busted for bagging smallmouth bass

[DJD]

Agreed, it happens all the time in some form or fashion. I'm just glad they got caught. It would be nice to see them be sentenced with doing community service for those three years of no fishing license. Make them clean up lakes and campgrounds on the lakes. Prolly hurt alot to be around other fisherman and outdoorsman wearing a big Tenn Orange jumpsuit saying poacher on the back.

[mhall]

Agreed, it happens all the time in some form or fashion. I'm just glad they got caught. It would be nice to see them be sentenced with doing community service for those three years of no fishing license. Make them clean up lakes and campgrounds on the lakes. Prolly hurt alot to be around other fisherman and outdoorsman wearing a big Tenn Orange jumpsuit saying poacher on the back.

I love this idea, awesome punishment.

[Lowerider]

Not one to stereotype but I personally know of a few "older" gentlemen from TN who take pride in feeding their families and never spending a dime on meat throughout an entire year. They poach everything. I wonder how many feel the same way these guys do, especially in this economy - I bet it adds up big time.

To some old timers born and raised in the hills that is just a way of life. It's how they were taught and it's what they pass down. A country boy can survive type attitude.

I've only met them a couple times and it's been a few years since I've heard from them but they'd regularly brag about sticking a knife in 5+ lb smallies and 40+ lb stripes - it made me want to puke.

[mhall]

You know if people really was starving and had to have this stuff to survive I could handle it I guess. But just doing it because you can or want to, because that's what your grandpappy did makes me want to puke also.

[mybentrod]

The thing is, taking their boats might slow them down but they obviously dont take regards to the law. This run in will definately slow em down, but taking their liscence to fish isnt going to make em think twice about fishing and to continue to keep shorties. Just might be from the bank now. In my mind, if you are feeding a family on fish do it on things you can continuously catch....catfish, panfish, and other abundant species with no regulations. To me a good catfish filet is hard to beat.