When to call TIP?

[Dylan33]

I am just wondering if you all think I should have called TIP or not...

So I was fishing the Coon Rapids Dam on Sunday morning...fishing the small side and walking my way down the river. On teh other side of teh river is a man fishing with big minnows and a bobber. I see him catch a couple of fish in the 30 or so minutes that I was able to see him. I was not 100% sure, but from where I was(maybe 200 yards away) it sure looked like he was catching bass, and putting them on a stringer.

Now, like I said, there was no way for me to know for sure. I made the call to TIP and explained the situation. I left shortky after, so I never got to see what happened. But I left feeling kind of bad since i wasn't SURE of what I saw.

Would you have made the call?

[Jim Almquist]

I don't know the rules but I am guessing that bass season is closed ?

If you don't know for sure someone is breaking the law you really should not bother sending the CO on a wild goose chase. Right now I am sure they have there hands full with hunting season going full bore.

If the season is closed and you know for sure they are keeping fish out of season I would call no matter what.

[Raider4ever]

Smallmouth are C&R only from 9/1 onwards. Unless restricted by special regulations specific to that body of water, Largemouth are OK to keep. If you feel that a game law is, or has been, violated, call TIP. Whether they choose to investigate or not is their choice. By notifying TIP/law enforcement you have fulfilled your duty both legally and morally (hear that Penn State )

[harvey lee]

I would agree with Jim that I am sure the CO's are very busy with all the hunting going on. I would say make sure you know that they violated the laws before calling.

The CO's are spread thin and I would guess they have plenty on their plate so a run to a maybe may not be the best.

[leech~~]

Ya, you don't want to bare false witness against your brother!

If your not sure!

[Dylan33]

How large of an area do CO's cover? I don't hunt, but I'm assuming there isn't a lot of deer hunting going on around coon rapids. I guess I'm of the opinion that if i thing someone is breaking the law, I'm going to call them on it.

[Knoc]

I say its worth a call. Just be clear to them that you were a good distance away and let them know your not 100% sure but it might be worth checking out. Then let them decide what they wanna do with it.

[Matt C]

(hear that Penn State )

Oh Snap! It may take 3 calls then

Seriously though; I live on a lake and have called TIP for people blatantly tip up fishing northern outta season. I see no issues in using a resource to ensure everything is on the up n up.

In your case, the CO prolly was doing a bunch of Deer checks, and welcomed a break in the action. I don't think TIP is over used, I think its under used.

That said...feel good about your decision.

[Ufatz]

Never hesitate to call the tipline if you see something you thinkk is wrong. That is what they WANT you to do: it us their call whether to follow up. The quicker you call the better and the MORE information you have is even better. Time, place, any plate numbers or car make model color...people involved, what kind of tackle or gear did you see.

Don't second guess yourself-if it looks wrong it very likely IS wrong.

Trust me....I KNOW about this stuff.

[JigginGopher]

Just to satisfy my own curiosity. How often do you think the CO in the area actually follows up on a TIP call? Its not as if the CO is just sitting at a desk waiting for the phone to ring. CO's are busy people with a lot on their plates. For those that have used the TIP hotline and then stuck around to continue fishing, have you ever seen the CO pull up and check things out?

[LightningBG]

I've never called tip, but once I called 911 on a drunk driver. It was on 35 just south of Duluth. The state patrol was there within about 3 minutes, I was pretty impressed.

Totally different, but it was pretty neat to see such a fast response.

[Raider4ever]

I am just throwing this out as a possibility.

Even though they may not come and physically investigate your specific call (they could be miles away, in the middle of another investigation, in a continuing ed class, on a sting operation, working short staffed, etc.), they probably note it and if there seems to be a pattern (multiple calls about keeping fish out of season, baiting deer, intentionally fishing for out of season species, etc.), of violations they will pay closer attention to the area in the future.

Call the TIP line even if you only THINK there is a violation occurring. That's what it is there for. Let the professionals sort it out. Chances are you are not a trained law enforcement professional. Therefore, probably not trained to know what is, or is not, a violation of the law, thus call TIP. Just my

[Ufatz]

Just to satisfy my own curiosity. How often do you think the CO in the area actually follows up on a TIP call? Its not as if the CO is just sitting at a desk waiting for the phone to ring. CO's are busy people with a lot on their plates. For those that have used the TIP hotline and then stuck around to continue fishing, have you ever seen the CO pull up and check things out?

Yes. Several times. Make the call.

[Matt C]

Just to satisfy my own curiosity. How often do you think the CO in the area actually follows up on a TIP call? Its not as if the CO is just sitting at a desk waiting for the phone to ring. CO's are busy people with a lot on their plates. For those that have used the TIP hotline and then stuck around to continue fishing, have you ever seen the CO pull up and check things out?

Yep.

Julie, the Rice county area CO, is on top of it...always.

[TravP]

Quote:

Yes. Several times. Make the call.

I've called several times, not once has a C.O. showed up.

[Brad B]

I made one call one summer and the next day the CO called me back and I re gave him the vechile description and plate number. he then went on to say he would watch the area closer since there was alot of the same violation happening. the reason I called was because there was 2 guys fishing with not only multiple lines each but they also had lines tied to the floating pier. had I seen the lines on the pier right away I would have cut them off in front of them. instead I left and went to my truck and made the call. the only other call I made was to the sheriffs office because there was a group of people fishing off a narrow bridge that was clearly marked "NO FISHING FROM BRIDGE". this group didn't bother to listen to the sign until the squad car showed up.

[Stick500]

I made a call once and a CO did showed up and got 'em

I am a bit worried the poachers figured out it was me who called (I reprimanded them earlier and they obviously didn't listen) and I don't want to run into them again!

[gregg52]

i think the key word here is TIP

and thats exactly what you are doing

if they act on it then they think its worth while

chanes are that wasnt the first time that guy was fishing illegal

they didnt put a tip line up for people on the fishing forum to decide if the CO's are to busy or not

[Tom7227]

Make the call. Whatever the process is I'm sure that somewhere along the line things get prioritized. If the CO's are busy with something or off duty then no one will show up. If you don't call then surely nothing will happen, either in terms of an immediate action or in terms of followup.

As for the concern about not calling until you're sure - obviously some common sense is needed here. But I don't think you have to wait until you're 100% positive. Looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck.....

[Stick in Mud]

I've had them show up for calls, so I know it can happen. I just have the number saved in my phone, and unfortunately I have to call it about as often as I have to call my ex-wife.