PATOKA LAKE – Indiana Conservation Officers have arrested a Birdseye woman after investigating a complaint of someone illegally taking paddlefish.
On Monday, February 16, at approximately 5 p.m., Indiana Conservation Officers received information of paddlefish being unlawfully snagged at the Patoka Lake spillway.
The investigation led to a residence in Crawford County, where Crystal Sheets, 45, of Birdseye, was found to be in unlawful possession of a paddlefish and in violation of a protective order. She was subsequently taken into custody for violating the protective order and also charged with misdemeanor unlawful possession of paddlefish.
The paddlefish is an ancient, native fish to Indiana that has a diminishing population. It is illegal for sport fishermen to take paddlefish and is only legal on the Ohio River with a roe harvester’s license.
More information on paddlefish can be found at https://www.in.gov/dnr/fish-and-wildlife/files/fw-paddlefish.pdf
