pretty cool Ms fish and game officers

As stated before the wife and I fished in front of teckville boat ramp on saturday. Towards the end of the trip a good size boat came racing out and putted about a hundred yards from us. It stayed a couple minutes then raced back to the boat ramp. We were done fishing shortly after and saw who was in that boat as we pulled into the parking lot up on the hill.
I walked over, said hello and asked about the life jacket regs on coe lakes. One of the fellows said that having to wear them while the big motor was running is the coe bs. He didn't seem to think much of it. He asked how many we caught and I said about 20. I asked if he would like to see them, he declined. Then I said you guys gsve us a hard look out there. He told me they were counting poles. Then he raised his voice a little so my wife who was over at our boat could here.

"You know I almost wrote you a ticket for not having enough rods out"." With 2 people in the boat at this lake you should be fishing 6, not 5." Then he said to my wife, "Mam if you make sure he buys another rod before the next time I see you I won't write you a ticket".

I had my back to her smiling and trying to hold back from busting out laughing. She looked at him perplexed and called bs on him and asked if I had put him up to it. I had not but that game warden sure made the ride home light hearted.

Btw, I will be picking up another 12' tight line special and a okuma 30 before the weekend. ds

Until you take the opportunity away with rudeness or obnoxiousness (is that a word?), they will generally be pleasant to deal with....even put you on fish if they can.

Great to hear, many of those guys are great, hard working fellas. Some seem like the person he checked before you ticked them off, which is understandable. Glad they were friendly and courteous, most are. It helps when you go out of your way to make their job easier as well.

don't mean to be dumb, but I was told (not by a GW) that it was 5-poles/boat max at Sardis....guess that's not right? Doesn't really matter, I can't handle more than 5 with my setup, but just clarifying.

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Originally Posted by connorsdad

don't mean to be dumb, but I was told (not by a GW) that it was 5-poles/boat max at Sardis....guess that's not right? Doesn't really matter, I can't handle more than 5 with my setup, but just clarifying.

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Not dumb, but you were misinformed. 3 poles per person at Sardis. If you have 8 people, you can use 24 poles. There is no boat limit on poles, only fish.

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Originally Posted by connorsdad

don't mean to be dumb, but I was told (not by a GW) that it was 5-poles/boat max at Sardis....guess that's not right? Doesn't really matter, I can't handle more than 5 with my setup, but just clarifying.

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Three poles per person. No boat maximum.

well I have been shorting myself some REAL line crossing fiasco's then.....

thanks for the clarification....

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asked about the life jacket regs on coe lakes. One of the fellows said that having to wear them while the big motor was running is the coe bs. He didn't seem to think much of it.

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I guess this is why we see fishing boats and a lot of ski boats running all over the lake with folks in them with no life jackets on.

I think it's a good rule, probably saved a lot of lives.

Don't get me wrong, I think when you are idling from one spot to the other they wouldn't be required, or when you are loading your boat and you're idling from the bank to the trailer you should be pretty safe, but running wide open you should have them on, especially as fast as some of these boats are.

the day is coming when we have to wear them all the time.

The Mississippi GW's are great folks and very fair to deal with. I tried to show one my fishing license one morning at the ramp to save time on the water and he didn't even want to look at it. Then he came by on the water and shot the bull for 15 minutes and never even checked for it (He already knew I was legal and out of state and I suppose wanted to show southern civility and courtesy). I hate to say it but that would never happen in my state.....I think they get bonus's for tickets over here! I don't break any game laws but if I see someone that does in MS the game warden's get all the cooperation and help that I can give them....they do a great job and are fair to everyone....but if you are breaking the rules....take your licks and don't complain!!!

I have had good experiences with game wardens unlike some. The ones that hang out at teckville have always been very professional too. You would be pretty dumb to come back to that ramp with too many fish or short fish. I only get to fish weekends but I think I have seen them up there every time I have gone this spring/summer.

Love hearing stories like that after so many bad ones on them. Some just seem like they are looking to write a ticket