McNary fisherman watch out

[Lure Dragger]

The sherriff patrol is going to be out in force writing tickets for the next couple of weeks so watch out. I know this because I got a $175 ticket this morning and saw him write 5 other tickets shortly after. I was sitting in my boat about 40 yds. off the dock above the dam about 6:00 am today letting my trolling motor warm up. I hadn't turned my running lights on yet because I was so close to the dock but I did have my dome light on in the boat that puts out a lot of light. He came roaring up red lights flashing and gave me a ticket for not having my running lights on. He also told me that because of a flood of phone calls to the sherrifs office frpm people complaining about all the violations on the river above the dam that they are really going to crack down on people. What a crock. We are such dangerous criminals. He also said that he is going to start cracking down on the night fisherman. He said that while fishing at night you have to stay between the red buoy upriver from the locks and the washington shore or you will get a ticket. He seemed to think it was funny and said you never know when I might be out here.

The only good thing about today is that I did catch twoo fish. 30 pound chinook and a 18 pound steelhead.

[FEAR NO FISH!]

It is about time they start cracking down on the people who insist on trolling around with no lights on. I think they went a little overboard on you though. I have seen many near misses with the people who think they are in stealth mode. As far as their line of enforcement, they are off by about 200 yards. The only other violations I have seen are the people who think the fishing is better right next to the dam. [img]graemlins/stupid.gif[/img] It is funny how they wait till the end of the season rather then show up when all the violations are taking place.

[Irie1]

I am confused about the boundries now. Does this mean that lane of travel to the locks is off limits? I agree with you fnf I have seen the idiots right next to the spill gates. Makes no sense to me why they would be there.

[Lure Dragger]

Trolling out in the river with no lights I could understand and I wouldn't be able to say anything. But sitting within 40 yards of the dock letting my trolling motor warm up is a completely different story. The other tickets he wrote were actually after daylight and he still wrote them up for not having their running lights on. He should be real proud of himself.

As far as the guy that always trolls across the face of the dam at night, he did get wrote up last year. He got tickets for no running lights, trolling inside the buoy line, no life jackets, and one other thing that I can't remember. All times 4 because they had 4 fish. He had it coming.

[1pump]

That's pretty crappy. He should have just yelled at you to turn your lights on. I'm sure you would've gotten the point. It's great that they're actually responding to complaints, but hanging paper is another matter entirely.

I got a ticket a few years ago for no lights early in the a.m., but it was because I didn't have any, not because I didn't turn them on. The cop told me it was a "fix it" ticket, so I installed lights, had an inspection done, and the ticket was dismissed.

[DF]

I have been told before by our local department that it dosent have to be dark to need your lights...around dusk its required. And not to flame anyone, but I don't blame him. Sitting 40 feet of the dock with no lights you can still get smashed

[Pasco_steelhdr]

I have been told before by our local department that it dosent have to be dark to need your lights...around dusk its required. And not to flame anyone, but I don't blame him. Sitting 40 feet of the dock with no lights you can still get smashed

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">Except at McNary on the Oregon side sitting 40 feet off the dock is neraly like sitting in front of your porch with the light on. The dam and the parking lot have plenty of light. &lt;Just a&gt; revenue enhancing ticket if you ask me.

Plenty of guys are going to get dinged for night fishing on the OR side. Thanks for the heads up. I have been known to start pulling a plug just a wee bit early after leaving the dock.

[ 11-30-2003, 04:04 PM: Message edited by: skein ]

[FEAR NO FISH!]

By all rights and according to the regs, anybody launching from the Oregon side of the river can be ticketed. The regs state you have to honor the regulations from the state you are launching from. Since you cannot fish for steelhead, salmon or sturgeon in the state of Oregon unless it is between the hours of 60 minutes prior to sunrise or until 60 minutes after sunset, that makes it pretty clear. Oregon needs to wake up and allow angling on the Oregon side of the river. Think of the fisheries that would be available. John Day, Deschutes, Dalles, etc. It is a thriving fishery that produces a lot of income for all of the involved businesses. Since ODFW is hurting for money it would be a win win situation. [img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img]
As far as policing it, all it takes is one boat and 1 officer. If ODFW can't afford a boat, they could station an officer at the boat ramp and he could do the checking. Can't be much simpler.

