So, How's Your Wco's?

[tomustang]

They friendly? Bags of wind?

See them much?

My locals are spread thin, very cool guys and willing to help, everything I expect out of a WCO, there's always time in the day for me to go over and chat about what's going on in the area about fish

[Quillback]

I have lived and fished in Arkansas for 5 years now and have never seen a warden. They may have seen me as they do sometimes operate undercover. Used to get checked about once a year in Washington especially when out on the saltwater salmon fishing or crabbing. They were usually courteous but businesslike. Which I understand.

[Lund Explorer]

Most of the CO's I've had contact were very professional, and I know several by name as they have been on the job for years. We did have one youngster that had issues, but he has fortunately been long gone from our area. I'm not sure if he just had the wrong attitude or what, but even one of the other CO's got in the habit of carrying cards with the name and address of the main surpervisor so people knew who to send complaints to.

As long as people treat them with respect, these officers seem willing to return the favor if you are following the rules. Sort of like a lot of other professions.

[Nitrofreak]

Like as with any "law dawgs" MOST will treat you with the same respect you give them, Most will not cut you a break because you are in the wrong so make sure you have everything right.

As for companionship I get checked every time I go out and some are getting to know me pretty well although there are a few new ones that are making a name for themselves and look for even the smallest things.

Example: A new female was on board this particular day and asked to see my throw floatation device, It took me all of 4 seconds to get it out of my front storage area and that was not good enough, She told me it needed to be readily accessable and was going to give me a ticket for it, Had it not been for one of the guys that I see on a regular basis in the boat with her I would have recieved a fine.

Thank goodness for these guys and gals though, the lake I fish a lot seems to have been much safer this year than in years past.

[Shane Procell]

Not sure..last time I was checked was over 4 years ago.

[Sam]

I spoke with a Virginia Conservation Officer a few months ago and he told me that the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has 135 officers for the entire state.

Not many when you think we have 95 counties and 40 independent cities.

So far I have not encountered any jerks, other than about 15 years ago at the old Buckroe Beach pier when the guy just walked down the pier opening up everyone's cooler. Since all we had was drinks and bait he just walked on.

The Virginia the conservation officers I have met have been very professional and friendly. Even the ones that have stopped me on the water when fishing or have been at the ramps.

[slonezp]

Spread very thin. The couple bodies of water I fish are also patrolled by the Chicago police and Lake County police as well as the Coast Guard. From what I read on local sites they seem to be targeting primarily shore anglers. I normally get checke once a season and it happened 4 weeks ago. Was pulled over by Lake County Sherrif for not slowing down enough before entering a "No Wake" zone. Very prfessional. Checked our licenses, and safety equiptment. They never bothered to check the live well though and took my word there were no fish in there. Let me go with a warning.

[clayton86]

I never get checked sense iv been 16 and needed a license iv been checked once about 5 years ago he was nice though. The one for my county he's pretty cool if I see him I stop him and will talk see where the action is or what people are using. Iv known him sense I was 10 when he got me for snagging salmon he walked me up to my house and made me tell my mom and gave my old mitchell spinning set up to my mom and told her to hold it for the night till the next day and I could fish again. He's always been nice and iv always been nice right back.

[flippin and pitchin]

Wahington State Fish and Game have some of the best guys and gals I have met. Bass fisheries are rarely patrolled becuae the salmon, steelhead and sturgeon anglers out number bass fisherman about 200 to one. The local district sergeant is a great guy. When I went to Clear Lake in April I was checked on day two. Those guys were professional and one was a tournament angler who freely shared info with us when he saw we were C and R advocates.

[Bass XL]

Although I cant say it applies to all wardens, my dad and I got stopped once at the boat ramp this year. Went through the usual, asked to see our licences and checked out our live wells. At the time the lake we were fishing was close to flood stage, but I didnt know how high the actual lake level was. So I asked the gentlemen about how high it was, he proceeded (with a childish attitude)to tell me how he doesnt know, and looked at me like I was stupid for asking such a question. Just a genuine d bag.

[Gatorbassman]

The only time I ever see them is when they are in academy at the same time I am. I have meet most of the local ones this way. I've never been checked.

[MuffinMan]

they swarm where I live because there is alot of hunting around. He has stopped to check my licensce a few times.

[Grey Wolf]

Haven't encountered one in over 3 years.

[SirSnookalot]

Don't see them too often in Florida, as like other states the FWC is under staffed. Personally have never had a problem, but have seen people that have............taking snook that wasn't slot. The few I have encountered have been courteous and professional. Games Wardens are much like customs officers at an international border, they can sense a problem just by a person's body language.

[J Francho]

I'm on a 1st name basis with our local ECON and DEP officers. Their numbers are dwindling due to cutbacks, so they rely on responsible sportsmen to be the eyes and ears in the field. I have had a run in with one young guy, new to the job, in Pulaski, NY. Here's a picture:

The kid never took his hand off his gun, and was giving us a hard time about keeping more than our limit of trout. Uhhh, there four of us, and two fish....can't you count? BTW, the big guy is my friend Burnie, and he's the conservation/PR director for the NY BASS Chapter Fed. I think he's telling the kid, "I fished right next to you last week, don't you remember?" He's also dialing another ECON officer's cell right there. LMAO. We were let off with a "warning." That's my only bad experience in NY, EVER. I chalk it up to rookie ego.

