How many times have the DNR pulled up next to you?

This is the first year I have fished the St. Croix from a boat, and so far, I’d say the river has owned me. It’s been feast or famine on my ventures on the river – mostly famine recently. I’ve fished the river from William O’Brian S.P. all the way down to St. Croix Bluffs (not in the same day of course). I definitely still have a lot to learn being new the river, boating (1st time ever having a boat – my father’s though), and using electronics. This site has helped a lot in terms of learning techniques and sometimes with locations.

Now onto my question…

I’ve been on the St. Croix River like 15 times this year (at different times of the day), and I (including my crew of 1-3 others) have been checked for license(s) and fish 7 times – 6 by the WI DNR and 1 time by the MN DNR. Seems like a high rate of occurance, so I want to get other St. Croix fishers/boater’s input. Never once did I have any illegal fish nor not enough pfd’s. So give me some of your input and please vote (based on this year only), too.

WELL I DON’T CARE HOW MANY TIMES THE WI DNR QUESTIONS ME OR ANY OTHER LEGAL FISHERMAN. IV’E GONE OUT OF MY WAY TO WAVE, OR SAY THANKS TO THESE PROTECTORS OF THE RIVER–OF COURSE MINE’S THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. I GUESS I AVERAGE 2-3 TIMES A YR AND THAT INCLUDES ICE FISHING TOO. THE ONE LAW I’D WISH THEY’D BE MORE INVOLVED IN IS THE DOUBLE DECKER PARTY BOATS WITH 30 PEOPLE ON THEM–TELL ME THEY HAVE 30 LEGAL LIFE VESTS??

Hey! Welcome to the posting side of IDA…FWA!

The St Croix is the most patroled waterway in the nation (by number of Departments)….and from personal expriance by actual enforcement.

On fishing opener two or three years ago, I was checked 3 times one morning…all different people.

It does seem to be a little annoying…but it’s better than the alternative. …and when I get stopped…since they check boats up and down the river…I aways ask for a fishing report….

If there was a lake on the dark side of the moon that had fish in it and I found a way to get there, it wouldn’t take more than an hourt and I’d get checked. I must look like I’m guilty of somethig because the CO’s always stop by and say hello.

I don’t mind. I don’t break any laws and they’re just doing their job. But those guys always seem to find me!

Rootski

I run a bass boat. They go out of there way to find me.

Thats ok tough. I would rather have it that way than them not be out there. But I would sure like to see them pull over the idiots that run 50ft from me on plane! Boy does that urine me off!

Little off topic…but that’s about par for me…

Last year the only time my temper was elevated was fishing the Croix. I was anchor inside the channel about 50 feet from the red nun. This was at 11 pm on a weekday..in Oct. NO boat traffic that late at night.
A house boat drove between me and the nun. I thought the guy was nuts as the whole channel was open…but took a deep breath and said…crazy fool….

A half hour later he came back and did the same thing! This time he got a million candle power in the eyes.

The first time could have been a newbie error…although I don’t know why a newbie would be out after dark…the second time…he was just being at weiner.

Sure wish a CO or Sheriff would have been around that day.

National Park Service, MNDNR, WIDNR, MN Sherriffs, WI Sheriffs, and U.S. Coast Gaurd. I have talked (Been Checked) by all of them with the excepting of the Coast Gaurd but I have seen them down there like last weekend at Lumber Jack Days in Stillsville. Seems like this year there big thing is to have your throwable out instead of in storage. Word to the wise NEVER break any law on the river! Brian is right they often have the up to the minute fishing reports.

Their favorite trick is to check you in the Kinni or Catfish, then they speed out and make a big loop and sneak back in when you think they’re gone. Sneaky!

Ferny.

p.s. Since 1991 I have seen them check exactly 1 big cruiser he made them haul out all life jackets and such! They always seem to check fishing boats.

Let them check as much as much as they like! It is better to have them there, then to not have them there.

My experience on the Mississippi pool 4, is that they are normally really nice people, who appreciate a little forethought on your part. If I see them, I make sure I have my license in hand, life jackets available, throwable visible, and a smile on my face I once had a guy follow me for 1/4 mile cause I was trolling and he didn’t want to bug me. I didn’t even realize he was a warden until he pulled up.

