WDFW to Investigate Illegal Fin Clipping

[Antlershed]

Make sure to research your guide before you book, and it may not hurt to read the regs too... 

http://nwsportsmanmag.com/headlines/dishonor/wdfw-investigating-coho-fin-clipping/

[JimmyHoffa]

I had always heard good things about the guide before.  I tried not to laugh too hard at some of the comments by Cenci, though.

[_TONY_]

Give me a break... Pautzke knew what was going on and that Swanny was clipping fins.

Tough to get the grip and grin logo shots they need, when you can't take the fish out of the water. Real easy without the hall pass.

[BigGoonTuna]

my dad witnessed the guy allowing his client to keep foul hooked silvers on the humptulips a couple years ago.  i've ran into him several times and never really thought much of him.

[Remnar]

 What guide was it ?

[Soady]

What guide was it ?

Re-read the thread s l o w l y Yooper

[HntnFsh]

Cant find it now. But there was some good reading on this over on Piscatorial Pursuits.From what i read it seams like the Pautzke guys were just as guilty as Swanny and are now trying to cover their tails!

[Antlershed]

I agree, even if the Pautzke guys didn't know the regs, they should have known something was up when he started cutting fins off. And then for them to post it on their FB page 

[TheHunt]

Who were the Pautzke guys?  Do you know the names? 

[quadrafire]

“If there’s legal culpability, we’ll run it all the way to ground,” Cenci said. “Anybody who knows us as a law enforcement program knows that if something’s worth investigating, we’re investigating it.” 

As long as it's fish/shellfish related 

[Antlershed]

Who were the Pautzke guys?  Do you know the names?

Not sure, but I believe they were from California. There is a copy of the email sent to BS floating around that has one of their names attached.

[Jonathan_S]

“If there’s legal culpability, we’ll run it all the way to ground,” Cenci said. “Anybody who knows us as a law enforcement program knows that if something’s worth investigating, we’re investigating it.” 

As long as it's fish/shellfish related 

Exactly.

[wildmanoutdoors]

Heres the email...

