The marina is a posted "idle speed only" area, just like under a bridge or near a boat ramp. If the GW feels this is not being observed he can give you a ticket. Also, when a fisherman shoots the finger to marina management when asked not to fish in a certain area that's off limits, someone is going to hear about it. That happend to be the GW, hence the sudden appearence.

The boat owners in the marina generally accept the fisherman, unlike Lake Lewisville. I am a bass fisherman (not a tournament fisherman...reason:see some of the above posts) and I do keep my boat at the marina and I do fish the marina alot and have never, not one time had any problem with a boat owner in the marina. But when a few, not all, of the boats are rushing to get to a spot and create a larger wake then idle speed between the boat docks (I've seen it myself) it tends to upset the boat owners that pay alot of money to dock their boats there. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is as long as the fisherman, or anyone else, respect the marina and the tournament fisherman respect the rules there should be no problems.

By the way, the GW is just doing his job. I can't understand why people bash the law enforcement. That same law enforcement may save your life one day or god forbid, try and recover your body from the bottom of the lake for your family.

So Smedley,

If I understand you correctly. It was the intent of the "undercover" GW to cause the tournament problems by not allowing them to use a courtesy check on their fish, in turn to get them to stop making wakes at the marina. It seems to me that the GW could have just came to the weigh-in and said "Hey guys we have had complaints about wakes in the marina and buy the way you need to check your fish immediately on the water and we will not allow courtesy checks. Would have gotten better results, everyone would more than likely comply and the GW would be doing his job. I do respect GW, police, firemen, but some abuse their power. Probably same guy that gave me a ticket for running with no lights at nite on ray roberts. What he forgot to tell the judge was that I beached the boat way before safe light was over and after talking to some friends I moved the boat approx. 20 yards under the lights of the ramp to my trailer. Once again the GW strikes a blow to those harden criminals.

smedley,

there is no off limits area on Ray Bob. This is a corp lake and public water....all of it...even behind the marina. The marina manager has asked several times not to fish there and i have always informed him to call the game warden. Have yet to have a warden visit me and the manager has not said anything this year.

good point flipper and i have fished behind the gas dock just without running my boat under it. But, I dont think they were out there for the marina rules that night. If that was the case they would have been out in a boat observing throuhgout the tourny. They were there specifically for the tourny and the fish. But I have to come to respect the mgr of the marina on his wishes not to take boat under the walkways because if you think about his problem he just trying to keep from spending more money than he has to repairing things. He has never asked anyone not to fish around the docks that I am aware of but just dont take the boats under the walkways damaging the water lines under the surface with the motors. But some on here keep pointing the finger at the tourny and its TD. But if you are running with wake in the marina and get a ticket its your fault not the tourny or other participants fault. It makes me upset that some are trying to lable all that participants as the same and all "these" rules are being broken because the tourny rules state we can break the rules.

Never thought about going under the walk way.....alway go around....would save some time

Lyndee, Don't let any of this get to you. You have done nothing but try to put on a quality tourny and help out the Legion. The core group voted on the Courtesy Check and the 6 Fish if you have 2 on the boat. This was the core group of fishermen decision and was voted on. Keep your head up, we will stay with you.

John

I was only trying to tell what I know as to why the GW showed at the tounament. I can't comment on how the situation was handled.

I fully understand that the lake is public, but if someone asked me not to fish in an area, and has a good reason i.e. vital lines that run to the gas dock for their business(yes, I realize the chances are slim of doing any damage), I will respect their request. Its a big lake with plenty of great fishing spots....life is too short to sweat the small stuff.

Guys and Gals, did this game warden actually say that courtesy checks are illegal?? Mudbug has gone a pretty big rant, and I cant find anything in this thread that says the warden specifically stated this.
All larger trails allow the courtesy check but its done on a separate board PRIOR to getting in line for weigh in. Once the TD touches the fish its either gonna weigh or be a slot, so no courtesy checks at the scales. If you have an illegal fish at the courtesy check it allows you to release it and weigh 4 fish instead of getting a weigh deduction from your bag and having the slot fish thrown out as well. Thats a standard practice on every tournament I have fished on a slot lake. Having said that, a GW can and will still write you up at the courtesy board... I just dont believe courtesy check itself to be illegal. Can someone that was there clarify this? Thanks.

No buda he did not say they were illegal, the ticket that i know the situation was the angler was fishing by himself and had 6 fish in the livewell so the law was broke. The other ticket I dont know the circumstances. The game wardens there are and were not the problem its nice they make appearance from time to time. But I think it could have been handled better letting everyone know who they were. And the bashing of the TD for allowing courtesy checks like there was cheating going on. These checks have been in place for as long as I can remember. If the angler was by himself and had too many fish its their fault.

The other ticket was given for having a slot fish on his boat at the boat ramp.he didnt even bring it to weigh in .he threw the fish back,at the dock but he had it in his poss.thats why he was ticketed.it was 14"1/4 that his what he told me.the scale that he used to measure was sticker on the side of the boat

the old sticker method

yes and he also said it was in the curved part of the hull.lol

I think everyone is making way to big a deal about this. I don't think the anglers are bad guys, but keeping a slot fish is illegal period. Even if you bring it back for a courtesy check and then release it right off. I'm not going to chase down the rule and show it b/c that would give me tired head. However, I can promise you it states something like any fish in the slot has to be released pronto. I thinnk the wording even has something in there about pictures(allowing them). But thats about the maximum amount of time you have to keep the fish.

Bottom line is that the second that fish hits your livewell you are breaking the law. Not saying a huge one, but the GW can get you on it. So NO a courtesy check aren't illegal b/c the fish you are checking may be legal, but if its in the slot you broke the law.

The warden instructed us that the courtesy checks would stop period.......I too agree with them showing up and enforcing the law, like a number above said the situation couldve been handled much better than it was.....ie: showing a badge and identifying yourself as such instead of trying to keep it under wraps.....hats off to the 2nd warden who did so very courteously. I have fished with this group for a few yrs now and I don't believe anyone is out to break the law or kill any fish........

The GW instructed me to stop courtesy checks. He did not ask me how or for whom we did courtsey checks. He also said no more than 5 fish in the boat Period (even with two Anglers?) If you break the law you are going to get a ticket if you are caught I do not care who you are. But I am confused now. I thought that it was legal to have 6-10 Legal size bass in the boat if there were 2 people fishing in the boat and it was legal to give a courtesy check. We never said that 1 person fishing alone could have 6 fish.
I want to thank you all for your support.

Mudbug Thanks for all the time you put into your post. It is much appreciated.