I messed up BAD today

[Justretired]

I count them in to a bucket and then count again putting them back in to the cooler.. When we think we are close we count and then say we are 10 short I put them in a bucket with water and ice for the final 10. My son got stopped outside the Turtle Creek channel this year by ODNR and they just wanted to look in cooler and asked him how he kept track.

[portclintonangler]

Catch counters work AWSOME!
I bought one after getting a ticket for being a few fish over. Been stopped by the game warden twice after buying it. Right on both times. Got it down town PC. Less money than another ticket!

[BtweenShots]

I have had mine for 3 yrs. and no complaints.

Gene

[wakina]

I have had mine for 3 yrs. and no complaints.

Gene

Same here but this would have been my 4th year but didn't use it enough to count this year. Still 3 years for around 50 bucks initial cost isn't bad and it is still going strong. I make a point of looking at the counter each time I put a perch thru it to be sure it counts it. It has not missed one yet.

[sherman51]

many yrs ago we started to clean our fish and found we were 2 over on walleye. 2 of us wanted to throw them away but the other 2 said that would be a waste, so we kept them. we started cleaning fish and a car pulled up and it was a odnr person. he counted our fish and politely told us we was 2 over the limit. one guy started to get smart with the dnr guy. the rest of us told him to shut up, we were in the wrong. the dnr told us 1 of us would have to go with him and put up a cash bond. and said he knew it was a small infraction but it was an infraction. the capt of our boat said he would go with the officer. he had to pay 15.00 per fish and a 28.00 court cost cash bond. he said we didn't have to show up for court and the cash bond would pay our fine. he then said he was supposed to take all the fish for evidence, but that we had been so good about the whole deal he was just going to take the 2 fish that we was over. we split the 58.00 fine between the 4 of us. so that mistake cost us 14.50 each.

the guy that started getting smart with the officer wanted to show up for court and fight it. he said they didn't have any evidence. and that the officer probably ate the 2 fish he took from us. but we said that was stupid. it would cost more to make the trip up there than the price of the fine. and besides we were the ones in the wrong. the officer treated us with the utmost respect at all times. and we did the same to him.

[D.D.E.]

many yrs ago we started to clean our fish and found we were 2 over on walleye. 2 of us wanted to throw them away but the other 2 said that would be a waste, so we kept them. we started cleaning fish and a car pulled up and it was a odnr person. he counted our fish and politely told us we was 2 over the limit. one guy started to get smart with the dnr guy. the rest of us told him to shut up, we were in the wrong. the dnr told us 1 of us would have to go with him and put up a cash bond. and said he knew it was a small infraction but it was an infraction. the capt of our boat said he would go with the officer. he had to pay 15.00 per fish and a 28.00 court cost cash bond. he said we didn't have to show up for court and the cash bond would pay our fine. he then said he was supposed to take all the fish for evidence, but that we had been so good about the whole deal he was just going to take the 2 fish that we was over. we split the 58.00 fine between the 4 of us. so that mistake cost us 14.50 each.

the guy that started getting smart with the officer wanted to show up for court and fight it. he said they didn't have any evidence. and that the officer probably ate the 2 fish he took from us. but we said that was stupid. it would cost more to make the trip up there than the price of the fine. and besides we were the ones in the wrong. the officer treated us with the utmost respect at all times. and we did the same to him.

I wasn't upset with the officer in the least, we made a mistake and obviously didn't click the counter 3 times. I have always in the past counted when we thought we were close. This time we didn't. accidental mistakes don't matter, 30 is 30.
The D.N.R. works for all of us so we have resources for the future. I like that.
This was the 4th time I got checked this year.
Dennis
P.S. If anyone feels sorry for me, send money

[Moldman]

Only had used mine three times so far and it works great. Always look at counter when throwing fish in.

[Capt Juls]

Ouch...that's expensive...

I never depend on any counters. I use the "catch counter" to get me close to the number, but they are never perfect. Some slip through without triggering the counter, and some perch are so big they make the flap double count. I have been short and I have been over with the counters.

I ask customers to make sure the counter does the right thing when they put the fish in, but they don't always do that.

So, when I get close, I re-count them, so I'm never over when I go in to the dock. It's just my way of saving money.

[island troller]

If it is on my boat as the captain I always count one more time before we head in. And yes we have been off a couple a few times.

[M.A.D. Eyes]

I agree hole heartedly Wakina!! Couldn't have said it better myself!! 30 is 30! Not 31.