Quick question, has anyone ever been approached and asked to see a fishing license at a neighborhood pond?

I'm near the Richardson, Plano, Garland, Murphy, Allen areas, but I'm curious about DFW and all of Texas in general.

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I could be wrong, but my understanding was that only Game Wardens can check for your license.

That said, I had a Sergeant from Coppell ask if I had one. He didn't ask to see it, but wanted to confirm I had one.

I would not want to challenge them to find out. I think I would just hand over my license if asked before I show up on body cam being tazed.

If the law says you have to have a license to fish public waters then any Certified Peace Officer (read LEO) can enforce said laws.

Now if there is a more specific problem the local LEO will probably call a GW.

The same way a GW can write you a ticket for dope or speeding!

No. Never.

In 10 years of fishing ponds, lakes, creeks etc. in Texas, over 500 trips, Ive shown my license one time.

Was on the shore launching my yak at Falcon lake. At the State Park. A warden pulled up. We shoot the bull for 30 minutes as I prepped to go out. Just as I was about to push off I asked him if he would like to see my license...he said, "yea sure. I need to log something to explain what I've been doing the last hour."

Thats it.

Never while fishing a pond.

Had a GW stop us on Lewisville while in the boat but he didn't ask to see our license, he ask us to take a survey (we did).

Had another GW ask us to see our licenses while bank fishing Ray Roberts, he was on his boat and we were on the shore. He never left his boat, we took out our licenses and he didn't look at them he just yelled "oh ok, good luck fishing" and drove off. It was kind of funny. That was a good morning. But that's really it.

I have been checked by a game warden at several community ponds in the DFW area and on the Trinity River. I have also had the police show up at my house after I was chumming and a lady told the police a creepy guy in a van was throwing something off the bridge.

lol, your neighbor

I asked because I have not fished all year. I'd like to start again, but since we are so close to the end of the fishing license year, should I just wait until August 15-31 to get a license for next year, and risk fishing the North Dallas/Plano/Richardson ponds with no license. I'll figure it out.

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If you've been waiting, wait some more. What I wouldn't do is get caught without a license.

Sound advise right there!!

In 13 years hunting and fishing Texas I have been approached by a GW 2 times. It was in the same week, on the same lake, by the same GW while duck hunting. I have however called a GW several times to come out and chat with the folks fishing Bethany Lakes with minnows taking all the 8 inch bass home in their buckets. They didn't seem too concerned.

I think in Texas you have to be doing something pretty major to get their attention, kind of sad, but seems true.

Thanks for the responses.

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