67 Rainy Lake walleye taken from Illinois men

[IFallsRon]

COs seize 67 Rainy Lake walleye as result of tip
By Laurel Beager
Falls Daily Journal
Monday, June 14, 2004

Sixty-seven Rainy Lake walleye were seized Friday from two Illinois men as a result of a called-in tip from concerned anglers.

Todd A. Gross, 38, Springfield, Ill., and Robert C. Rogers, Carlinville, Ill., 35, were charged with possession of an overlimit of walleye and possession of walleye over the slot limit.

The actions resulted in seizure of the fish, a $3,950 penalty, revocation of the men's fishing licenses and seizure of a boat, motor and trailer.

About 30 of the confiscated fish were within Rainy Lake's protected slot limit, according to local conservation officers.

The case stemmed from a telephone call made by concerned anglers to the local Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Office, where Minnesota Conservation Officer Lloyd Steen happened to be visiting.

The cell phone caller told Steen that she and her friend had watched from a boat as two anglers cleaned fish on Deer Island for 45 minutes. The caller said the men were loading back into the boat at the time of the call.

Steen asked the caller to follow the boat and report back. In the meantime, Steen contacted Conservation Officer Dave Rorem and the two met at Tilson Bay public access where the anglers were unloading their boat.

The conservation officers interviewed the men and searched their equipment.

The men had 19 walleye over their limit, with 10 walleye over the allowed slot size for Rainy Lake, reported Rorem.

One of the men admitted that they had more fish at the motel in International Falls they had been staying at for one week.

At the motel, Rorem and Steen found 40 additional walleye, with 20 of those fish over the slot size.

Seizure of the men's fishing equipment is the first local use of the state's gross overlimit law, which was approved by the Legislature a few years ago, said Steen.

Kevin Peterson, DNR area fisheries supervisor, said recent overlimit charges against several anglers is shocking.

"It's hard for me to understand people that greedy," said Peterson, whose job involves managing the fisheries.

Peterson pointed to the tip call as an example of how law abiding anglers can help ensure a healthy fishery.

"This is a good example of how private citizens who make a phone call can help," he said. "Without that call, these men would have been back in Illinois with a freezer full of walleye."

Rainy Lake's length regulations are designed to protect fish for the future, he added.

"It doesn't take much non-compliance to offset the benefits of the regulations," Peterson said.

Also this weekend, Rorem reported that he was called to the International Bridge Saturday to investigate suspected overlimit violation.

Rorem said two Polish immigrants from California were found with 12-14 northern pike over their limit and frozen walleye stashed in their luggage.

[MNice]

GREAT!!!

[Fish Head]

Good for the people who turned them in!!

[Granny]

The boat should be donated to the people who made the tip call! Always good to have the number handy.

[huskiesplayer15]

SWEET!
Best Fishes
Chris

[Ole1855]

Great, I hope their boat was an expensive one!!!! It's too bad they didn't take their truck/car away too, then they could have had a real nice long bus ride back to IL to think about how foolish they were!!!

Good job on whoever called the TIPS line and also to the CO that busted them!!!

Ole

[walleyehawk]

Either the CO's are doing great catching these cases, TIP's is working, or there is one heck of a lot of poaching going on. Every day I see a new major violation reported through the grapevine. Way too many!!!

Maybe the DNR should set up a Poachers Hall of Shame on their HSOforum. Photo's, Name, Town.

[Chev_trucks501]

The MN DNR should take more peoples equipment (boats, trailers, motors, and stuff) and I think they should be able to take their transportation too. Would be a heck of a lesson. Non-compliance is non-compliance!

Nice Work!

[Jay-Bird]

Check out the Outdoor News magazine from last week, another gross over-limit, good editorial on page 2. 125 red lake crappies and 102 bass found in a freezer.

[2dalake]

There was a press release a while back that the DNR had decided it might be better to publicize the arrests they make. That's why you see those reports from around the state in Outdoor News. I think it's a good policy, so long as this publicity gets to other potential law breakers. They'll get more mileage from this story if they can get it on the Chicago news.

"In other news, two local men had throw back their boat and trailer on a recenet fishing trip to Minnesota......"

[City_Slicker]

Great. ITs good to see these dirt bags get what they deserve. Poaching is stealing from all of us so when you see a poacher call them in.

[jimh874]

good bust

jim

[TurtleToy]

Toss them out of the state for good!

[hanson]

This has definitely been a hot topic here at FM for the last couple of weeks. I saw the Outdoor News story the other day too. About time these violations start making the news. I would like to see them on the front page of the Tribune too. That way all their non fishing friends, family, coworkers can see that they are criminals too.

Be persistent, keep calling TIP if you see violations. I think the DNR will start to see that lots of anglers and hunters are concerned and need to do something.

[G_man]

Just in case I need it, the TIP number is programmed into my cell phone so I have it when I need it.

[sami0115]

take the truck too... bigger fines also...

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YIPPPPEEEEEEEE

[mpester]

For anyone who needs the T.I.P.s phone number, it is printed on the back of your license. Go get em. By the way, if you turn in a poacher, and they are convicted, what kind of reward can you receive? Maybe the DNR should give the caller the boat and gear.

[Uncle Grump]

Here is TIP's number:

1-800-652-9093

UG

[BLACKJACK]

Calling TIP is the one reason that I can see for having a cell phone in the boat (or fishhouse). They're banned from my boat because I get chased my phones all day long and I'll be ****ed if I'm going to be bothered by one while I'm fishing! I know that I'll take heat for saying that but thats just my opinion. You sit in a boat for some peace and quiet and the next thing you know you hear a cell phone and people yakking away. NOT!

[Gus]

Cell phones work good for calling in sick to work when the bite is hot!

[1DIRTBALL]

BLACKJACK,Good for you!!!! I feel just like you do about those blankety-blank cell phones in my boat. Strictly verboten!!!!!!!!!!!!! When I'm out fishing, I don't want anyone able to find me!

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YOU CAN'T talk AN OLD talk'ER!

[Ole1855]

Blackjack,

I'm with you, part of the reason I'm in the boat is to relax and re-charge my inner battery but you can always carry it and keep it turned off until YOU want to use it.

Ole

[uffdapete]

This isn't in response to anybody who has posted here, but to those who may be on here for the purpose of gathering info to poach.

Just to serve notice to whom it may concern:
If you fish illegally keep in mind that I (or another law abiding sportsman) may be fishing close enough to see you with binoculars if not the naked eye. I carry a cell phone that's turned off unless I need to dial the TIP no. and then I will do everything I can to assist the authorities in your arrest including providing GPS coordinates.

And if you think I'm a jerk for that, thanks for the compliment.

[uffdapete]

Just a correction to delete the second post.

[This message has been edited by uffdapete (edited 06-15-2004).]

[great fishing 4-U]

well done, well done, this topic just made my day. And thanks to all of you that help protect our natural resources.

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great fishing to all