Fishing Licensing Exams?

[MuskieBait]

I'm negative about it...because I've seen first hand how it happened...and I'm bitter how even when MNR response, people who are found guilty are fine with amounts that is basically a joke. Then you have those repeat offenders.

If you think this is just salmon, wow!

I've seen this on the ice at Lake Simcoe...people fishing with no licenses, or keeping over their limit of perch, or keeping a herring thinking it was a lake whitefish, or people seeing you catch a lake trout and drill a hole 10 feet from you (when you are fishing over 100 feet of water)...people traveling in packs with binoculars on snowmobiles who look for someone with some fish on the ice then descend on this poor person and surround them while radio their buddies to come over and invade the space (all the while their gas auger scare the whitefish out of the area...I've seen this on the sonar!)...

I've seen this on Center Island where people were fishing frogs and bass lures before opener for bedding bass...so frequently that it just irritates the hell out of me. They act all professional angler like with their gear and poach bedding bass, then when I approach them and tell them bass season was still closed, they either act all innocent or tell me to "F-off". MNR officers wouldn't bother to take the ferry to Center Island...

I've seen this at High Park where people came and fished out the Duck Pond, keeping 1lb carp and bullhead by the bag full. This was a stormwater retention pond that was not the cleanest, yet, people didn't care and some fished with as many as 3 rods. Of course MNR couldn't be bothered to come and investigate a tiny little stormwater retention pond. Again, I tried to educate people that you are only allowed one rod per person and the water is much too dirty to be keeping fish, yet they (including two 10 y.o. boys) tell me to "F-Off"...

The river where you fish often, OT, I've seen locals who said they just came after dinner and went to fish for smallmouth bass in May when I was fly fishing for Mooneye. I've seen people kept bass out of season and hid them in the car then went out fishing for more. I've to tell some locals who claimed they lived down the street and fished there all their lives that walleye season is still closed at the end of April and they had to release their walleye. They claimed they had kept countless walleye through the years and no one cares.

I've tried to educated people in places where I fished...and all I get is an "F-off, mind your own business" response. I try to approach these people with a positive attitude, tried to educate instead of condemn, tried to be polite and respectful. Maybe in the places where I fish I just run into more idiots...I don't know...but after so many years of this, I am bitter.

Fishing ethics and fishing laws are two different things...There are laws that allow you to keep 25 panfish...but there are people who keep 25 panfish that are 3-4" long...the fishing courses should teach not only laws but also ethics. What may be lawful may not be ethical.

If people had to take a course before getting their license, at least they will be educated with some concepts of fishing laws, ethics and etiquette. For those who are truly ignorant, they are now educated. For those who chose to ignore and break the law, now they have no excuse to break the law and MNR officers can just ticket away and the judge can just sentence away. Of course, we do need MNR officers to respond to calls...and we do need more officers. The way I see it, this way more people will be ticketed and more money can go back to increase enforcement.

It's just like driving...you passed a driver's exam...you know there are speeding limits...when you go 30 over the limit, or run a red, or run a stop sign, or hit someone, or drink and drive...there is no pleading innocence when you are caught...sure, there are ticket fighters...but money is still coming out of your pocket in the end either way...