Caddo Lake Slot Limit Bull !!!!!!!!!

Drrobertray · January 05, 2011, 12:10:56 PM

So I am from Louisiana, and Launched out of louisiana into caddo lake. Catch a 17 1/2 bass, and kept it. Slot limit is 14-17 in La. Went to the texas side and fished for a while until the Game warden came up and slapped on some tickets. Since the tx slot is 14-18, my fish was illegal??? So with my fish, i only can stay in La for it to be legal? THen of course i forget my entire wallet in the truck, and he dont have a radio to call in my id. So he gave me a ticket for NO ID, NO FISHING LICENSE, And a SLOT FISH... get this... each ticket is 265 DOLLARS!!!! A PIECE!!!!!!... they said i can fax over a copy of my license and ID and they would be dropped, but wont budge on the slot fish. I just think it is BS that you would have to throw out your fish when heading into tx because there slot is diffenent... what if I was in a Tournament? Oh that just burns me up. That is more than any speeding ticket or ANY ticket for that matter. Not to mention they are the biggest ass's Ive ever met... with their rude powertrips.!!!! They set my court date in waskom tx, on a saturday (which they are closed).. and will not let me talk to anyone but the CLERK at the front desk. Sounds like something needs to be done!

Broskee · January 05, 2011, 12:22:19 PM

Well that does suck. In tournaments though, they usually dothe Texas slot so there won't be any questions as to wether or not it was caught in Texas or lousiana.

Ron Fogelson · January 05, 2011, 02:13:57 PM

Broskee is right in the tournaments around here, most all use the TX 14/18 slot.

Talk to the base JAG and find out what if anything you can do,,,,, not sure if the state has to prove you caught the fish in TX waters or just having it in TX is the violation but they should be able to advise you better.

Might have found a young gun on the water, most all of the times I've been checked they "TX/LA/MO/AR/MN/FL" Game wardens have been very nice once they knew there was no threat. The new guys on the force tend not to have the experience to enforce the laws without coming off like an

miarob · January 05, 2011, 02:40:58 PM

We don't have a slot limit here but I do know that if you have a fish under limit here it is costly. The law works on a possession deal so , I would assume if you headed into TX waters and possess a fish that is within the TX slot, they have every right to slap you with the ticket. I know it sux but, they have guidelines to follow. I live in GA and I've never met a DNR guy here that wasn't super nice. We see a lot of GA and SC wardens on Clarks Hill. The ones I have been checked by were all very cool.

coldfront · January 05, 2011, 02:56:37 PM

Quote from: Ron Fogelson on January 05, 2011, 02:13:57 PM
...all of the times I've been checked they "TX/LA/MO/AR/MN/FL" Game wardens have been very nice once they knew there was no threat....

all I can thnk of is 'wow' Fogy...you must look awful guilty or something...

that's a lot of LEO contact for one guy...

Ron Fogelson · January 05, 2011, 03:18:34 PM

Quote from: coldfront on January 05, 2011, 02:56:37 PM
all I can thnk of is 'wow' Fogy...you must look awful guilty or something...

that's a lot of LEO contact for one guy...

Been fishing all my life & get checked about once a year or so and have fished in CA, MT, SD Canada and never been checked there

I like seeing them on the water,,,, keeps the drunks & those that load the boat to fill the freezer in check.

coldfront · January 05, 2011, 03:33:31 PM

Quote from: Ron Fogelson on January 05, 2011, 03:18:34 PM
I like seeing them on the water...

me too...it's kind of like the HiWay Patrol...when I need them, I really want them.

and they're usually the nicest folks around... must just be me?

(met another one just this past weekend...

)

beast96z · January 05, 2011, 03:47:29 PM

I don't keep anything less than 18" on Caddo for that exact reason. Never really understood why the whole lake can't be one or the other. It just sets people up for a ticket if you don't know any better. The folks in the Waskom courthouse won't let you do anything except pay or go to court. They told me if I needed to talk to the judge, then I could do it at my hearing. However, once I paid my ticket, they sent him right out into the lobby for me. They know if you go to court that you will have to pay the court cost, so basically, if you want to speak to the judge, it will cost you. IMO, I would fax over my info for the other 2 tickets, then take the slot ticket to trial. They may give you a break for not knowing any better, but they may not. Tough call.

