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Thanks for the info! I'll be going to Santee for a week at the end of this month. I will definitely be using your advice. Now all I have to do is figure out how to get them in the boat! :-/

My weirdest way of catching a bass was also with bread...go figure. It's also my PB (7.1 lbs). I was fishing off the land, and went up to a bigger sized hook when we caught 3 catfish. Next thing I know, that beast was on the end of my line. I think I was 10 or 11 years old. I took my picture with it, and I'm sure my parents still have it at their house.

I either go about an hour away to Lake Wateree, or an hour and 45 minutes to Lake Marion. I'm pretty close to Lake Murray, but have had zero success there...not even a bite.

I'll be trying them for the 1st time on Wed...but had to comment on your great Avatar. In Gado we trust! Dave

I still don't care, you're right. If I'm that "whim of the moment"/"planned on getting one but the store wasn't open" person, they should just fine me, NOT ban me from purchasing a license for an entire year. I'm not getting any younger...I will fish when I can. When a man can shoot and wound somebody outside of the place I work, and be out on bond and later sentenced to probation because our jails are overpopulated...I seriously doubt I'd ever spend a day in jail. Don't get me wrong, I always have my license, and you can even purchase them over the phone here in SC 24 hours a day, but I refuse to agree that banning someone from purchasing a license for a year is a valid punishment. Some people don't even know you have to have a fishing license. This might be the one time in that last 30 years they've been fishing. Do I think they should be excused from the law? Of course not. But don't tell them they can't do the right thing on the first offense. If worst came to worst, I'd fish off the land with all of the poles on the ground. I don't know where those kids went that were fishing here, I'm a birdwatcher. I know I sound ridiculous, but that policy is just ridiculous. They would learn to hate me. It's like when a child grows out of the spanking stage, they just don't care and it drives the parent mad. I would be that kid. They couldn't fine me enough...but I guess that isn't the case for the ones that don't purchase a license, they probably don't fish enough to be so adament about fighting it. Ahh well, it'll never happen to me since I always carry my license in my wallet, even when not fishing. I just don't agree with part of the punishment. A hefty fine is plenty to deter it from happening again IMO. Now if they get a second offense...maybe then would I agree that they shouldn't be allowed to purchase a license and fish for a year.

I don't understand them not letting you get a license for a year if you're caught without one. Doesn't that defeat the whole purpose? I know if I want to fish, I'm going to fish. If you won't sell me a license...then I just won't have a license then. As rarely as they check, I'm willing to pay the 50 dollar fine (might happen once a year if I fish A LOT). I'm perfectly fine with the confiscation of items...you deserve it IMO. That's like suspending kids from school for skipping school. I don't get the idea behind the punishment at all? They should have in-school suspension. I think they should include the price of a license in the fine. I don't know, just doesn't make sense to me