Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2012 - 22

Fishing without a valid fishing license is one of our agencies most common violations. As Waterways Conservation Officers, we are always hearing “I wasn’t fishing,” even after we catch them in the act. One evening, I observed four individuals bow fishing on the Juniata River. When I asked to see their fishing licenses, they all said, “I wasn’t fishing.” They stated they were bow fishing. I wanted to make sure I heard them right, and I asked each of them “Bow what?” Each replied, “Fishing.” If the word fishing is in the activity you are doing, a fishing license would be required. The four individuals understood and the appropriate paperwork was issued. —WCO Richard D. Morder, Perry and Juniata counties.

I wasn’t fishing

record, but it was big enough to earn her an angler award. Not a bad first catch! If you get a chance this year, take a kid fishing. You may come home with some great memories.—WCO Scott D. Opfer, Fayette County.

My daughter Lindsey and her friend Alia brought to my attention that Alia had never been fishing. Of course, I was now obligated to correct this injustice by taking the girls fishing that very evening. When we arrived at one of my favorite spots on the Monongahela River, I went over the basics with Alia, showing her how to cast and set the hook. I also explained to her how the drag worked by pulling a couple feet of line from the reel, so she could hear what it sounded like to hook a big fish. Thirty minutes later, Alia started yelling that her reel was making “the big fish sound.” Sure enough, her rod was bent in half and the reel was screaming as a big fish was ripping line from it. After an exciting fight, she got the fish close enough to the boat for Lindsey to net it. This was Alia’s first fish, a 7½-pound freshwater drum. It wasn’t a state

First catch

Fishing and boating access areas are popular destinations in winter months. Some people ice fish, some take photographs and some practice daredevil driving. One winter night, while patrolling an access area, I encountered one such driver. A fresh inch of snow had fallen and the full moon had made visibility similar to daylight conditions. The car entered our access area and began doing donuts and emergency brake-assisted slides. I maneuvered my patrol vehicle and prepared to make a vehicle stop near the entrance of the access area. Much to my delight, the driver of the car pulled his emergency brake, causing the vehicle to spin 180 degrees and came to a complete stop right in front of my front bumper. I turned on my headlights and emergency lighting. The shear look of surprise on the operator’s face was priceless. As I issued the citation, the young driver said he thought that cops liked donuts. I thanked him for his comment and confirmed his donut suspicion with a yellow copy of paper with a fine amount outlined in red.—WCO Chad A. Woleslagle, Franklin and Eastern Fulton counties.

Cops like donuts

his options for taking care of the citation. He asked me, “So what do you guys do this time of the year?” “Track down people who don’t pay their tickets,” I answered. “Ahhh, good answer,” he replied. Two days later the citation was paid in full.— WCO Jeremiah D. Allen, Beaver County.

On a cold December day, I was in my office going over my open citations from the previous year. I was checking a citation I wrote to a boat operator in downtown Pittsburgh and noticed that he had not paid or made a plea to the citation. I gave him a call and explained

Winter duties

I was patrolling an area in the remote portions of Greene County with Deputy Waterways Conservation Officer (DWCO) Ernest Bedillion. We encountered three individuals who had conflicting stories as to what they were doing out so late. When attempting to identify one of the individuals, I spotted a concealed pistol under a seat in his vehicle. Upon further inspection, I discovered multiple illegal firearms with no serial numbers, drug paraphernalia, suspected drugs and other prohibited weapons. I have lots to be thankful for in this job. I work in the outdoors, meet new and interesting people every day, help preserve our aquatic resources for future generations and ensure the public safety of those using our resources. I’m also thankful for having DWCO Bedillion with me that night. Had I been alone, the chain of events could have played out differently. One of the firearms, a .45 semi automatic pistol, had no serial number and was concealed in such a manner as to provide immediate access for the driver of the vehicle. I’m also thankful for the assistance that was provided by the Pennsylvania State Police after the first concealed weapon was recovered, and for the
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Thankful

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • November/December 2012

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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2012

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