It pays to have a new shiny boat

[Cgs1967!]

I was fishing Lake James in NC yesterday. It suddenly dawned on me that my fishing license might be expired. I stopped fishing and got my licences out. Yep, it expired on February, 22nd. I didnt want to go online and get new one because of the recent fraud. Anyways I strapped my rods down on the deck and headed to the ramp. I had just tied the boat to the dock and look up to see the game warden get out of his truck and start walking toward me. I thought why didnt I put my rods away. Dumb. He starts talking to me and talks to me for 10 minutes. He then asked how many I caught. I said none it's a tough lake and tough day. He then says well hopefully next time out will be better and tells me to have a great day. I said you too and loaded the boat up and left. I believe he saw a guy with a new Ranger and figured I had a license. I could be wrong but just my theory. Check your fishing license's.

[Casslaw]

Thank your lucky stars! My license expires in June....let me borrow that shiny boat and I’ll test your theory!

[Cgs1967!]

Thank your lucky stars! My license expires in June....let me borrow that shiny boat and I’ll test your theory!

I hear you. It's the only thing I can think of. I think he was profiling. Lol.

[Rangerdawg]

Ever since I started running Rangers I don’t buy fishing lice’s, drivers licence plate tags, hunting licence etc....all good so far but now you have let the cat outta the bag so to speak...

[ColdSVT]

Nice!!!!

I had a run it with a Warden once who got mad because I wouldn't produce my license after I told him I have no rods in the boat and my license is in my truck

I was out doing a shakedown run after i just installed my hydraulic steering. I had the tackle in my normal bins but not one single rod in the boat lol. So after i showed him my pdf, throwable, reg, and fire extinguisher he wanted my license...which sat in my truck

Dude was not happy but he let me go lol

[BigFishSteve]

If he sees me with a new Ranger, he will no there was nothing left to buy a license with.

[DrewFlu33]

Had that happen once during first time out in the season when I had left my license in my ice fishing gear. Game warden was walking a foot path where a lot of folks shore fish while I was fishing 50 yards or so out into the bay - first time I'd ever seen one in that area, and of course I don't have my license on me. My boat isn't new and isn't all that shiny, but turns out this particular game warden owned my boat's sister, a 461vs. We talked about that a bit, about how the crappies were biting (bass season wasn't open yet, so we crappie fish in the spring to scratch that itch...seasons for catch and release are dumb, I know), about a couple giant 14+ inchers that had been taken from that general area a couple days earlier, and then each went our separate ways. Having the boat thing in common totally benefited me that day!

[I.P. Freely]

I had a run it with a Warden once who got mad because I wouldn't produce my license after I told him I have no rods in the boat and my license is in my truck

Take a pic of your license from your phone. Unless you don’t carry your phone with you lol.

[BassinR83]

Not dodging him and openly not being afraid to talk to him probably did more than a shiny new boat did.

[Crankinstick]

Was fishing the third Buddy Tournment of the year when i put my rods away and Reggie ask what was wrong, said remember when i stopped to get my license, yep, they were out !

[Dan21XRS]

I never carry my driver's license or wallet in the boat. A few things can happen, and they ain't good. Keep all my fishing license's in a water proof zip-lock bag... Registration for boat and trailer in another... Had a CO ask me for my ID once and told him I don't carry it, I'm not driving my truck, he then proceeded to want to know how I could prove I'm the person on the fishing license. I told him nowhere's on that piece of paper does it says I have to carry a photo ID... Floating casino money back in the early 2000's put a lot of greenhorn's on the water in SW Indiana... Dan

[Les Young]

The wardens around here have checked me, but mostly just talked to me a few times asking if we were doing any good. Have had them say several times that the bass fisherman are the ones that have their stuff together & they know that they don't have to worry about them. I've had them leave when they asked if we were fishing a tournament several times. I was fishing upper end of cumberland once & a warden I told i'd saw him on ky afeild a lot checked me. Later after dark & about 10 miles down the lake & way up a hollow & a boat comes in off of the main lake idling up on me & i realize it's a warden, but wasn't sure it was him & i yelled & asked him if he was filming another episode & he says yep & laughed & turned around & left without ever laying eyes on me.

[481VSangler]

They seem to leave bass boats alone for some reason. When I still had my Ranger, I never got checked for my license or anything boat related. I was approached several times at the ramp and it was always just for a fishing report. They were always good guys and always had a nice conversation. Seem to hear the same from others as well.

[jrbdad]

Probably cause you were already at the dock and not actively fishing??

[Perchpro]

I usually interrogate the co for fishing info after the usual pleasantries. Quite often they forget about asking for a license or only remember just before leaving.

[Axkiker]

I think it just depends on the area. One lake around here they LOVE to stop anyone they can and check your license and gear. Heck ive had them check for fish on board.

All the others I fish they mainly look for people breaking the no wake areas and for the most part just monitor.

[btlsranger]

Went out about 6 years ago, just got divorced, for the life of me forgot to get a license that year. First thing in the morning we got checked. Yep, about $150 later I bought my license. They said they would let me go if I got on the phone and bought one right then...as they wrote the ticket.

[basscat21]

Last several encounters, never asked, wondered how I did.

Now I was asked years ago 3 times in different parts of a lake, by the same warden, who skipped over the rental boats in the area. Note you had to wear it on the outside and mine was in a orange hunting holder on my belt loop.

[Babe Winkleworm]

Out local possum cops remind me DAILY when they check my boat and fishing license. Like small town cops ith no donut shop

[g352nv]

Well that would explain why when I go to lake topaz the female Warden ties up to me all the time. It's the only time and lake I've been checked. I think she's lonely or maybe it's because my boat is dirty.