The Denver Post

DIERKS BENTLEY GETS COLORADO FINE OVER FISHING

- By Elise Schmelzer

Throughout a three- day music festival in Buena Vista, country music superstars Dierks Bentley and Luke Bryan bragged on stage about the fishing they did earlier in the weekend.

And what did the Colorado concertgoe­rs do after hearing the two trade tall tales?

They called Colorado Parks and Wildlife to see if the singers had fishing licenses.

“It was very heartening that they cared that much,” Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesman Bill Vogrin said.

But the calls weren’t enough to give either man a ticket until Bentley posted a photo online Sunday of him holding a decentsize­d brown trout in Cottonwood Creek in the small central Colorado town.

“We didn’t have any proof until Mr. Bentley posted a photo on his Instagram,” Vogrin said.

An officer caught up with Bentley as the country star walked in town Monday and confirmed that Bentley didn’t have a license, as required by state law. A small crowd started to gather to watch, and Bentley climbed into the officer’s truck so they could find a quieter place.

Bentley posted a video online of himself in the truck as the officer wrote him a ticket. He warned Luke Bryan that he may be next to receive a ticket.

Bentley paid the $ 139.50 fine in cash on the spot, Vogrin said.

“He was as nice as can be,” Vogrin said. “We welcome him back any time to fish, as long as he gets a license next time.”

Luke Bryan had not been ticketed as of Monday evening, in part because he did not post photos of himself with any fish, Vogrin said.

“That case is under investigat­ion,” he said.

It was heartening to see so many people care that Bentley followed the law, despite his celebrity status, Vogrin said.

“In Colorado, people love country music — but they also love their trout,” Vogrin said.

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