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[bentrod]

Spent most of last week fishing and observing the Vedder.  One of the days was spent with a local guide.  Many of the conversations we had were about fishing techniques and in many cases the lack there of.  I was amazed that the local enforcement agency did not shut down the meat hole because of all the blatent violations going on there.  I am in no way going racial here, but what I was told was that the DFO only targets fishermen that can afford fines. 

I have quite a bit of bling when it comes to my gear and have been questioned about my hooks etc. by DFO while others around me (not wearing simms and of other ethnic history) went un-questioned. 

Can there actually be something to this accusation?  I certainly hope not.  The focus of enforcement should not be making money, but to stop violations and teach ethical fishing. 

[charles]

One would think if someone can afford highend gears and all, he/she will do everything to avoid a ticket and having all the gears taken away...

They can't shut down the meat hole because of fishing method.  As long as they don't make it illegal, ppl will continue to do just that to catch fish.

[bentrod]

I know they won't shut down the hole, but by posting a DFO officer there 24/7, it would in effect shut the hole down.  Not only is snagging illegal, but attempting to snag is also illegal.  Sure it will push those fishermen, (I use the term lightly) elsewhere.  However, at least the fish won't be as concentrated where they go.  Those folks (80 + % of them) at the meat hole are blatently breaking the law.  I saw people with their weights attached directly to their hooks. 

This was the case in Washington at the mouth of the Okanogan River last year.  The WDFW actually had the balls to shut that section down.  They found that issuing a number of violations was still not good enough.

[Fish Assassin]

I am in no way going racial here, but what I was told was that the DFO only targets fishermen that can afford fines. 

Sure hope it's not true. How would they know whether they can afford the fine ? Have you seen some of the trucks and camping units some of the fishermen drive on the Vedder ?

[bentrod]

Yes, I have seen some of the rigs that some fishermen use.  However, I would venture to guess that those people with the expensive rigs are not wearing ratty hip boots and using old spinning rods and reels with the reels on top being reeled backwards.  They are also not using braided line and wearing garbage bags for rain gear.  In the US, it is not just a case of getting fined, it is also a case of loosing your gear.  A couple years back, a man in Skagit County lost his truck and boat for keeping a chinook on the Skagit.  Let me tell you, not many people keep chinook's on the Skagit anymore.  I think the difference here is clearly political will.

[Hook Set]

I don't think shutting down the meat hole is the answer just because those kind of ethics are throughout the entire river. All of the people that fish there would just move to another spot. And how do they know who has money and who doesn't. Don't they realize that half of the fisherman look like bums 

[bentrod]

Read the previous posts.  For the most part, it's not that difficult to tell.  I'll put it another way.  When you walk downtown, do you think the guy in rags has money or is it the guy in the Benz?  Who is more likely to pay the fine?  All I'm saying is that I hope what the local guide was telling me is not true. 

[stlhd4ever]

Don't think that is true. I never get checked co's always walk by me. I've seen the co's targeting the guys that don't look like die hard fisherman. Up at the limit hole with their rubber boots and huge nets.

[bentrod]

That's good to hear.  However, why don't they post someone at these holes 24/7?  So you might push them somewhere else.  But, why not make it a little tougher on some of these people. 

[stlhd4ever]

I think they drive the whole river back and forth throughout the day 4 of them. Usually see them meeting at vedder crossing

[Rodney]

Keep in mind that there are undercovers working at some of the heavily fished spots too.

[stlhd4ever]

had no idea about that

[bentrod]

With so many officers, it's surprising that there are any issues with law breakers at all.  Unless...