I was fishing up near Gold Bar yesterday when a guy came down to the river. He was wearing a police uniform. I have been fishing up there for about 10 years and this is the first time I have seen a game warden. At first I thought he was just a cop seeing how the fishing had been so he would know what was up for the weekend. Then he said, "While you are reeled in can I check your license".

All of a sudden I got nervous because one time many years ago I had purchased my license but had forgot to bring it with me. You know in the summer one-tackle bag for bass, one box for trout, and your vest for steelhead. I was bass fishing and had left my license in my steelhead vest. Busted… went to court and showed the judge my license and explained the story to him and he gave me a $27 fine for forgetting to bring my license.

Anyway I had purchased a new steelhead vest two weekends ago and this was only my third trip out with my new vest. So when he asked for my license I was a little nervous because I could not remember which pocket I had stuffed it in. Usually do not need to punch fish this time of year since I am hoping to catch a big native, and if I catch a hatchery fish I usually just snap a photo and let it go, I hate the taste of fish. Found my license and everything was cool.

He is a full time warden and will be working this area a lot he said. I told him it was nice to see him out there and he was on his way. Seemed like a nice guy, I think he said he works out of a Monroe office. I was actually happy to get checked because for many years of fishing this section of river I was sure this was the land of no game wardens.

i've never ever seen one there either and i have hit that area very hard this year
tyler

ya me and my girlfriend got checked at big eddy high bridge on saturday i have seen him at the rr bridge on the wallace a couple times in the last couple weeks. saturday when he checked my license all i had was my punch card i have no idea what happened to my license but he just wrote down my name and he was on his way....seemed like a kewl guy... i hope he hangs around for next year and goes after the wallace snaggers association
mike

ynotfish

You said "wallace snaggers association"

Thats a funny one I will have to remember that during next chum season when I walk buy all those guys doing there snagging thing in 6 inches of water.

He's also a fisherman, and a pretty nice guy. Whenever I see him I chat him up a bit and let him know that it's nice to see him out there so often.

Fish on...

Todd.

Poor chums may spawn comfortably next year we can always hire Arnold Schwarzenegger.

It would be nice to see one out our way!I have not seen one in a good ten years!

In the 40 odd years that I have been fishing I've been asked to see my license Just 4 times. Jim S.

ive only seen gamies twice in my life. never got asked for a licence or a punch card.
tyler

Tyler, so that's about what, 3-4 years now?
JK,

Old Man,(Jim)
Had a nice time fishin' with you today, to bad we didn't find any. Thanks for showing me some new spots to try too. By now your "medication" should have eased a few of those aches and pains

In fishing for 20 years, I've never been checked. Always had my licence but never checked. This year, however, has been a different story. I've been checked three times. I've become a warden magnet for some reason. I've been checked twice by what sounds like the new guy. I personally am very glad to see that the state seems to be better funding enforcement.