I was checked by creel survey workers several times.

I live in Minnesota and am always happy to see DNR officers and creel survey workers. I have had great conversations with a couple of the cree survey guys. If any of them read this, keep up the good work.

The creel surveys to me, mean that they are doing studies and paying attention to stocking results. It tells me they are doing something.

[Gilligan]

Hey Pete.. I'm with you. Love to see them on patrol; way to much abuse of our resource goes on. One time a year is about my average for getting checked, not alot considering the time I'm on the water. They do have alot of census takers though checking lengths/weight and time fished.

I only had 1 event in NY state in over 20 seasons that sorta had me po'ed. Had 4 rods out trolling and they decided they needed to come along side and check out the wells. Ran right over top of planer board and line.

The Waterways patrolmen in my home state of PA should take some lessons on how to treat anglers, the NY guys I've encountered are a class act.

[TK_551]

I have been checked a few times last season. It has never been a bother. I never have anything to worry about--I am always in compliance. The only time I was a bit peeved was when the game wardens stopped me as I was trolling. They were pretty cool though--they didn't make me reel everything in. All we had to do was hold up our life jackets and licenses and they were on their way. I have noticed a few times last season that they would check every other boat fishing in the area except mine. Don't know if they recognized me from past or what. Has this happened to anyone else?

Tom
#551

[Kevin/CO]

We get checked probably once in every five trips but we don't mind. Normally we fish a body of water so often that we get to know the game officers assigned to that body. Normally a real class act, never really had a bad experience. Only once have we been peeved with what happened was a roadside inspection after leaving. This body had been having people repeatedly take more then twice their limit from a specific location and we had been fishing that location that particular day. We didn't like having to completely empty all of the contents out of our car and boat but its good to see them trying to enforce the regs. Normally we sometimes seek out the wardens around the launches to find out what they have heard the last couple days and always shoot the breeze. Most are very buisness like but are also very friendly and knowledgabl e and willing to share what they know.