Northwest Fishing Reports

Gents,

In the Definitions of Terms section of the pamphlet, the "Fly Fishing Only" paragraph states that a conventional fly line must be used. Does conventional mean floating? I'm guessing no, that it would state floating instead if that's what was meant. One of my partners asked a game warden a few years back and was told sinking line is OK. Still, I've wondered about it to this day.

I ask this question because why would it be legal to use a sinking line but unlawful to attach weight to the leader or line (if using a floating line) as stated in same paragraph?

Any input???

Makes no sense to me, other than trying to keep any source of lead out of the water. I know there is lead-free pastes and split-shot, but if no weights are allowed, greatly reduces the chance of some knucklehead putting lead shot on their leader and depositing it in the lake. Only reason I could think of...

I would assume that "conventional" to mean line designed to be used as "fly line" and to be casted in that manner. Usually, rules for "fly fishing only" lakes are proposed by Fly Fishing Clubs/organizations and are written to exclude spin casting equipment of any sort including monofilament lines and traditional "sinkers".

While in a Fly fishing club many years ago in Idaho, we rehabilitated a small desert reservoir near Mt. Home Idaho. As a "trade-off" for using our own resources to rehab the reservoir we proposed "fly-fishing only" rules that were adopted by the State.

Tight Lines!

I agree with both replies.