"Swanny,

People think I have the greatest job on the planet. And, some days, I agree. Unfortunately, today isn’t one of them. I’ve build a strong friendship and bond with you over nearly a decade, but you’ve put our company in an unfortunate position that’s given me no choice but to remove you from our pro staff, effective immediately.
As the industry leader in trout, salmon andsteelhead products, Pautzke has established a world-reknown name built on decades of integrity, loyalty, credibility, quality, care and family values. Our pro staff has notched itself as the industry’s finest by constructing a team of true professionals who mirror our company values, goals and ethical guidelines, who are willing to promote the fishing industry in a fair, positive and special way only we can do. We truly drive business to the entire fishing community and aim to support all avenues that aim at keeping North America fishing.
You’re recklessness and blatant disregard for the law on the Cowlitz River yesterday goes against everything our company has stood for since 1934 and has made us susceptible to an association we will not be apart of. Our reputation will not be jeopardized by careless, unlawful and unethical actions you displayed. Pautzkeis and will always be a class act corporation that prides itself on doing what’s right and standing tall against wrong, which is what we are doing here.
Prior to filming Pautzke TV in Castle Rock, Washington, at the dock on the CowlitzRiver with business associates on board, we asked you to go over the rules and regulations in place to protect the river from harm. You told us the limit was two silvers per angler and that wild and hatchery fish could be retained. As a professional, bonded and licenses Washington state fishing guide, we trusted your knowledge and credibility, especially due to your longevity in the industry. We later found out the limit is six silvers per day and that no wild fish could be retailed or even legally removed from the water.
Regrettably, you chose to bonk two wild fish and even show them on camera and talk about them. We thought this was fine since you stated the regulations list wild fish as being a legal part of one’s creel. Meanwhile, upon posting photos of those wild fish on Facebook our respectable fans pointed out those fish were in fact illegal and shouldn’t have been kept. After reading these posts, I personally asked you why these fans were saying this if wild fish were legal to be retained. You told me to ignore them and said they were just haters and that all fish are of hatchery descent, anyway. You reassured us these fish were allowed to be kept, per current state regulations. Therefore, we kept fishing.
The next photo we posted drew immediate comments, particularly one from a gentleman that asked if our guide cut off the fin to make it look like a hatchery fish. I asked you why someone would say that and you said you didn’t know, telling me to ignore another hater. After lunch, I spent the next five hours on the phone with industry folks checking the credibility of these comments and quickly realized they were all true. Wild fish aren’t allowed to be kept (attached) or even removed from the water. You bonked two (on video) and held them for the camera to see. Furthermore, after examining the video footage, the fish Dan Richmond was holding in theFacebook photo (attached) clearly shows a fin now removed from the fish, which was on there earlier when we caught it (we have footage showing the fish being caught, held by you in the net and out of the net and that same fish being held by Dan without a fin to make it look like a hatchery fish). Before you dispute these unlawful actions we’ve attached a photo of that cut fin sitting in your live well. Turns out one of the guys was wondering why you were cutting the back of the fish and snapped a picture of it (attached).
We also were unaware that if you choose to clean salmon away from the dock (which we did) you must retain the carcass until you remove your boat from the river and complete fishing for the day. This now explains why you threw the carcasses downriver, to cover up evidence of the wild fish retention and removed fin. We are all devastated, upset and at a loss for words why anyone would remove a fin from a fish to make it legal. We were happy with a two-fish limit. All the above was unnecessary, inexcusable and disgusting, to be honest.
While Casey and I don’t understand why you’d put us in this position we must stand true to our roots and remove ourselves from all future association with Bill Swannand Swanny’s Fishing. The above actions have disappointed, saddened and hurt us. I’ve spend the last 24 hours trying to figure out why you’d do something like this, particularly because you know how much we value integrity and always doing what’s right and I can’t fathom any reason why this could be true. Even after a day of denial all video and photos prove it is.
I’m sick to my stomach and so are the three men who choose to spend they vacation with us and enjoy Washington’s special salmon runs. Before you continue to lie about things, I’ve attached photos as proof and have video detailing all these allegations, and more, and can’t tell you how upset we are with you’re actions and that we were present and unaware this was happening. Our attempt to film a episode of Pautzke Outdoors to drive future generations to utilize this amazing resource in a positive matter has turned into a nightmare one we’ll never live again.
Chris
Chris Shaffer
Director of Operations"

[quadrafire]

Wow...Quite a telling letter

[huntnnw]

Blah blah by pautzke .. No respect for them as this is another issue with their name attached . I watched a boat full of guys with pautzke hoodies on and boat stickers catch steelhead on the ronde. They get to there takeout and begin cleaning their fish as many people witnessed them taking eggs and tossing the fish out in the river.

[HntnFsh]

Blah blah by pautzke .. No respect for them as this is another issue with their name attached . I watched a boat full of guys with pautzke hoodies on and boat stickers catch steelhead on the ronde. They get to there takeout and begin cleaning their fish as many people witnessed them taking eggs and tossing the fish out in the river.

If many people witnessed it somebody should have been taking picks and calling them in!

[TheHunt]

You would think...  Hmmm,  I feel awful for the situation regarding Bill Swann as I have known him for a few years and he seemed to be a good guy.  One would wonder why he would do something like that.  I would think his business is pretty destroyed with this activity. 

But you never know look at the Nate Treat thread....  And he is still going...

[eggster]

There was SOOOOOO many fish down there why would he have to cut fins off? I was pulling limits of clipped fish almost every time down there, so im pretty sure he was to.

[eggster]

You would think...  Hmmm,  I feel awful for the situation regarding Bill Swann as I have known him for a few years and he seemed to be a good guy.  One would wonder why he would do something like that.  I would think his business is pretty destroyed with this activity. 

But you never know look at the Nate Treat thread....  And he is still going...

what did nate treat do? Seems to me these fishing guides have the job some of us dream about, why would you take any chances with it ? Never did hear anything good about swanny, i guess all i heard was right.

[_TONY_]

There was SOOOOOO many fish down there why would he have to cut fins off? I was pulling limits of clipped fish almost every time down there, so im pretty sure he was to.

