LAKE COUNTY– It was an expensive trip to Clear Lake for three Washingtonians, according to Lake County district attorney”s office.
Three men were convicted of fishing over the legal limit in the Kono Tayee area of Clear Lake January 22.
Game wardens Loren Freeman and Nick Buckler received an anonymous tip that fishermen were taking and keeping more than the legal limit of crappie on November 15.
Acting on the information, Freeman and Buckler set up surveillance in the Kono Tayee area. The wardens observed three men catching crappie from a bass boat. When the men left the lake, Freeman and Buckler followed them to Indian Beach Resort on Highway 2o in Glenhaven.
When the wardens asked the men how the fishing was, the men responded saying “not very good,” according to a press release from the Lake County district attorney”s office. The contents of the boat would have been an alibi to the statement. Only 12 fish were found in the boat and the legal limit is 25.
The game wardens advised the men that they could inspect vehicles, ice chests and freezers. If the men declined the search, an additional charge would be added if the men failed to exhibit all the fish. At that point the three men divulged that there were fish in a freezer.
The case was seen by Judge Stephen Hedstrom, who imposed stiff fines on Michael Bruins, with 40 fish over the limit, Michael Johnson with 18 fish over the limit and James Booth, who was also in possession of 18 fish over the limit.
A $1,900 fine per person was imposed on Johnson and Booth, while Bruins was ordered to pay $3,447.
The trio pleaded no contest to the charges. The fine for one fish over the limit begins at $780 with an additional $68 charge for each additional fish.
Mandy Feder can be reached at mfeder@record-bee.com.
