questions and concerns

[bassboys]

Hi. I would like to know what everyone thinks about the following story.
My family and I are always following the rules to fishing. We never keep anything that we catch. We always release them back into their waters right after my kids kiss them for luck.
Two weeks ago, my youngest became really upset. Then the rest of us did. My husband and I take our children bass fishing at many different lakes throughout Western Kentucky and Southern Indiana. We have license for both states.
We decided to take our children to a lake in Daviess County Ky. It is for children under 16 and also people who are 65 and older. It doesn't have many bass in it but a treat to watch when one latches on the hook of my kids. We have went there about 5 times and my kids catch these same two bass everytime we go. They named them after the third time they caught them. Greenie and Goldie.
This weekend a group of people were at the lake fishing with nets and caught these fish. My children understand that the fish are there for the taking, the problem was that the people were fishing with nets which is not allowed in a city park and they were not the correct age to be fishing there to begin with.
My husband confronted the people and they told him that they didn't have a fishing license and that they didn't care what age the signs said they had to be to fish there. They stuck the fish in Walmart bags and threw them on the ground. The fish died for no reason. They were not ate, for the people threw them in the trash can before they left. These bass were 16 inches long. Great catches for children who doesnt' get to catch anything bigger than that. Now they are gone.
What can be done? What should be done?
I want to scream at the top of my lungs, because there is not very many places for me to take my kids bank fishing. I do not have a boat, the funds to buy one, or the place to keep one since I live in an apt.
My kids love this weekend activity and don't want to stop. But if lakes aren't taken care of and people follow the rules, there will not be any fishing for children.
So, I wrote an email to the Owensboro Ky Parks and Recreation office. This is what I wrote:
Dear Miller Family -

Thank you for your compliments about both Panther Creek and Yellow Creek Park. Each of the park 's staff members take special pride in the parks and we are often offended by park patrons who litter, use inappropriate language and don't follow park rules.

Daviess County Parks and Recreation has a long standing relationship with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife. The lakes at both parks are under the jurisdiction of the KDFW and are stocked and monitored on a regular basis. The signs at each park allowing youth under 16 and adults over 65 or having a handicap are merely our attempt to provide those individuals with an opportunity to fish in a safe environment closer to home. Although these signs do exist they are honestly only suggestions. During the time that these signs were posted extensive research was conducted about there legality and it was found that we cannot discriminate to anyone who might want to use a public lake or pond. With this in mind we do not police the lakes for those who do not fit the description of that listed on the signs. On a more tougher note the KDFW does require those individuals who require a license to have one at all times while using the lakes. This is not enforced by the park's staff but by KDFW when they arrive. KDFW can be contacted by anyone if the need arises, although I don't have there phone number it can be located by visiting their web address.

Thanks again for your insight and thought.



A. Ross Leigh, Jr.
Executive Director
Daviess County Parks & Recreation

But isn't that just missing the point of the lakes.
Please let me know what you think.
Thank you.

[westkybanded]

That's why we have game wardens. A phone call at the site would have solved the problem immediately.

[bassboys]

The gamewarden was on the river and couldn't get there.:mad:

[Killroy]

some people are just stupid. :mad: with the declining number of outdoorsmen/women, fishermen and hunters alike, all should be done to encourage young people to take up hunting, fishing, and preserving our wildlife. setting an age limit and not enforcing it is just shows how ignorant some people are. i dont quite understand why such signs were made in in the first place and why something can't be done about making it illegal for anyone not in the age limit to fish in those areas. i am 16 years old myself and i can understand why your children were upset after observing those people throw the fish on the bank to die. it is a horrible thing to do and it should be understood that such actions affect other people, especially children, and our environment. i have witnessed people doing the same thing and others cutting the tails off of fish and throwing them back in. some people are just stupid.:mad:

[Snareman2]

The gamewarden was on the river and couldn't get there.:mad:

I would say, to be safe, don't confront the thugs at that time. Just write down their license plate number, and their descriptions. If you have a camera take a picture, if not go buy one of those disposable ones that are 4 or 5 bucks and throw it in your tackle box. Next time you see something like that, be the best witness you can be. The game warden can track them down later. With your photo and statement, seek justice then. It's a round world, those thugs will keep doing what they have been doing, so sooner or later they will get caught. It just might make it worthwhile if you had something to do with them getting a good dose of justice. Remember the old saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words." There ain't no better proof, other than red handed of course.

[raktrakr]

During the time that these signs were posted extensive research was conducted about there legality and it was found that we cannot discriminate to anyone who might want to use a public lake or pond. HORSE HOCKEY! Someone correct me if I'm wrong but doesnt the Dept of F&W have two lakes on their own premises in Frankfort with one designated for the kids only? Seems like thier research shows that I can fish the kiddie lake with no trouble.
Just do whats been mentioned,take a camera and get thier pic and plate# and hopefully justice can be done