Poachers Busted

[jumpinjim]

I read this over on Washington Fly Fishing and wondered if anyone over here had heard an update on what ever came about from this.

http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/for ... ost-985458" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://nwsportsmanmag.com/headlines/dis ... -clipping/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Those were the two links that I found but never heard if WDFW was able to make something stick.

[skagit510]

Absolutely deplorable! Wdfw had better make it stick as it would make all involved look very bad. There is a current climate within this state of zero enforcement. Personally I hope they at a minimum take his guide license. He should also forfeit his boat. I have it on for authority that this was standard operating procedure for this guy. Though I have no personal issue with Swanny he has certainly been less than sportsman like on the water when fishing around others. This is the height of arrogance and disrespect. It's a big disappointment and a slap in the face to other anglers. I didn't believe it at first but have seen first hand evidence in the form of photo and e mail that it is true. It's also been verified by those involved. Sad, angering, and stupid. I mean the guy couldn't catch a hatchery fish with a record run in that system?

[natetreat]

If anyone has every fished around that guy, they wouldn't be surprised. There are a few SW guides that run round the Cowlitz with complete disregard for anyone but themselves. Chalk it up to disillusionment. At some point, they stop seeing fishing as recreation, and they start seeing it as a PIA. They are rude to clients, bank guys, and just want to get off the water and go home.

I can't even begin to understand what would make someone jeopardize their business like this. At first I thought it was some sort of conspiracy, because it's so wantonly irresponsible. He was being filmed by Pautzke! And he thought he could get away with it! These guys were veterans, and they would have been AOK with releasing the fish. Lying and saying the limit is two fish makes me think that he just wanted to get off the water and go home to jerk it or something. These are the guys that ruin the industry for all of us. How many brain cells to you have to have to think that you could getaway with this? Pautzke was posting the fish to Facebook as they were fishing! The internet jumps on this stuff, he had to be aware of that. SO STUPID, SO RECKLESS. Get him off the water.

I've had days where my clients showed up, got on the boat, caught their first fish. I get out the pen and say "time to mark it". They look at me and tell me they don't have a license. I take the rod away and don't let them fish. I do license checks now. One day on the Sky, we had to wait for Fred Meyer to open before we launched. Because that's your reputation, and in this industry, your rep is everything. Regardless, this guy is done. All it takes is time. It's bad enough that there are guides purposefully snagging fish out the handi cap hole at blue creek, casting over the bank guys. Mizmo has a story about that he posted on facebook. But this? For the love of God how STUPID can you be? It's true.

[ncwflounderer]

Wow, this guy has quite the nerve to take out such a big sponsor and put them at risk. I agree, he deserves everything coming to him, and hope its the book that they throw!

[Matt]

For those of you who are facebook users, I would suggest you visit his page and air your concerns in the public forum.

He has yet to offer an explanation, and he owes the world one.

[skagit510]

For those of you who are facebook users, I would suggest you visit his page and air your concerns in the public forum.

He has yet to offer an explanation, and he owes the world one.

I went there as well, though not having Facebook account all I could do was spectate. He did have an ominous bible quote about forgiveness though which made me then speculate. What does it all mean Swanny? Are you the cowlitz clipper?

[natetreat]

Send some emails to Cabela's too, he's pro staff there. I'm sure they don't want to be associated with that garbage. I sent one already.

[skagit510]

Send some emails to Cabela's too, he's pro staff there. I'm sure they don't want to be associated with that garbage. I sent one already.

Let's not forget st. Croix Nate. They are a back east company but have a good presence here. In sure they would not be jazzed about this. Most importantly wdfw needs to see this through. I've sent them an e mail and spoke to the lead investigator and told him that the eyes of the Washington angling community are watching and what they do sends a message. It's time that they step up to the plate with some enforcement. FYI Swanny was fishing today, so he still has his boat and license.

[G-Man]

Just because a guide is out on the water with clients does not guarantee they are in possession of a proper or valid license.

[natetreat]

If they're "investigating" that means no charges have been filed, which I'm sure means that he's free to keep working. I have no clue as to what the law is that would lead to WDFW revoking a guides license, I think that this kind of insanity deserves it though. People need to keep talking about it, because this dude will be out there doing it again if we forget.

[skagit510]

His fish handling is awesome too. I've fished downstream of him while he was running divers. A parade of dead natives all morning. I told him about it at the launch as many had leader sticking out their mouth. He laughed and said wdfw should let him keep them and he'd get off the water sooner. These fish were handled rough as hell. Gotta get those photos, you know like twenty per fish. He literally seemed angry to catch a native fish. The release was the best. Just chuck the annoying native over the side, that'll teach it.

I'm with Nate on this 100%. I want a head. I want a head to roll. The only swanny I want to see fishing is one from the bank that runs off at the comment of the wdfw enforcement guys are here today. Yet I'm sure wdfw will go soft and say he's a pillar of the industry or some other bs like they always do. Funny thing about wdfw the bigger the law broken the less they care. But then you got mizo fishing a not barbless enough hook and they are all over it. Another trend, they only write tickets to English speaking well to do looking types. Why? Well the Russian snaggers are scary and this guy in Simms looks like he'll just pay up. They are investigating?!?!? It's on video, there is corporate communication in writing, there are photos and witnesses. I might just buy Swanny's boat at auction, that is if the wdfw grows a set and actually does something. I'll name her the cowlitz clipper, you know like a real ocean boat. A clipper.