BassBUFF · January 05, 2011, 03:48:50 PM

That bites and is why we always use the bigger slot limit in Tourneys to avoid this issue.

I found this statement on the TPWD web site under General Fishing Rules:

Quote•Any fish taken from public water and landed by boat or person in Texas must adhere to the protected length limits and daily bag and possession limits established for those fish in Texas regardless of the state or country in which they were caught

Kind of misleading but I can see the intent.

topcat · January 05, 2011, 03:49:16 PM

I don't have a problem with lakes that have slot limits.... and I understand why they have slots......I just refuse to fish in tourneys held on slot lakes.......

Topcat

BIG PAPA · January 05, 2011, 03:59:37 PM

Slot limits are a joke they are playing on us anyway! There is no way you can have slot limits in place for 15 or more years on one lake and expect it to work. And then having 2 different slots on one lake without clearly marked state lines should be illeagle.

miarob · January 05, 2011, 04:10:13 PM

This is exactly why we have to know the laws of all states associated with any lake we fish. We are responsible for knowing them. They may not seem fair but we have to abide by them or end up with a situation just like this.

coldfront · January 05, 2011, 04:11:35 PM

Quote from: BIG PAPA on January 05, 2011, 03:59:37 PM
Slot limits are a joke they are playing on us anyway! There is no way you can have slot limits in place for 15 or more years on one lake and expect it to work. And then having 2 different slots on one lake without clearly marked state lines should be illeagle.

Normally, the states work that out...for example, there are conflicting 'limits/lengths' for bass between IA and NE...yet for the Missouri River...each state has made sure (or at least one has) that the regs are mirror images of each other...

See why it's confusing...get the frustration... wish you could successfully 'not pay' the ticket...but I'm guessing that won't be the case.

You could always ask 'how much jail time' would suffice...that way, you avoid paying...and potentially 'get into them' for meals...

sorry...just being silly.

caddobass · January 05, 2011, 06:03:50 PM

I really don't know why the two states have not sit down and made the slot limit the same on both sides, as there is no clear way of knowing what side of the state line you are on. I have called both states and talked with them about this. Louisiana won't talk about it and Texas said we've tried to get Louisiana to change, call them and see if you can get it done.
The 2009-2010 Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Annual Hunting and Fishing Regulations on page 24-25 in License Requirements for Border Waters reads in the first statement," ALL fish landed in Texas must comply with Texas bag and length limits. No Exceptions. If you decide to fight it in court you could use this, but we know they will say you had the fish in your possession and under the slot limit that is what counts. Sorry for your pain and I can't believe they just didn't ask you to return the fish to the waters.

coldfront · January 05, 2011, 06:09:01 PM

Quote from: caddobass on January 05, 2011, 06:03:50 PM
Louisiana won't talk about it and Texas said we've tried to get Louisiana to change

sounds like an old married couple...one won't talk about it; and the other won't change...

cburge · January 05, 2011, 07:06:42 PM

If you think Caddo Lake is bad go fish Lake Pickwick, you have different slots from Tennessee ,Alabama , and Mississippi for largemouth then another different set of slots for smallmouth.

BIG PAPA · January 05, 2011, 07:08:20 PM

Try talking to the Louisiana Dept. heads and they treat you like you are their enemy instead of their employers

DBrooke · January 05, 2011, 07:46:47 PM

Quote from: cburge on January 05, 2011, 07:06:42 PM
If you think Caddo Lake is bad go fish Lake Pickwick, you have different slots from Tennessee ,Alabama , and Mississippi for largemouth then another different set of slots for smallmouth.

CPR solves all those issues

-Shawn- · January 06, 2011, 05:13:46 AM

Most Texas Courts are set up where you can only deal with the Clerk before the court date, if not the JP could never get anything accomplished. Alot of the time the JP will reduce or dismiss the ticket if you talk to him respectfully and explain your side, But here is the kicker. If you don't get the result you want at the JP level, you can automatically appeal the case to county court. However in county court you are subject to being charged court cost.

