CHAPTER 46
GENERAL FISHING RULES
1998-1999
Section 1. Authority. These rules are promulgated by authority
of Wyoming Statutes, Section 23-1-302, 23-2-206, 23-3-201, 23-3-202, and 23-4-103.
Section 2. Seasons and Fishing Hours.
(a) Fishing is permitted year-round 24 hours a day in any of the
waters in Wyoming except as specifically prescribed by the Commission for some particular
area, stream or lake, or portion thereof.
(b) Waters included under the "Special Winter Ice Fishing
Regulation" are listed in the fishing rules for particular drainage areas. The use of
more than two lines is permitted only during the ice covered period and only when the
angler is fishing through the ice on waters included under this special season regulation.
It is legal to use hand lines, set lines, poles, or tip ups; provided no person shall use
more than six lines. When using more than two lines, each line shall bear no more than one
hook, artificial fly or lure, the angler's name must be attached to each line, pole or
tip-up, the angler must be in attendance and the anglers must check their own lines.
Attendance under the special winter ice fishing regulation shall be interpreted to mean
the angler must be within 300 yards of all lines.
Section 3. Methods.
Except as otherwise provided, fish may only be taken or fished for with a
maximum of two rods or poles, with lines and hooks attached and the angler in attendance.
No line may have more than three single hooked devices attached. Internal organs, eggs,
eyes, fins, and skin are the only legal portions of game fish which may be used as bait.
Eggs of salmonids (trout, salmon, grayling, whitefish, cisco) are the only legal parts
that may be used as bait.
Section 4. Definitions.
(a) Artificial Flies and Lures - As used here "artificial"
means manmade. Living or dead organisms or edible parts thereof, natural or prepared
organic food stuffs, and chemical attractants may not be used. Artificial lures include
spoons, spinners and plugs made of metal, plastic, wood and other non-edible materials, or
plastic products made to resemble worms, eggs, fish and other aquatic organisms.
Artificial flies includes flies, streamers, jigs, and poppers tied from such materials as
thread, feathers, hair and tinsel.
(b) Dates - Where dates are specified in these regulations, the dates
mentioned are inclusive. "Day" means calendar day.
(c) Game Fish - Wyoming "game fish" include bass (GENUS Micropterus
and Ambloplites); sunfish (GENUS Lepomis); crappie (GENUS Pomoxis);
walleye and sauger (GENUS (Stizostedion); yellow perch (GENUS Perca); trout,
salmon, and char (GENUS (Salmo, Oncorhynchus, and Salvelinus);
whitefish (GENUS Prosopium); grayling (GENUS Thymallus); pike (GENUS Esox);
catfish and bullheads (GENUS Ameiurus, Ictalurus, Noturus, and Pylodictis);
burbot (GENUS Lota); sturgeon (GENUS Scaphirhynchus); and freshwater drum
(GENUS Aplodinotus).
(d) Fishing Contest - A fishing contest is any event for catching game
fish from waters open to public use where an entry or participation fee of ten dollars
($10.00) or more is charged per angler, fifty or more anglers participate on a given date,
or total prizes exceeding one thousand ($1,000) in cash or merchandise are awarded.
(e) Hook - as used here "hook" means a single hooked device
or bait regardless of the number of prongs.
(f) Lure - as used here "lure" means a single hooked device
regardless of the number of hooks.
(g) Length - All references to "length" in these orders
shall be construed as meaning the total length in inches, as measured in a straight line
along a flat surface, from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail.
(h) Prize - as used here "prize" means any award including
but not limited to cash, merchandise, coupons, trophies or any other items of value.
(i) Snagging - As used here "snagging" means attempting to
take a fish in such a manner that the fish does not take the hook voluntarily in its
mouth.
(j) Artificial Light - as used here "artificial light" means
any man-made light or lighting device.
(k) Drainage - as used here "drainage" means the river proper
and the area of land (including all streams and standing waters) which drains into that
river or stream.
Section 5. Creel Limits.
(a) No person may take during any one day, or have in possession
(which includes fish in transit or storage) at any one time more than the number and
length of fish specified as the creel limit hereinafter listed. There are no limits on
nongame fish. Nongame fish may be taken by the use of legal fishing methods during any
open game fish season.
