C O officers taking things to far ?

[Bigfatbert]

Three of us stayed last week at a LOTW resort for two days of fishing in a rental house and the fishing was decent . On day one we got our three person limit of 18 walleye and sauger with most being sauger that we’re on the smaller side .That evening we took all 18 fish to a different local resort and got them all cooked up for us at their bar/restaurant. It was a platter of deep fried fish that we were served , and us 3 put a good dent into the platter of fish and we shared ALL the remaining fish with other patrons in the busy establishment who were more than eager to help finish off that platter of fish , and it didn’t take too long and ALL the fish were eaten up by all.

On day two we went back to the same rental house and the bite was similar to the day before . At about noon or so we were visited by a CO who checked our licenses and all was well with him and he left on his snowmobile . About a hour or two after he left two different CO’s came a knocking and they also checked our licenses and looked over our bucket of 13 mostly all sauger and all was well with them until we were asked how long we were up fishing for and we told them we fished the previous day and left with our limit and they were ALL cooked up and EATEN up that evening at a local resort and their response was “ya sure ,do you know how many times we hear that story” , we explained the scenario about the other bar patrons who were more than willing to clean that platter up , well the truth wasn’t evidently good enough for them and they said they want to go to our resort and check to see if we had fish from day one there , so our response to them was go ahead knock your socks off we have nothing to hide from you guys , go ahead and look but we are telling you the truth , so I then handed over our key to them so they can go look, and away they went to do just that . About a hr later one of the two returned and said all is fine gentlemen , here is your key back and enjoy your trip and then left . 

[Bigfatbert]

I see there are two confused emoji on the above story , my question is   to fishingstar and CJH “what’s so confusing ?”  Maybe a reminder to the confused is here in Mn the possession limit is the same as the daily limit , maybe that might get rid of your confusion.  I totally agree with the WOW’S .

[Wanderer]

Good reminder.  It stinks when you’re the honest person they run across but you get the feeling your seen as guilty regardless and then have to prove your innocence.

 

They get lied to a bunch, I get that.  Just doing their jobs, I get that.  The one off hand comment of “ya, sure...” is what drives a wedge between people.

[smurfy]

I really don't see the C O 's taking this too far. there just doing there job. as wanderer said they get lied to all the time, and by you being honest, they just did there job verifying your story. I would think those C O's left knowing there are a few good honest ones out there!!!!!

[Sculpin]

I'm not so sure I would have given my key to my dwelling to any officer of any kind to go check out/search without my being present. Had they found anything illegal, the search would have been nullified, because they had no probable cause, no warrant, and no resident present during the search.  You don't even have to let a CO into your fish house without permission, much less give them the key to your cabin.  Gone are the days where they can announce their presence, and rip open the door of your shack. You guys went the extra mile...no question.

[eyeguy 54]

I would bet they never went to the cabin. 

[fishingstar]

9 hours ago, Bigfatbert said:

I see there are two confused emoji on the above story , my question is   to fishingstar and CJH “what’s so confusing ?”  Maybe a reminder to the confused is here in Mn the possession limit is the same as the daily limit , maybe that might get rid of your confusion.  I totally agree with the WOW’S .

My confusion is the hassle they were putting you through. I understand now

[IceHawk]

Totally Agree they are out there doing there job  to protect our resources and I'm happy to see them doing it. Last few years locally our wardens have been getting stretched into bigger areas expanding there zones mostly because of budget cuts and haven't been able to cover the area as much as they should be. Unfortunately the Outlaws who push the envelope breaking the rules know this and will push the issue trying things they know are illegal but think there chances of getting caught are slim. I treat all wardens with respect and am close friends with a few of them.  I look at as they don't always have a glorious job and reputation sometimes but if your not doing anything wrong you have nothing to worry about especially when they check you in fact I 'm glad to see them more. Tells me the holligans are probably laying back some and are not doing as many illegal things  out of fear of getting caught! 

[Boker001]

So did you guys think you would actually eat all the fish that night, or did you just keep and cook your limit cause you can? 

[jigginjim]

The last time my wife and I fished LOTW, we had 3 CO's in one afternoon.  As another fisherman told me NEVER give info your not asked about. (If your caught your limit the day before and ate all of the fish.)  Why say anything? >>>>    it just makes you look like a fish hog.  You could be in for a visit at your homes, only the next time could be warrants,  with them coming at 5AM,  with US fish and Game MN state patrol, plus a Load a CO's.  

