This time of year, fish are typically concentrated in schools actively preparing for the spring spawn. There is a lot of activity in rivers below low head dams and that can lead some anglers to take advantage of the high concentration of fish in a small area. In Poachers hotline, said anglers should be alert to people taking more fish than is allowed and if they are using illegal methods, such as snagging or netting, to harvest fish. Then there are others who snag a fish by accident while they are jigging, then try snagging to catch more fish. Anglers are urged to report this activity as soon as they observe it to help the DNR catch those illegally harvesting fish.
Many anglers carry cell phones and some public accesses have pay phones nearby.
Details are important when reporting poaching, and even the smallest details can help. Some anglers get so mad when they see this activity that they may forget some important details. And with everything, if they can call the TIP hotline as soon as possible, it greatly improves our chances of catching the poacher. Fish outlook good High fish numbers and a mild winter should give early season anglers a reason to smile as they head out to their favorite fishing holes this spring. Marion Conover, chief of the DNR's Fisheries Bureau, said spring fishing has already started with a bang.