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Are you talking about kwfd (game warden) stopping you? Thats who usually checks me out so their not going after the pleasure boaters. Their after the fishing guys as they are suppose to. Now the other guys don't know what their called water patrol I guess. Their the water cops that are looking for illegal boating and saftey on the water. Differance in the two. Never have I felt harassed as I've had encounters with both of them and welcome them to check me out.
I carried one of those air horns for years,and was never questioned about them, till then.Come to think of it, that fishing boat I rented in in Tn two weeks ago didn't have a horn, or fire estinguisher,
From what I've seen, some days they key on pleasure boaters and some days they key on fishermen. I've never seen a water patrol officer be anything other than completely courteous when doing their job. I'm sure that would be different if I did something really stupid or acted like a jerk when they stopped me.
I was out with someone else this spring when we got checked. He didn't have a throwable, and the officers let him off with a warning. We had 30-40 crappie and they asked us to open the livewell. Our crappie measure was laying right there (it obviously had been used buy the slime on it) and they didn't even ask us to measure one of them. They could have asked us to measure each and every one legally but didn't.
They may well have passed up 20 boats that had beer on board, but in my dealings with them, they aren't out to bust everyone they can. They want to keep things safe. As a completely general statement; fishermen, as much as some of us don't like hearing, can be just as unsafe as pleasure boaters.
[QUOTE=coombro;423259]Are you talking about kwfd (game warden) stopping you? Thats who usually checks me out so their not going after the pleasure boaters. Their after the fishing guys as they are suppose to. Now the other guys don't know what their called water patrol I guess. Their the water cops that are looking for illegal boating and saftey on the water. Differance in the two. Never have I felt harassed as I've had encounters with both of them and welcome them to check me out.[/QUOTE]
I don't think there is a difference between "water patrol officers" and "KDFW officers". KDFW does have a branch of biologists that will perform on the water surveys and study fisheries but those guys have no powers to enforce law. I've been stopped several times by them and the first thing they say is don't worry getting your fishing license out. Some local law enforcement agencies have the means to patrol waters and can enforce boating and fishing (as well as hunting) regulations. Then there is also the coast guard on occasion on a few waters. But the KDFW officers can and will enforce both the fishing and boating regulations.
My buddy and I have been checked in Ohio, Indiana and TN but never in Kentucky. One time on East Fork lake in Ohio we were on some hybrids and had a double header hooked up when these guys come right over to our boat while we were fight ing fish. My buddy asks if they mind waiting until he catches his fish and they respond we will wait. They bumped into his boat hard and proceeded to check our licenses. We were fine but the fish were gone. Another time we were on the Great Miami River and were less than a hundred yards in Indiana. All we were doing was catching shad with the throw net. Here he comes. We are already reaching for our fishing licenses (both ohio and kentucky) when he informs us we are in Indiana. I asked him where the boundry was and he pointed to a big oak tree on the bank. He said it was around that tree somewhere. I said I wasn't doing anything but driving the boat. He tells me I am still guilty. All the time he is telling us it isn't nothing for him to haul people to his good friend the judge in handcuffs. He let us go after getting his point across. One time on Cherokee lake in TN we were approached by the Water Patrol. We were all reaching for our licenses but the guy just wanted to know if we were catching anything. He gave us some info on the lake and a few pointers on where to try and told us to come back and see them again, and we have.
If keeping us safe is the reason for checking boats, then why don't they spend an entire day at the ramps. Get fisherman before they put in and get the ones they missed when they come back to the ramp. I would much rather have that then have them bump the boat while on a school of fish.
I wouldn't consider doing there job as harassment IMHO.
-Rich
The KDFWR has a water patrol division and the Corps of Engineers also has their own water patrol. KDFWR can board a vessel and are fully sworn peace officers that can arrest you for any violation, either hunting/fishing violation or drinking on the water/unsafe boating.
[QUOTE=Tim_T;423311]The KDFWR has a water patrol division and the Corps of Engineers also has their own water patrol. KDFWR can board a vessel and are fully sworn peace officers that can arrest you for any violation, either hunting/fishing violation or drinking on the water/unsafe boating.[/QUOTE]
I wanted to make sure to get it right so I called the Corp. The Corp does have Rangers. According to the lady I spoke with, they only enforce Federal and Corp owned land regulations. I asked if they ever do water patrols. I was told they do sometimes take to the water, but in the capacity of grounds inspection (tree cutting inspection was the example given to me.) They do not enforce any state boating/fishing regulations.
KDFWR Conservation officers have almost the exact same capabilities as a Kentucky State Trooper. If they see you drunk driving a car, they can take you to jail, and it will stick.
[QUOTE=mhall;423322]KDFWR Conservation officers have almost the exact same capabilities as a Kentucky State Trooper. If they see you drunk driving a car, they can take you to jail, and it will stick.[/QUOTE]
Mark, I have been told by people that should know, that they have more power because they enforce the KRS 150's which are hunting/fishing/boating things and they also enforce the other statutes. Plus, they can come on your land without a search warrant if they think there is a wildife violation.
[QUOTE=mhall;423322]KDFWR Conservation officers have almost the exact same capabilities as a Kentucky State Trooper. If they see you drunk driving a car, they can take you to jail, and it will stick.[/QUOTE]
I saw a KDFWR officer pull a car over on I-65 between E Town and Louisville yesterday. Looked different--car he was driving and wearing shorts and all.
You know its a bad day when you get pulled over in a car by the Game warden. These Officers have a hard job.