08-26-2010, 12:23 AM
I contacted my friend Gary Hompland the RCO in the Magic Valley region. I asked him about taking bull trout out of water here is his reply. Ron
[size 4][#000000]Hi Gary. The fishing site I am on is in need of some rule clarification.[/#000000][/size]
[size 4][#000000]Here is what was sent to me. Ron[/#000000][/size]
Any chance you can clarify for me - what EXACTLY is the rule on Bull Trout? Is it illegal to lift the fish out of water AT ALL - even to remove a hook, take a measure, snap a photo?
I would think it would be more dangerous for the fish - trying to remove a hook while it's thrashing around in the water. And many folks I've spoken with seem to be of the mindset that it means you can't take them away from the water (remove) - not a brief lift out before return.
Ron, the rules on bull trout do say it is unlawful to remove from the water and must be released immediately.
From a practical standpoint the intent of this rule is not prohibit angling but enhance survival of bull trout caught incidental to other trout. I would say photo ops of the fish while holding it still in the water would be ok but to completely remove from the water would be unlawful. Again from a practical matter if it had to be removed in order to get the hook out would be iffy since the recommendation is to cut the line to reduce the probability of harm to the fish. All those things would depend on the individual situations at the time such as length of time out of water, handling, etc.
This rule is similar to sturgeon. We have been citing people lifting sturgeon out of the water for a photo op.
Thanks g
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[size 4][#000000]Hi Gary. The fishing site I am on is in need of some rule clarification.[/#000000][/size]
[size 4][#000000]Here is what was sent to me. Ron[/#000000][/size]
Any chance you can clarify for me - what EXACTLY is the rule on Bull Trout? Is it illegal to lift the fish out of water AT ALL - even to remove a hook, take a measure, snap a photo?
I would think it would be more dangerous for the fish - trying to remove a hook while it's thrashing around in the water. And many folks I've spoken with seem to be of the mindset that it means you can't take them away from the water (remove) - not a brief lift out before return.
Ron, the rules on bull trout do say it is unlawful to remove from the water and must be released immediately.
From a practical standpoint the intent of this rule is not prohibit angling but enhance survival of bull trout caught incidental to other trout. I would say photo ops of the fish while holding it still in the water would be ok but to completely remove from the water would be unlawful. Again from a practical matter if it had to be removed in order to get the hook out would be iffy since the recommendation is to cut the line to reduce the probability of harm to the fish. All those things would depend on the individual situations at the time such as length of time out of water, handling, etc.
This rule is similar to sturgeon. We have been citing people lifting sturgeon out of the water for a photo op.
Thanks g
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