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RETURN to Putah Creek Trout -> Putah Creek Fly Fishing Forum -> Other Rivers, Streams and Lakes -> BUSTED!......................... On the American by DFG.
Post Info TOPIC: BUSTED!......................... On the American by DFG.
Ty


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BUSTED!......................... On the American by DFG.
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Well I've got an embarrassing story to tell.  About 2 months ago I ventured out to the American by Sailor's  Bar.  It was my first time fly fishing anywhere other than Putah and I was very excited.  So I checked up on the current regs. about my tackle and bag limits and was ready to go. 
Making a long story short, I hooked one up but couldn't land it, good enough for me for 2-3 hrs. on new water.  On my way out of the water, a DFG officer comes out of the bushes with some binocs asking me to come over to her.  She asked how my day was and stuff, while she checked my license, and gear, she noted that I was using barbless hooks and then asks to see my Steelhead Report Card.  I didn't have one.  I remember seeing some info. about it in the handbook but didn't register to me mentally that I needed it until I got busted. 
I was cited for not having it, went to court for it today (mandatory appearance) and was told that this citation is a misdemeanor, $346 fine and possible jail time.  I was freaking out.  The D.A.'s assistant told me I could plea no contest and pay $55 fine.  So of course, I did.  The moral of the story:  Don't think the DFG isn't around, and make sure you know all the regs and requirements of the water you plan to fish.  And learn from dumba$$es like me!


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rylcrawf


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Bummer! Question, I have my card but rarely remember to fill it out prior to fishing that day...can you be sited for not entering the date on your card?

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iFish


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You betcha! If they see you come off the water, check and your card has no entry, you can be ticketed.

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/news/news07/07011.html


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Ty


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Yes, the officer told me you have to start filling it out (date and body of water code) before you make a single cast.  After a fish is landed, it must be recorded immediately, not at the end  of the day.

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rylcrawf


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Anybody have a list of codes for our rivers?

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Prince11


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What if your just out for resident trout? Do you still need a steelhead card?

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Ty


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The officer checked my gear and I had a glow bug with a pheasant tail dropper and she new I fishing for trout.  The DFG manual defines steelhead as any rainbow trout in anadromous waters larger than 16".  The officers are well educated and usually are outdoor type folks.  This lady actually learned to fly fish at Putah.

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AbelBoy


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Prince11 wrote:

What if your just out for resident trout? Do you still need a steelhead card?



 Yes.



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the big j


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Thanks for the discussion. Having read all this, I looked at my card and saw that many of the rivers I've been on lately are on there, including Putah. I just assumed it was for specifically targeting Steelies.

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JT


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rylcrawf wrote:

Anybody have a list of codes for our rivers?


It's on the back of the report card.

 



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JT


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the big j wrote:

Thanks for the discussion. Having read all this, I looked at my card and saw that many of the rivers I've been on lately are on there, including Putah. I just assumed it was for specifically targeting Steelies.


On the report card it mentions Putah Creek, but this referring to the lower creek (below Lake Solano).

 



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JT


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Ty wrote:

Yes, the officer told me you have to start filling it out (date and body of water code) before you make a single cast.  After a fish is landed, it must be recorded immediately, not at the end  of the day.


Not after a fish is landed but after you keep a fish.

 



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lightfoot


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The Steelhead report card is one of the big reasons I don't fish for them anymore.  Just another example of too much "big brother".no

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flyfishingjunkie


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I was checked on a lost coast river this year, the officer was nice, but he was itching to write tickets. When he asked me if I filled out my steelhead card today I said "no", when he checked the card his face changed and he looked somewhat disappointed. I had filled out the card the night before smile.gif

Always have your steelie card on you, but never have the one from last year on you or in your car. If you haven't sent that one in and they catch you with it it's a big fine too.


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shon42073


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There itching for freaking revenue like everyone else !

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the big j


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JT, In your response to Ty, You stated that you fill it out after the catch. That was my understanding of having the report card. I only have one because of trying the Russian. Should I hold out on filling it until I get back to Steelies?

