Special Regs...
Special Regs...
Hello mlw, pg. 44 list special regs...pgs 38 and 39 list general regs for the southwest zone. I was fishing for smallmouth in the mainstem umpqua and was informed that I was fishing illegally and subject to gear confiscation, fine and/or jail time...this at the discretion of the arresting officer...and don't forget, in OR any peace officer, game warden or deputy and maybe even state forest service and who knows, maybe even federal forest service employees can cite someone fishing where they shouldn't be or for a species they shouldn't be.
I'm not a lawyer but I have the douglas county odfw office to ask questions of if I'm in doubt...I just drive over there, open the book and we thrash it out.
As regards smallmouth....pg. 38 under 'warmwater gamefish:' Largemouth and smallmouth bass....states: 'streams-open during trout, salmon or steelhead seasons'...so since as mentioned, Elk Creek is not open for any of those species (or stripers or sturgeon) then it goes that it's illegal to fish for smallmouth up in there too.
I 'spose I'm getting crap for this in many minds out there but hey, fine....at least this way hopefully, one or two will take it positively and come away more informed...first thing the warden told me was not to read the book to suit me...said first read the general section for the zone then unless there are exceptions as noted in the special regs, don't let him catch me fishing for smallies again...or big trouble...
MontanaMoose
P.S.
I can't afford to
be fishing (read poaching)
illegally either.
Its page 44 in my regs, and I think tbox was smallmouth fishing
You almost have to be a lawyer to read the fishing regs - I think a tax return is easier, but I for one can not afford what it costs to be wrong.
Michael