They are doing a tough job, but they will never be able to get all the idiots out there.

I would really like to see them step up inforcement on them GD jet skis flying past you about 10 feet away

I can count on 1 hand the amount of times I’ve been checked by a CO……..and 2 of those 5 times have been in Canada…….

Don’t know why, but I never get checked……..Maybe it has a lot to do with throwing the big baits for muskies…….but even during my walleye fishing, it just doesn’t happen.

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Don’t know why, but I never get checked……..

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Because they are afraid of you! (Gary makes the Jolly Green Giant look like a midget…speaking of midgets..did you get your computer fixed?)

It’s funny you mentioned the visable throwing deice Ferny. One CO said that it has to be out…in sight…the law says “accessable”. I’ve asked many CO’s and Sheriff Deputies (on the water) what is the law (whether it can be below the deck or does it have to be out) and I get two differant answers.
Guess it’s a moot point…because in my eyes, if it’s ever needed for me or a loved one in my boat…it has to be right there..right now. I have mine attached to the access cover in the bow of my lund.

FWA,

I share in your implied frustration. I don’t buy the “I’m always legal, go ahead and check me” attitude from fellow fishermen. To me, it’s a simple violation of my right to be free and left alone. Unless there is probable cause to pull me over “Leave me the heck alone”! I will put up with only one stop in a day. Second time..well, I tend to get a little pissy.

I also agree that their target should be the tuna and cigar boats. I never see them get stopped – Never! Boating deaths on the Croix are mostly attributed to recreational boaters, NOT FISHERMEN!!!!

Further more. I will not under any circumstance comply with any request from the summer Nazi corps they call “Park Service” These jerks fresh out of their boot camps can go stick it!

>>Rant Over<<

-J.

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I can count on 1 hand the amount of times I’ve been checked by a CO……..and 2 of those 5 times have been in Canada…….

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Didn’t know the Croix flowed through Canada….

-J.

no Jon……..I was talking TOTAL time on all the water……..Never on the Croix…..

3 times on opener for me on the Croix! Twice by the same crew. The 2nd time by that crew they realized their mistake and quickly waved us on. I tell people that my experience on the Croix is 50-50 chance of being checked. Always friendly officers, very fair, and I prefer this than the alternative. The Croix, in my opinion, is one big party spot and needs to be controlled very tightly.

I’ve never been checked by a CO on any other body of water in my life, but since moving to Hudson and fishing the Croix, I’ve been checked 10-12 times in the last three years there.

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Their favorite trick is to check you in the Kinni or Catfish, then they speed out and make a big loop and sneak back in when you think they’re gone. Sneaky!

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This has happened twice this year by the WI dnr folks. I was south of the Kinni narrows. After they come out of the “no wake” zone, they pull up, ask for licenses, look and see my throwable in plain view, take a peek into the live wells, actually make me show them that I have 2 pfd’s (for myself and my brother, my kid always wears his), ask where the fire extinguisher is, and then they do a big loop around me to the WI side (Kinni bay) and after 5 minutes, do another loop back to the narrows in 5 minutes.

Last Saturday, during my first encounter with the MN dnr, it was the same routine except for that 1 of the 2 dnr guys really wanted to inspect my empty live wells. He stuck his hand in the rear live well, swirled the water around to make sure I wasn’t lieing about being skunked that day. He probably did that because I joked with him and asked him if he could tell me where people were catching all the illegal fish. He thought I said “we were catching illegal fish” so I repeated my joke. He didn’t laugh…

I’m mostly with Jon on this one. The second time I was about to be searched on the same morning this year, by the same CO’s, I was ticked and didnt hide it. Although they didnt remember me they did back off. I slightly resent being hassled. Its an inconvienence. I’ll always comply but I would be lying if I said it didnt bother me. If they can thoroughly check a guy in a boat then they should be able to do more with ice houses.

I have a question regarding dnr/co’s getting on your boat and checking live wells. Can they do this legally?? I mean, if you get pulled over on a street/highway, the cop would need probable cause to search your vehicle. I do tell them whether or not I have caught and kept any fish and if they want to measure them, I believe they should ask for my permission first. Like wise, when I say I do not have any fish, again, they should ask first instead of just telling me to open up the live wells. In both cases, I would comply because I measure everything I keep and not keep, so I’m not worried. Do we as boaters not have any similar rights on the water as compared to the road??

