Is It Legal?

[Randall]

So where exactly in the CSR does it mention a roostertail with a single hook being a fly because I can't find it.

The point I was making is that the definition of a fly in Missouri is so loosely defined that legitimate flyfishing is not an essential part of legal flyfishing in this state.

Cadillac,

There is no right or wrong answer to the question I posted. Any answer has a 50/50 shot at being right or wrong.

[laker67]

Without doing any research, I'd say that wading in the fly area and casting in the bait area would be legal up until you got the fish into the fly only area. This really could go on for a while, but suffice it to say that a person fishing bait in the bait area while standing in the fly area is probably going to be okay.

As far as what you can use to be considered a "fly", pretty much anything with one hook point that is not natural, scented, or soft plastic is legal. If you wanted to fish a rapala with the trebles removed and a single hook put on it, you could.

I think you have found a loophole Randall. Rooster tails are a legal bait when constructed with a single point hook. What makes it legal is when the fly tying materials are "tied" to the hook. Take a legal fly and make it the hook source for the rapala or other crankbait. The single point hook could not be bare, you would have to add some fly materials. It would be worth asking an agent about it.

[ozark trout fisher]

So where exactly in the CSR does it mention a roostertail with a single hook being a fly because I can't find it.

The point I was making is that the definition of a fly in Missouri is so loosely defined that legitimate flyfishing is not an essential part of legal flyfishing in this state.

Cadillac,

There is no right or wrong answer to the question I posted. Any answer has a 50/50 shot at being right or wrong.

I agree that you don't need to be legitimately fly fishing in this state to fish in a fly fishing only area. And thats how it should be.

There are some states around where you actually have to be using a fly rod, and no spinners, jigs, or anything like that are allowed.

My question to the people who advocate such regulations is, what's the point? I don't get it. I don't have a problem with Missouri's fly fishing areas, because I can still use a few spinning lures there, and be within the law. Your no more likely to deep hook a fish with a single hooked rooster tail or a marabou jig than a pheasant tail nymph. Which I assume is the point in making a stream fly fishing only. Also, I understand the reason why many people want fly fishing areas is so that people can fish, without sit and wait bait fisherman cutting off casting lanes. But really, jig or spinner fisherman don't cut of any more, probably as much, of a casting lane as a fly fisherman.

Well I see I've fallen into another fly fishing/spinfishing debate.

But they're so much fun

[Randall]

I agree 100 percent that a legal "fly" attached to a crankbait would be a legal fly. I still think that a bare hook would qualify as well because the definition states that it should be tied glued or otherwise permanently attached. The meaning of "or otherwise permanently attached" is that you don't necessarily have to tie or glue the material to the hook.

The part about the fly being constructed on the hook could be interpreted more than one way. The plainer meaning that most people would think of is that the hook is the centerpoint of the fly, the part to which everything is attached. You could argue, however, that attachment to the hook is the meaning of "constructed on". Under that definition you could say that by permanently attaching a crankbait to a single hook, the "fly" is constructed on that hook.

Now, who wants to throw a crankbait with a single hook point?

I guess I should say that I have no problem with spin fishermen in the fly-only areas when they are fishing in a similar manner as you would with a flyrod i.e. drift, steady retrieve, or jigging. In that sense, the only real difference is method of casting.

[FishinCricket]

So I am formulating a plan.. Stay with me..

What if I went into zone one and tied on a glowball (the little furry orange flies) and hooked it up powerbait style.. It would be legal, yes? It would still piss off every fisherman in the fly area, eh?

Just a silly thought, I too am tired of having to defend my kastmaster lure (re-rigged with a fly for the "permanently attached hook" on the back) or even worse having to explain to some grouchy know-it-all that I am within my rights with my ultralight and my maribou jig..

[Randall]

Are you talking about casting it out and letting it sit on the bottom? Not sure how well that would work, but it would be legal.

[ozark trout fisher]

Are you talking about casting it out and letting it sit on the bottom? Not sure how well that would work, but it would be legal.

I think the MDC could end this argument pretty quickly by just changing there definition of a fly to a single hooked artificial lure, with no soft plastic.

The current definition is just too complicated.

[FishinCricket]

Are you talking about casting it out and letting it sit on the bottom? Not sure how well that would work, but it would be legal.

I use em for my niece and nephew on the river.. Costs less that powerbait and I can tie a fly on the back too.. Yeah, I toss it behind the boat and the big weight keeps it close to the bottom.. We don't catch monsters, but we catch them..

The point was that it would be legal (it's not plastic it's a fly) but it would be rude to use in that area because it takes up allot of room..

But I was just mainly being a smart alleck.. LOL

[Bassin' Man]

Without doing any research, I'd say that wading in the fly area and casting in the bait area would be legal up until you got the fish into the fly only area. This really could go on for a while, but suffice it to say that a person fishing bait in the bait area while standing in the fly area is probably going to be okay.

As far as what you can use to be considered a "fly", pretty much anything with one hook point that is not natural, scented, or soft plastic is legal. If you wanted to fish a rapala with the trebles removed and a single hook put on it, you could.

A single hook on a rapala DOES NOT make it legal in the fly only water. A rapala is not a fly as defined by the MDC Wildlife Codebook. The only lures legal in the fly only water are those defined as a "fly" by the Wildlife Code book. However, you CAN use any kind of fishing rod and reel (yes even your Snoopy rod) as long as you use a legal "fly". A maribou jig is considered a fly, and is legal regardless of the rod and reel it is fished with.

[FishinCricket]

A single hook on a rapala DOES NOT make it legal in the fly only water. A rapala is not a fly as defined by the MDC Wildlife Codebook. The only lures legal in the fly only water are those defined as a "fly" by the Wildlife Code book. However, you CAN use any kind of fishing rod and reel (yes even your Snoopy rod) as long as you use a legal "fly". A maribou jig is considered a fly, and is legal regardless of the rod and reel it is fished with.

But what if I attach a fly to the rapala? And (purely out of curiosity) what IS the MDC wildlife codebook's definition of a "fly"?