Sometimes, you just run into a ton wild fish all day...even when for the last week, its all been hatchet fish... It's happened to me plenty of times.

[Hunterman]

Seems to me that he was just helping WDFW out with their fin clipping program. Its funny how many NATIVE fish return to the hatcheries.

Hunterman(Tony)

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

I doesn't make any sense to me either. But think of it this way. They were from out of town and didn't know the limit. They are his sponsors, most likiely not paying full price.
The sooner he gets them off the water the less it costs him. The first 2 fish the guys hook they keep and are off the water costing him less money, and they are happy and man this guy can sure catch fish they think...

Now this is where the problem starts, they want pictures. And everybody posts pictures on facebook. And these guys are in the fishing industry, and other sportsmen will call them on the adipose fins. I am sure that is why he was cutting them off.

[Forks]

Did anyone get a picture of him cutting his own throat?

[Bullkllr]

Not excusing it, but plenty of guides have done worse. This one just ended up on Facebook.

[Button Nubbs]

Not excusing it, but plenty of guides have done worse. This one just ended up on Facebook.

And probably from all the sideways under his breath comments hes made about people.

[time2hunt]

Blah blah by pautzke .. No respect for them as this is another issue with their name attached . I watched a boat full of guys with pautzke hoodies on and boat stickers catch steelhead on the ronde. They get to there takeout and begin cleaning their fish as many people witnessed them taking eggs and tossing the fish out in the river.

Are you sure they were Pautzke guides and or even part of the company are just a bunch of people with hooded sweatshirts that you can buy online or from there website


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[cohoho]

Anything else on this?

[Antlershed]

Anything else on this?

Haven't heard anything else. He was still guiding this week though 

[RELV]

Plead guilty.  What a POS.


http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/403884216.xhtml

[Sakko300wsm]

You do realize you're a couple yrs late on this don't you??

[JimmyHoffa]

The charges were a back then, the court is starting to wrap up.

[pcal]

No discussion of the client fate?It was'nt like the guide handed them a stick of lighted dynamite and asked them if they were fishing.Everyone that buys a licence better know what is legal to keep and if its legal to be on that water in that time frame for fishing,too. Whats ironic is the stores were full of "indian"coho from that same river but only none indians couldn't keep them but trolling with greenbacks is legal.

[Antlershed]

You do realize you're a couple yrs late on this don't you??

Not really. He just plead guilty 3 days ago and won't be sentenced until March.

[JDHasty]

