Is It Legal?

[BIG K]

Fished Wed- Sat from Lookout to Fallcreek and did very well on jig and float. But here is my question on friday i watched a guide filet fish on the front deck of the boat while in the trophy zone while the clients were still fishing bagging up the filets and throwing the carcass overboard is this legal? How do you prove what size the fish were to start with.

[laker67]

Fished Wed- Sat from Lookout to Fallcreek and did very well on jig and float. But here is my question on friday i watched a guide filet fish on the front deck of the boat while in the trophy zone while the clients were still fishing bagging up the filets and throwing the carcass overboard is this legal? How do you prove what size the fish were to start with.

Big K,

There is a sign at the hatchery access that reads: All fish possessed must have the head and tail intack while on the waters of Lake Taneycomo. No more than 4 fish per person in possession while on the waters of Lake Taneycomo.

[Don House]

Fished Wed- Sat from Lookout to Fallcreek and did very well on jig and float. But here is my question on friday i watched a guide filet fish on the front deck of the boat while in the trophy zone while the clients were still fishing bagging up the filets and throwing the carcass overboard is this legal? How do you prove what size the fish were to start with.

Laker67 is right on the money... Head and tail must be attached while on the water of Taneycomo. That is why I will not filet the trout.. Just not worth the fine to me.. I will center cut the trout and place 4 per bag for my client with a tag with name and address. Anyway the way it was exlained to me that the heads had to be on for transport anyplace in the state of MO, that was from a MDC agent at Bennett Springs..

Anyway there is always someone, even worst a Guide, If anyone he should know better..

Good Fishing

Don

[flyfishmaster]

Don,

Thanks for the info. I have never kept a trout from Taney, only the trout parks. But I guess I was oblivious to the MO law that you had to keep the head and tail on during transportion. For over 30 years I have been cutting the heads and tails off when we clean them on the stream so the fish can fit in a gallon size freezer bag.

Okay. I learned something new (for me atleast) today.

later,

FFM

[jdmidwest]

Who keeps a trout bigger than what will fit in a gallon bag anyway?

Double check the head and tail attached on the transport thing, I think that only applies to the stream. In a park, you can filet the trout at the campsite and cook or put them in the cooler for transport home. I know you cannot possess your trout park trout in the parking lots below the parks along the trophy sections. Montauk has a freezer at the lodge you can store your trout in if you wish to go below and fish.

Of course trout park fish and stream fish have different rules also.

[Phil Lilley]

Guides and clients both fillet trout at our dock everyday. But I don't think you're supposed to on the water, esp while still fishing.

I've asked so we'll see.

[laker67]

Guides and clients both fillet trout at our dock everyday. But I don't think you're supposed to on the water, esp while still fishing.

I've asked so we'll see.

This is what I found in the codebook. It applies only to trout waters with length limits. Which basically would include all because of the brown trout." Head and tail to be kept intact while on the waters or the banks." If I am reading it correctly, it does not include transportation after you leave the stated areas.

[fishinwrench]

This is what I found in the codebook. It applies only to trout waters with length limits. Which basically would include all because of the brown trout." Head and tail to be kept intact while on the waters or the banks." If I am reading it correctly, it does not include transportation after you leave the stated areas.

Shouldn't be any different from filleting crappie while still on Lake Ozark....right? you can't very easily look at and measure a fillet to check if it is a legal species of the proper length. Which is the reasoning behind the rule.

Head and tail intact until you are home..unless you wanna carry the carcass with you I suppose. But who does that?

[Gavin]

I think it applies to when you are ON the water and actively fishing in areas with length limits. If your in an area with lengh limits, you need to leave the water to process your fish...go to a cleaning station, go back to camp, go to your hotel, or go home. Not really a big deal if you clean and eat one on the river, as long as you keep the carcass handy till your dinner is done.Probably not something that anyone would get a ticket for unless they did something else, short fish, overlimit, etc....Cheers.

[duckydoty]

Some fellas like a shore lunch. What are the unforseen problems with keeping and 11 incher by the pavillion area and wanting to put it on the grill. Is that legal?