Keeping Fish on Stringers While Trolling

September 30, 2009

Question: I know I can’t transport trout alive in my livewell while trolling, but can we keep live fish on a stringer over the side of the boat? I also fish with my grandsons and am wondering if it is permissible for two people to use the same stringer or must each person have his own stringer? Thank you for your time and consideration. (Dennis J., Loyalton)

Answer: You may keep your fish on stringers to keep them fresh but those fish all must be rendered to your bag (e.g. you cannot throw them back.) It is recommended but not required by law that you keep your fish on separate stringers so that it is clear which fish belongs to which angler. In saltwater, the members of a fishing party may only fish until the collective “boat limit” has been reached. Boat limits do not apply in freshwater and so each person is individually responsible for their own fish.

Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?


ARTICLE 3. BAIT REGULATIONS FOR
INLAND WATERS
4.00. BAIT-GENERAL.
Legally acquired and possessed invertebrates,
mollusks, crustaceans, amphibians (except
salamanders), fish eggs and treated and processed
foods may be used for bait, except:
(a) No species specified as endangered, threatened,
candidate, fully-protected, or otherwise protected
under state and federal law may be used as bait.
(b) No salamander may be used as bait. See section
5.05 for other amphibians that may be used as bait.
(c) See Section 5.35 for restrictions on crayfish;
(d) See Section 7.50(b)(74) for restriction on bait
collecting in Hat Creek;
(e) No trout may be maintained or possessed in
a live condition in any container on or attached
to any boat;
(f ) Except for restrictions listed under special
regulations, dead ocean fish may be used as bait
statewide. This section supersedes the provisions
of sections 4.10, 4.15, 4.20, 4.25 and 4.30

I never knew this rule.  I've always put my trout on a stringer and tried to keep them alive so I'd have fresh fish at the end of the day.  A dead fish being dragged around in the water all day?  That's a waste as it probably isn't going to taste good and be mushy at the same time. 

I think they are saying the container can't be on or attached to the boat. Since a stringer isn't a container, it can be attached to the boat.

I think they are saying the container can't be on or attached to the boat. Since a stringer isn't a container, it can be attached to the boat.

I'm not an inland trout kind of guy so I'm not sure about practice these days, although when I was a kid we definitely put then alive on the stringer and put them over the side.

I  think I agree with traildad's reading here. The section has to do with bait restrictions and as I read it contemplates keeping fish alive in a container for bait. no container, no problem.

OK, that does make sense to me now wrt bait.  I had read that regulation a long time ago and I didn't recall it being about bait or bait containers.  But I see clearly now that it is! 

I switched to the bonk, bleed cooler thing since my trout would get all Grodey after dragging them around all day

I switched to the bonk, bleed cooler thing since my trout would get all Grodey after dragging them around all day

And nobody likes grodey trout. 
Bonking, bleeding, and icing is definitely the way to go.