Just Had To Post...great Officer

[Oregon Native]

I had posted this on a local site but had to mention it here as it was definitely a feel good moment.

I went to a local lake here in east Tennessee and was at the top of the ramp looking down and saw that both lanes were full.  One boat was definitely taking there time and the other was an officer getting ready to patrol.  Well all of a sudden he comes up the ramp with his boat in tow.  I had to ask him what's up and he said he was doing a couple little things to the boat and that he didn't want to tie up the ramp....and didn't like it when others did.  Right after I launched he backed back down and launched.....awesome but gets better.

When I came back in the afternoon he was at the ramp and asked how I did.  Said I had caught a few but let them all go....he smiles and says "I let them all go today too". 

Awesome

[Bluebasser86]

I had posted this on a local site but had to mention it here as it was definitely a feel good moment.

I went to a local lake here in east Tennessee and was at the top of the ramp looking down and saw that both lanes were full.  One boat was definitely taking there time and the other was an officer getting ready to patrol.  Well all of a sudden he comes up the ramp with his boat in tow.  I had to ask him what's up and he said he was doing a couple little things to the boat and that he didn't want to tie up the ramp....and didn't like it when others did.  Right after I launched he backed back down and launched.....awesome but gets better.

When I came back in the afternoon he was at the ramp and asked how I did.  Said I had caught a few but let them all go....he smiles and says "I let them all go today too". 

Awesome

I was checked for the first time this year last Friday. Officer was friendly and very professional. I know some guys get ticked because it takes away from their fishing time but I like seeing them checking people, making sure everyone is following the rules like they're supposed to be.  

[buzzed bait]

every time i've been checked the officers are typically very professional.  so long as you can produce your license quickly and have no stringers or excessive limits in the livewell, it's a less than 5 minute ordeal.  I actually enjoy it at times because it makes me feel like purchasing and carrying my license every year has paid off.

[flyfisher]

I have zero issues with an officer checking me for the right credentials.  I hear people complain about being checked and then also complain about the "bucket" brigade, just doesn't make sense to me.  You can't have it both ways.

 

 

I am glad to see that you had a good experience.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

The same people that complain about being checked, pulled over etc. will be the first to complain that there's never a cop around when you need one. It's a demanding and thankless job. Showing a little respect and deference will make any interaction with law enforcement painless if not actually pleasant. 

[F14A-B]

Sounds like he was just doing his job, I don't give props for that.

[GoneFishi'n]

Sounds like he was just doing his job, I don't give props for that.

Nice attitude man. Would hate to be in your presence anytime in my life.

[F14A-B]

Nice attitude man. Would hate to be in your presence anytime in my life.

Ok, DNR, checks a license, ask about fish, moves his boat off the ramp due to a unforeseen delay, and suddenly he is exceptional? Like I said, he is doing what he is sworn to do.

[Choporoz]

I read it to say that he pulled back up the ramp to let someone else in ahead of him....even though he'd been there first.  Nice gesture

[SirSnookalot]

Ok, DNR, checks a license, ask about fish, moves his boat off the ramp due to a unforeseen delay, and suddenly he is exceptional? Like I said, he is doing what he is sworn to do.

I agree.  A game warden's job is to enforce the laws and serve us, not tie up a boat ramp.  Any stand up person would or should move their boat out of courtesy.  

[Sam]

I have encountered only one "jerk" in law enforcement while at a ramp or on the water.

 

All others have been great guys and one time I got a "Deputy Warden" sticker that I put on my boat's windshield. after being stopped.

 

As for the "jerk"???  A woman conservation officer acted like a jacka$$ on Lake Chesdin by asking for everything I was supposed to have on my bass boat.

 

Not only did I have everything but even more safety items than required by the law.

 

She was not polite. She was not friendly. She was like a machine with no smiles or thank you's. Like someone from VMI.

 

She just turned around after she stopped badgering me and floated off.

 

Maybe she was taking a break from checking the jet skiers. Yea, right.

[Senko lover]

Sounds like he was just doing his job, I don't give props for that.

