10-15-2005, 12:53 PM
Here's an update , good and bad .
The D.N.R. made an appearance at Tippy dam last weekend handing out tickets to the ileagle snaggers and litterers along the river . They were fishing along side regular fishermen undercover day and night, they went into the rivers water in waders to ticket those breaking the fishing laws , they waited in the parking lots to enforse the take limit of fish . I guess it was long overdue and a lot of fishermen were greatfull to see it take place ,finally . Me included .
The bad part , There were several complaints filed by the same guys that wanted to see this action taken , why ?
Because of the Seargent that was in charge of the boat that droped off and picked up officers along the river . He must have not wanted to do this assignment or was not familiar with boating regulations or common scence .
He operated the craft at high speeds at all times comming within just a couple feet of wading anglers . Mind you not just one or two fishermen but dosens of them . I don't know what his deal was but that was just reckless of him . The manistee river is trecherous with the swift current , log jams and underwater hassards that can pin a guy underwater without a way to escape . A boat traviling that fast can dislodge a fishermans footing on the river bottom and send him to the mercy of the river . The craft could have veered off corse and run over a law abiding fisherman , injuring or killing them .
Whatever the officers motive was , he sure gave the D.N.R. a black eye in the public relations department . There was no reason to behave as he did .
Other than the manner in which that officer operated the patroll boat everyone I talked to that fishes legalily on the river had the same thing to say , "It was long overdue and needed" .
I personally would appreciate seeing more patrolls during the spawning runs , I have a great passion for this type of fishing and have had to deal with nonsportsmen like behavior from those who would think that the law dosen't apply to them .
Sure the fish will die anyway and that's the argument or excuse a lot of guys lean on . If you were to think the same way when it comes to deer hunting we would be sharing the woods with guys using tommy guns and R.P.G.s , I don't think we would want that would we ?
My hats off to the D.N.R. for the show of force , it's about time . To the one officer , relax up just a bit , nobody needs to die over this .
[signature]
The D.N.R. made an appearance at Tippy dam last weekend handing out tickets to the ileagle snaggers and litterers along the river . They were fishing along side regular fishermen undercover day and night, they went into the rivers water in waders to ticket those breaking the fishing laws , they waited in the parking lots to enforse the take limit of fish . I guess it was long overdue and a lot of fishermen were greatfull to see it take place ,finally . Me included .
The bad part , There were several complaints filed by the same guys that wanted to see this action taken , why ?
Because of the Seargent that was in charge of the boat that droped off and picked up officers along the river . He must have not wanted to do this assignment or was not familiar with boating regulations or common scence .
He operated the craft at high speeds at all times comming within just a couple feet of wading anglers . Mind you not just one or two fishermen but dosens of them . I don't know what his deal was but that was just reckless of him . The manistee river is trecherous with the swift current , log jams and underwater hassards that can pin a guy underwater without a way to escape . A boat traviling that fast can dislodge a fishermans footing on the river bottom and send him to the mercy of the river . The craft could have veered off corse and run over a law abiding fisherman , injuring or killing them .
Whatever the officers motive was , he sure gave the D.N.R. a black eye in the public relations department . There was no reason to behave as he did .
Other than the manner in which that officer operated the patroll boat everyone I talked to that fishes legalily on the river had the same thing to say , "It was long overdue and needed" .
I personally would appreciate seeing more patrolls during the spawning runs , I have a great passion for this type of fishing and have had to deal with nonsportsmen like behavior from those who would think that the law dosen't apply to them .
Sure the fish will die anyway and that's the argument or excuse a lot of guys lean on . If you were to think the same way when it comes to deer hunting we would be sharing the woods with guys using tommy guns and R.P.G.s , I don't think we would want that would we ?
My hats off to the D.N.R. for the show of force , it's about time . To the one officer , relax up just a bit , nobody needs to die over this .
[signature]