Legal Means

[jdmidwest]

SM,

1: Correct, we have been over this before and I was involved in the discussions. Not sure of anyones professions here, but a lawyer or an judge is not needed, a MDC department official needs to make a decision and put it in the rule book. Until then, I will not fish anything that involves soft plastic in a area that rules out soft plastic, I value my fishing license too much.

2: A scud without any other material could resemble a maggot which is a stage of the fly and technically it would be legal.

3: The jig verses fly thing is vague too, a weighted bead head nymph is a micro jig if you look at it from a different angle.

4: Define scudback... I personally use latex, saran wrap, pheasant tail, condoms, ziplock bags, krystal flash, flashabou, mylar, zylon, antron, and feathers for the carapace shell on my scuds.

5: Its better to stimulate discussion about this topic instead of talking about some idiot killing a bunch of college students.

6: Why doesn't a bunch of educated fly fishing individuals change the state rules to define the fly as it should be, not a single hook rapala or metz spinner. The whole fly thing was to reduce the mortality of the fish when we hook up with them. If MDC wanted to save a few fish, why not take the next step and impose the Barbless Rule and let the warden carry panty hose to check it out. Will our barbless flies snag a pair of small ultra sheers but not a pair of biguns extra warmth.

Liten up

[SilverMallard]

"Liten (sic) up?"

If you don't want to discuss this topic, just don't. It sure isn't causing me any stress. LOL

[Phil Lilley]

"If MDC wanted to save a few fish, why not take the next step and impose the Barbless Rule and let the warden carry panty hose to check it out."

MDC has taken the position (or at least Mike Kruse did) that barbless does not save fish. It only saves their lips (cosmetic).

I don't like the barbless rule simply because if you don't use factory made barbless hooks, you're always in fear of your barb not being bent down far enough and failing the "panty hose test'. Some hooks are harder than others... some continually break when crimping.

[Terry Beeson]

I think the AGFC biologists are in agreement that barbless does not save many if any fish. With the trout management plans I've seen, the barbless rule in Arkansas is on its way out... I crimp my hooks anyway for MY benefit now. If I get a hook in my finger, nose, or ear it will be easier to get out. Plus, it helps me release the fish easier.

I fished Friday with Leonard who gave me a fly. The first fish I caught, I thought "why can't I get this hook out?" then remembered it was one of Leonard's flies an he doesn't crimp...

[gonefishin]

It all seems pretty simple to me. The law says no soft plastic and that should mean 'no soft plastic'. From some of the posts above it looks to me like a person could take a tube jig add a couple of whips of thread and bingo you got a legal fly. Looks to me like the law is getting stretched pretty thin in places.

[Danoinark]

I don't like the barbless rule simply because if you don't use factory made barbless hooks, you're always in fear of your barb not being bent down far enough and failing the "panty hose test'. Some hooks are harder than others... some continually break when crimping.

Amen!

[SilverMallard]

I think the REAL solution to the regs issue would be to define SOFT PLASTICS instead of trying to define "traditional fly tying materials." Perhaps something that specifically addressed rubber worms, grubs, curly-tails, jig skirts, etc. NOT associated with fly fishing would be easier to put into a brief definition than would describing all of the acceptable fly tying materials.

P.S. I fish barbless. But I don't like barbless regs. They are not easily and ACCURATELY enforceable. If you didn't quite crimp a barb perfectly enough to not snag the wardens' sexy stockings, then you get a ticket. That has always seemed really, really stupid to me. There are too many variables in barbless hook enforcement for my taste. I'd rather see them go to a single hook reg than have barbless regs.

[ozarkriverrat]

Your going to have "grey area" in any type of regulations. I think its more of an ethical thing. If you really have to use soft plastic to catch fish use a spinning rod.

[SilverMallard]

Actually, what prompted me to post this thread is not a "have to" by any stretch. It's a matter of curiosity. The fly I am thinking of catches the heck out of everything else everywhere else...from largemouth bass to catfish and saltwater sportfish. And I can fish for trout with it plenty of other places. I know it catches steelhead. So I'd imagine it'll catch rainbows...which are just freshwater steelhead. And the fly is made entirely of a hook and synthetic, translucent scudback type material.

[Forsythian]

If you really have to use soft plastic to catch fish use a spinning rod.

YES!

A "purist" on a tailwater bulletin board.

Welcome riverrat!