A jury found fishing guide Raymond Blodgett of Houston guilty of eight misdemeanor counts of a Sportfishing Guide Aiding a Client in the Commission of a Violation. The charges stemmed from an investigation the Alaska Wildlife Troopers began after receiving an Alaska Wildlife Safeguard tip in August. Troopers contacted Blodgett and his clients at Fish Creek in the Talkeetna River drainage, who were found using treble hooks and baited lures. Fish Creek regulations call for single-hooks and unbaited lures.
The Prosecutor on Blodgett’s Case, Assistant District Attorney Christopher Orman, told the Mat-Su Frontiersman that Blodgett should have known better. As a guide, Orman said, Blodgett gets paid for knowing the regulations. Blodgett maintains that it was an honest mistake, and fears a punishment that could include the loss of his boat and guide license for a decade. Sentencing for Blodgett is set for February 27th in Palmer.
Rhett Nealis owns Phantom Salmon Charters in Talkeetna, he says that Blodgett’s conviction gives other guides in the area a chance to build on positive guiding practices.
“Because of Ray Blodgett,” Nealis says, “there’s been a lot of bad publicity in our town. There are a lot of guides who do a professional job, and with more better guides this will give us a chance to provide better service.”