 

Letting everybody go doesn't sound like doing his job to me.

[Oregon Native]

Oh My....I took it as he was doing his job to the fullest with common courtesy thrown in.  Plus he had a personality.  He may have signed on for  the job but it shows he loves his job and knows how to carry it out.  So many just work for a check and their attitude shows it.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Every year come Lobster season, the FWC and marine patrol start posting up in the channels to pull over and randomly check boats for bringing back short lobster. It's a horrible pain in the butt. Especially with the less experienced boat operators. People get irritated, aggressive, and down right mean with the officers.

And I love the fact that they're doing it. I have nothing wrong with them taking a few moments out of my day to inspect my safety gear and the legality of my catch. There have been some major busts over the years because of it. Programs like that are what we pay for. They help keep the fisheries intact, as well as help with the safety and education of all boaters.

I for one have never had a bad experience with any of the officers on the water down here. If you're polite and patient with them, they generally are in return.

[retiredbosn]

As allot here know I am retired Coast Guard, trust me these guys (dnr, fwc etc) earn their pay. Definitely allot nicer than we were back in the day! Imagine its 3am, you're on a nice family vacation in the Caribbean, you're off of the Grand Bahama Bank in your sail boat. Suddenly out off the darkness you're hit with about a million candle power search light, you hear "This is the United States Coast Guard, heave to and prepare to be bearded" the same time from the other direction a small rhib comes along side and 8 men in what appears to be swat type battle gear swarm your boat. Why because the DEA put out an alert on a sailing vessel matching your's down to the hull numbers for smuggling drugs. The voice came from the cutter, while their attention was diverted the tactical boarding crew boards the vessel from the opposite direction. More than once ppl thought we were pirates taking their boat At night we ran dark, no nav lights, no light source of any kind. We would be aboard before the crew even knew we were there. That's how it was in the early days of the War on Drugs. The Florida straights and the waters surrounding it was nuts. And yes the scenario described happened.

[desmobob]

And I love the fact that they're doing it. I have nothing wrong with them taking a few moments out of my day to inspect my safety gear and the legality of my catch. There have been some major busts over the years because of it. 

 

+1

 

I'm actually happy when it happens.  It means that they're out there, doing their job protecting the resources (and protecting some people from themselves!).

 

I live in NY on the NY/VT border and enjoy time on the water in both states.  In about 30 years of paddling, fishing and ice fishing, I've only been checked a handful of times... more often in VT.  The officers have always been at least polite and professional, if not downright friendly.  I always tell them I appreciate seeing them out there doing their thing, and that I hope they catch some of the dirtbags that sometimes give hunters and fishermen a bad name.

 

Tight lines,

Bob

[F14A-B]

As allot here know I am retired Coast Guard, trust me these guys (dnr, fwc etc) earn their pay. Definitely allot nicer than we were back in the day! Imagine its 3am, you're on a nice family vacation in the Caribbean, you're off of the Grand Bahama Bank in your sail boat. Suddenly out off the darkness you're hit with about a million candle power search light, you hear "This is the United States Coast Guard, heave to and prepare to be bearded" the same time from the other direction a small rhib comes along side and 8 men in what appears to be swat type battle gear swarm your boat. Why because the DEA put out an alert on a sailing vessel matching your's down to the hull numbers for smuggling drugs. The voice came from the cutter, while their attention was diverted the tactical boarding crew boards the vessel from the opposite direction. More than once ppl thought we were pirates taking their boat At night we ran dark, no nav lights, no light source of any kind. We would be aboard before the crew even knew we were there. That's how it was in the early days of the War on Drugs. The Florida straights and the waters surrounding it was nuts. And yes the scenario described happened.

Interesting, while on standby duty aboard USS Nimitz, @ St.Thomas,V.I. We left around 1500 sailors on the beach. Cuba had taken a coast guard vessel that apparently broke down, drifting into Cuban waters.. I suppose they thought they would take it hostage, Uh, not under our watch! We steamed & were loading Phenix missiles & sidewinders while in port! F-14's were ready one mile outta port..

