Had a run in with the Game Warden today

[airborne_angler]

As the title states,I had a run in with a warden from the Department of Fish and Game.

Started out ok,but when all was done,I was really a little torked.Heres how the visit went.

I was on the water and he came cruising up in his boat. Asked his assistant to steady and hold my boat while we talked.

At first things were casual,he asked how the fishing was,if I had caught any fish.I told him I hooked into a Trout but it got off and that I also hooked into a Very Large Bass(had to of been at least 5#) but it broke me off and took my lure with it.

He asked to see what I was using and then asked for my license. He turned over the back of my License and sternly showed it to me and said "Is there something missing?"

The only thing I could think was missing was a Trout Stamp,which is required for the taking of Trout.

I was a little confused. He explained to me that because of the lure I was using(a Kastmaster)was for "Trout",That he could give me a ticket for not having a Trout Stamp.

I told him I wasnt intentionally fishing for trout,and have been catching Bass on this lure.

He told me that if the package the bait comes in says it can catch Trout,then it is a Trout Lure...

I tried to flip the script on him. I asked him if I was using a Dropshot (which I often do) and was throwing a small dropshot bait and caught a Trout on it(which I do and release unharmed frequently)...What then? He said if I could show him the packaging that says the DS worms were for Bass then all would be forgiven.

Ok Mr. Game Warden,I put all my baits in Ziploc Bags...am I not allowed to do that anymore either,so I can show proof of what the bait is specifically for?

So Am I not allowed to finesse fish for Bass for fear that my bait maybe looked at as a Trout lure cause its "small"

What about small Crankbaits,If I hook a Trout on one..What then?

Isnt that what fishing is about...You try and catch "something" but at times you never know what youll end up with.

Just like throwing the Kastmaster,I was letting it flutter to the bottom when it got bumped,Never expected that Large Bass to hit it. Man that was a HUGE fish,Almost had it to the boat,when it gave a head shake and broke me off.

So If I am fishing for Trout and catch a Bass...What then.

I would like to hear everyone comments about this topic!!

[Ol� Dirty Basstard]

So what happened? Did you get fined? Ticketed? Did they take any gear like we all hear happened to that one guy wherever you live?

[Dan:]

Isnt that what fishing is about...You try and catch "something" but at times you never know what youll end up with.

Which is exactly why many other states require a trout stamp to even fish trout waters at all.

[Mattlures]

Your using a lure that is comonly known as a trout lure.

Your fishing a lake with trout in it.

You admitted that you hooked a trout but it got off. The trout bit on the lure that is comonly known as a trout lure.

You did not have the required trout stamp.

Hmmm How dare him !!!

You should have thanked him for not writing you a ticket, escpecialy if you had any kind of attitude at all.

Some people dont realize that fish and game have more athority then the police. They can actualy search your house without a warrent and they are equal otherwise.

The simple solution is to get a trout stamp.

[airborne_angler]

Isnt that what fishing is about...You try and catch "something" but at times you never know what youll end up with.

Which is exactly why many other states require a trout stamp to even fish trout waters at all.

I cant help if a Trout smacks my lure...

[Fishing Rhino]

In Massachusetts, there is no trout category license.

In RI, they do have a separate "stamp" if you plan to keep any trout.  But as I understand it, you are required to release trout of legal size unless you have the stamp.

When I got my TN license, it had an option if you wanted to keep trout.  I believe my GA license was the same.

[Hammer 4]

Might be easier to get the stamp, and save yourself some possible greif in the future..

[Dan:]

Isnt that what fishing is about...You try and catch "something" but at times you never know what youll end up with.

Which is exactly why many other states require a trout stamp to even fish trout waters at all.

I cant help if a Trout smacks my lure...

That's exactly my point. In VA you have to have a trout stamp to fish anywhere that there are trout because you can't help it.

[K_Mac]

I would grumble and fuss, then I would buy a trout stamp.

[BassThumb]

Your using a lure that is comonly known as a trout lure.

Your fishing a lake with trout in it.

