Trout license

[catman529]

Wow I've been fishing for 7+ years and never knew you needed a trout license...I've put $77 into fishing/hunting licenses this year and will have to renew in March, and I've already caught some trout as you can see in my previous thread, and found out I need this license which I don't have.

I was planning on going out tomorrow with a friend to catch some more trout but I guess we'll have to call that off. Is it worth the $18 to catch some more farm-raised corn-eating trout or should I just forget it and drop a chunk of fresh cut bait for a winter catfish instead? Bass fishing too is also more exciting than farm raised trout.

 

[scn]

Wow I've been fishing for 7+ years and never knew you needed a trout license...I've put $77 into fishing/hunting licenses this year and will have to renew in March, and I've already caught some trout as you can see in my previous thread, and found out I need this license which I don't have.

I was planning on going out tomorrow with a friend to catch some more trout but I guess we'll have to call that off. Is it worth the $18 to catch some more farm-raised corn-eating trout or should I just forget it and drop a chunk of fresh cut bait for a winter catfish instead? Bass fishing too is also more exciting than farm raised trout.

Since you have already violated the law, the ethical thing to do would be to buy your required license whether you go back to fish or not.

 

[TNCharlie]

Catman, just in case you don't catch scn's drift, he is giving you very good information and a HUGE tip on how to avoid a problem here. You have publicly admitted to a mistake, but you can demonstrate that it was out of ignorance without intent to break any laws by getting that trout license now. Otherwise, you may have a difficult time explaining your actions to the proper officials.

Oh, and one more suggeston - pick up a Fishing Guide when the new ones come out and check it for info on the rules and regulations.

 

[jb3]

I don't think he needs to buy a license. He's admitted his mistake and doesn't plan on doing it until he has the correct license.

Cat, it is hard to believe you've never been checked. Trout fishing is fun and I believe it is worth the investment. Try some areas off the beaten path. Finding private land with access to fishing areas is a little easier than hunting land.

 

[catman529]

jb3 I know I thought I would have been checked at some time especially fishing by the dam where people say the GW shows up all the time. but for some reason it hasn't happened...I usually fish in less public areas where I don't think the GW ever goes. Like down hiking trails a distance to a thick spot on the bank where only people on boats may have fished.

I am tight on money but if I get the chance and stop by walmart I might consider getting the trout license so I have it anyway.

 

[catman529]

I'm going to get it today, got to do some xmas shopping at wally world anyway so I'll pick up the trout license while I'm at it

 

[B.D.]

As noted above - since you've already kept trout, and the trout license pays for the stocking program, the right thing to do is buy the license to pay for the trout you kept. TWRA is running an awfully tight budget right now, so it wouldn't be fair to take fish other people paid for.

In future years, remember that if you think you'll only go one time in the year, Tennessee finally has a one-day trout stamp (technically an "all species license") for $11.00 so you don't have to pay the full $18.00 for the full year. If you're going to trout fish more than one day, it makes more sense to just buy the full year.

Edit - also in future years, don't post that you've been fishing without a license, because it makes Steve feel like he's working when he's reading this board. :grin:

bd

 

[go_okfishin]

...I usually fish in less public areas where I don't think the GW ever goes.

Sounds like you are trying to avoid them for some reason.

 

[jb3]

Should he make a donation to twra for the previous years without a license?

 

[knightrider]

why would you admit this on public forum where all they have to do is push print and there is your confession? :whistle:

 

[catman529]

Well I got the trout stamp and will have it from now on when I want to fish for trout, it expires in Feb but it's worth it...

knightrider...I thought I would just come clean and say it, and if someone wants to get me in trouble for it, I don't know why they'd go that far but I guess technically they could. but I think I'd be better off admitting my mistake and buying the license than sneaking around poaching and getting caught doing that.

 

[knightrider]

Well I got the trout stamp and will have it from now on when I want to fish for trout, it expires in Feb but it's worth it...

knightrider...I thought I would just come clean and say it, and if someone wants to get me in trouble for it, I don't know why they'd go that far but I guess technically they could. but I think I'd be better off admitting my mistake and buying the license than sneaking around poaching and getting caught doing that.

i was just asking because i wasnt sure if you had been called out on it or something, i wasnt trying to accuse you of sneaking around poaching fish, i was just trying to bring to your attention that there are some on here that would go to that trouble to see some one get in trouble for not knowing the regs, im glad you got the license and realize the mistake that shows alot for your character.

 

[catman529]

Thanks....just trying to follow the rules. It's for conservation anyway and keeps our hunting and fishing in good shape.

 

[stik]

my opinion, it was an honest mistake that he has made right and that should be the end off it.

 

[The Ol Professor]

I buy a sportsmans license every year. I don't archery hunt but I like that I don't have to worry about 3 or 4 supplemental licenses and that I can put in for quota hunts for no charge. The S-L covers the trout stamp, too. I put $3 in an envelope once a week. Come March 1st I have enough for the license plus $20 left over to buy ammo, ect.

 

[catman529]

That's a great idea...if I start doing the $3/week thing next march maybe I'll end up getting the sportsmans license in 2012.

 

[moondawg]

I buy a sportsmans license every year. I don't archery hunt but I like that I don't have to worry about 3 or 4 supplemental licenses and that I can put in for quota hunts for no charge. The S-L covers the trout stamp, too.