Swanny,

People think I have the greatest job on the planet. And, some days, I agree. Unfortunately, today isn’t one of them. I’ve build a strong friendship and bond with you over nearly a decade, but you’ve put our company in an unfortunate position that’s given me no choice but to remove you from our pro staff, effective immediately.
As the industry leader in trout, salmon andsteelhead products, Pautzke has established a world-reknown name built on decades of integrity, loyalty, credibility, quality, care and family values. Our pro staff has notched itself as the industry’s finest by constructing a team of true professionals who mirror our company values, goals and ethical guidelines, who are willing to promote the fishing industry in a fair, positive and special way only we can do. We truly drive business to the entire fishing community and aim to support all avenues that aim at keeping North America fishing.
You’re recklessness and blatant disregard for the law on the Cowlitz River yesterday goes against everything our company has stood for since 1934 and has made us susceptible to an association we will not be apart of. Our reputation will not be jeopardized by careless, unlawful and unethical actions you displayed. Pautzkeis and will always be a class act corporation that prides itself on doing what’s right and standing tall against wrong, which is what we are doing here.
Prior to filming Pautzke TV in Castle Rock, Washington, at the dock on the CowlitzRiver with business associates on board, we asked you to go over the rules and regulations in place to protect the river from harm. You told us the limit was two silvers per angler and that wild and hatchery fish could be retained. As a professional, bonded and licenses Washington state fishing guide, we trusted your knowledge and credibility, especially due to your longevity in the industry. We later found out the limit is six silvers per day and that no wild fish could be retailed or even legally removed from the water.
Regrettably, you chose to bonk two wild fish and even show them on camera and talk about them. We thought this was fine since you stated the regulations list wild fish as being a legal part of one’s creel. Meanwhile, upon posting photos of those wild fish on Facebook our respectable fans pointed out those fish were in fact illegal and shouldn’t have been kept. After reading these posts, I personally asked you why these fans were saying this if wild fish were legal to be retained. You told me to ignore them and said they were just haters and that all fish are of hatchery descent, anyway. You reassured us these fish were allowed to be kept, per current state regulations. Therefore, we kept fishing.
The next photo we posted drew immediate comments, particularly one from a gentleman that asked if our guide cut off the fin to make it look like a hatchery fish. I asked you why someone would say that and you said you didn’t know, telling me to ignore another hater. After lunch, I spent the next five hours on the phone with industry folks checking the credibility of these comments and quickly realized they were all true. Wild fish aren’t allowed to be kept (attached) or even removed from the water. You bonked two (on video) and held them for the camera to see. Furthermore, after examining the video footage, the fish Dan Richmond was holding in theFacebook photo (attached) clearly shows a fin now removed from the fish, which was on there earlier when we caught it (we have footage showing the fish being caught, held by you in the net and out of the net and that same fish being held by Dan without a fin to make it look like a hatchery fish). Before you dispute these unlawful actions we’ve attached a photo of that cut fin sitting in your live well. Turns out one of the guys was wondering why you were cutting the back of the fish and snapped a picture of it (attached).
We also were unaware that if you choose to clean salmon away from the dock (which we did) you must retain the carcass until you remove your boat from the river and complete fishing for the day. This now explains why you threw the carcasses downriver, to cover up evidence of the wild fish retention and removed fin. We are all devastated, upset and at a loss for words why anyone would remove a fin from a fish to make it legal. We were happy with a two-fish limit. All the above was unnecessary, inexcusable and disgusting, to be honest.
While Casey and I don’t understand why you’d put us in this position we must stand true to our roots and remove ourselves from all future association with Bill Swannand Swanny’s Fishing. The above actions have disappointed, saddened and hurt us. I’ve spend the last 24 hours trying to figure out why you’d do something like this, particularly because you know how much we value integrity and always doing what’s right and I can’t fathom any reason why this could be true. Even after a day of denial all video and photos prove it is.
I’m sick to my stomach and so are the three men who choose to spend they vacation with us and enjoy Washington’s special salmon runs. Before you continue to lie about things, I’ve attached photos as proof and have video detailing all these allegations, and more, and can’t tell you how upset we are with you’re actions and that we were present and unaware this was happening. Our attempt to film a episode of Pautzke Outdoors to drive future generations to utilize this amazing resource in a positive matter has turned into a nightmare one we’ll never live again.
Chris
Chris Shaffer
Director of Operations

[h20hunter]

Already posted...i think reply #12?

[HntnFsh]

No discussion of the client fate?It was'nt like the guide handed them a stick of lighted dynamite and asked them if they were fishing.Everyone that buys a licence better know what is legal to keep and if its legal to be on that water in that time frame for fishing,too. Whats ironic is the stores were full of "indian"coho from that same river but only none indians couldn't keep them but trolling with greenbacks is legal.

Not from this river. This happened on the Cowlitz!

[Oh Mah]

I hope its not just another waste of time and money,If they are found guilty make them pay.Not just a slap on the wrist.If it cost this much to get to the bottom of it then they pay that plus fines.  I only wish they would have investigates what i heard about the not clipping of the fins and releasing them.

[huntnphool]

“If there’s legal culpability, we’ll run it all the way to ground,” Cenci said. “Anybody who knows us as a law enforcement program knows that if something’s worth investigating, we’re investigating it.”

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,183843.msg2426355.html#msg2426355

[Oh Mah]

His idea of (worth investigating) 

[follow maggie]

Veterans of the fishing industry in the northwest didn't know why he was clipping fins, or the rules regarding native fish? I'm not buying it.

[JimmyHoffa]

Veterans of the fishing industry in the northwest didn't know why he was clipping fins, or the rules regarding native fish? I'm not buying it.

Yeah, easier to do catch-n-release if you're out for fun; but trying to test/prove/advertise a product and it's a little more important to have a box overflowing with fish.