(b) Any fish caught that is not to be counted in the creel limit must
be immediately released into the water with as little injury as possible. Any fish placed
on a stringer, or in a container, or not returned immediately to the water, will be
counted in the creel.
(c) It is unlawful to fish while having fish in possession which
violate the creel or length limit for that water.
(d) All fish possessed or transported must be kept in such a manner
that species and numbers can be determined. Head and tail must remain attached when length
limits apply (includes all trout). A piece of skin large enough to allow species
identification must remain on all fillets while in transit or in the field.
(e) The general daily creel and possession limits are listed below.
One limit may be taken from each of the following eight categories. Exceptions are listed
with the regulations for each drainage area (Chapters 47 through 51).
SPECIES Daily Creel and Possession
1. Trout, salmon, grayling in combination - 6 - only one fish may exceed 20
inches.
2. Brook trout eight inches or less - 10 - in addition to general creel limit
on trout.
3. Whitefish - 50
4. Largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye and sauger, in combination. - 6
5. Channel catfish and ling (burbot), in combination. - 6
6. Northern pike and tiger musky(northern pike-muskellunge pike and tiger
hybrid). - 3 - all northern musky less than 30 inches in length must be returned to the
water immediately.
7. Sturgeon - 2
8. Yellow perch, black bullhead, stonecat, crappie, rock bass, bluegill,
pumpkinseed, green sunfish, freshwater drum in combination. - 50
Section 6. Snagging. It is unlawful to snag fish.
Section 7. Use of Live Bait Fish and Corn.
(a) Bait fish are defined as being nongame fish present in the waters
of the State of Wyoming.
(b) Waters where live bait fish may be obtained and used are
designated within the regulations for the drainage area (Chapters 47 through 51).
Possession of live bait fish is prohibited in areas or on waters where their use is not
permitted.
(c) Live bait fish shall not be transported out of the designated use
area.
(d) Persons with live bait fish in possession shall either have a
receipt or a permit verifying origin of fish. Live bait fish dealers and permittees shall
issue a receipt valid for ten consecutive days, including the date of transfer, to
the recipient at the time of transfer. The receipt will show the dealer's or
permitee's name, address, the number and species of fish received, the date of the
transfer, expiration date and where the fish may be used. Receipt forms for live
bait dealers will be provided by the Department.
(e) Use or possession of corn while fishing is prohibited on all
waters of the state.
Section 8. Seining and Trapping of Fish.
(a) No person shall seine or trap bait fish without a valid seining
license.
(b) No person shall have more than one seining license per year.
(c) Seining and trapping licenses for the purpose of taking bait fish
may be obtained from Game and Fish Department Regional Offices or by mail from the
Cheyenne Office.
(d) Seining or trapping and use of bait fish may only be done
as specified in regulations for the drainage areas (Chapters 47 through 51). Locations
where bait fish may be obtained and used must be specified on each seining license.
(e) Seining licenses are subject to suspension or revocation for
failure to comply with the seining and trapping conditions specified for the drainage
areas (Chapters 47 through 51).
(f) Seines or nets used for the purpose of taking bait fish shall not
be more than 25 feet long, 5 feet deep and not have a mesh in excess of one quarter inch.
(g) Traps used for the purpose of taking bait fish shall not be more
than 36 inches long, 12 inches deep, 12 inches wide or 12 inches in diameter and the
throat is not to exceed 1 inch width.
(1) A permittee will be entitled to use five traps.
(2) The owner's name and permit number are to be attached to each trap while in
use.
(h) Any game fish taken by trap or seine must be returned to the water
immediately.
Section 9. Live Bait Fish Dealers.
(a) No person shall deal in live bait fish without a valid bait
dealer's license. Out-of-state suppliers who transport live bait fish into the state for
sale must have a valid bait dealer’s license and written import authorization from
the Department.
(b) Application for a live bait fish dealer's license shall be made on
forms provided by the Department. The applicant will provide information on where the
business is located and the type of facilities to be used for holding fish.
(c) Live bait fish dealers shall issue a receipt valid for ten
consecutive days, including the date of sale, to the buyer at the time of sale. The
receipt will show the dealer's name, address, the number and species of fish
sold, the date of the transfer, expiration date and where the fish may be used. Receipt
forms will be provided by the Department.