Yep, that's why I buy the sportsman's license. I don't bowhunt, either and I don't do much trout fishing in TN. But there's always a chance I might get to do some trout fishing if I visit the inlaws in East TN. I don't always hunt WMAs, but at least I have it covered under the sportsman's license. I'd rather pay for it all instead of worrying if I got the correct licenses.

It helps that the licenses come up for sale around my birthday in February. My birthday present usually consists of getting a sportsman's license.

Plus, I get to contribute to SCN's and BigGameGuy's salaries and their cool equipment!

 

[Anonymous]

It's a good thing you broke down and got your trout stamp because Santa and the game warden are real tite, the tell each other everything.

You made a honest mistake, if you had been caught without them sevral times youve got a issue, I dont see what the big deal is, like everybody follows the law to the T, dont guess any one ever surpasses the speed limit by a few miles per hour, the way some of ya'll are act'n if you did drive to fast youd have to run a trooper down and volunteer for a public flogging.

 

[4onaside]

Boy,do you just like to talk?lol Maybe it goes with the relatively few number of birthdays that you have had. Hopefully, as you mature you will learn that if you make a mistake, nothing is accomplished by shooting your mouth off about it. If you were ignorant of the law and got away with it without it costing you any money, just count it as your good fortune. What have you accomplished by telling the world about it, after the fact? Just make sure that if you ever go again, have the proper licenses. Its a done deal, and everybody lives happily ever after, both you and the TWRA. lol

 

[stik]

like everybody follows the law to the T, dont guess any one ever surpasses the speed limit by a few miles per hour, the way some of ya'll are act'n if you did drive to fast youd have to run a trooper down and volunteer for a public flogging.

apples and oranges. totally different situation.

 

[catman529]

Appalachia, as I said earlier I went and posted about my mistake so I wouldn't be hiding anything and just to admit my mistake and it could also be a learning experience for someone else who might not know about the trout stamp.

tndrbstr - yeah the rabbit spotlighting was also a mistake (glad I haven't shot any that way) but you quoted my quail post, not my spotlighting post! I was referring to shooting quail with an air rifle during daylight hours (and I believe air rifles are legal for small game). Glad I posted about spotlighting rabbits because I had completely forgotten about the hunting hours, and didn't think that night time might be closed...now I'm looking for rabbits during the day and in the same field where I have seen the quail. Kicked one up last time I went but lost it (not easy with an air rifle you know).

 

[catman529]

Oh and were you quoting my quail post because a lot of shed season happens after quail season closes (feb 28th)? If that's the case I wouldn't shoot anything past the 28th and would only do it during early shed hunts (or rabbit hunts). I'll probably go out a few times this winter during quail/rabbit season.

 

[catman529]

Yeah I understand...I haven't memorized all the season dates but if theres something specific I want to hunt I will check first (small game I mean). I've been into hunting maybe a year only and it's not easy remembering all the regs but that's why I have the hunting guide.

 

[4onaside]

You are just lucky that you live where you do. If you had committed the violation in Colorado for example, you would have already been cited and ticketed, with your public confession as documentation. Do you not realize that the law would have no trouble tracking you down thru this forum? And I'm not kidding. I have seen example after example of Colorado dept of wildlife people going to great pains to apprehend offenders, even in other states. And then publicizing their success! So the next time that you either willfully or ignorantly violate a game law, I would suggest one approach. Shhhhhhh! lol

 

[catman529]

Thanks for the tip...I may edit the original post but I thought I would at least admit it to the TNdeer folks so if it was ever discovered that I had fished without a license, it wouldn't have been a secret beforehand which would have made it seem a lot more like I was trying to poach or something.

Edit: nevermind lol, I can't edit the original post...didn't know there was a time slot on editing :crazy:

 

[Anonymous]

tbdrbstr, I'm entirely capable of read'n, actually read quite a bit,been keep'n up with this since day one, now my spell'n is a different story but I'm certain ya'll get it.

tndrbstr has a valid point that keep'n up with the regs can save ya a bunch of grief, if a warden had caught you he'd probably wrote ya up for it(its ther job), IT IS OUR RESPONSABILTY to keep up with the regs, I keep sevral of the little free books around so I can recheck the regs if in doubt.

But some people act like the game nazi's are gonna kick the door down then drag ya out in the front yard and give ya beat'n so they can make a example out of ya.

RECAP... get one of the free booklets to read over and keep around for future reference.(consider it required read'n)
If you havent been hunt'n/fish'n long you mite want to find a mentor to help out, maybe some of us here could help with that.
be mindfull of what ya post because the taliban reads this stuff (sarcastic joke).

Who is without sin let him cast the first stone.

 

[7mm08]

It's far cheaper than ONE round of golf. Entertainment for a year is the way I look at it, and not a food stamp.

 

[Anonymous]

Good point.

 

[4onaside]

It's far cheaper than ONE round of golf. Entertainment for a year is the way I look at it, and not a food stamp.

Any fishing is cheaper than a round of golf, well, unless you include salt water charters. Certainly a day's trout fishing on the Harpeth river, including the trout stamp, is not much more than a round or two of minature golf! lol

 

[B.D.]

But some people act like the game nazi's are gonna kick the door down then drag ya out in the front yard and give ya beat'n so they can make a example out of ya.

I think SCN's response early in the thread clearly demonstrates that this is not true. I thought he handled it very diplomatically. My experience has always been that TWRA is very conscientious about trying to enforce the laws firmly, but in a common-sense manner, so that they make their interaction with sportsmen a good experience for all.

bd