Question about regs

putahfisher · Member

Question about regs

bono · Master Fly Fishing Guide

Wow, thats a great question! I havent a clue confuse

Something worth looking into.

SK60 · Senior Member

Good question. Plastic eggs or worm are artificial, unless you add a scent or they have one built in, then they are bait and illegal. Under DFG's General provisions and definitions:

An artificial lure is a man-made lure or fly designed to attract fish. This definition does not include scented or flavored artificial baits.

putahfisher · Member

So any kind of scent or flavor makes rubber into bait? What if it is an artificial flavor like wd-40, seen that done by spinners before. Essentially synthetic rubber and wd-40 are made of the same exact chemicals. Is this also the case for say a rubber bass worm that has salt packed in it? I know most bass fishermen don't admit to bait fishing but isn't that what they are doing? It seems to be a fine line now between what could be counted as bait and artificials. I know this is redundant but, just to clarify- if I find someone spin fishing with 100% rubber worms or eggs, and no barbs they are in compliance? This gives me an idea for a new fly. The rubber san juan worm with some rubber safe super glue on the hook to hold it on forever. biggrin

How many of you guys will give me s**t for that I wonder? What should I do with the photo of the guys truck that I have? Also next time do you suggest that I go down to talk with them and ask to check what they are using, or is that too in your face? Thanks for the advice. Ps. Who wants some rubber San Juans? -PF

AfricanAngler · Senior Member

Almost all he artificial worms sold these day have some sort of scent salt etc and are illegal to use at Putah. As to the rubber San Juan i personally have no problem with that as i use rubber legs on my flies all the time... heck most have fished the fly called a "Rubber Legs". All flies are lures of a sort some people have certain ideas what they would consider a fly. At Putah it is easy as artificial lures are OK, But now my question. On a fly fishing only body of water would a rubber SJW be OK and for that matter would a plastic bead (be OK)??

As to the WD40 it has been used, and will be used, for a long time, however I was told it s a big no no here. If you are caught using it you can be in big do do as you are deemed to be polluting the water due to some of the chemicals in WD40. That said the reason for it working is that one of the main "ingredients" is fish oil!!! ( Some people have told me Tuna and others Anchovie oil)

Anyway just thought I would throw that into the mix.

putahfisher · Member

Not trying to be confrontational but wd-40 contains no fish oil, it's petroleum based just like a synthetic rubber worm. I was just wondering what the legality of fishing rubber is in putah and if all scents are a no no then why is the rubber scent of petroleum based product ok if petroleum based products have been proven to attract fish? I also know that some waters have very specific rules even on what kinds of "lures" can be used. By the way I was kind of kidding about using a rubber san juan (kind of). Would it be possible to make putah a rubber "bait" free water since it is so hard to tell if someone is using scents or flavors? Seems like a good time to do so with all the changing going on!-PF

Ps. I'm not saying that I'm interested in using wd-40, I was mainly asking so I would know what action to take if I see someone using scents. Also trying to make the distinction between natural and synthetic scents, muck like the law seems to be making the distinction between natural and synthetic baits! wink

Thanks, guys for the input! And hey African Angler thanks for being cool about the rubber SJ idea. I've had a lot of people on this board rip me up for having radical ideas. Glad to see some civility. I feel like an outsider at Putah (and this board) even though I have fly fished and practiced catch and release there for over 15 years and other cal rivers for 30years.

-- Edited by putahfisher on Monday 7th of March 2011 12:30:48 PM

-- Edited by putahfisher on Monday 7th of March 2011 01:27:57 PM

SK60 · Senior Member

How many angels can dance on the head of a pin? If you see someone using bait, i.e. red worms, power bait, real salmon eggs, you could politely remind them that their use is illegal. Same if they have fish in possession. You could then forward your observations via the Cal-Tip link, if you are sure they were fishing illegally. Include the plate number, car description, etc., etc.-its all on the form.

IMO, this topic is already out of control and should stop.

LilWhippersnapper · Senior Member

Salmon love wd-40 on anchovies. What's all this talk about wd-40 being illegal at Putah? The fish love wd-40. Especially a size 20.

shon42073 · Senior Member

I rarely fish a san juan worm but heres one I like. Red hook, Red bead in the middle of the hook, very thin peice of rubber off the front and rear, Like a real small red rubber band, Obviously red thread. When it comes to whats "legal" as far as scent goes I believe a warden will use common sense, and no I believe a rubber worm or jig is not considered bait. I also believe that the presence of spinning geardoes not give you the right to approach someone, UNLESS Its obviouse they are doing something illegal. They have just as much right to be there as we do. The WD-40 thing is a myth and it dosen't work.

Otter · Senior Member

Heres the regs. http://www.fishrapnews.com/rap/Regulations/oceanfish2010.pdf See page 8. Artificial lure can not have artificial scents or flavors....

The general regs did change this year as well. Unlisted waters in some regions are now open year around. The regs change per district.

LilWhippersnapper · Senior Member

Otter wrote:

Heres the regs. http://www.fishrapnews.com/rap/Regulations/oceanfish2010.pdf See page 8. Artificial lure can not have artificial scents or flavors....

The general regs did change this year as well. Unlisted waters in some regions are now open year around. The regs change per district.

Does that mean lures can have natural scents and flavors?... confuse

thomas28 · Newbie

LilWhippersnapper wrote:
Otter wrote:

Heres the regs. http://www.fishrapnews.com/rap/Regulations/oceanfish2010.pdf See page 8. Artificial lure can not have artificial scents or flavors....

The general regs did change this year as well. Unlisted waters in some regions are now open year around. The regs change per district.

Does that mean lures can have natural scents and flavors?...

This was my thought, exactly.

Tom C.

thomas28 · Newbie

If it's OK for a lure to look and act like the real thing, just what is wrong with it smelling like the real thing?

Tom C.

LilWhippersnapper · Senior Member

thomas28 wrote:
If it's OK for a lure to look and act like the real thing, just what is wrong with it smelling like the real thing?
Tom C.

Probably because it gives the lure taste and that might cause the trout to swallow it. Let's be honest, when does a minnow smell like a jar of powerbait?

Xnjb707X · Senior Member

or the nice smell of garlic mallows..

Otter · Senior Member

I dip all my flies in a ground up night crawler and powerbait mix... It seems to work really well... biggrin biggrin biggrin

SK60 · Senior Member

Otters are known for their cosmopolitan tastes.