If you go to JP court, your normally not going to be infront of others, alot of the time it is just one one on one with the JP.

Like I said before, if you talk to them respectfully, alot of the time your fine will be reduced or dismissed. Go in there with an attitude and I can guarantee you the fine will stand.

Drrobertray · January 06, 2011, 08:54:31 AM

Well, I called and asked to talk to someone there that may help me with the ticket. She bluntly told me that She is the clerk that does the adjusting, and for ANY ticket, EVERYONE GETS THE SAME FINE! She didnt want to hear any of my explanations. Im just gonna suck it up and pay the $265. I was honest by pulling the fish out and being completely honest with him.... but being honest sometimes isnt the best thing....I mean he had a 25 horse compared to my 200!!! I could of easily just gunned it... but DOing the right thing, just got me another fine.... anyways, im not being cocky with it. It is what it is!! ..... Ill just be sure to use the bigger slots next time.... I do agree that they need to have the same slots on split lakes... it would be just fair to the fisherman out there!

Jared LeBlue · January 06, 2011, 10:13:18 AM

It's a problem I really don't see ever getting resolved. Texas is hell bent on bigger size and slot limits while Louisiana is hell bent on keeping them down. I was told that Texas has been trying to push for a 16inch size limit on Toledo Bend and Louisiana refuses to do it. Never really got a good answer as to why on that one. I was told however that they did not want to increase the size on the slot limit because they feel that the fish will not grow through that slot fast enough. Texas also has a 14 inch size limit on the Sabine river. Louisiana has no size limit on the sabine. Texas will not budge on that 14 inch size limit. The river is full of small fish and you seldom ever catch a good amount of fish over 14inches. Louisiana has tried to work with Texas on this and they refuse to budge. I think its all a bunch of crap and these two states need to stop acting like babies and get their chit together for the betterment of the fisheries.

-Shawn- · January 06, 2011, 10:35:45 AM

This is just My point of Veiw, But I think LA should be the one Budging. If you look at the quality of Fish Texas is Producing out of a majority of it's lakes it is obvious they are on the right track.

Jared LeBlue · January 06, 2011, 10:45:09 AM

Quote from: -Shawn- on January 06, 2011, 10:35:45 AM
This is just My point of Veiw, But I think LA should be the one Budging. If you look at the quality of Fish Texas is Producing out of a majority of it's lakes it is obvious they are on the right track.

To an extent I agree but you can't compare apples to oranges. Certain lakes produce because they are fertile. I think Toledo Bend is a lake that could do great with a bigger size limit but at the same time the Sabine river will never produce the number of big fish or even the number of quality fish that would require a size restriction.

-Shawn- · January 06, 2011, 12:16:37 PM

I would think the water fertility would be close. The difference is stocking of floridas. I am just saying TX size and bag limits are usually science based and from what I have seen LA isn't .

Jared LeBlue · January 06, 2011, 12:33:29 PM

Floridas don't fair well in Sabine or the Calcasieu. The water conditions in these rivers are hard on the fish. The average life span of a fish on the river is about three years. Of course there are always some exceptions. The point is the fish don't live long enough to grow big. That's why you can go to the rivers and catch 40 bass but only have 5 keepers. The fish just don't grow fast enough or live long enough to have a size limit on the place. Basically it serves no purpose. Stocking of Florida bass does not necessarily make a place an awesome fishery. Indian Creek is prime example. The place is loaded with Floridas but it is a far cry from a good fishery. The piney woods that surround the lake make the soil very acidic. This hurts the water quality in the lake which effects the food chain for the fish. There's all kind technical jargin that was explained to me about it but it simply just not a fertile lake and therefore not a great fishery.

I agree that Texas has some good things going on and obviously they are doing somethings right but for them it's all or nothing. They have a ton of lakes in Texas, many are good and many are not. If Texas had the majic plan then all the lakes would be good. Louisiana is a far cry from being good and I think there are things that can be done to improve some of our lakes but those things are going to be left up to the biologist that make the suggestions for those changes. I simply wish the two states would get together and do whats right for the fisheries and stop this back and forth war they having.

Caddo Lake Slot Limit Bull !!!!!!!!!

beast96z