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I fished Bird Island almost every day last year. I bought a setline license and started dropped off a settling jug when I left the water every day. The required info was printed on the jug and it was properly anchored with a single hook on the line. The regs say the set line must be within 100 yards of the bank on the water you are fishing. I had mine set up within 100 yards of the island. Was I legal? Is an island considered to be a "bank" of the water I was fishing?
Anyways, I only tried it a couple of days cuz it didn't work all that well. I think I had had a cat on every time I checked the line but all I got was a squirrel's nest of tangled line and an empty hook. I might try it again this year but rather than risk being tagged with a violation I'll set up closer to the launch channel.
Anybody had any experience with setlines? For cats?
Is and island considered a "bank"? Just wonderin'.
Ice go away!!
BLK
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No you were not legal. The fisherman must be within 100 yards of the water or bank not the setline, I suggest reading the regs again. And, there are only certain waters that you can use a setline. I don't know where bird island is.
From the guide book
• When fishing with a setline, you must be within 100 yards of the surface or the bank of water you’re fishing from.
It's just my opinion but if someone used the fifteen hooks allowed on a setline the could easily catch over the limit on some species. Even if you cut the leader to let the fish go there would be some mortality.
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[#0000FF]You will need to verify with a CO in Utah, but in most states where setlines are used an island...above water...satisfies the bank or shoreline requirement.
And just because you use more than 8 hooks does not mean you will catch more than 8 cats. Generally lucky to get one or two. If you did get more...using circle hooks...there should be little or no concern for mortality. Catfish is tough.
Wish we could use juglines. Did that down south. It's a hoot chasing floats around and trying to catch up with spooky cats. They are masters of evasion, especially in shallow water.
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Hmmm...... Does that mean you cannot leave a set line over night? I have read the regs many times and I still think there is some question as to what constitutes a "bank".
Anyway, I'll plead guilty to the violation if it is a violation and just stick to a nice J hook on the end of a pole line.
By the way, Bird Island is in Utah Lake and set lines are allowed on that water.
Thanks for the come back.
BLK
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I'm not going to tackle the legality question, but you can cut way down on the "squirrels nest" if you anchor both ends of your set line[  ]
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[quote Boatloadakids]Hmmm...... Does that mean you cannot leave a set line over night?
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The way I read, "When fishing with a setline, you must be within 100 yards of the surface or the bank of water you’re fishing from." is that you must stay within 100 yards of the surface or bank. Ok to leave overnight, but you would have to stay close to the bank (couldn't drive home).
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My interpretation of "bank" would be the waterline or where the surface of the water meets the surface of the land. I guess you can leave it overnight if you stay within 100 yds of the water overnight.
Then there is the theory that you put a set line out then go up or down river a few miles. Your still within 100 yds of the bank. Would that still be legal?
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I can see that you might not catch a whole string at once. But, I watched a gentlman motor up next to me in a big hole on the Bear River, drop a setline, let it soak for a couple hours while fishing all around me (I think he was trying to push me out). When he pulled it out there were only 2, 3, or 4 hooks that didn't have a fish. He had Catfish, Bass, and 1 walleye, amazingly no carp. He was using nightcrawlers. I know that might have been a fluke,
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To BLK, I,m not saying don't setline. Just voicing my concerns about the legalities that me get involved.
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This is what me and my dad made YEARS ago and they worked grate when we first started you could have up to 30 hooks.
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I'm with ya BagaBig. Probably best to either get a CO opinion. as TD suggested or play it safe and just go fishin'. To me it was a novelty that I wanted to try once but I'd much rather have a pole in hand -- more sport too.
I have seen plastic milk bottle jugs strung out along the shore of UL. Seems like they are usually 50 or so yards apart and always within a hundred yards of shore. I assumed they were left over night but ??.
Anyway, I'm ready for soft water.
BLK
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[#0000FF]Ya also gotta realize that we are in Utah...very progressive for the 1800's. Although they try hard to cover all the bases and address any potential questions or problems, DWR often confuses more than they clarify on some issues.
I have wandered around much of the country and always enjoy reading and trying to interpret the local regulations. Some states have liberal limits and almost unlimited methods available for harvesting most species. Others (like Utah) can be somewhat stingy and restrictive. Understandable in a desert state that is not hospitable to all species.
The use of set lines (trot lines) has never been very popular with the mainstream Utah anglers (trouters). But there is a growing contingent of low level tanglers who can't or won't invest in "standard" tackle...and who fish almost exclusively with handlines and setlines. The worst part of their fishing is that they often leave many yards of heavy monofilament strung across the bottom in rocky areas...accidentally or on purpose. This makes it impossible for those of us who fish light gear to work lures or baits in these areas without getting snagged on their lost lines. Also tough on float tubers and tooners who kick in too shallow and get hog-tied in the spider webs of lines.
I don't dispute your experience on the Bear River. Wherever there are multispecies and you are fishing multiple hooks with a universal bait...like crawlers...you are likely to get a "box of chocklits". By the way, I noticed you referred to the guy as a "gentleman". I might have had a more colorful term for him. But that's what you get for fishing in his hole. Shame on ya.
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I've never tried a setline but have tried leaving a milk jug secured with a big nut or bolt, even just a rock on a piece of rope to mark a spot on UL. Every time I came back. it was all gone and there was never enough wind to have blown it away. ????????
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No need to leave marker bouys anymore . GPS has replaced the need .
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Just got to thinking that while his setline was soaking he was fishing with a pole also and I know he caught a few bass that he kept. I'll bet he was over limit on them when he left, I didn't see him release anything. Should have paid closer attention and called a CO.
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Many of us old farts remember the days of "jug lining" at UL. I think the DWR started pulling them in and removing them if one end on the pea line was anchored to the shoreline.
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I have run many setlines over the years. Setlines are meant to be left out over night in most cases. You dont have to be within 100 yards of your setline, your setline has to be within 100 yards of the bank. Utah doesnt have a requirement on how often setlines need to be checked but this is why they require you to put your name and info on the line so that if it is left there too long and fish are wasted they can track down the owner and write him a ticket. If a setline is setup properly and anchored properly checking once every 24 hours is fine. You will not kill fish but you will loose some fish that will twist off. Checking it a couple times a day is a better bet to catching more fish.
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Shawdawg-- That's the way I read the regs when I tried a setline last year. I set it up and left it overnight. Where the regs say "You must be within 100 yds of the shore" I thought it meant the setline must be within 100 yards from shore and I could not see any set time to check lines.?
I called the Springville DWR office today and asked for clarification. They told me the fisherman must be within 100 yards of the setline at all times and it was not legal to leave a line out over night?? Seems like the more I look into it the fuzzier it gets so I'll just stick to a stick.
Another one that I think could get you a citation is snagging carp. I see this going on all the time. The regs say it is illegal to snag and there is no distinction between game fish and non game?
Again, I'll just stick to a stick -- and I can't wait to get started. Ice go away!!
BLK
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I appreciate the feedback. This is one they need to clarify because when i read the proclamation is does not say what you were told by the dwr. I have a feeling you could fight your way out of a ticket on this if you had a good lawyer and a truck load of money.
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Yep, I agree. Seems to be a lot of room for interpretation of that reg. Betcha I could get a different opinion from another DWR office too.
Still not clear to me if you have to be within 100 yds. of the bank or if your setline must be within100 yds. or both you and your setline must be within 100 yds. And still not sure if an island is considered a "bank."??
Not worth risking a citation so I'll pass on the setline.
Thanks for your opinion and good luck to ya.
BLK
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