[ncwflounderer]

The more I think about this the more I just don't get it. It really seems surprising that a guide would be behaving like this, and customers would enjoy it? And the idea that the Pautzke officials allowed him to Clip fins then hold up the fish seems completely ignorant to me on both of their parts. How could the guys at pautzke even think that was normal behavior. They have been around. the idea that they booked a trip without knowing what the limits and rules were seems very surprising as well. there is very limited information about this incident, I would like for there to be some more, but overall something just doesn't seem to add up here.

[jumpinjim]

Lying and saying the limit is two fish makes me think that he just wanted to get off the water and go home to jerk it or something. These are the guys that ruin the industry for all of us.

Nate family forum man, I just got off a Ban for something much less obscene, just don't want to see you get your chops busted. And while I agree that this behavior is out right disgusting, I personally think that the WDFW is actually more responsible for ruining the industry. Humanity is such that there will always be bad apples. The purpose of Governance is that we as a society recognize the broken nature of ourselves and choose to accept regulation and enforcement for greater health in all areas. When the bodies we erect to provide that regulation fail so poorly to do just that, we should focus on their failure, because future Swannies are inevitable. Setting a precedent for non enforcement lays the foot work for the real danger to this industry, recreational activity and valuable resource.

there is very limited information about this incident, I would like for there to be some more

Serious? There is not limited information here. We have; photos, videos, multiple documented eye witnesses and a written testimony with a partial confession from the very people involved. What information were you looking for besides a response from the WDFW?

One thing that I think we can all agree on is the fact that the Pautzke's Guys need to face a little bit of the music too. I am planning a trip down to Oregon which I have done several times before. You think if I rolled in there with a lack of knowing the regs they would cut me slack? I am not an industry professional but even I know to look up the Rules, buy the permit, and ensure I am not breaking any laws. Now lets say I booked a trip with a Guide and had zero clue about fishing. I can accept not knowing the regs and taking the guides word but I can't imagine anyone, even a complete first time person, wondering why and perhaps asking why the fish needed the fins cut off. The Pautzke's guys have no excuse for posing with these fish and handling them in this fashion unless they were only complying out of fear or complete ignorance.

I'd like to add this little gem into my post so when I return to continue our discussion I am welcomed by a smiling face.

[jumpinjim]

Oh, I'm talking about the fish not the guy holding it.
Lets play a game, put your favorite caption for what the fish would be saying.
Here is mine.
"You all thought Pocahontas was a famous Native Hen, 1 fin got me over 20,000 views baby!"

[ncwflounderer]

It just seems to me that there is a lot of conjecture going on, chatter on forums and what-not. The letter I saw supposedly from "Pautzke" was littered with errors. There really is no "official" information regarding this incident besides "wdfw is investigating" and "all parties involved are cooperating". You would think, and maybe it is in the works, that Northwest Sportsman mag would have an article detailing this incident a little more, especially since they profiled this guy as such a great and successful guide in recent issue. If this guide really is such an arrogant ass and blatant rule breaker, I do hope there is enough evidence to stop him from ever operating as a guide, and even ever recreationally fishing in this state ever again.

[jumpinjim]

There is an article posted online, see link: http://nwsportsmanmag.com/headlines/dis ... -clipping/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Unfortunately even if I posted a recorded conversation with Chris @ Pautzke it would not help since you could argue the validity of everything unless you are the first person witness. So I would suggest calling them up and discussing this with them directly if you would really like to take solace in WDFW's response and investigation.

This one is a dandy!

test1.JPG (106.97 KiB) Viewed 9743 times

[ncwflounderer]

The first paragraph of that article is:
"As accusations fly on several forums and Facebook, a high-ranking Washington fish and wildlife officer is confirming that state game wardens have been investigating allegations of freelance fin-clipping by a guide during a fishing trip earlier this fall."

Hopefully there is something more that comes from this and at some point there will be official word of who and what was involved

[Matt]

Swanny has made no attempt whatsoever to clear his name in the public forum on FB, or on any of the associated fishing websites that I am sure he visits himself. That to me is very suspicious.

My guess is he has been informed by his attorney to remain silent to protect any hopes for a case they might have.

If you were truly "framed" and "innocent" you would have no problem airing your feelings in public ad nauseam.

His "forgiveness" post on facebook is somewhat disturbing. He's trying to be cute when he's clearly way out of line.

[natetreat]

The pictures are obviously taken on his sled. The only objection that could be raised is that the clipped fin was photoshopped. I've never cut off a fin, so I don't know what it looks like, but that sure looks real. Pautzke has removed the guy from their prostaff listing on their website, so that adds credence to the claims. I couldn't believe it at first either, because it's so dam stupid to pull a stunt like this. The more I see, the less I doubt it.

[jumpinjim]

Jerry,

I know Skagit510 pretty well and he is not going to be selling HotDogs to bankies. Unfortunately I doubt Skagit is going to get the opportunity because I have it on good authority that Swanny is actually cashing out on his new found fame.