[Bigfatbert]

7 hours ago, jigginjim said:

The last time my wife and I fished LOTW, we had 3 CO's in one afternoon.  As another fisherman told me NEVER give info your not asked about. (If your caught your limit the day before and ate all of the fish.)  Why say anything? >>>>    it just makes you look like a fish hog.  You could be in for a visit at your homes, only the next time could be warrants,  with them coming at 5AM,  with US fish and Game MN state patrol, plus a Load a CO's.  

jigginjim, in this case we WERE asked  about the day prior , and as always the truth sets you free my friend .. and for your at home comment , there would be no worries there either as I wouldn’t ever have more than what I’m allowed anyhow , plain n simple , easy as that . I would be worried about you though with your why say anything comment .

[Cheers]

not intending to be rude, but ,I cooked one walleye for supper a few days ago, it was a lot to eat ! Served with a potatoe  and beans  it was a big meal . How could 3 guys expect to put a dent in 18 fish ? I have never fished LOW , are the saugers that small ?

[gimruis]

Yes, the saugers are small and there are a lot of them compared to the walleyes right now in LOTW.  Plus they are more willing biters in the winter.

 

This is a good story.  Obey the law and let the officers do theirs.  Then move along.  Enough people must be breaking the law where they need to verify stories.  We could actually use more officers out there checking anglers/hunters if you ask me.

[Bigfatbert]

10 hours ago, Boker001 said:

So did you guys think you would actually eat all the fish that night, or did you just keep and cook your limit cause you can? 

We kept our limit because we could , and as for eating them , let’s just say that with all the spirits a flowing that eve in that establishment it just kinda turned out that way . After all with it being so close to Christmas  it ‘‘tis or ‘‘twas the season for giving , didn’t want to appear as a grinch I guess .

[Barbelboy]

I once shot a nice buck, tagged it, then walked the mile back to my truck because i wasn't gonna drag that out by myself. 2 wardens were at my truck when i walked out. When asked if i shot anything, i replied honestly. As anybody should do when interacting with law enforcement. They then asked to see the deer. Yep, we all 3 walked back in the mile. They even then registered it for me (metal antler tag in WI back then). As we were about to leave I told them to grab an antler and start dragging. Their faces were precious. Of course i didn't make 'em do it, i had a tractor that could be driven right to it. So we all walked out again. 

Long story short. Law enforcement has a job to do, be honest, don't take it personal and all they did was trust but verify. 

Sounds like you had a great trip. I'm glad you caught as many fish as you could eat and more! While it can seem intrusively, lets all be glad the wardens are out there trying to keep our fish/game plentiful for us!

Edited December 26, 2019 by Barbelboy

[Wanderer]

First, I’ll clarify I’m in total support of our COs protecting our natural resources and I prefer to give them due respect and cooperation when getting checked.  I have the TIP number in my phone contacts too.

 

Second, I’ll say all COs are not created equal, which seems to be grind @Bigfatbert commenting about.  You learn this when you’re standing in court fighting a citation you don’t deserve, but received trying to cooperate with a CO.  Circular questioning used to frustrate someone into saying something that sounds like an admission in the face of no proof, even when you tell him who else was there.  
 

Then hearing comments IN COURT from the CO and county prosecutor like “I didn’t need to check anyone else there, I had you” and my all time favorite “Your Honor, we don’t care about the citation, we just want the money”.

 

If you can’t tell, it still blows me away.  I won’t say it changed my attitude forever but it was a significant adjustment.  Good luck out there.

[leech~~]

I will have to say that out of the countless times I have been checked by a Warden, Ice fishing, by walk-in, snowmobile, truck or air plane, Open water fishing, Bow hunting, Rifle hunting, Duck Hunting, etc. I have never met a bad one or one that gave me a bunch of hassle, but then I never gave them nothing to question. 

[FowlSki]

You should have told them to go get a warrant if they wanted to get in your cabin.   

 

Never talk to the cops. 

 

 

[Kettle]

I've met some nice ones and not nice ones. I've turned in multiple poachers and had one of the CO's during one of those instances that was hypercritical of me, was a bad experience but still will turn in poachers. 

I do believe fowlski is correct on the warrant, sounds like a really loose case of probably. However I probably would have done the same thing you did BFBert. There are some great officers but some who like a little feeling of power as well. 

[DonkeyHodey]

23 hours ago, gimruis said:

Enough people must be breaking the law where they need to verify stories.  We could actually use more officers out there checking anglers/hunters if you ask me.

Agree...  I'm actually surprised how few times I run into CO's either on lakes or at accesses (but frankly, it's cause I'm usually on small lakes/river...  I figure if I fished the big 10, or other more popular resort lakes I'd see more.)

I welcome their presence.

I grew up where the CO's were more like the boogeyman.--as long as laws were only broken a little, that's pretty much the same as following it... 

I remember Grandpa (being a lake-landowner) felt very clearly that rules were good but should be selectively applied and followed.  He owned a cabin and paid taxes and all and therefore the CO's should be busy buggin' others (especially those weekend warriors that would come and clutter up HIS lake...)

