If i am fishing right on the boundary line of where it is legal to fish and where it is illegal to fish because it is a good spot and i hook a fish and it runs upstream is it legal for me to follow it upriver if i need to? If a game warden comes and sees me fighting a fish on the illegal side is there anyway to prove where i hooked the fish and that i had to follow it upstream?

Thanks Kiley B. aka Fisherman8989

Hmm, I wouldn't want to be caught fighting a fish inside the boundary...expect a ticket if you are.

Typically the boundary keeps anglers off spawning channels - the purpose being to avoid harrassing fish on their redds.

Do the fish you hook in this area look like the fish in your avata? If so you may want to reconsider fishing the boundary.

I wouldn't think you could go upstream of the boundary for any reason. You're not even supposed to cast above the boundary. I've seen tickets wrote for people landing a fish after dark that the gamie saw hooked in the daylight. You would get a ticket.

No i was fishing a river today (not going to name it for fishing secret purposes) below the boundary for fishing i was fishing for steelies i hooked 1 and it ran upstream above the boundary but then i lost it. So if i go back again because it was a good spot and the same thing happened could i legally go upstream after the fish??

Or would it best to say screw it and dont fish it again to avoid a ticket?

Do you not understand what the word "boundary" means?

Boundary; "any line or thing marking a limit or boarder"

It doesn't mean; maybe close; or very near, or I was just trying to land my fish! You will never convince a judge on those grounds. When you are fishing near a boundary, you are at the line. Expect to receive many tickets in the future if you think otherwise!

You can follow that fish upstream, but remember to bring your wallet with you, because you will need it to pay the fine!

Good luck, you will need it!

Cowlitzfisherman

a simple yes or no would have done

NO!

Cowlitzfisherman

ok sorry i even asked if ur gonna be like that

I had a warden actually hold a flashlight and help me land a fish that was hooked in daylight and I was unable to land until after dark. The fish wrapped itelf in a log jamb so he held the light, waded with me and after landing the fish, he snaps off his light, congradulated me on a nice fight and told me to remember to punch my card. This effectively left me standing in the river, up to my waist, in the dark blinded, gilling a struggling fish. I was kind of caught in a daze, the post adrenaline rush after worrying that he was planning on writing me up eventhough the fish had been fairly hooked. I would guess the situation may have ended differently with another warden. Who knows?
To answer the first question though-
I would not cast above a boundary line, but if a fish hooked fairly ran above the line I would fight from below the boundary and take my chances.

I still cannot decide on what to do. I will NOT cast above the boundary line or wade above the line. Would you guys say screw it and leave the hole dowstream spot even with the 6 or so big steelies i saw since it is close to the boundary? Would u say fish it but just be careful or What would you guys do???

If the fish runs upstream don't chase it past the boundry or it's ticket time, I've seen many tickets given at the Barrier Dam. Another way to look at would be like keeping a short fish that swallowed the hook deep and was bleeding bad you know it will die, but if you keep it's ticket time. I would try to fish far enough below the boundry or use a heavy drag to stop the fish if the fish is heading for ticket water. Game wardens don't seem to reason to well with excuses, they have heard them all.
Good Luck Fishing.

Is this an honest question or are you "stiring the pot".

I hope this answers your question without sounding rude.

Most of people would use heavier gear or quit this hole and move down river from the boundary.

If you fish it, be prepared to either break off or chase it and get a ticket.

Honest question

My motto is: If ya gotta ask, its probably wrong.

Seriously though, you'll get a ticket for sure if you're fighting a fish past the boundry. They hear all the excuses in the world on a daily basis.... they really aren't all that open to hearing how you started in legal water, and the fish took you past the boundry. The only way I'd do it is to make a deal with myself... if it goes upstream, I break it off.

As CFM said....NO! Move on.


RL

Afew years back while fishing bouy 10 one of the guys on our boat had a large king on. While he was fighting it the current took us over the line into closed waters. The wardens were right there telling us to break off the fish and return to open area.
As CFM basicly said closed waters are CLOSED there is NO buffer zone.

When I think of bounderys and fishing I picture a bunch of combat fishing yo-yo's standing right below a hatchery fishing for nasty old boots.. sort of like the one in that picture. Am I close to right about that??

Easy guys! This is a kid, who in his picture appears DAMN proud of his fish. I'm sure none of your fellows ever caught a dark fish and kept it (especially when you're 14-16 years old!). Also, you high and mighty fisherman that live within 60 miles of salt water can always get "fresh" fish, but just look at the thousands of happy anglers who fish Eastern Wa and Idaho for salmon and steelhead, and the majority of the fish look like his fish in the picture (which was probasbly several hours old). Cut him some slack! Obviously he's finding some fish in a "grey area". Like most guys said, gear up to stop them or risk a ticket. The fish are there for a reason, because they're close to "home" now, and most "sportsman" aren't into harassing them in the "grey area".

Thats an interesting question. The spot i fish in canada is salt and has a boundry. If a fish takes you into the closed boundry it is legal to keep fighting it. It has happened to me several times with the warden right there. It sounds like the law is different in the US.
FisherMan8989 no question is a dumb question, if you dont ask you will never know!
Robyns77