[Bob Lee]

I had a great experience with a WCO this year that I'll share because I'm feeling chatty.

When TN was stocking trout in the stream near my home, a WCO stopped by the stream to check Licenses and see how everyone was doing.

Walmart had given me the wrong license (a county fishing license instead of the Trout Stamp I had asked for) at the time I purchased my state Hunt/Fish. Even though it was my fault for not having checked what I was buying the WCO was extremely forgiving about it. He could see I'd bought them at the same time - obviously an accident.

There were several other folks there who had just seen me catch my first trout (my first time fly fishing, too) and he checked everyone's license. He had watched me release the fish, but he turned a "blind eye" to my illegal fishing and asked what luck I was having targeting "bluegill" with my fly setup! I went straight to Walmart and got the stamp issue resolved. I was really impressed, because he could have easily written me a ticket as I was clearly (and by my own admission) in the wrong. But I think he recognized it was my first time fishing and my gear was obviously all new - so he went easy on me.

He stopped me again the next day and asked to see my Trout stamp (didn't ask for my normal license, since he'd seen it the day before). Showed it to him and told him I'd gotten it fixed. He stood there for about half an hour giving me pointers on which flies to use and how to fish them and even told me other places that had been more recently stocked in the area where folks were having better luck. Great guy, very understanding and very professional.

I have seen him a few more times (he likes that creek because a lot of locals fish there, and I like it because it's about 300 yards from my front door) and he's always professional and helpful. I've seen him write a few tickets, but they were always for repeat offenders or folks with huge stringers and no license at all. He threatened to "tase" a guy he'd caught on three consecutive days without his license - but I'm pretty sure he was just joking.

I keep meaning to take down his name and try to somehow contact his superiors to give positive feedback, but I never remember when I see him - and I'm not sure that there's even an official process to do something like that.

I've never even been checked at any of the other places I fish, but they're small electrics only lakes.

[shootermcbob]

I was checked frequently the first couple years I fished. The wardens would pull over and ask to see my license. I don't know if they recognize me, or they have less time, but I have not been checked in the last 3 years or so.

They have always been friendly, asked if I was catching anything, and telling me good luck. No complaints.

[Bluebasser86]

I had a great experience with a WCO this year that I'll share because I'm feeling chatty.

When TN was stocking trout in the stream near my home, a WCO stopped by the stream to check Licenses and see how everyone was doing.

Walmart had given me the wrong license (a county fishing license instead of the Trout Stamp I had asked for) at the time I purchased my state Hunt/Fish. Even though it was my fault for not having checked what I was buying the WCO was extremely forgiving about it. He could see I'd bought them at the same time - obviously an accident.

There were several other folks there who had just seen me catch my first trout (my first time fly fishing, too) and he checked everyone's license. He had watched me release the fish, but he turned a "blind eye" to my illegal fishing and asked what luck I was having targeting "bluegill" with my fly setup! I went straight to Walmart and got the stamp issue resolved. I was really impressed, because he could have easily written me a ticket as I was clearly (and by my own admission) in the wrong. But I think he recognized it was my first time fishing and my gear was obviously all new - so he went easy on me.

He stopped me again the next day and asked to see my Trout stamp (didn't ask for my normal license, since he'd seen it the day before). Showed it to him and told him I'd gotten it fixed. He stood there for about half an hour giving me pointers on which flies to use and how to fish them and even told me other places that had been more recently stocked in the area where folks were having better luck. Great guy, very understanding and very professional.

I have seen him a few more times (he likes that creek because a lot of locals fish there, and I like it because it's about 300 yards from my front door) and he's always professional and helpful. I've seen him write a few tickets, but they were always for repeat offenders or folks with huge stringers and no license at all. He threatened to "tase" a guy he'd caught on three consecutive days without his license - but I'm pretty sure he was just joking.

I keep meaning to take down his name and try to somehow contact his superiors to give positive feedback, but I never remember when I see him - and I'm not sure that there's even an official process to do something like that.

I've never even been checked at any of the other places I fish, but they're small electrics only lakes.

Sounds like a very good officer you have that understands that we are all humans and make mistakes. He gave you the chance to correct yours and made sure you had next time he saw you, good job on both of your parts.

