what is the law on snagging? If I am chucking spinners and snag a trout on his back, or the outside of his mouth what is the law?
I often have a lot of spare time fishing and have read the proc front to back at least twice, and have not found anything addressing this question. (perhaps I missed it)
[signature]
I don't know "officially" but i'm pretty sure you just aren't supposed to be doing it on purpose. If you accidentally snag a trout and it's legal to keep otherwise, I don't see a problem with keeping it. If you snag a fish on purpose that would be illegal. That would be the only thing that makes sense to me anyway, it's not like you have a choice if you snag a fish accidentally.
Some fish are probably ok to snag on purpose, like carp, but i'm not sure. And I don't think the DWR officers are going to look to kindly on someone ripping a huge treble hook through trout waters and claiming "accidental" snags.
[signature]
Simple rule of thumb, if you snag a fish, enjoy the fight and throw it back! It's not worth keeping it. Unless of course it is a fish that is legal to snag. I personally met a guy from Wallsburg that snagged a walleye in the Provo and tried to submit it as a "state record!" Ended up fighting the DNR in court.
[signature]
I remember reading somewhere that if the fish is hooked anywhere behind the gill plate-it is considered a snagged fish.
[signature]
Guess I didn't read the proc as close as I thought I did, huh. I remembered the part about not snagging or gaffing gamefish, but forgot about the definitions in the front. Thanks for the responses.
It was weird pulling in a trout by his back (accidentally). He felt like a clump of weeds.
[signature]
Really? See, I foul hooked a 21 inch brown last summer in the tail and got the fight of my life! I thought he was 6 or 7 pounds! I was glad that if I was to foul hook the fish it was in the tail as opposed to the body... didn't hurt him at all and had quite a fight!
[signature]