People do not read the Regs!!!

[Salmo]

I’m torn and am looking for feedback. I was out at McGregor on the weekend doing some mapping and I had to tell 6 people that the lake was closed. They were genuinely surprised to learn that the lake was closed but all stopped fishing immediately. While ignorance of the rules is not an excuse and while they did cease fishing one wonders what other regs they are “unaware of” (zero limit of walleye for example)?

The way I look at it I have three options in the future:

1. Call report a poacher immediately
2. Tell them they are breaking the rules and if they don’t cease fishing call them in
3. Ignore them and do my thing maybe troll around with four lines out while mapping (thrown in here more for comic relief).

PS – I didn’t have a single rod in the boat with me as I’m not sure I could have resisted the urge to toss some big cranks into the warm bays during the afternoon.

[FlyTheory]

Sounds like they were genuine, but still the hammer of justice should probably be exercised.

[3blade]

Run into this many times, both hunting and fishing. Tell them. Most simply made a mistake and will correct it if given the opportunity.

Now if something has been killed, I'll call it in.

[fishdude17]

I don't have the best "diplomatic manner" to deal with people who have no regards for the law, or for people who just can't read the regs. To avoid conflict and the possibility of getting myself in trouble, I phone RAPP. Serves them right...

[wildman]

fishdude's got it bang on!!
I'm callin all the abusers in every time!!!
fish'n'game needs funds. why not let the poachers pay.

[kevinhits]

I was out at PCR on Sunday and they showed up...I actually would be focusing on the closed lakes than the open ones..IMHO:)

[Chief16]

When I first started fishing I had this happen to me. I went to a lake that I didn't know was closed and people there kindly told me there the lake was closed to fishing and I left, that was that. It did teach me a lesson though and I now make every attempt to read up on the regulations.
I didn't "have no regard for the law" or or couldn't read the regs as has been stated here, I was simply uninformed which was fixed by the people at the lake letting me know.
I now believe that this is something that should be passed on. Many people will just stop fishing because they didn't know. Howver, if they don't stop, I believe the proper enforcement should be notified.

[Bhflyfisher]

Call them in. Fish and wildlife can let them know. Any poacher could easily play coy, pretend they didn't know the closure, pack up and leave, only to return when no one's around.

Regardless, in my mind, and same as hunting, people should be at least taking a general regulation/fish identifying course/quiz before they're even given a fishing license.

[Willowayin]

Tell them, depending on what happens, it could go either way, and if needed call them in, again depends on the circumstances. If it’s an honest mistake, hopefully they would learn from it. Hopefully……… you’d think.

[dodger]

Call it in.

Now, do you need my mailing address to send out a copy of your mapping? Just want to make sure your doing it correctly. :scared0018:

Dodger

[crosseye]

I would call it in immediately and let the fish cop decide if a warning is warranted or not. For all we know they may be poaching more than fish or have a bigger record or may not appreciate your warning.

[Jayhad]

Call it in, there aren't main outdoor activities one can engage in where NO LAWS are concerned. Not knowing is no excuse for braking the law, it is only an excuse for being a lazy sod

[waterninja]

Over the years I have witnessed many people doing things that were illegal. For the most part I simply tell them what they are doing wrong and ussually they stop doing it. Even then I only let them know what they are doing thats illegal in case they just didn't know. Only twice have I felt the need to call RAP. If it's something that I consider to be very minor then I just mind my own buisness.

[Newellknik]

We're these potential poachers fishing from a boat
Or from shore . We're they all wearing Nylon track suits
Adidas with the leg stripe . Did their command of the English
language seemed good , passable , arrived last Wednesday .
There is a whole class of Canadians now , that there is no
way in hell are going to be charged with anything . In fact
I would tell you F&W don't even want to pursue these people .
There's a lot of Eastern European countries that don't have
Seasons for any outdoor activity .

[Bemoredog]

I like the idea of making first time anglers license buyers take some kind of educational course so they know about the regs, where to find the most common ones and to be mindful of seasonal closures and catch limits.

