The C. O.'s did a good job??????

[kelly-p]

Now that I've had time to look back at this ice fishing season and put things into perspective one thing stands out that surprised me. Out of the 1,000s of people I talked to only one person had a complaint about the C.O.s that worked URL and he had been ticketed for too many fish. Usually a lot of people are upset about the C.O.s but time and time again I heard good things about them. They seemed to treat people with respect and were friendly with the people they were checking no matter how many people they had dealt with that day or over the winter.
What do the rest of you people on this forum think of the job the C.O.s did on URL this winter? I'm curious.

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Waskish Minnow Station
218-647-8652

[Surface Tension]

Any CO can check for license's and over limit's.
The CO's on Red did a good job in a great way. When I was done talking to the CO's Red I felt like I was talking to a friend.
These guy's like there job and like dealing with the public. I think some other CO's in the state could learn something form them.

[Lowe]

I agree. My experience with them was positive. They checked us one night right during a flurry of bites and told us not to hurry (to get our licenses) and joked and BS'd with us for a while.

They acted very professionally, and yet they were personable. No complaints here.

[bieganekbaitco]

I agree also that we are lucky we have great CO's. I actually wish that Tim Grey could transfer to the Waskish station like the "old days". He would be in our area even more and would be a great roll model for our youth (& some adults). Waskish is a busy place year around know so extra enforcement is going to be needed. Keep up the the great work Tim!! Mark B.

[Drake]

We have to agree with everyone else on this one...the CO's this winter were GREAT! We personally were checked for license several times and each time we were treated very respectfully and they were very friendly...not something you see all the time.

They would take the time to tell you how the fishing was going for others that night and how it had been the day before. Out of all the folks that we had come through our place NOT ONE had a negative comment on how they were treated, in fact it was the opposite, they were treated VERY well by the CO's and it was definitely noticed by all!

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Drake Motel
drakemotel.com
(888)253-8501
[email protected]

[Guest]

When we were up there in February, we saw them out and about. They never checked our licenses or stuff, but we were all legal. It seemed that most people up on URL were abiding by the rules, and we didn't see anything that would warrant a C.O.'s attention. I think they were doing a good job . . .

[Guest]

I can't agree more! I can't imagine being a CO and having the job of covering Red Lake. I didn't get up much this winter but I did have the pleasure of running into a CO (Tim) once on Red. You guys are lucky to have such good CO's in your area. I believe there are a lot of CO's that could learn a little from Tim. Thanks for being respectful, friendly and doing your job in a professional manner. You left a favorable opinion of CO's with the guys in my group!ScottS

[W.W.BarTender]

I cant agree more, the CO's do a great job. I think that they do the best job in the state. They know the lake and they know when it is safe and when it is not. They talk to the resorts and get there opinions on differant issues. I think the reason there isnt very many tickets given on Upper Red is because most people respect the CO's and dont brake the law. I hope that we can keep these CO's in our area for many years to come because they are deffinetly an asset to the community of URL.

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West Wind
Waskish, MN
218-647-8998

[NINETOE]

The line between the "spirit" of the law and the"letter" of the law is a fine one. I certainly believe that the C.O.s in that area have done a fine job distinguishing between the two.

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...Hail The Flashlight King....

[Deerslayer]

I agree with everything said, I think the CO's do a very good job on Red. I also think a CO should be judged on the QUALITY of the job they do, not the revenue they bring in. We as sportsmans spend alot of money to hunt,fish & injoy the outdoors, without us they would not have a job, without them we would not have great fishing or hunting. We are all on the same team and need to work together.

Rodger

[swamptiger]

I agree. We are very fortunate to have the best CO's the state has to offer up here in the north country. Not only those on URL, but the others as well.

Conservation officers have a difficult job. It is much more involved than simply being a revenue collector for the state.

Having said this;
Let's have another round...

[Guest]

Kelly,

IMHO the C.O.'s did a fantastic job on URL this year. On any given day there had to be thousands of people out there. I was checked twice, both times for license and limit. They were as friendly as all get out and very professional. I wish I could say the same thing about myself after a day of dealing with thousands of people.
Those guys should get some kind of metal or commendation.

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Paul
[email protected]

[Twitter]

I think I was checked by the CO's twice on URL this winter and both times they were very friendly and respectful. They took the time to BS about how others were doing they'd spoken to and I had a good discussion about the rebounding walleye populations with them one night.......we all thought it was comical that now we're getting harrassed by walleyes instead of little perch while waiiting for the crappies to start biting.
All in all, good guys who do a difficult job in VERY busy area VERY well.

[kupcho]

They did a good job and they have one heck of a busy job too. I was out there 10 times this winter, never illegal. I wasn't stopped once. I talked to them off the lake once before though and I agree with everyone about how cool they are. If everyone abides by the rules, everyone should get along with them. They are pretty easy going. I'm really glad though because it's hard to respect people that don't respect you!

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Kupcho's Guide Service
Upper Red, Winnie, Blackduck Area
http://fishingminnesota.com/blackduck/
Phone:(651) 426-1545
E-mail: [email protected]

[jigglestick]

correct me if i am wrong, but shouldn't the goal of law enforcement be to make sure that people abide by the laws put in place(most with good reason). it seems to me that the best way to achive that on a lake with the amount of people on it in a season like upper red lake, would be for the c.o.'s to present themselves to as many of those people as possible, not by writing as many tickets as possible. as officer grey pointed out to me, most law breakers have their way of giving themselves away. friendly, courteous, yet proffesional attitudes go a real long way. money hungry, out for blood attitudes are the wrong way. should they judge the quality of enforcement not by the number of tickets written, but by the high percentage of law abiding sportsman and women. if they are just looking for more revenue, why don't they have a bake sale, or a car wash. or just ask for donations.
mr. grey, it was very nice to meet you 3 times-----------jigglestick-----------

[This message has been edited by jigglestick (edited 04-18-2002).]

[GooseSlayer]

I have been checked four times by the local CO's in my area,and was left feeling like a criminal.I had done nothing wrong,and wasn't given any tickets.They treat everyone like that.The CO's in the URL area were helpful as well as doing they'er job.They gave me an example of what our tax dollars should be doing.I commend them for the job they do so well!

Keep settin hook!
Dave

[Ely Lake Expert]

I made it to URL 4 times this year and never saw a CO, but I did see them on a couple of local lakes and they seemed to do a good job. They were very proper and polite about it.

Ely lake expert

[Guest]

I'd give the CO's on the northern lakes a hearty "job well done". The ones I had the fortune to meet this season on Red and Mille Lacs were very friendly and courteous in going about their "thankless' job. This was quite a change from the ones I used to run into down on Minnetonka.

[bigV]

I was checked once last year and once this year on URL. I concur with most everyone here that the CO's were friendly and respectful both times. The only problem I had was last year on one of the coldest days of the year. It was right at prime time with us the only people on the lake within 4 miles, I got checked in my fishtrap and was all warm and toasty and almost froze my $#@& off fumbling for my license. Then they got stuck with their pickup as they tried to leave as I watched the crappies fade down and away.

[Stan7600]

We were checked once this winter by a CO on URL. I don't have a name but he was a young guy and very nice. Attitude is everything in life, he was a good example and a credit to his employer. When he was gone he left a positive feeling behind. We need more of this today and not just COs. Stan C.