Decided to go fishing today since I haven't been in a few weeks. Got to Lkae Junior around 8:30 and couldn't buy a fish for a couple hours! Then all the sudden I finally found the crapie I was looking for. I don't know if the dinner bell rang or if it was because I switched to a differant color jig,but I got into them pretty thick for a while. Not a single keeper, but ended up catch 32. I left my cameraphone in the car so I didn't get any pictures emoSorry . The lure of choice today was a tube (orange on top,chartruese on the bottom) about 3 foot under a float. The crappie were very aggressive when taking the bait today. They would hit it and run. Felt good to get out!emoThumbsup
Crappie fishing at lake junior 2/24
- Thread starter fishinvol
- Start date
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Fishin' Junkie
Well-known member
Do you have to have a trout stamp if you fish at Lake Junior ?
G
Guest
Guest
Vol, better watch out about the trout stamp deal. In Georgia, if you fish in any waters where trout swim, you must possess a trout stamp, even if you aren't fishing for them, and even if you do not have any in your possesion. It's a pain, but that's the law. 
polo-dog
Well-known member
It's good to know that there are other fish than just the trout in that lake. It sounds like you had a lot of fun.
Bprice
Well-known member
Any waters that trout swim in, you must have a stamp to fish in.
rsimms
Well-known member
This is it what is printed in the TWRA Fishing Guide:
# Do I need a trout license if I do not plan on keeping trout?
# If you are fishing for trout, you need a trout license whether or not you possess trout.
That is a very "ambiguous" answer... this really is very big "GReY" area in the law. If you're casting tube jigs in water that does contain crappie, and an officer never sees you catch a trout, how can he "prove" that you are indeed "fishing for trout."
Bottomline, whether to write a ticket would be an officer's call based upon the evidence. If you're in trout water wearing waders with a flyrod casting a beadhead nymph, but claiming to be "bluegill fishing" you're likely to get a ticket. But you, casting tube head jigs (maybe a round a treetop) and actually catching crappie might not. These days, with the special trout stockings at Lake Junior, TWRA officers are probably heading in there with the pre-conceived notion that everyone is trout fishing so you're starting with a strike against. Now finally, the ultimate decision would be up to the Judge... you tell an honest story in a clear and convincing fasion, he'd probably let you slide.
One way to avoid such issues is to buy a Sportsman's License (or Lifetime License) that covers everything no matter what you're catching or shooting.
# Do I need a trout license if I do not plan on keeping trout?
# If you are fishing for trout, you need a trout license whether or not you possess trout.
That is a very "ambiguous" answer... this really is very big "GReY" area in the law. If you're casting tube jigs in water that does contain crappie, and an officer never sees you catch a trout, how can he "prove" that you are indeed "fishing for trout."
Bottomline, whether to write a ticket would be an officer's call based upon the evidence. If you're in trout water wearing waders with a flyrod casting a beadhead nymph, but claiming to be "bluegill fishing" you're likely to get a ticket. But you, casting tube head jigs (maybe a round a treetop) and actually catching crappie might not. These days, with the special trout stockings at Lake Junior, TWRA officers are probably heading in there with the pre-conceived notion that everyone is trout fishing so you're starting with a strike against. Now finally, the ultimate decision would be up to the Judge... you tell an honest story in a clear and convincing fasion, he'd probably let you slide.
One way to avoid such issues is to buy a Sportsman's License (or Lifetime License) that covers everything no matter what you're catching or shooting.