(d) Golden shiners and fathead minnows shall be the only live bait
fish that may be authorized for importation under a bait dealer’s license.
(e) No live bait fish may be imported under a bait dealer’s
license after March 31, 1999.
(f) Persons receiving or importing live bait fish from out of state
must notify the Department 72 hours in advance of each shipment. All shipments shall be
subject to inspection by Department personnel.
(g) If an inspection discloses unauthorized species of wildlife in a
shipment of bait fish in the holding facilities of licensed bait dealers, enforcement
actions may include, but not be limited to, ordering the wildlife to be destroyed.
(h) Live bait fish dealer licenses are subject to suspension or
revocation for failure to comply with provisions c through g of this section.
Section 10. Closure of Fish Holding Facilities. All fish
rearing or retaining ponds now being used by the state including those located at state
fish hatcheries, or any that may be constructed elsewhere, are closed to fishing during
the calendar year and temporary facilities at spawning station sites are closed to fishing
during the time they are in use.
Section 11. Underwater Spear Gun Fishing.
(a) Waters open to underwater spear gun fishing are designated with
the regulations for the drainage area (Chapters 47 through 51).
(b) Lawful spear guns include hand-powered, rubberband-powered,
pneumatic-powered and spring-powered spear guns. All spears used on spear guns must be
attached to a lanyard with a maximum length of 20 feet.
(c) Underwater spear gun fishing is not permitted within 100 yards of
any designated swimming or water ski areas, boat dock, ramp or spillway.
(d) A red diver's flag with a white diagonal stripe must be displayed
on the water when diving or underwater spear gun fishing.
(e) Fish may be taken by underwater spear gun fishing only as
specified with the regulations for each drainage area (Chapter 47 through 51).
Section 12. Transportation of Live Fish. No person may
transport live fish or live fish eggs from the water of capture except as provided by
commission regulations or as authorized by the department.
Section 13. Tagging or Marking Fish. No person shall tag
or mark fish and release them into the waters of Wyoming unless prior approval has been
obtained from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
Section 14. Ice Fishing Shelters. All enclosed ice
fishing shelters must be externally labeled with the owners name and address. All ice
fishing shelters must be removed from the body of water prior to ice-out.
Section 15. Fishing Contests. Fishing contests held on waters
of the State of Wyoming open to public use must be approved and authorized in writing by
the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
(a) Applications. Anyone desiring to hold a fishing contest must
submit an application for a permit to the Game and Fish Department at least 30 days prior
to the start of the contest on a form provided by the Game and Fish Department.
Information on the application must include the name of the applicant, location of the
waters where the contest is to be held, the dates of the contest, the number of
participants expected for the contest, the amount of the entry fee, a copy of the contest
rules, and the name, address and telephone number of the person responsible for the
contest.
(b) Live Fish Releases. Written approval of the Wyoming Game and Fish
Department is required to release live fish in a live release fishing contest.
(c) Reasons for Denying Permits. Permits may not be issued if the Game
and Fish Department believes the fishing contest does not comply with Game and Fish
regulations, will be harmful to the fisheries resource, or that public use facilities such
as boat ramps, parking areas, campgrounds, and related facilities are inadequate to
support the contest.
(d) Post-Contest Report Required. Within 30 days after completion of
the fishing contest, the permittee shall submit a report to the Game and Fish Department.
The report must include the number of contest participants, fisheries catch data as
determined by the Department, the gross and net proceeds for the tournament and the
percentage of the entry fees paid back to the participants as prizes. Failure to submit
this report may result in denial of future fishing contest permits, as well as other
penalties provided by law.
Section 16. Established Check Stations. Every angler
must stop and report at established check stations that are on route to or from any
fishing area. Anglers must produce a valid license for any game fish in their possession
upon request of any authorized department representative.
Section 17. Use of Artificial Light. No person may use an
artificial light with a sole purpose of aiding in the attraction or taking of fish. The
use of any device to physically extend an artificial light over the water to attract fish
is illegal. Artificially lighted bobbers or hooked devices are illegal. Artificial lights
used for navigation, safety, preparing fishing equipment, observing fishing rods and lines
are legal. Artificial lights within watercraft or on the shore are legal.
WYOMING GAME AND FISH COMMISSION
By:
MIKE HUNZIE
PRESIDENT
Dated: December 8, 1997 |
