Illegal YoYo's on Conway - It's Starting Up Again

Went out for a spell yesterday for the first time after an operation I had a few weeks back. While just riding around and scouting, saw at least 60 yoyo's in the trees on the east side of the trail just a bit south of Dix Creek where the docks start and in the cyprus stand out to the west of this same general area. Fished the stand of cyprus for awhile, noting at least two yoyo's hanging from every tree in the stand. Hooks down in the water, not a one of them baited. All were coded 872 TWI. None had a phone number, a name, nor an address. Not a soul on the water anywhere in site for at least the hour I fished in the vicinity.

Need some cutting to be going on by enforcement. Just saying.

Recently I saw dried out Catfish hanging from some on Lake Dardenelle .Common to see unattended most places . Why are they not outlawed on the lakes with length limits anyway ?

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Originally Posted by NIMROD

Recently I saw dried out Catfish hanging from some on Lake Dardenelle .Common to see unattended most places . Why are they not outlawed on the lakes with length limits anyway ?

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Probably because enough people won't gripe to game and fish to get them to change the laws. The only other solution is for the illegal ones to fall off the tree limbs every time you drive by one.

We are aware of this issue on Lake Conway and other lakes. This post has been forwarded to the local enforcement officers. I have been in communications with the local Captain of Enforcement in our area. We have been talking about how to change the existing passive fishing gear regulations. We were too late to get the changes into the regulation process this year but there will be some changes proposed the following year. I have noticed lately that the publics concerns that are brought up on the AGFC Facebook page get peoples attention. On this forum, most recognize the issue and because it is brought up ever year, I think some are getting numb to the issue. I guess what I'm trying to say is that there may be better avenues to bring up your concern than on this fishing forum. I only know of three biologist s that look at this forum. Issues brought up though other avenues, such as Facebook, get read by a lot of people. I don't know much about Facebook, but if you could post a picture, you know the saying, a picture is worth a thousand words. Please send the pictures to me as well. I have a large folder that I am collecting for future use. Thanks.

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Originally Posted by D10

We are aware of this issue on Lake Conway and other lakes. This post has been forwarded to the local enforcement officers. I have been in communications with the local Captain of Enforcement in our area. We have been talking about how to change the existing passive fishing gear regulations. We were too late to get the changes into the regulation process this year but there will be some changes proposed the following year. I have noticed lately that the publics concerns that are brought up on the AGFC Facebook page get peoples attention. On this forum, most recognize the issue and because it is brought up ever year, I think some are getting numb to the issue. I guess what I'm trying to say is that there may be better avenues to bring up your concern than on this fishing forum. I only know of three biologist s that look at this forum. Issues brought up though other avenues, such as Facebook, get read by a lot of people. I don't know much about Facebook, but if you could post a picture, you know the saying, a picture is worth a thousand words. Please send the pictures to me as well. I have a large folder that I am collecting for future use. Thanks.

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Thanks Matt. I am probably going out again tomorrow. If so, I will get you pictures, including the info, or lack thereof, on the yoyos if they are still hanging unattended.

Paul

Also, how do you get to the AGFC facebook page? I will post there later this week as well.

I found it.

same guy in that area every year, one whack with good sharp knife and leave on the bottom of the lake


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Looks like a License plate number only on those YoYo's?

I am seeing them unattended on Lake Nimrod in the Negro Creek area and west

Sad thing... people gonna mess it up for those of us that enjoy yo-yo's and follow the AGFC regulations regarding them. If I leave mine overnight, I am always there before daybreaks to check them.

Then ticket the individuals, why punish everyone for some folks who can't follow the laws. I don't fish with yo yo's, but I'm sure there is plenty of law abiding folks who do.

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Originally Posted by Trackdog21

Sad thing... people gonna mess it up for those of us that enjoy yo-yo's and follow the AGFC regulations regarding them. If I leave mine overnight, I am always there before daybreaks to check them.

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I have no problem with people that put them out legally and tend them within sight and sound according to the regs. I do have a big problem with jerks who think they can hang them and leave them. If no one is around, as required by regs during daylight hours, I consider them abandoned, or illegal, or both. Those tend to fall off the limbs to the bottom of the lake if I happen to be around.

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Originally Posted by Hammmerhead

Looks like a License plate number only on those YoYo's?

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whatever it is it is illegal!

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Originally Posted by ibmack

whatever it is it is illegal!

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I didn't say it wasn't. BUT, you have an Auto tag to possibly figure out who is doing it....

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Originally Posted by ibmack

I have no problem with people that put them out legally and tend them within sight and sound according to the regs. I do have a big problem with jerks who think they can hang them and leave them. If no one is around, as required by regs during daylight hours, I consider them abandoned, or illegal, or both. Those tend to fall off the limbs to the bottom of the lake if I happen to be around.

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that's what I do. I stay within eye sight during daylight. I will only leave them after dark. As per AGFC regs.

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Originally Posted by Trackdog21

that's what I do. I stay within eye sight during daylight. I will only leave them after dark. As per AGFC regs.

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those don't fall off the limbs when I go by :biggrin

But with a length limit on some lakes appears they could be ticketed for unattended tackle , short fish if under sized and wasting fish if ruined when caught . But rarely ever hear of anyone ticketed . Yoyos are a good way for some to harvest a mess of fish but most don't really need them that bad . Many small lakes were built for sport fishing not just feeding a few by any means .:twocents

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Originally Posted by ibmack

whatever it is it is illegal!

