busted for bagging smallmouth bass

[waterdog101]

Well seeing as all but one of there fella's are 58 yo or better I am guessing this is not the first time they did this, just the first time getting caught. Heck, they came REALLY prepared when you read they had TWO CHEST FREEZERS!!! They deserve whatever the max penalty is and then some.

them being from tennessee, and liking the taste of smallmouth, good enough to throw all the walleye back. and dale hollow right in their back door. makes a fellow wonder how many times, they took those big chest freezers to dale and filled them.

[mhall]

I posted about this kinda thing awhile back. A well known striper guide and smallmouth guide told me about it. This is dead on track to what he told me was going on. He also told me they were doing this heavy on Dale and that he had tried several times to turn them in. Don't know if this is the exact same fellas but it sure matches the MO to a Tee.

I hope they lay the hammer on them. When I posted alot of guys on here and laughed and said fellas couldn't catch that many smallmouth, well Huh, with livebait maybe they can.....................

[Duayne]

No way this is an isolated deal. I don't know about taking freezers and all, but there is a section of fishermen that have no regard for regulations. You can bet if they are stocking chests, they aren't measureing either.

[Ky Trophy Fish]

Same stuff is going on on Dale,both by live and artifical bait guys.Have tried to get better enforcement by Ky and Tenn with no results yet! If more anglers would complain and raise hell maybe it could be slowed down.Have not been checked in last 3 years by any type law enforcement on Dale except by USCG once.See creel survey clerk there regularly and discussed it with him.He is trying to get more enforcement also. Understand that money may be an issue to constant enforcement presence on water, so I have put forth what I think would break this B.S. up--1 day a month at random ,Ky and Tenn officers hit lake hard doing an over the top inspection of ever boat on water.Search from top to bottom/write any violation found/fishing or other wise. Then hopefully then the court systems would do their job.Wouldn't take long for word to get out and we could see results! Realistically chances of this happening is slim to none.

[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.

[demodan]

I posted about this kinda thing awhile back. A well known striper guide and smallmouth guide told me about it. This is dead on track to what he told me was going on. He also told me they were doing this heavy on Dale and that he had tried several times to turn them in. Don't know if this is the exact same fellas but it sure matches the MO to a Tee.

I hope they lay the hammer on them. When I posted alot of guys on here and laughed and said fellas couldn't catch that many smallmouth, well Huh, with livebait maybe they can.....................

YEA...I remember your post mhall; and the comments that fallowed it. I was so glad to see the game wardens checking live wells and coolers two weeks ago on Rough River Lake.
Also saw the game wardens checking live wells and coolers this past weekend on Ky. Lake; although I did see people keep short bass there this past weekend...those that were red eye fishing and one crappie angler. This is the most I've seen game wardens around in years! It hacked me off pritty good Friday when seeing these red eye anglers keep short bass...wanted to say something to them;...but I knew the game wardens were making their rounds. I know Im not perfect by no means; but I do my best not to break any laws...but seeing the law being broke in the great outdoors...or anywhere, really gets me upset. Was pulling my boat back home last night...on the West ky. pkwy...two sport cars were racing eachother down the Hwy...one had to slam his breaks and did lose control...had to go off the side shoulder to keep from running into the back of my boat, me doing 65 with my hazords on in the rain, unreal...they were doing over 100 for sure. Just some people are plain stupid. One thing I've learned about the law...you keep breaking it...it will come to bite you soon enough...and in the rare cases it don't, the God Lord will sort you out.

[strat5150]

them being from tennessee, and liking the taste of smallmouth, good enough to throw all the walleye back. and dale hollow right in their back door. makes a fellow wonder how many times, they took those big chest freezers to dale and filled them.

Yep!
that kind of thing used to happen alot at dale
I kind of want to think it doesn't happen much anymore.
you would think if ya got a bunch of eaters they would eat the freakin walleye! what in the hell is wrong with people!