Are Droppers Legal

[jdmidwest]

I received the same answer when I inquired about this subject years ago. The only stipulation is the hooks need to be a minimum of 6 inches apart to be considered a separate fly. If you follow this rule, you should be ok.

There you go, I knew there had to be a minimum distance to make it legal. You can't tye a streamer with a trailer hook and be legal.

[Randall]

Now the question I have is where does the 6 inch language come from? Then regarding the 33 droppers, where is that language? I'm curious because an incorrect affirmative representation by law enforcement is not a defense if you are in violation of the regs.

[fishgypsy]

I actually asked an agent a few years back down at montauk and he told me that you could use as many droppers as you wanted up to 33 or something along those lines. I cant say that would stand for anywhere else...

There must be a lot of confusion on this topic even between agents, as I was stopped at Montauk several years ago for using a dropper in the C&R section. I wasn't ticketed, but he told me it was illegal.

As for the 33 hook rule, I think that can be found under the trotlining regulations in the Wildlife Code.

[Gavin]

The parks operate under a couple different sets of rules.. Missouri DNR runs the park, and they set the zones, and the rules for each zone. MDC's rules govern tackle definitions & limits, and there are some gray areas...

There isnt anything specifically allowing the use of droppers in the winter, but the regs say.... "Flies only"....Words mean things...."Flies only" is plural statement so you should be able fish more than one. They should say "Single Fly Only" if they wanted to prohibit the use of more than one fly,but they dont. Havent seen anything about a 6" rule but that seems like a minor point...most folks fish droppers longer than that. Cheers.

[Seth]

I've always fished two flies at the same time at Maramec and never had any troubles. Had other people ask me about it, but that was about it. Sounds like it's perfectly fine.

[bikehikefish]

Let's see, 33 flies x 6 inches between each one = 16.5 ft. That's a pretty long tippet section.

A six pack to anyone who rigs up like this and can cast it. It would be worth it just to see it done.

[ozark trout fisher]

Let's see, 33 flies x 6 inches between each one = 16.5 ft. That's a pretty long tippet section.

A six pack to anyone who rigs up like this and can cast it. It would be worth it just to see it done.

That'd be pretty funny to watch

[Randall]

The parks operate under a couple different sets of rules.. Missouri DNR runs the park, and they set the zones, and the rules for each zone. MDC's rules govern tackle definitions & limits, and there are some gray areas...

There isnt anything specifically allowing the use of droppers in the winter, but the regs say.... "Flies only"....Words mean things...."Flies only" is plural statement so you should be able fish more than one. They should say "Single Fly Only" if they wanted to prohibit the use of more than one fly,but they dont. Havent seen anything about a 6" rule but that seems like a minor point...most folks fish droppers longer than that. Cheers.

Gavin, I like you so don't take this the wrong way.

The language describing the fishing methods used is permissive which means that anything not listed is not going to be legal (for instance trot-lining). You were right on point there. Your interpretation of "Flies only" is creative and reasonable. However, that phrase may also be interpreted as referring to the variety of flies that may be used or to refer to the number of fishermen expected to be fishing at any given hour allowed. I agree that the use of "single fly only" clears the matter up, but the regulation does not currently say that. It would also be much more clear if the legislative intent was to permit the use of droppers to add a provision for that which would read something along the lines of, "any number of flies may be attached to the terminal end of the line so long as each individual fly is attached such that the distance between any two flies is not less than six inches." But now we would have the issue of wind knots causing a tangled mess and creating a potential (albeit faint) for criminal liability.

[jdmidwest]

So where exactly did the 6" rule come from? I have not seen it in any of the rule books other than spacing for trout lines. Same goes for 33 hooks.

[Gavin]

No hard feelings Randall. Your the legal scholar...I'm not. The rules arent clear and I'm comfortable with that. Think I'll take my chances till I see a definite prohibition. You'd probably have to tick off an agent to get a ticket for it anyway.