Phoenix country star Dierks Bentley fined for illegal fishing in Colorado

PHOENIX — A country music star from Phoenix got in trouble with the law this week after Colorado concertgoers reported him to state officials.

The Denver Post reported that Dierks Bentley and fellow performer Luke Bryan talked onstage about fishing during a festival in Buena Vista.

Officials say audience members contacted the Colorado Parks and Wildlife department to check whether the singers had fishing licenses.

Authorities said the reports alone were not enough to warrant action, but Bentley posted proof: a photo of himself triumphantly holding a brown trout in Cottonwood Creek in the central Colorado town.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Day 3 off to a good start @sevenpeaksfest! #living (btw… @lukebryan only caught one and this is my third in 30 mins… not that it’s a competition… totally not… fishing and Seven Peaks is all about community and good vibes… but if it was a competition… I would be crushing him. But it’s not. But if… just saying)

A post shared by Dierks Bentley (@dierksbentley) on Sep 1, 2019 at 10:34am PDT

A parks and wildlife spokesman said an officer located Bentley in Buena Vista and issued a $140 ticket.

Bentley paid the fine in cash on the spot.

The star helped create the Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row restaurant and bar concept that now has three locations in the Valley and one in Nashville.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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