I remember quick drivin' the boat back to the cabin to fillet up a fish that was not legal and then headin' back out...  I remember grandpa cussin' when a CO gave a citation to the neighbor who was fishing off the dock without a license; How dare those durned game wardens do such a thing!  

 

On a different note, I'm also haunted by remembering an ice-fishing trip I took LOW where it was expected (and encouraged by the resorts) that any non-game fish were to be wasted on the ice and I remember seeing nearly every ice house with a small pile of eelpout outside of them...  Although back then, waste was "legal"--it isn't anymore, but I still see it (especially directed towards the poor bullhead...)

 

I try to follow the law to a letter now:  I specifically read the regulations every year pretty much cover to cover because I don't want to even unknowingly break a fish rule.  I will never waste fish.

I also try and treat CO's with respect and I'm glad they're around.  I think many CO's are great people and I've had no negative interactions--I forgive suboptimal attitudes they may have because I know they deal with alot of... well, jerks.  (like grandpa would've been had he been "pinched") 

Frankly, it must be a terrible job to assume most people you interact with are blatantly lying to you:  "oh, I didn't know the limit was different in this lake.  When did that change?"  "We only ate our limit."  "That's not a walleye, I thought it was a dark, toothy perch."  "I wasn't fishing.  I was just holding the rod for my son here in his stroller."  "I wasn't fishing with two lines, the other one is my buddy's.  I think he's taking a dump in the woods.  He should be back any minute..."  "No speakee the Ingleesh"

[huntnfish]

Ive only fished LOW a couple times and was staying in a sleeper both times and each time they were easy to deal with. The second time they didn’t even ask to see our fish. Only checked our licenses. I seem to get checked once a year and all have been pleasant. The last 2 years have been on opener and the CO was very easy to deal with. I also get checked a half dozen times a year by the county deputies out patrolling. I actually enjoy all of these encounters when my kids are along. I feel it helps to teach them that there’s right and wrong in the world and that there are people that are going to make sure you’re doing the right things. Last year we bought a jet ski and my daughter made me take her out so she could show them that we had life jackets and were doing the right thing. It also could have had something to do with the free ice cream cone coupon they give out to kids. 

 

That being said I would be a little irritated to be treated like the OP. I would have a problem being treated as guilty when I knew I did nothing wrong. I can also see where a CO working that type of area could get a little suspicious of everyone. I’m sure they deal with every kind of idiot possible that’s trying to hide something. It’s like anything else in the world. The 5% ruin it for the other 95%. 

 

I dont know why why people are questioning why the OP kept the number of fish he did? He was within his limit and nothing was wasted. Folks saying that there’s no way to eat that amount of fish haven’t seen my kids eat fish. I came home with 4 walleyes last year that were all 17-18. After cleaning my 7 and 9 year old wanted me to cook them up. My wife had an errand and left. I cooked up 4 nice walleyes and after the kids ate my wife and I got to split the last filet. An 18” walleye filet is a good size chunk of meat and 2 kids ate 7 of them. If the fish would’ve been 15” my wife and I wouldnt have gotten any and they would’ve been fighting at the table. I’ve also been on the other end in the bar when someone brings in extra fish. Nothing better after a couple drinks. It’s a great way to meet new people and make some friends. I can still remember the guys name that brought fish into the bar 8 years ago and if I ran into him tomorrow I’d stop and talk to him. It’s things like this that bring fishermen together. 

[delcecchi]

On 12/26/2019 at 4:44 PM, FowlSki said:

You should have told them to go get a warrant if they wanted to get in your cabin.   

 

Never talk to the cops. 

 

 

Advice General Flynn should have heeded.    

[Bigfatbert]

Very interesting reading all the different comments made by various people about this subject. First off I would like to say that over many years of fishing I too have been approached/ checked by CO officers many times and I have always treated them with the utmost respect including this last time on LOTW. I also appreciate there hard work that they do to protect our natural resources , and I’m sure that most people follow suit with their appreciation and respect , but I’m sure unfortunately that is not always the case with some . Our catch and eating of the fish by ourselves and others was 100% within the law . Every question we were asked that day was answered truthfully as it always should be by all . We had done nothing wrong and had nothing to hide . Yes I’m aware of the warrant issue to search but because we had nothing to hide and was on a two day trip with friends and enjoying our time together , going that route would have surely put a damper on the fun and enjoyable part of our trip that we were having up to that point and continued to have when all was said and done by the CO’s . Was it a little over the top to want to go look by them in our opinions, maybe , but they were just doing there job , and evidently that was what they wanted to do.  I might also add that when he handed back the key to us and said all is well and to have a good rest of our day , our comment back to them was thanks for doing a good job , we appreciate their hard work , in which he said thank you to us !..  like I stated in a earlier post “ telling the truth always sets you free “ , that’s the end to this story , have a good day ya’ll , and a happy 2020 !!!