Wyo. Code R. 040-0001-46
Effective Date: 07/27/1993 to 09/08/1995
Rule Type: Superceded Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 040.0001.46.07271993
1994-1995
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 angler must check his 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.
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 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 five dollars ($5.00) 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 area of land (including all streams and standing waters) which drains into one river or stream.
(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 XLVII through LI).
| SPECIES | Daily Creel and Possession |
|---|---|
| 1. Trout, salmon, grayling in combination. | 6 - only one fish may exceed 20 inches. |
| 2. Brook trout eight inches general or less. | 10 - in addition to creel limit on trout. |
| 3. Whitefish. | 50 |
| 4. Largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye, sauger in combination. | 6 |
| 5. Catfish and ling (burbot) in combination. | 6 |
| 6. Northern pike and tiger musky | 3 - all northern pike |
and
(northern pike-muskellunge
tiger musky less than
30
hybrid).
inches in length must
be
returned to the water immediately.
7. Sturgeon. 2
8. Yellow perch, black bullhead, 50 stonecat, crappie, rock bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed, green sunfish, freshwater drum in combination.
Section 6. Snagging. It is unlawful to snag fish.
Section 7. Use of Live Bait Fish, Corn and Fish Eggs.
(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 XLVII through LI).
(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. The receipt is to state the dealer's or permittee's name, address, the number of fish received, the date of the transfer and the area where the fish may be used.
(e) Use or possession of corn while fishing is prohibited on all waters of the state.
(f) Internal organs, eggs, eyes, fins and skin are the only legal portions of game fish which may be used as bait.
Section 8. Seining and Trapping of Fish.
(a) No person shall seine or trap bait fish without a valid seining license.
(b) Seining and trapping licenses for the purpose of taking bait fish may be obtained from Game and Fish Department District Offices or by mail from the Cheyenne Office.
(c) Seining or trapping may only be conducted as specified under current Wyoming Fishing Regulations.
(d) 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.
(e) 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.
(f) Any game fish taken by trap or seine must be returned to the water immediately.
(a) No person shall deal in live bait fish without a valid bait dealer's license.
(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 to the buyer at the time of sale. The receipt will show the name, address, the number of fish sold, the date of the transfer, and indicate the area where the fish may be used.
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.
(a) Waters open to underwater spear gun fishing are designated with the regulations for the drainage area (Chapters XLVII through LI).
(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 XLVII through LI).
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 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.
Kevin F. Dooley, President Wyoming Game and Fish
Commission
Dated: _______