Richz
(snip)
Encountering one complete blithering idiot in the employ of the
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

Richz
I know where the clerk got tripped up. With a conservation license there is a
zero catch and possession limit. Catch means to catch and keep and not catch
and immediately release live. He interpreted it to mean you couldn't fish for
muskie with such a license. Having such a license is useless if you tie into a
world record or accidentley kill the fish. Remember you can't let a fish go to
spoil. The CO should have explained that to you and possibly encouraged you to
get a sportsman license for a few dollars more. That license allows you to keep
one muskie which solves the problem. Most muskie fisherman go for the sportsman
license for that very reason. The extra dollars go into fishery operations.
I know a muskie angler that also swears that you can't fish with the
conservation license for muskie.