Is It Legal?

[Bassin' Man]

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..

I use a ultralight spinning rig with a maribou jig all the time at Montauk in both the C&R area and the fly fishing zone. I have never been bothered by any old farts telling me that I can't use this or that. And I even use the glowballs rigged under a small balsa float strike indicator up in the C&R zone to drive the old farts crazy.

[ozark trout fisher]

I use a ultralight spinning rig with a maribou jig all the time at Montauk in both the C&R area and the fly fishing zone. I have never been bothered by any old farts telling me that I can't use this or that. And I even use the glowballs rigged under a small balsa float strike indicator up in the C&R zone to drive the old farts crazy.

I don't think there is anything wrong with using jigs, as I've stated clearly.

But by calling fly fisherman "old farts" your bound to get some less than complementary replies.

Maybe could have used a better choice of words?

[Bassin' Man]

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"?

I don't think it would qualify even if you attached a fly to the rapala. The key here is the definition of the word "fly". According the the MDC a "fly" is "Any lure constructed of fur, hair, yarn, tinsel, or thread on a single hook, with or without a spinner attached" By that definition a rapla is not legal because you are adding the fly to another lure instead of using one already constructed on a hook, and the rapala is made of balsa wood, not fur, hair, tinsel, yarn or thread. This would also preclude the use of a fly on the back of a spoon such as a Little Cleo, but a single hook Rooster Tail is legal because the 'fly" is already made into the spinner, also a fly on the back of a Hildebrant spinner is legal too since the Code says "with or without a spinner attached" It is a confusing mess I agree.

[Bassin' Man]

I don't think there is anything wrong with using jigs, as I've stated clearly.

But by calling fly fisherman "old farts" your bound to get some less than complementary replies.

Maybe could have used a better choice of words?

That's OK because I use a fly rod too and I am 53 so I'm definitely an "Old Fart", but I'm not afraid to go rogue and tie on a glowball or use a spinning rod. I guess I should have used "Purist" as that is the term they like to be called. I guess its an ego thing or something.

[FishinCricket]

I don't think it would qualify even if you attached a fly to the rapala. The key here is the definition of the word "fly". According the the MDC a "fly" is "Any lure constructed of fur, hair, yarn, tinsel, or thread on a single hook, with or without a spinner attached" By that definition a rapla is not legal because you are adding the fly to another lure instead of using one already constructed on a hook, and the rapala is made of balsa wood, not fur, hair, tinsel, yarn or thread. This would also preclude the use of a fly on the back of a spoon such as a Little Cleo, but a single hook Rooster Tail is legal because the 'fly" is already made into the spinner, also a fly on the back of a Hildebrant spinner is legal too since the Code says "with or without a spinner attached" It is a confusing mess I agree.

Well someone had better tell that to all the agents, rangers, and park employees.. LOL I have been using a kastmaster spoon (with a fly replacing the treble hook) in zone one for years.. All under the advisement of those fine fellas in green.. Just sayin..

One thing we both agree on is that it's all one big mess of regulations!

[FishinCricket]

That's OK because I use a fly rod too and I am 53 so I'm definitely an "Old Fart", but I'm not afraid to go rogue and tie on a glowball or use a spinning rod. I guess I should have used "Purist" as that is the term they like to be called. I guess its an ego thing or something.

You tell em, pops! LOL

Fwiw, I like you already... Wanna go fishin' sometime? I assume bass fishing? LOL

[ozark trout fisher]

That's OK because I use a fly rod too and I am 53 so I'm definitely an "Old Fart", but I'm not afraid to go rogue and tie on a glowball or use a spinning rod. I guess I should have used "Purist" as that is the term they like to be called. I guess its an ego thing or something.

You sound like my kinda fisherman :lol:

[bikehikefish]

I'm going to jump in here a little bit late, but I don't see anything confusing about the regulation. From the current Code:

(D) Fly—An artificial lure constructed on

a single-point hook, using any material

except soft plastic bait and natural and scented

bait as defined in (A) or ( above, that is

tied, glued or otherwise permanently

attached.

Let't dissect this...

"constructed on a single-point hook"

does not specify how it is attached, so a single hook on a screw-eye complies

"using any material except soft plastic bait and natural and scented

bait"

Doesn't say (anymore) that it has to be feathers, etc., so balsa wood is legal

Why would a single hook Rapala be not legal?

[FishinCricket]

I'm going to jump in here a little bit late, but I don't see anything confusing about the regulation. From the current Code:

(D) Fly—An artificial lure constructed on

a single-point hook, using any material

except soft plastic bait and natural and scented

bait as defined in (A) or ( above, that is

tied, glued or otherwise permanently

attached.

Let't dissect this...

"constructed on a single-point hook"

does not specify how it is attached, so a single hook on a screw-eye complies

"using any material except soft plastic bait and natural and scented

bait"

Doesn't say (anymore) that it has to be feathers, etc., so balsa wood is legal

Why would a single hook Rapala be not legal?

Yes, this was the exact breakdown given to me, by a 10 year BSSP bait shop employee, the last time I inquired about whether or not I could use the Kastmaster Spoon with a single hook fly in Zone one. Granted, I didn't ask about a rapala, but I assume they would consider them the same type of "bait"..

(keep in mind, my assurances will not pay your ticket, but I don't think I could do much more in the way of researching than I have already done, eh?)

[ozark trout fisher]

Yes, this was the exact breakdown given to me, by a 10 year BSSP bait shop employee, the last time I inquired about whether or not I could use the Kastmaster Spoon with a single hook fly in Zone one. Granted, I didn't ask about a rapala, but I assume they would consider them the same type of "bait"..

(keep in mind, my assurances will not pay your ticket, but I don't think I could do much more in the way of researching than I have already done, eh?)

I guess you are right, maybe a crankbait would be considered a fly...................................

The only thing I have to add to the definition of a fly, is it says in the reg books "With or without a spinner", which would strongly imply rooster tails or spinner flies would be legal.