It's legitimately possible that many people who don't have family or a background of hunting and fishing assume fishing is simply a free for all. I agree this is dumb, but then again it seems like a large minority of folks in the world aren't that bright.

Signage at lake docks might be a good idea too since it would greatly negate the "I didn't know" defense. I mean, how hard would it be to set up a big sign in white and red "Lake Closed to Fishing March XX to May XX".

[Salmo]

We're these potential poachers fishing from a boat
Or from shore . We're they all wearing Nylon track suits
Adidas with the leg stripe . Did their command of the English
language seemed good , passable , arrived last Wednesday .
There is a whole class of Canadians now , that there is no
way in hell are going to be charged with anything . In fact
I would tell you F&W don't even want to pursue these people .
There's a lot of Eastern European countries that don't have
Seasons for any outdoor activity .

Without checking birth certificates all were what I would classify as pretty much stereotypical born and raised Albertans, and all from shore. A father and young daughter included, all (with the exception of the child) should have known better.

[Bemoredog]

We're these potential poachers fishing from a boat
Did their command of the English
language seemed good , passable.

Nice.

[Salmo]

Call it in.

Now, do you need my mailing address to send out a copy of your mapping? Just want to make sure your doing it correctly. :scared0018:

Dodger

If and when I ever complete that massive lake I may take you up on it. :sign0176:

[Newellknik]

What does that mean ..... only under very special
Circumstance will Fish Cops tell you about the horrors
Of checking anglers within a 50 mile radius of a major
centre like Calgary . The govt doesn't cover Licence 101
for quests of shiny pony . I have come to notice that socialists
Are quite sensitive to the realities of life .

And your not wrong if the insinuation was too subtle,
I can step it up a notch .

[58thecat]

Why read the regs when you got this forum of awesomeness information readily available just ask and you will get the answer you wanted to hear eventually:)
Regs are for people who don't have Internet and us....:sHa_sarcasticlol:
Never misleading and always right...:scared:

:thinking-006:

[dodger]

If and when I ever complete that massive lake I may take you up on it. :sign0176:

you must be my long lost brother :sHa_shakeshout:

Dodger

[Lornce]

Don't think twice. Call

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq127/LornceLornce/ReportAPoacherLogoBW_zpsyhlyv2di.gif

[RavYak]

Switching to online licenses was one of the worst things for this. Most dont carry a hard copy of regs with them now. No signs at launches doesnt help either.

[Isopod]

I think better signage at main access points to lakes would go a long way to solving problems of people who don't read the regs. Big letters that say "Fishing Regulations", then list the closed season and the catch limits. Would cost some money, but so does sending fish cops to babysit people who don't read regs. Plus, if people couldn't even bother to read the signs, then no-one should feel bad about calling RAP on them rather than confronting them directly, and RAP shouldn't feel bad about ticketing them.

[Dragless]

Post a sign at every lake stating current regs and at popular river access points problem solved no excuses maybe you should post a sight at your favourite lake or at a place you know to be home to poaching! I think I might do this surely this can't be more illegal than the act of poaching could be wrong tho o

[josh_beeks]

Not for me to deal with could be hostile, its why we pay for our officers. Id let them know personally

[Kim473]

Not enough options in the voteing. I would inform them it is closed and let them move on. If they kept fishing then I would call it in.
This late in the season, many people have lost there regs. Give them a chance to be legal and stop fishing.

[slivers86]

I was out at PCR on Sunday and they showed up...I actually would be focusing on the closed lakes than the open ones..IMHO:)

this is what the poachers who are 'not intellectually challenged' think as well. Maybe goto the open lakes to destroy walleye populations... Too bad the day you were out there, they'd be BUSTED!

[kevinhits]

this is what the poachers who are 'not intellectually challenged' think as well. Maybe goto the open lakes to destroy walleye populations... Too bad the day you were out there, they'd be BUSTED!

Let me reword that....

What I meant to say....
" I think that F&W(not myself) should be checking out the closed lakes for fisherman illegally fishing closed waters"