The season is closed until aproximately July 1. If you catch a bass out of
season you better move to another fishing location or face dire circumstances.
I was fishing the shallows for lakers with a spoon. I caught a big bass out of
season and released it. The regs and pier pressure made me stop fishing even
though there is a marginal chance of catching a laker in the shallows. The same
scenario follows for pike and brown trout during April. I doubt if a CO could
make a case unless there was possession of an out of season fish. As i said
before there is pier pressure whether or not ther is piers present.
CO's have a way of sneaking up on you since you are so focused on fishing. That
happened to me when i was salmon fishing. He was trying to determine if i was
trying to foul hook a salmon and at the same time do a license check. They
always greet you in a couteous mannner and 2 seconds later announce "license
check lads".