Took a drive up the green today. Started at the 260th/reith road bridge and went upstream. A few fish around, pretty scattered. Lots of people fishing though. Actually saw combat fishing on the Green and it wasn't at the carbody hole, amazing... Closer i got to the 277th bridge the thicker the fishermen got, but surprisingly no one was fishing under the bridge and this happened to be where i saw the most fish.

I headed up river more to see if i could find some lawbreakers fishing closed waters and sure enough, fishing away up by the golf course. I get pissed easily at this stupidity in action so i had to stop this time and have a word with them. I had no protection with me, as some on here say is a must to have if you confront anyone, but i made sure to say the right words. When i walked up on the first guy i said HEY, he said hi, all friendly, and i said THESE are closed waters and that the game warden is making his way up the river right now, and that he needs to read his dam reg booklet. He instantly went white with terror and almost passed me by trying to get up the bank and to his car. So i made my way up river and told 3 others the same thing and i got the same reaction. The looks on there faces told me that they already knew it was closed, also none of them were easily seen, makes me think they knew exactally what they were doing. But their vehicles gave them away.

How dumb do you have to be? I can understand teenage people not really thinking about closed sections, as i did when i was younger. But these were no kids. And they had more gear on their vests than i did.

So if you see it, stop and say the warden is on his way, and that should be enough. Just watching it happen and complaining about it to others helps no one if you don't inform the violators that what they are doing is UNACCEPTABLE!!!
Remember, they're not fishermen, they're poachers.

Many times when river fishing during this time of year if someone snags a fish and looks like they will keep it, I will say "Gee that looks like a snagged fish, you never know who you are fishing with - the gamies go undercover here." This is usually followed by a question of whether I'm the undercover game warden. I reply no, I'm not, but 9 times out of 10, the fish goes back in the river. Just a thought.

How about put that fish back in the water you moron or I'll go to my rig and get my .357 Mag and blow you away!!!

Grandpa, I hope your boat gets back soon!! You are beginning to worry me.

Grandpa, that is probably the worst option available. You should know better than that.

Yeah Grandpa. You should know better than to leave your gun in your car.

I know one thing for sure!

Fisherman are damn lucky that grandpa ain't good with a slingshot!!

Cowlitzfisherman

I hope you were being sarcastic.

Ii'd have to think twice about the .357 mag. you might not make it to your car to get it. there are some crazy *******s out there. i tend to just mind my own buisness. those people WILL get caught sooner or later, but unfortunately they will keep on doing it over and over regardless.

calm down boys..just being my sarcastic self. I leave the 300 Win Mag and the Winchester pump at home...both heirlooms. I don't really believe in firearms to solve disputes. I think education is the key. Publicity of the abuses is also a good way to curb some of it. Public awareness is also a great tool. PSA is going to expand the use of signs to post fines for various violations at high profile locations. This was done very successfully in Port Townsend this year to draw attention to extreme abuse of crabbing regs. The large return of salmon to rivers and streams this fall will bring out the uneducated and the abusers alike. We need to be vigilant and do our part to stop the abusers and educate those who just don't realize that they are violating the laws.

I was fishing a small river today and came upon a bunch of 12 year old boys (estimate) netting silvers with a landing net.

In a loud firm voice I said, "Just what do you think you are doing??!!??!!??!!"

They stopped, looked at me, and just stared.

One boy mustered the courage to say, "Mister, are you the game warden?", in a wavering voice.

I said, "Nope, but if I was, it would be too late for you boys, wouldn't it? I did just talk with him a half hour ago, though." (which I had, 30 miles away and an hour before)

They stopped netting, and started fishing, the right way. Nice kids, just got carried away a bit.

Dogfish,
When I was aproximately the same age ,a buddy and I manged to get out of the house on thanksgiving morning to go play in the creek.So off i go on my tens peed to pick up phil and hit the creek to chase the fish around.We start at the mouth and proceed up stream having a blast.We end up on private property and out comes the enemy.He tell us to get off his property and that he called the game warden and the sheriff.So of course off we go.He was not kidding either.My chain broke on my bike which left me and Phil a couple of miles from home and walking.Sure enough if a state patrol men didn't pull up and get out.Gave us a good talking too.Gave us a ride home also.My dads entire side of the family was over at our house as grampa had just passed.I have 7 uncles and 1 aunt on that side.I will always remember 40+ eyes burning a hole in my soul as the stater explained to my father why I was coming home in patrol car.

Incedently I got to meet the enemy a few years ago doing some volunteer work on the creek.He remebered me well.Gave me a hug at the end of the day...

Some people are so Tough on the internet !(Grandpa)

Actually, that has happened to me. I was fishing in waters that I thought was open when someone told me it was closed and the gamie was on the way. Whether or not it was true, I got out of there. Along with the two other guys that were with me.
Needless to say, I immediately pulled out my regs for a closer look. I don't remember if the waters were closed, but we didn't fish up there any more. As obscure as the regs are sometime, I didn't want to take any chances.

I wonder if the game wardens would be willing to sell hats that look like the ones they wear on the job. I'll bet if you had one of those on, the snagging and keeping would cease wherever you were fishing!

you can get those WDFW hats but they say volunteer on them.

FFF - good job!!! i remember fishing with you for chums one day at meeker st. last year. we caught about 20 apiece in the mouth on float and jigs while everyone around us watched with their jaws on the ground. people were asking us from the bridge if we would give them any of the fish that we were throwing back(all) and we both said "no!" that was one of the best chum rodeo days i had last year.
glad to see that you are still out there doing the good work

There's a actually a term for it: Keyboard Kourage.

Hey Lupo, was that you? We were swaping jig patterns? That was a great couple days out there. Wish i had threw on those patterns weeks earlier. But the white rooster had been doin me good. That was a pretty cool day. Some people just don't understand the fishing regs and look at us like we are stindgy for not letting them have them.

I had always looked at people that broke the rules with a dirty face but never said anything. It was just the right time to finally say something i guess. I should have been saying it long ago. I think a game warden hat is next on my "to buy" list. Gunna need it for the snaggin freaks at the carbody hole.

Send me an email sometime, lets spank'em again!!!