We sent a small attack force. Cuba released the vessel quite quickly.. We were back in port in a few short hours. Reagan didn't play.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

As allot here know I am retired Coast Guard, trust me these guys (dnr, fwc etc) earn their pay. Definitely allot nicer than we were back in the day! Imagine its 3am, you're on a nice family vacation in the Caribbean, you're off of the Grand Bahama Bank in your sail boat. Suddenly out off the darkness you're hit with about a million candle power search light, you hear "This is the United States Coast Guard, heave to and prepare to be bearded" the same time from the other direction a small rhib comes along side and 8 men in what appears to be swat type battle gear swarm your boat. Why because the DEA put out an alert on a sailing vessel matching your's down to the hull numbers for smuggling drugs. The voice came from the cutter, while their attention was diverted the tactical boarding crew boards the vessel from the opposite direction. More than once ppl thought we were pirates taking their boat At night we ran dark, no nav lights, no light source of any kind. We would be aboard before the crew even knew we were there. That's how it was in the early days of the War on Drugs. The Florida straights and the waters surrounding it was nuts. And yes the scenario described happened.

So that was you that did that to my family and I?! You sir, have been found!

Same scenario happened to us one night many years ago while night fishing on the bank. Customs and Coast Guard. Brightest light I have ever seen. Once they checked us out, all of the immigration paperwork, etc etc the tension quickly went away. But man, those dudes were rolling full battle rattle that night. That's one experience that I will never forget. Tax dollars at work right there.

[*Hootie]

I was checked for the first time this year last Friday. Officer was friendly and very professional. I know some guys get ticked because it takes away from their fishing time but I like seeing them checking people, making sure everyone is following the rules like they're supposed to be.

I agree, I see a patrol boat coming down the lake, and I'm thinking, c'mon over and ask for my license, please. I've been buying these things for a hundred years, and have never been asked to show it. C'mon, "ASK FOR MY LICENSE"!!!

Hootie

[buzzed bait]

I've been buying these things for a hundred years

 

conservative estimate.....  LOL

 

i really honestly feel exactly the same way though.  i'm happy when i get checked because it makes me feel like buying the thing was worth it all along!  my buddy and i were check about a month ago after we came off the lake.  He was very nice, asked how the fishing was, saw both of our license and said to have a good day, this is the usual scenario for me.

[Oregon Native]

Was checked out west one time (of many) and the officer said he liked bass fishermen for the most part as they had it all together for the most part in their boats.

[tipptruck1]

I don't have a problem with them checking. As I never keep any thing, or use live bait. I do have a problem though. When the same guy checks me three times in one summer.

[gulfcaptain]

Coast Guard, Customs, DFG, local law enforcement.....they all have a job to do and most do it very professionally.  Last time I was checked by DFG I was with my son and a friend on his boat out in the harbor fishing, he hit us with the lights, we stopped.  All he wanted was to make sure my son who was 8 at the time was wearing his pfd as required by law.  Checked my friends fishing license and asked if he needed to see mine.....said "nope, we saw what we needed to see, enjoy your day on the water and be safe".  I have respect for all of them and the job they do.  Yes it's their job, but it's still nice to say thank you when you see them just as I do when I see any of our service members in the airports when traveling.

[KyAngler_1120]

Sounds like he was just doing his job, I don't give props for that.

Hmmm...I work as a deputy sheriff and see folks like you a lot. The public has an interesting opinion of what the job of local law enforcement is or is not. This conservation officer in the course of doing his job took time away from launching and doing his duties to accommodate the needs of the public as a courtesy. The officer made a comment that alluded to the fact that he did not issue any citations for that day...he certainly did not have to do that. I guess when you serve the public you are darned if you do and darned if you don't.   

[SirSnookalot]

Perhaps the officer gave out no citations because he so no wrong doing going on.   Some how this thread has morphed into Customs, DEA, Coast Guard, the opening post is about not tying up a boat ramp.   That in itself doesn't merit a pat on the back, he just did the right thing by moving smile or no smile on his face.