Daily Limit Question...

[Danoinark]

When they did away with the physical stamp, I had second thoughts about even buying one, but I did anyway. The physical stamps were a part of the heritage of the trout program like duck stamps are to waterfowl hunters. Competitions for the artwork. Selling of the prints. And the additional sales of stamps to persons that collect the stamps. But now all we have is another line on our license.

Agreed. A sad day when most state's did away with the STAMP.

Dano

[Micheal Kyle]

I will have to say that I got miss information from the MDC yesterday. They figured I was talking about Trout Parks. So yes I am eating Crow this morning I wish I had some ketchup.

I will still stand behind that I have seen an agent write a ticket for this more than once up on the Little Sac because I was riding along with him. He has not worked with the Mdc for a few years now.

My question is to them what if you have four fish and you catch a fish and it dies then what, you are over your limit because you were fishing legally to begin with. I guess I should be an attorney instead of a fly shop owner.

One more question what if I want to target for Small mouth Bass at BSSP yes it is a trout park but it has multiple species in it just as most other streams do.

So with that said Keep fishing and have a good day just don't over analyze things like I do.

[jdmidwest]

One more question what if I want to target for Small mouth Bass at BSSP yes it is a trout park but it has multiple species in it just as most other streams do.

Possession in Trout Parks is limited to the TROUT only as far as I know. I have seen some walking around with a sucker or a bass on a stringer but I think they were tempting a ticket. I had this conversation with an agent one time and only Trout are allowed to be possessed in a Trout Park. You have to buy a special TAG that allows you to fish the Trout Parks which binds you to the regulations pertaining to that tag. The land surrounding the stream and the regulations for the streams flowing thru the park covers the regulations. I think it was designed to eliminate the possibility of someone reaching the possession limit of trout from claiming he was fishing for another species. Streams outside of Trout Parks go back to State Regulations.

There is no regulation stopping you from fishing for/or catching a Smallie in BSSP, just possession or retention.

Technically, once you retain 4 fish in a park, you have to quit all fishing in the park. Even if you take the fish to camp or eat them for lunch, 4 per day only. I have never had a problem with this because all you have to do is go outside the Park and fish all you want, you are on Statewide regulations then.

[jdmidwest]

Another wrinkle here.

If you buy a tag at a Trout Park, catch and keep your daily limit of trout in a park, then go to another area to fish.

Do you think you can catch and keep 4 more fish per state regulations?

You paid extra for a special daily tag to catch special fish in a special area separate from Statewide regulations.

You have in your possession a State Trout Stamp that allows you to possess 4 trout under state regs.

Any thoughts on that one?

Probably not. The reason, all fish are either property of the state or raised with tax dollars of the state. This would not apply to Private fisheries like Westover, etc.

[laker67]

Well Laker, I just buy a trout stamp anyway. Always have. I have not possessed a trout in MO streams all year. But the MDC Fisheries division relies on the income from the stamp to keep up production.

jd,

My point was this. If you required a trout stamp, then you would either be legal or illegal. I have always bought a stamp also, and rarely keep a fish. It might discourage someone from trying to do something illegal, after the fact.

[jdmidwest]

You really can't discourage someone from breaking the laws. Some buy deer or turkey tags after they kill a deer or turkey. I am sure some do the same with trout.

My point is that there is a Blue Ribbon Trout Stream that is also a Smallmouth Management Stream I fish. There have been times I fished it primarily for Smallmouth and was not targeting the trout in the stream. Why should a person have to purchase a trout stamp if they don't fish for the trout? Spring River in Arkansas also comes to mind, it is a trout stream with all 4 species of trout, but the state record Muskie came out of it. I also fish it for Smallies, Largemouth, and Goggle Eye. It is one of the trout streams in Ark where it is not required to have a trout stamp to fish the waters.

[laker67]

You really can't discourage someone from breaking the laws. Some buy deer or turkey tags after they kill a deer or turkey. I am sure some do the same with trout.

My point is that there is a Blue Ribbon Trout Stream that is also a Smallmouth Management Stream I fish. There have been times I fished it primarily for Smallmouth and was not targeting the trout in the stream. Why should a person have to purchase a trout stamp if they don't fish for the trout? Spring River in Arkansas also comes to mind, it is a trout stream with all 4 species of trout, but the state record Muskie came out of it. I also fish it for Smallies, Largemouth, and Goggle Eye. It is one of the trout streams in Ark where it is not required to have a trout stamp to fish the waters.

jd,

Sometimes it takes me awhile to sort things out. I understand your point of view now, and you are right. It would not be fair to penalize the other fishermen wanting to target "other" than trout.

[LWD]

“I did not make a mistake.

MK is right- it pertains to the trout parks only.”

Phil, concerning my previous post, unless I missed something, my confusion came in when you then stated about 6 posts later ---- “It says it it right in the reg book once a limit of Trout is caught and kept you must stop fishing for all species.”

See the difference, the first comment you stated that Quinton said you can keep fishing, then later on you stated you must stop fishing. The distinction between the trout parks and other places (Taneycomo) was not mentioned by MK till a few posts later. Anyway, I only mention it because it was contradictory which led to some of the confusion .

When I was in a similar situation as you, we kept a plentiful supply of the MDC fishing regulations on hand. Even if I was confident on a regulation, I stated what I thought it was and then handed them one of the regulation books and told them to look it up for themselves to be sure. I fully understand your concern about giving out inaccurate info, it not only reflects on you, but could possibly end up being a liability.

I guess the final word lies in the email you got from an agent, and that’s as good as hearing him say it. Personally I’m not comfortable with it, but it will make it more fun, to be able to stay out and continue to fish once the limit is filled. A couple of us mentioned the “what if” a trout dies once you’ve filled your limit, but who would ever know it or prove it without going to great lengths.

One other thing worth mentioning; if you have your limit and your buddy does not, you cannot continue to fish, catch a fish, and complete his limit with it. That would put you over your limit for the day. I’ve heard of guy’s doing that.