I have had very few encounters with our actual game wardens, a lot more on lakes that have park police but all have been professional and were doing thier jobs appropriately. The only time I didn't really agree was when I got checked by a new officer and it wasn't so much the officer that I didn't agree with but the fine. We had 3 of us in my 14' johnboat fishing a small lake and had apparently lost a lifejacket on the way to the lake without knowing so I was 1 short. I always try to do my best to be within all the laws and tried to explain what had happened. He explained to me he had called me over to check me because my letters didn't contrast with the boat well enough so he thought I didn't have any on the boat (black letters on a dark green boat). I could understand that and he also told me that if he did a floatation check on my other two lifejackets he didn't think they would pass because they looked so old? I guess I didn't know that foam lost it's ability to float with age? So I ended up getting a ticket for the lifejacket because Kansas has a no tolerance policy for lifejacket infractions. I wasn't too upset because I was thinking maybe 30 or 40 dollars for a lifejacket ticket take it as a lesson learned and move on. Well I called the courthouse for the county to get the amount and the clerk told me it was $76! I was about to loose it when she then told me "Plus it's a $100 fee for court costs." I told her that I wasn't going to court or trying to fight it because I was in the wrong. She said it doesn't matter you have to pay the fee either way. So one little lifejacket ended up costing me $176! Needless to say I always make sure my lifejackets are in the boat from now on!

[grimlin]

My last run in I entered a park from the back,not paying for a parking ticket...Little did I know I was being followed by the park ranger/Warden. I drove all the way to the front of the park(2-3 miles) and got my parking ticket,made a U-turn and went back in to find my fishing spot. As soon as I pulled into the parking space He pulled up and asked if I paid for parking. I showed him my season pass since that's what I brought.then asked if I had my fishing license as well.I started to reach for my wallet "yes,sir" and he goes "nah that's OK,I believe you because I followed you all the way up front to see if you would pay for the parking pass." I guess he figured if i was honest enough about going all the way up front to get my parking he knew I had my license as well on me.

Most of them I run into are like this.Some of them look like hard *****,but if you treat them with respect and honesty they'll show it back.

There's been a few undercover ones that have watched me,but never approached me.They don't really mess with you here when they see you catching and releasing the fish.

[A-Jay]

I've only been a resident up here for 4 season.

During that time I have Never been approached or even seen a single DNR officer on the water.

I believe there are just very few officers to cover a fairly large area. Despite the sparse coverage, I always have the proper documents at the ready.

If I am ever actually checked by the man, I will be certain to get a photo/or video of the experience.

The rarity of it makes it like a "Sasquatch Sighting"

A-Jay

[3dees]

just got back from fishing the Mississippi river at LaCrosse Wi. the launch is on the Minn. side. an officer was there checking boats for weeds, mussels, etc. gave me a sticker for the trailer stating that the boat has been checked. did'nt know this, but he told me it's illegal to trailer a boat in Minn. with the boat plug in. never asked for a licence.

[MyKeyBe]

Don't really know. I have never been questioned by one while out fishing and have not talked to a state park police officer for at least 15 years. They where straight forward and respectful back then as long as you where the same. Never a problem.

[Bassn Blvd]

Here in Florida we used to have the Florida Marine Patrol and the Fish and Game wardens. The FMP have always been professional and courtious but almost never leave without giving you at least one citation.

The Fish and Game wardens are also very polite and professional and seem to give a lot more warnings than the FMP.

The ONLY problem I had with a wildlife officer was on the Federal side. The guy lives and works in the Loxahatchee Wildlife refuge. This guy was/is a total tool. I'm also in law enforcement and was encountered by the guy while visiting the park. The guy showed absolutely no professional courtesy and had an ego the size of the world. I wasn't doing anything illegal but he kept me detained long enough to make sure I never thought about fishing in the "no fishing" zone, (like I would ever do that )

About a year later, he attended one of my training classes and he still acted like a tool.

[BassThumb]

The only DNR people I ever see are the young apprentices(?) sitting at landings, checking boats for invasive species and asking about which lakes we frequent. I have never spoken to a warden on the lake or at a public landing. There are a lot of lakes around here, and game wardens are spread way too thin. I almost never keep fish aside from a meal or two of crappies every year, but I feel like I could basically poach whatever and whenever I wanted and get away with it, and that's a shame. I mentioned my concern about this just yesterday to a young lady who was looking for zebra mussels on my boat, saying that I was surprised by how little DNR supervision there was locally, even on lakes with experimental regulations and very strict size and quantity limits. She told me that "it's pretty much an honor system" to abide by the laws and rules of conservation.

[rboat]

Ours in Fl. are normally very cool and sometimes stop you just to see if your catching any.

One time I ran into a real tool. He was waiting for each boat to come into the ramp. This guy was like a ss nazi on steroids. He had shiny boots, shiny gun, aviator sunglasses, marine style haircut and his chest puffed out like a WWE wrestler. He was determined to give everyone a ticket at the ramp. He went through my boat like a tornado. Scared my 2 year old son to death. First he told me he was going to give me a ticket because he could see me across the lake going too fast in the posted area close to shore. I told him from this dock you cannot tell how fast or my exact location without high powered binoculars, which he did not have. I said I always obey posted areas and was on the outside of the restricted speed area. He finally agreed. Then he wrote me a ticket because my pfd was locked in the dry storage. I had just locked it up on the idle back in because I did not want it stolen while walking out to get the truck. People will steal right out of your boat if you turn around. He knew I was telling him the truth, I showed him where it was and my son still had his on at the dock. He continued to write up everyone for any minor thing he could find. I paid the ticket, and then sent a detailed letter to the state office. I am not sure if it helped, but I felt better.