You admitted that you hooked a trout but it got off. The trout bit on the lure that is comonly known as a trout lure.

You did not have the required trout stamp.

Hmmm How dare him !!!

You should have thanked him for not writing you a ticket, escpecialy if you had any kind of attitude at all.

Some people dont realize that fish and game have more athority then the police. They can actualy search your house without a warrent and they are equal otherwise.

The simple solution is to get a trout stamp.

He's right. I'm a little surprised you didn't get a ticket. It likely would have been thrown out if you made a good case, but it would have sent a message to you and your buddies. If you're in the gray area, you have to get a stamp.

Those Wardens don't play, but I've never had any issues with them.  I think they generally have better intentions then your average police officer, but with all the authority they have, some will let it go to their head.  You might have just met one that has.

[SirSnookalot]

I think the warden was out of line.

A kastmaster, mepps or any other spoon catches just about any game fish in the world. You were targeting bass and I would have said this lure slays them, then shut my mouth. What matters is what you have on the stringer, he can't prove you were trout fishing if you don't have any, then say nothing on the subject.

Two 1 word answers to any question, yes or no, then it's up to him to prove you did something wrong. Even having a trout stamp he would harassed you on some other issue, maybe your zipper was down and he would have accused you of ticking into the lake or flashing someone j/k, but you get the point. You were bullied!

Denzel in Training Day " It's not what you know, it's what you can prove".

[Mattlures]

Snook your saying that the warden was harrassing because he questioned him? I think he was very lucky not to get a ticket and I think the warden was very patient. I like talking to the F&G when they check me. They are a wealth of info and are hunters and fishers too. Once they see your all good and legal they are usualy very friendly.

He was doing his job. Put your self in his shoes.

[roadwarrior]

Your using a lure that is comonly known as a trout lure.

Your fishing a lake with trout in it.

You admitted that you hooked a trout but it got off. The trout bit on the lure that is comonly known as a trout lure.

You did not have the required trout stamp.

Hmmm How dare him !!!

You should have thanked him for not writing you a ticket, escpecialy if you had any kind of attitude at all.

Some people dont realize that fish and game have more athority then the police. They can actualy search your house without a warrent and they are equal otherwise.

The simple solution is to get a trout stamp.

Keep it simple, buy a stamp.

[trevor]

sounds like you may have the joy of PA wardens. dont they realize WE keep them in work?

[stratos 375]

Just my 2 cents, but the reason he was so "thorough" with you may have been more for the benefit of his "assistant" or trainee.

I was boat checked a few years ago by a WCO and he had his rookie along with him. He made it a point to toss my boat from bow to stern. Everything, and I mean everything was present & in order. He seemed kind of ticked, as he obviously wanted to show junior how to write a ticket.

He actually took each one of my PFD vests and inspected it to the utmost degree. One of them had a small tear in it that was less than a quarter inch long from where I had to cut a treble hook out of it. He fined me 25.00 for a vest that was in a state of "disrepair". Had he been alone, the vest would had never gotten a second look.

If you didn't have any trout in the livewell and your gear was for bass fishing, the trout stamp thing was just smoke. Those guys know when someone's trout fishing vs. bass fishing.

[firefightn15]

Isnt that what fishing is about...You try and catch "something" but at times you never know what youll end up with.

Which is exactly why many other states require a trout stamp to even fish trout waters at all.

A_A, I'm sure you weren't targeting trout, but what Dan said.  Unless I am wrong, Wisconsin is one of these states.  There is only one lake that I fish which holds trout and because of this I just buy a trout stamp with my license so I can fish and not worry.

[NBR]

I had a similar experience many, many years ago while duck hunting. I was waiting at the DNR local office the next morning at opening and had a little polite talk with the head of inforcement. End of incident, from then on the CO passed us in a wide birth with a friendly wave. We were doing absolutely nothing wrong but the CO kept searching and scewed up our hunt.

There are few bass lures that don't mention trout somewhere in the package. I agree that the CO was strutting his stuff.

I don't break the fish and game laws and I treat the CO's  with courtesy and expect the same.

