It was “common knowledge” that a certain formerly well-stocked TVA lake was considered “fished out,” but a Fish and Wildlife officer happened to notice on several occasions that one guy kept coming back to the boat launch area with his limit of fish.

Curious, he asked the guy, “How is it that you’re catching fish out of this lake when hardly any one else can? I love to fish myself, and I’d give 20 bucks to see how you do it. “The guy thought for a moment, and replied, “Well, if I show you, you’ll have to swear your most solemn oath to keep my magic fishin’ stick a secret. But you seem like an honest guy. I’m coming back here tomorrow, why don’t you come along?” 

And, so, the off-duty officer swore to keep the secret and met him the next day. They were in the boat when the fisherman reached over and lit a stick of dynamite and then tossed it overboard. BOOM!!! There were fish floating to the surface all over! The game warden freaked out, and said, “You can’t do that! That’s illegal!” 

The fisherman reached over and handed him a lit stick and said, “Are you gonna fish, or talk?”

So the officer threw it, of course, making him just as guilty. Now, who was he going to tell?