On the Minnesota side, you can refuse any search or questioning. If the CO wants to push it, tell him to get a warrant. The courts have ruled consistently on this issue.

-J.

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I also agree that their target should be the tuna and cigar boats. I never see them get stopped – Never! Boating deaths on the Croix are mostly attributed to recreational boaters, NOT FISHERMEN!!!!

-J.

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I totally agree. I was checked the second week of june down on P2…Just after they got done checking me they tore of to check another poor guy in a 14 footer with a 9.9 on the back. This dude could maybe top out at 15-18 mph. Well they pulled him over and brought him to shore and he ended up getting the boat towed and a ride in there boat. Must have been a BWI. Now at the same time there were two big cruzers that crossed eachother and toasted drinks as they went by and the CO didnt even wink at them

Im not encouraging drinking by any means on the river but I sure as heck would rather have this guy driving around than these cruzers if there going to be drinking and most are

JonJ,

Amen! When I’m stopped five trips straight and told to crank up all lines on a trolling run, and put fish in a bucket, while the fish sniffing German Shepard and three Co’s watch … it also tends to urine me off! When’s the last time a police officer stopped you just because you exist?

What I don’t get is how come there is a big group of anglers that are always checked on certain lakes rivers and else where, a body of anglers where the Co’s never get to? I know it’s not personal, but it is frustrating.

my two cents..
Turk

Turk, they made you take your fish out of your well, put them in a bucket and measure them??? Were they close to 15″? They have always just looked in mine to see if any were close. I have been checked by 3 MN C.O.’s in the same boat and think it’s a HUGE waste of our tax $$. Can’t they spread out and maybe check some big boats for infractions?

Ferny.

Ferny,

Yes the Co made me put them in the bucket, He said “you’re showing me the same fish put them in the bucket!” And gave me a five gallon bucket to put the fish in. I was legal, hey I willingly release 99% of walleyes over 20″s, and strongly encourage others to do the same…. I know they don’t know me, I understand, but 5 straight trips five straight stops and the fifth stop was with the 3 co’s with the German Shepard it’s too much.

On a way better note I’m a big fan of little Fern!!!! Nice photo! It looks like we all got some serious competion in about ten years!

Turkman

maybe you should have used the ‘pet fish’ story? although I’m sure all the CO’s have heard that joke before…

I have yet to be stopped by the DNR on the Croix – probably because they look from a distance with binoculars and see that I’m not catching anything!

I have only had the occasion to speak with these guys when shore-fishing at Willow River State Park and Mallelieu (sp?). Also been check by a CO when ice fishing on Wissota. I’ve always found them to be pleasant and professional.

Been checked only one time on Mille Lacs, and sure wouldnt mind if I was checked more often. Those guys are a wealth of knowledge, and will share info. I know from experience on the job, you give attitude, you get attitude. Be pleasant, or at least cordiable, even if you have to bite your tongue in doing so. Law enforcement has to stay one step ahead of anyone they deal with, meaning you give a little attitude, you will get more attitude. So keep that in mind if your the one who has to bite his tongue or has attitude, it shows and will be met and dealt with accordingly. Sure its probably just frustration from being checked more than once in a day, or maybe your having a bad day yourself, but violators can and do display similar behavior as well. You and I and 5000 other people out that day would never do something stupid to a law enforcement officer or try to hide anything, but the 5001 person will. How can they tell the difference between you and the bad guy? I wish violators displayed signs saying they were doing something wrong, but they dont!! Law enforcement is fishing too, just they troll for violators. We sort through the rough fish looking for the good game fish, just as they sort through the good guys looking for rough guys. Law enforcement consists of people just like you and I, most of them enjoy the outdoors as much as us, if not even more. I know alot of those guys have gone out of their way to try and make their contact with us faster and easier, they have a tough job. They do check those tuna boats, its just a different tactic and they are not checking those types of boats in the same places as they check fisherman so you wont see it as often. Unfortunately you can never make everyone happy and they have a thankless job. No matter what, they are darned if they do, and be darned if they dont…. Just my 2 cents

Thanks to all the CO’s out there