[SirSnookalot]

Mattlures, what I'm saying is, there was no infraction.  You can use whatever lure of choice you wish for bass or any other species.  Matt I know you make lures, is not possible while using one your baits for bass another species hits that lure? Many packages will say good for bass, trout, walleye and so on, down here the packages say good for redfish, snook, tarpon and trout.

This warden was out of line, with no proof of any wrongdoing..are we not innocent until proven guilty?

Having a trout stamp in the first place would have been good move, especially if required in that state.

[airborne_angler]

He told me that because I was using a Lure that had "action" on the retrieve,he would let it slide,but had I of been anchored with Powerbait on the end of my line,them I would have gotten a ticket....WELL DUH!!!

He asked to see the package on the Kastmaster so he could see if it specified Trout. I told him I didnt have it,I threw it away. Last night I checked the package on an unopened Kastmaster,and this is what it reads:

KASTMASTER

Kastmaster's balance produces wild action without line twist!Because of its aerodynamic design.it's the master distance caster,and catches fish from pan-size trout to bragging-sized gamefish--in fresh and saltwater.The Kastmaster is machined from sold brass.It wont break,bend,or corrode and it retains its luster even after repeated exposure to salt water.

Available in eleven sizes: 1/12 oz.-4 oz.

So to me this says the lure can catch just about anything...Nowhere does it say the lure I was using was for Trout.

So say Im fishing(anchored) with a some live worms on a small hook for Trophy Bluegill...Can this be misconstrued as "Trout Fishing?

Oh and the Warden also said because the water were still a little cool,it was still "Trout Season"

Nowhere in the regs does it have a specific date on when Trout Season is.It only tells of when the stockings are going to be.

Ive caught Trout with a Dropshot with a 6 inch worm in mid July when the air temps are over 100 degrees.

If the whole Trout stamp thing were that much of an issue,the REGS should say "If a person fishes in ANY water that has trout stocked in it,a Trout stamp MUST be purchased".

However,when a License is purchased,you have the OPTION of purchasing a Trout stamp.Now If I specifically wanting to take Trout,I would would purchase one. But I guess in this case its "Better to have it and not need it,than to need it and not have it."

Im not about breaking the law but I believe the officer was "picking nits"

[Bobby Uhrig]

Keep it simple just kick em in the nutz-

[Catt]

Your using a lure that is comonly known as a trout lure.

Your fishing a lake with trout in it.

You admitted that you hooked a trout but it got off. The trout bit on the lure that is commonly known as a trout lure.

You did not have the required trout stamp.

Hmmm How dare him !!!

You should have thanked him for not writing you a ticket, especially if you had any kind of attitude at all.

Some people don't realize that fish and game have more authority then the police. They can actually search your house without a warrant and they are equal otherwise.

The simple solution is to get a trout stamp.

Keep it simple, buy a stamp.

I agree, the warden did his job correctly, you didn't do yours

[Randall]

Buy the stamp and keep the trout for dinner to offset the cost of the stamp. He did you a favor.

[CRFisher]

So, for the most part, everyone is saying you should be buying a trout stamp even though you have no intention of fishing for trout?   If that's what going to be needed to fish for bass without problems it seems they should just get rid of the need for seperate stamps/licenses.  The problem seems to be poorly written laws/rules leaving the warden as having to guess what people are fishing for.

I always thought of Kastmasters as a Saltwater lure to be honest, not a trout lure.

[Boogey Man]

I always thought the trout stamp was only if you planned on keeping them.  So you have to have one even if you are not fishing specifically for trout and accidently catch one and throw it back?

[tyrius.]

First off, each state has their own laws and many lakes have their own regulations.  As an angler you have the responsiblity of knowing the laws and regulations of all of the bodies of water that you fish.

Secondly, you were fishing with a lure designed to catch a wide variety of fish.  You many have been hoping to catch only bass, but the lure is meant for a variety.  So, you were, in effect, fishing for anything that would bite (trout being a possibility).   Therefore, if there are trout in that body of water and you need a trout stamp to legally fish for trout then you should have a trout stamp.