 |
| FishTails: May
2000 |
Kevin Goff, A West Virginia B.A.S.S. Federation
member, is featured in the "Member's Profile" on page 97 of the June, 2000 BASSMASTER Magazine.
MEMBER PROFILE
West Virginia's
Bass Game Warden
by Chris Slemp
 A successful
competitor in B.A.S.S. Federation tournaments, Kevin Goff spends his workdays patrolling West Virginia waterways.
*Photo Chris Slemp
Click on photo for larger version |
Few individual know what they want to do in life before they can drive. Kevin
Goff of New Martinsville, WV, is one of those rare souls who heard his calling early. Goff, member of the West
Virginia Bass Federation and B.A.S.S., also has a strong hand in protecting the bass fishing resources. He's an
11-year veteran conservation officer for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resource, (DNR).
"I figured out I wanted to be a conservation officer when I was 13 or 14," says the Mountain State native.
"I liked law enforcement, and I loved the outdoors. It was a perfect fit."
When he's not checking livewells on the vast Ohio River, Goff is usually filling them in local tournaments. He
qualified for West Virginia's Federation team the first four years he fished (1995, '96, '97 and '98). In fact,
he won West Virginia's State Tournament in 1994. His greatest disappointment had to be not making the 1999 team.
The Federation Eastern Divisional Tournament was held not only in his home water, but also in his hometown of New
Martinsville.
"I felt like I was the only one who didn't have a date for the prom!" says a sickened Goff, obviously
still smarting from the September omission.
Despite the fact that he spends nearly every working hour patrolling the Ohio River, he makes little headway in
learning the water during those hours.
"When I'm out there on patrol, I'm working --- I don't have time to fish --- and I have too many more pressing
things to worry about. A lot of people think because I'm a conservation officer I know all the inside information
and it helps my success. That's definitely not the case."
Instead, Goff attributes his success in the state ranks to time spent on the water.
"I'm on the water three or four days a week with my own boat. When I was stationed in Fairmont, W.Va., I learned
a lot about river systems by fishing the Monongahela River. I've just used a lot of trial and error to teach myself."
Being a conservation officer does have its advantages, though. While all B.A.S.S. Federation members are concerned
about conserving bass and bass fisheries, Goff gets to take an active role.
"One time I was fishing in my boat an some guy came along bragging about how many bass he'd caught. He was
keeping them and was dying to show me his livewell. I saw he was WAY over his limit. I wrote him a ticket on the
spot."
Goff has used his off time bass fishing to his advantage and to that of the DNR in public relations role.
"For some reason everybody thinks they have to be on their best behavior around me, even when I'm off duty.
After a while they realize I'm just one of the guys," laughs Goff.
Although tournament time may be off the clock, Goff doesn't leave his job at the office.
"I've written people up in tournaments before --- for something like reckless operation --- but it has to
be something pretty major for me to do that."
"They learn a lot from me about regulations and what I do, but I've also learned a lot from federation members.
I realize now that unless there's a serious problem, you don't run up on a guy fishing shallow water and ruin his
spot. On the whole, you rarely have to worry about bass fishermen anyway. They're the least likely to be caught
fishing without a license, breaking creel limits or violating other laws. They're really a good bunch of people
and are very conscious of everything going on."
While he is complimentary of his fishing brethren, Goff deserves accolades as well, especially for his work with
children.
He helped establish the "Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs" program in Braxton County, W.Va., and is currently
working on similar programs in New Martinsville. "I love kids, and I love to see them catch fish," he
says. "They are the future of this sport."
Goff hesitates to talk about his efforts, but admits he spent three consecutive days taking a Cub Scout troop out
on the water last spring. He gave the youngsters a boat ride two-by-two, spending about an hour with each. Nearly
every child caught a carp after Goff located the big fish feeding on locusts in one area of the lake. The look
on their faces was payment enough.
Goff doesn't hoard all the fishing talent in the family nor the law enforcement skills. His brother Mike, a West
Virginia State Trooper, also is active in the West Virginia B.A.S.S. Federation. Goff 's wife Marra will occasionally
fish a local tournament with him, and his 10-year-old stepdaughter, Roseanne, can be spotted from time to time
on the back deck of his Javelin boat on a Saturday afternoon.
"Bass fishing is a great form of relaxation for me and one that I wish everybody could enjoy. Plus, I love
the competition of the tournaments. It's a tremendous release. I just hope the resources continue improving so
future generations also can experience this."
With people like Goff patrolling the water, West Virginia bass fisheries look to be in good hands. |
|
|
|