[kayakfisher]

Steve,

It was my understanding, last time I read the regs, that it was of no consequence which side you launch from, but on the Columbia you need to follow the regulations of the state whoose license you are fishing with, correct?

By the way...where is the boat launch on the Washington side?

thanks,
m.

[Kentucky Hog Hunter]

Leo,

Bummer... I see it over here on the west side all the time people actually deserving tickets when they didn't have lights...

He definately went overboard in your case though... Just goes to show you that the economy probably has something to do with it... sad but true.

On a good note, I know you are starting to get into some fish up there... I think I need to come up there and join you for a weekend very soon.

[Pasco_steelhdr]

The regs state you have to honor the regulations from the state you are launching from.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">Actually the regs state that you must honor the regs in the state you are fishing in. Launching in Oregon, transporting fish after dark, etc isnt illegal. Just can fish.

Guess I need to bone up and see if the state line is middle of the river, mid navigation channel, or some arbirtary line drawn up years ago. Should probably look up penalties too. A ticket for poaching might just lead to the boat and gear impounded on top of a big fat fine :depressed:

[FEAR NO FISH!]

Kayakfisher,
I just read the regs. It says you have to honor the laws in the state you are fishing. There has never been a clearcut answer at McNary, where the dividing line is between the states. I have emailed both wdfw and odfw and it is still a grey area as both states answers were vague. Now the sheriff is saying you can't go past the red buoy at the end of the wingwall? I guess I will get my day in court if ticketed. Nowhere in the WDFW or odfw regs does it show the dividing line. Anybody that does get ticketed should have a good chance of beating the bs ticket.

[Pasco_steelhdr]

Wouldnt it be the official state boundary line?

Will see if I have a good USGS or BLM Land Use survey map of that area. Will let you know what I find.

[ctflyfish]

In the washington regs, the statement about anglers cmplying with the state they are fishing is on p. 63. The closed waters above McNary is at the top of p.65.

[Hogmaster]

Paco has it correct - You can launch in Oregon and return with fish to Oregon - all at night. The "but" is that the angling and tagging must be done in Washington.

At the time you return to port on the Oregon side it is a possession issue. And you are allowed to possess those fish just as legally as if you drove over the Hood River bridge to fish from the shore on the Washington side at night then returned.

In most cases the two states share common regulations so it is easy to decifer. You can launch from either state and mark fish on either state's tag during the day. But at night they must be fished and retained on the Washington side and tagged with the Washington tag. Again though, launching to get to and returning to an Oregon port is an issue of transport. And that is not illegal.

I spent a long time studying this one with both states, but if you think about it, it makes sense.

Now, Yakaman, we all know you want to come over and catch all the Oregon fish in that floating carnival now known as the "Booming Pimpmoboat!" That's why you want the Oregon side opened!

:grin: :grin: :grin:

PS- Seems a tad overzealous on the lights. Hopefully the court will be lienient...




[ 11-30-2003, 10:11 PM: Message edited by: Hogmaster ]

[Born to Fish]

Steve, you better watch out, they might tag you and the Pimpmobile either for too much lighting, or a noise violation because of the boombox.

[ 11-30-2003, 01:00 PM: Message edited by: Born to Fish ]

[Southfork]

I would love to see the expression on the cops face when he see's the "PIMPMOBILE" in battle mode.

*** is that! [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img]

How many hours on them Steve?

[ 12-01-2003, 04:13 AM: Message edited by: Southfork ]

[FEAR NO FISH!]

ctflyfish,
The boundaries they are talking about is the deadline below the dam, not the boundaries above the dam. If you have ever been there you would know what I mean.
Southpork,
Over 100 hours on those badboys!

[Lure Dragger]

According to the sherriff the boundary is the center of the navigation channel. Which according him actually the night fishing boundary is even closer to the washington shore than the red buoy. He just said the washingtoin buoy to be a little flexible.

[Irie1]

Gee, I wonder if his flexibility is off by about 40 yards [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img]

[FEAR NO FISH!]

Which Sheriff department was it? Getting all my ducks in a row before I do the civil disobedience
thing. :grin: