Don't be poochin' round here!

The Russian is always barbless.   It also easy to tell what people are fishing for...steelhead gear is steelhead gear...there is nothing else in the river right now.  A report card is also required and its common knowledge...been that way for years.  If he doesn't have one, and has a barbed hook he IS a poocher.  STICK A FORK IN HIM!!!

IMO rules for fishing are inherently complicated. It's just the nature of what you're doing. There's no way of having people to take classes to learn the ropes of fishing rules so the only way to teach them is to have good sized penalties to make the public aware that you can't do whatever you want. Taking advantage of a fishery is too easy. As to whether it's a true mistake and the fisherman was totally clueless or not is up to the warden IMO.

Z

Is Mahi a sheriff or a warden?

Sheriff

The Russian is always barbless.   It also easy to tell what people are fishing for...steelhead gear is steelhead gear...there is nothing else in the river right now.  A report card is also required and its common knowledge...been that way for years.  If he doesn't have one, and has a barbed hook he IS a poocher.  STICK A FORK IN HIM!!!

Sean,

So you can't possibly catch anything in the Russian besides Steelhead with a spinner, a plastic worm, a jig, a Kastmaster, a Wiggle Wart, etc...? I know someone that uses a Loomis ST1025C and an ABU 6500 for fishing for Stripers in the Delta. Should he be charged for not having a Steelhead card, because he's using "Steelhead" gear?

No smallies in the Russian right now? Where did they go? Did they return to the ocean? Is there really not a single legal species besides Steelhead in that water right now? Remember, lest we be hoist by our own petard, that we really want to fight for the idea that if we say we are fishing for "X", then the burden of proof should lie on the State to prove otherwise. This could have a direct bearing on Salmon fishing in SMCA's, could it not?

Again, this may be a completely righteous bust, I still believe innocent until proven guilty. And that fines/punishment should be commensurate with the impact to the resource. If there were no fish involved, then it isn't a "hangin'" offense. Unlike some of the more recent stings...

Regards,
Scott

Scott:

There are no smallmouth in Ukiah.  We have steelhead, juvenile steelhead, suckers, hardhead, and pikeminnow and thats it.  I have dove the entire river several times for work, and you don't see LMB or SMB until you get below the canyon and near Cloverdale.

If a guy is on the river this time of year with drift gear and a spin and glow what do you think he's targeting?  The town is full of folks like this, that knows there is no warden in town anymore, and I for one, APPLAUD Mahi for getting out of his car and helping the resource.

Whatever this particular pending pooching case, and whatever punishment fits a crime, just want to say a big Thanks to Dan/Mahi, and support our local Sheriffs. 

I too had a very pleasant run-in with Sgt Mahi last year while driving the Ukiah last spring at 12:30 in the morning. We were traveling home (fishing poles hanging out over the tailgate)  late one night after a long day of fishing the Chetco and had to stop for gas. At a stop sign I spotted the cruiser and made double sure to come to a full stop. Moments later we were summoned to the curb. He had spotted the fishing poles and wondered what we were up to at that time of the morning while informing us we had a brake light out.  With that we gave him our fishing report and were on our way. I had not yet heard of NCKA or the conversation might of gone on and on.  We were very lucky we were not out "pooching" and that time of night.

  I can't stop laughing at Danglin's quote               "bang......halt.....ops"

After reading all the posts in this thread, now I know why 12 people can't seem to convict anyone in this state. We are all over the board, which is a typical cross section of our society.

I don't think you will find many law enforcement officers in my county who view the world in black and white. Most good cops find that here is plenty of room in the gray area to work with, so we can usually judge when someone needs a warning to correct the behavior, and when someone needs a ticket or an arrest. Then again, we all have areas where our discretion is removed by either policy or law.

We've all made mistakes in judgment over the years, which many times can be overlooked, but ignorance of the law is no defense, especially when the local news paper runs a front page story (with photo's) of the local steelhead fisheries.

CHEERS!

I too had a very pleasant run-in with Sgt Mahi last year while driving the Ukiah last spring at 12:30 in the morning. We were traveling home (fishing poles hanging out over the tailgate)  late one night after a long day of fishing the Chetco and had to stop for gas. At a stop sign I spotted the cruiser and made double sure to come to a full stop. Moments later we were summoned to the curb. He had spotted the fishing poles and wondered what we were up to at that time of the morning while informing us we had a brake light out.  With that we gave him our fishing report and were on our way. I had not yet heard of NCKA or the conversation might of gone on and on.  We were very lucky we were not out "pooching" and that time of night.

  I can't stop laughing at Danglin's quote               "bang......halt.....ops"

I remember that night. Wow! I guess I'm not as old as I thought I was...

CHEERS!

If you would have jailed them when you had the chance we'd all be doing a lot better in AOTY!

Way to go Mahi! Book'em Dano!

Nice job, Mahi.  (No kicks in the nutsack any more!)

I love how everyone's embraced the term pooching. 

Z

Dan is THE MAN!   I'd better remember that card if/when I try that steelie stuff.....Dan don't fool around!
and that is a good thing!  
likeF'INGthePOOCH!(er)

If you would have jailed them when you had the chance we'd all be doing a lot better in AOTY!

nonfunctional taillighting could lead up to worsening habits you know!