SALINE LAKE

By Sr. Agent James Parish

On February 16, 2003 while on patrol on Dewey Wills Wildlife Management Area, Sgt. Brian McDowell and myself began watching a boat on Saline Lake. This boat had three male subjects in it. At approximately 8:16 a.m. we observed these subjects pull a lead net out of the lake, take fish out and put them into a green colored ice chest. Once we observed this Sgt. McDowell launched his boat into the lake and proceeded across it. At approximately 8:40 a.m., I again observed these subjects raise a lead net and place fish into the green ice chest. The three subjects then traveled, by boat, to the shore of the lake where they took the green ice chest into the woods that are adjacent to the lake. At this time Sgt. McDowell made contact with two of the subjects that were still in the boat. Sgt. McDowell obtained their drivers license and asked where the other person was. They replied, "He's on the bank looking for decoys". Sgt. McDowell then asked where the green ice chest was, to which they replied, "on the bank". Sgt. McDowell then went into the woods where he found the third subject hiding behind a tree near the green ice chest. Sgt. McDowell advised the subject to come out. This subject told Sgt. McDowell that he was trying to warm up. I watched Sgt. McDowell bring the green ice chest out of the woods and place it into his boat. Sgt. McDowell and the three subjects then came to my location where they were identified. One subject claimed ownership of the boat and the 2 pair of lead nets. These men were advised of their violation and were issued citations for violation of RS 56:320 c (1), using lead nets in other than overflow regions, and RS 56:320 a, taking game fish illegally. 74 crappie, 8 barfish, 4 bream, 2 blue catfish and 2 pair of lead nets were seized as evidence. The fish were donated to two needy families and the nets were held at the Region IV office in Ferriday.