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JT


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the big j wrote:

JT, In your response to Ty, You stated that you fill it out after the catch. That was my understanding of having the report card. I only have one because of trying the Russian. Should I hold out on filling it until I get back to Steelies?


You have to fill out the date and body of water before you start fishing (as Ty stated), but you don't fill in the number of fish caught until you keep a fish.  I hope this answers your question.  If not, fire again.

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flyfishingjunkie


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You have to fill out the date and body of water before you start fishing (as Ty stated), but you don't fill in the number of fish caught until you keep a fish. I hope this answers your question. If not, fire again.

 



You need to also fill out fish released



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Packrat


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You can also get busted for not completing the card and mailing it in at the end of the season, even if you never caught any fish!

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mx19


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I got my small boat bag stolen and my card was in it.I had to a pay a fine at the end of the year cuase I was not able to send it in...I also ran out of space on the card and had to buy a second one............

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mx19
Packrat


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lightfoot wrote:

The Steelhead report card is one of the big reasons I don't fish for them anymore.  Just another example of too much "big brother".no

 

even if you're not targeting them but fishing on water that has them, like the lower yuba or lower sac, you still need to have the card.



 



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lightfoot


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Understood, and I no longer fish those locations.  Granted they will come up with a "wading impact stamp" or some other bs and I'll just give it up all together.

California is an awesome state but the politics SUCK.


Packrat wrote:

 

lightfoot wrote:

The Steelhead report card is one of the big reasons I don't fish for them anymore.  Just another example of too much "big brother".no

 

even if you're not targeting them but fishing on water that has them, like the lower yuba or lower sac, you still need to have the card.



 

 



 



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Winter eats heat the way darkness swallows light. The terrors of failed power and frozen stems are stymied with fire, smoke and white ash.

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Packrat


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it is a pain in the A big time. I actually forgot to send mine in from 08 so I hope they're not looking for meashamed

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JT


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Packrat wrote:

it is a pain in the A big time. I actually forgot to send mine in from 08 so I hope they're not looking for meashamed


I sent mine in from 2007, but I got a postcard saying that they never received it.  I hope they got mine from 2008.  That wouldn't look too good on my part.

 



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Alpen Glow


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thats what is so great about Leo at Fish First! hes always asking the right questions and giving you the best advice about what you need to fish all the waters around here...
hes often reminded me that i need to have the steelhead card to fish below the first dam on any river as well as the bay delta stamp...


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Otter


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If you are releasing fish at what point do you need to fill out the steelhead card? I usually go back to the truck to umm get some refreshments. This is usually when I have run into DFG.

I usually don't fill in the final total until I go fishing the next time. My theory is I can always say I am heading to a different spot to fish some more.

Leo at Fish First has to be one of the best shop owners around. He knows stripers on the Delta as well. Support your local shops!

You are allowed to send in your steelhead results via the internet. You can say it was lost or stolen.

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chris
the big j


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  I too, can't say enough about Leo at Fish First. He's been a real great source of information as well as helping me become a better fisher. He always loaning me quality gear to try out, to the point I feel like a leech.
  This Steelhead thing has been a good posting too. Its seems that this rule is a little vague to everyone. Since this post has started, I keep finding myself re-examining the terms on the card. Geez, I'm "Flyfishing" not "Flying Aircraft." All for regulations, but let's not use this  for an opportunity to bust people over fine print!!!!!!!
  And now I have selected my Emoticon ---------disbelief

-- Edited by the big j on Monday 27th of April 2009 06:11:15 PM

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Emerger


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I too had a run in with the female DFG officer on the American. I can't be sure that she was the same officer that Ty ran into but it might have been. She was a blast to talk too. Well informed, patient, and polite. She definitely did not come across as a someone who was itching to write tix.

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Cliff
Ty


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Sounds like the same gal.  She was really cool and we ended up talking for 20 minutes or so just about random stuff.  She definitely made the crappy situation I put myself in alot better than it could've been if she was not so nice.

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rgloft


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check on the back of the steelhead report card thats where my other half tells me it is yawn

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