Fishing Forum

Since on one of the threads recently there was some debate about the legality of a gaff while ice fishing I figured I would post this so it's clear. This came directly off the Idaho fish and game website. Plus it answers a couple other questions people may have. I put the link at the bottom as well if anyone wants to see the original.

Q. If someone 13 or under doesn't need a license, can they still fish through five holes in the ice?

A. Yes. Any angler may fish through the ice with up to five poles or lines and up to five hooks per line. (There are some exceptions in the Southeast Region, please see the 2011-2012 fishing rules brochure for details.) A two-pole validation does not allow more than five lines while ice fishing. All lines must be attended by the angler. For safety reasons, holes may be no larger than 10 inches in diameter - except on Bear Lake in Southeast Idaho where anglers may dip net cisco through any size hole. Anglers may use gaff hooks only to land fish through a hole cut or broken in the ice in waters that have no length restrictions or harvest closures for that species. Anglers who use any enclosure or shelter for ice fishing and plan to leave it unattended overnight on the ice, must have the owner's name, telephone number, and current address legibly marked on two opposing sides. Shelters must be removed from the ice before the spring thaw.

http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/medi...ewsID=6115
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Very good. So, that should pretty much settle that debate. Now I expect there will be more debate about the whole slipping a gaff-like hook into the mouth to help land them, but then releasing.
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[quote Belasko]

A. Yes. Any angler may fish through the ice with up to five poles or lines and up to five hooks per line. (There are some exceptions in the Southeast Region, please see the 2011-2012 fishing rules brochure for details.) A two-pole validation does not allow more than five lines while ice fishing. All lines must be attended by the angler. For safety reasons, holes may be no larger than 10 inches in diameter - except on Bear Lake in Southeast Idaho where anglers may dip net cisco through any size hole. Anglers may use gaff hooks only to land fish through a hole cut or broken in the ice in waters that have no length restrictions or harvest closures for that species. Anglers who use any enclosure or shelter for ice fishing and plan to leave it unattended overnight on the ice, must have the owner's name, telephone number, and current address legibly marked on two opposing sides. Shelters must be removed from the ice before the spring thaw.



Thanks Belasko, but no one said you couldn't use a Gaff. Dan said,

"Per definition, a gaff is “a pointed device designed to pierce a fish for the purpose of reducing a fish to possession”. As such, it would be illegal to release a fish once a gaff is used. Couple that with the definition of catch and release fishing, which states “Effort, by permitted methods, to catch or attempt to catch a fish or species of fish is legal, with the restriction that any fish or species of fish so caught must be released immediately, unharmed back to the water.” Use of a gaff is not consistent with releasing unharmed. Our officers are familiar with this concept, and will write citations if someone uses a gaff and then releases the fish."

"A portion of the confusion on if a gaff is legal for catch and release fishing might be clarified by looking closer at the definition of a gaff (defined by IDFG fishing rules, which is the definition that is important in this instance): “a pointed device designed to pierce a fish for the purpose ofreducing a fish to possession”. Its important to note the definition includes the phrase about reducing the fish to possession – there is no provision in the definition of gaff that allows for C+R fishing. A gaff is a tool used to help reduce a fish to possession, not a tool that helps in catch and release situations. If anyone would like to discuss this interpretation in more detail, I’d encourage them to contact the Regional Conservation Officer at 525-7290, or myself at the same number.
Dan Garren
Regional Fisheries Manager"

A GAFF can be used but not if you plan on releasing the fish, that is all.
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