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nope."Yo-yos must be labeled with the user's name and address, driver's license number or current vehicle license number."

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Originally Posted by Gomer Snerd

nope."Yo-yos must be labeled with the user's name and address, driver's license number or current vehicle license number."

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uh, it is not the numbering that is the issue, it is the illegality of hanging them and leaving them and not being within sight and sound during daylight hours.

of course, I missed that part. Just saw the comment as to how they were marked.

I will almost bet its the guy who lives in the first house dock you come to south of the opening of Dix Creek. Worlds worst at putting out Yo Yo's and leaving them there every year. needs a visit from an AGFC officer.

I think it is the guy in the trailer with a white truck. May be both. One guy has now started putting up red yoyo's in the trees closer to the shore. He leaves his up as well. I agree it's not going to stop until an enforcement officer actually pays them a visit. The guy with the red ones is probably in sight and sound from his house if he lives right on the water.

Anyone out on Conway today? The local wildlife officers cleaned house today. Hopefully this will help the situation out there.

Thanks for all your help and attention Matt. Also, thank the enforcement officers. Paul

I was there today and was checked by the game wardens. Both were really nice guys, and had about 80 yo yo s when I spoke to them. We talked about the yoyos for a bit and it sounded like some
changes may be coming down the pipeline. I've been fishing that area over the course of a week now and have talked to several guys camped and running yoyos. Met one crappie.com member and got some good advice, thanks Robert.

best advice is to be legal and then no problems.

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Originally Posted by farmermike

I was there today and was checked by the game wardens. Both were really nice guys, and had about 80 yo yo s when I spoke to them. We talked about the yoyos for a bit and it sounded like some
changes may be coming down the pipeline. I've been fishing that area over the course of a week now and have talked to several guys camped and running yoyos. Met one crappie.com member and got some good advice, thanks Robert.

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Your very welcome Mike I hope my advice helped!

listen to Swamp Rat, Mike. He is a decent crappie fisherman and one of the best drum catchers i have ever seen in the pool :Rofl

We kept 12 all together. Turned several 9.5 inchers back. My better half showed up with her daughter after you left, and the daughter had fun operating the dip net. Hopefully the'll close the gates at the dam, I noticed some stumps sticking out of the water that weren't before. I'm more than ready for that new boat, my backs killing me from sitting in the little one.
FYI- I was legal, and fishing with rod and reels. Everyone I met that were fishing yoyo's there were courteous, friendly, and doing things the right way as far as I could tell. Obviously some other folks weren't hence the game wardens having 80 of them by the time I talked to them.

Was out on Lake Conway Saturday and I witnessed two Game and Fish Enforcement officers Collecting Cypress tree ornaments. Thanks to them for cleaning up the yo-yo's. They got a really nice collection from what I saw them cut down, and this was in just a small area. I could only imagine what they got if they worked the whole lake. The wind was a son of a gun, I am sure it made collecting cypress tree ornaments difficult

Matt, how could we go about thanking these two officers for cleaning up some of the mess? I understand that is part of their job, but still ...

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Originally Posted by ibmack

Matt, how could we go about thanking these two officers for cleaning up some of the mess? I understand that is part of their job, but still ...

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It was four officers and I already told them we (all of us) are appreciative. Their office is down the hall from mine, so I guess you could always stop by and tell them thanks.

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Originally Posted by ibmack

listen to Swamp Rat, Mike. He is a decent crappie fisherman and one of the best drum catchers i have ever seen in the pool :Rofl

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I am the drum king of the pool!!!

Here is a write up from the AGFC Arkansas Outdoors.


Lake Conway operation removes yo-yos, issues citations
MAYFLOWER – Arkansas Game and Fish Commission wildlife officers held a special operation on Lake Conway to remove illegally set yo-yos and investigate continued issues with passive fishing devices. Officers removed 140 yo-yos during the patrol and made dozens of angler contacts during the weekend, resulting in 18 citations.
According to Capt. Matt Flowers, enforcement supervisor for central Arkansas, the increased enforcement effort was the result of comments from many concerned anglers and AGFC staff about the amount of yo-yos being left unattended during the day.
“We held a cleanup almost a year ago, and cut loose more than 300 yo-yos during that effort,” Flowers said. “The 140 collected during this operation have been placed since then.”
Yo-yos may be left unattended at night, but anglers using them during the day must remain within sight or sound of the device. Yo-yos also must be labeled with the owner’s name and address, driver’s license number or current vehicle license number. When abandoned, they can be a danger to fish, birds and other animals that can become entangled in their lines or hooks.
“Nearly all citations issued during the operation were for unlabeled or unattended yo-yos,” Flowers said. “There’s nothing wrong with using them, but the regulations are in place to protect wildlife and prevent our lakes from becoming eyesores. We did find a cormorant that had been wrapped up in a yo-yo and drowned while we were on the water this weekend.”
Flowers says he appreciates the reports from the public about the issue of abandoned fishing devices.
“It’s safe to say we’ll be stepping up our efforts on a regular basis with this issue more in the future,” Flowers said. “Anyone who sees abandoned yo-yos or other fishing violations can call the enforcement hotline and leave an anonymous report. The number is 1-800-482-9262.”