Short fish: Talking with a friend last night She had 1 crappie in the cooler. Measured it with a tape measure from lower lip ( mouth open ) to tail Checked legal Game warden shows up...

Ben Bragg Loc: Dayton Ohio

Talking with a friend last night
She had 1 crappie in the cooler.
Measured it with a tape measure from lower lip ( mouth open ) to tail
Checked legal
Game warden shows up and checks with mouth closed and it’s just shy. Writes citation
Very costly mistake.
Moral. When in doubt , better toss it!

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Wow! good advice. Just Sayin...RJS

FixorFish Loc: SW Oregon

Yep....carry those calipers ! ( Or maybe...a micrometer, lol)

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Yep! dont try to stretch the catch! It will never get any longer and may shrink so be conservative. Just Sayin....RJS

Catfish hunter Loc: Riggins idaho (Paradise)

Ben Bragg wrote:

Talking with a friend last night
She had 1 crappie in the cooler.
Measured it with a tape measure from lower lip ( mouth open ) to tail
Checked legal
Game warden shows up and checks with mouth closed and it’s just shy. Writes citation
Very costly mistake.
Moral. When in doubt , better toss it!

If a fish is right at the limit I always put it back. Where I fish the game cops are looking for any reason to write a ticket. Don’t take the chance. Some will even squash it a little or stretch it some just to write you a citation and they’re not nice about it. Most of them forget they work for us.

Big dog Loc: Bayshore, Long Island, New York

Ben Bragg wrote:

Talking with a friend last night
She had 1 crappie in the cooler.
Measured it with a tape measure from lower lip ( mouth open ) to tail
Checked legal
Game warden shows up and checks with mouth closed and it’s just shy. Writes citation
Very costly mistake.
Moral. When in doubt , better toss it!

Next time, Step on it, measure again and take a picture.!

ZoeyC2000 Loc: Charlotte, N.C.

Ben Bragg wrote:

Talking with a friend last night
She had 1 crappie in the cooler.
Measured it with a tape measure from lower lip ( mouth open ) to tail
Checked legal
Game warden shows up and checks with mouth closed and it’s just shy. Writes citation
Very costly mistake.
Moral. When in doubt , better toss it!

That was pretty mean of him. If anything that sounds like it
should have been a warning and explained the proper way
to measure it. That's the way they do it on tv.

Zoey & Beth :)

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Yes, I believe if there is any question, like the fish is right at the mark, throw it back, not worth taking a chance of being wrong. Just Sayin...RJS

wd4ity Loc: Middle Georgia, Forsyth

In my dealings with Game Wardens I've come to think they are given lessons in "Nastiness". I've never been cited by one but I've been checked fishing and hunting. I got checked after an evening of duck hunting once. I didn't hit a single duck. I now know where the Russians got the idea of hypervelocity cruise missiles. Ducks are FAST. Anyway that game warden was the nastiest human being I ever ran across that wasn't trying to rob me. I just thought the Drill Instructors at Parris Island were nasty. No sense in being like that.

Big dog Loc: Bayshore, Long Island, New York

wd4ity wrote:

In my dealings with Game Wardens I've come to thin... (show quote)

I’ve only met one game warden that was less then polite. Even the two that came running through the woods with guns drawn were polite. Of course they were probably laughing so hard that they couldn’t manage a frown. Ya see, when they yelled out “Drop the knife”, I threw it so far that, well, I think it may still be in orbit.!!

wd4ity Loc: Middle Georgia, Forsyth

The game warden kept calling me "old friend" but in a very sarcastic tone. I finally told him that he was no friend of mine.

Catfish hunter Loc: Riggins idaho (Paradise)

wd4ity wrote:

In my dealings with Game Wardens I've come to thin... (show quote)

He actually WAS trying to rob you. He just couldn’t find a way to do it.

Huntm22 Loc: Northern Utah. - West Haven

I have told the stories before - ain’t no friend of mine. They will do what they can - shrink / stretch etc to write people a ticket. And then they lie about it.

wd4ity Loc: Middle Georgia, Forsyth

I got to hand if it to him, he really tried. He checked the boat for dead ducks, he checked my shotgun to make sure it was plugged to three shells, checked my license, and even checked my driver's license to make sure my hunting license matched my driver's license. He said he could write me a ticket for shooting later than thirty minutes after sunset. The ducks don't start coming in until 30 minutes after sunset. Dang! There's no way to legally hunt ducks in Georgia. Darn glad I didn't accidently hit one.

Catfish hunter Loc: Riggins idaho (Paradise)

Huntm22 wrote:

I have told the stories before - ain’t no friend of mine. They will do what they can - shrink / stretch etc to write people a ticket. And then they lie about it.

Yup. And it’s their word against yours. Even if you have a witness you’re screwed if they want to screw you. A buddy of mine got busted for fishing after hours. Fined the whole nine yards. He stopped fishing before the deadline but it took him till dark to get back to the boat ramp. Game warden was waiting at the ramp and wrote him a ticket. Went to court, with a witness, and the judge just said “I have no reason to doubt the officer. He’s been a warden for 3 years”. My buddy asked “ why would you have a reason to doubt me? I have no prior record and you don’t even know me.” He got another $200.00 tacked on for arguing with the judge. “Contempt of court”. You can’t win.