Question about hooks on Klamath/Trinity

[midger]

I fished with a friend that said he thought you were limited to a single, barbless hook when fishing these waters. The way I read the regs, it actually looks like you can use up to three hooks per line. The regs are tough to interpret and I'd hate to get a ticket. I usually fish with 2 flies at a time, but don't want to run afoul of any laws. If anyone knows for certain could you tell me where to find it in the current reg 2013/2014 or the supplement published in ay 2013? I'm only interested for the Klamath and Trinity rivers. Thanks.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

I think that in most California rivers that have a salmon run you have to fish a single hook, not a trebble hook and it has to be barbless.

In Alaska I heard they even have a hook size or gape size regulation too. Maybe a 1/2" gape?

[midger]

I think that in most California rivers that have a salmon run you have to fish a single hook, not a trebble hook and it has to be barbless.

In Alaska I heard they even have a hook size or gape size regulation too. Maybe a 1/2" gape?

Thanks Bill. I know that in California waters there is also a gape size specified, and that doesn't pose a problem. I had noticed in the Klamath Flies thread some folks . I had mentioned fishing a brace of flies (2). I know they have to be fished barbless and tied on single hooks--none of the old split hook salmon fly hooks allowed. Can you legally fish two flies tied on single hooks is what I was concerned with.

[Morgan]

Thanks Bill. I know that in California waters there is also a gape size specified, and that doesn't pose a problem. I had noticed in the Klamath Flies thread some folks . I had mentioned fishing a brace of flies (2). I know they have to be fished barbless and tied on single hooks--none of the old split hook salmon fly hooks allowed. Can you legally fish two flies tied on single hooks is what I was concerned with.

Yes you can fish a 2 even 3 fly rig.
They must be barbless and not treble hooks.
That is what they mean by single hook.

[Rick J]

Not sure but believe it is just restricted to barbless which does not say you can't use a treble that is barbless as think a number of folks use spinners and spoons and not equipped with single hooks

[StevenB]

Ya, The regs are confusing.

Part of the problem is that several years ago DFG quietly dropped the "single" requirement from the Regs.
A lot of people did not notice this change. Regs now say just "barbless"

For details see 2013 -2014 Supplemental Fishing Regulations:

(91.1) ANADROMOUS WATERS OF THE KLAMATH RIVER DOWNSTREAM OF IRON GATE DAM (LOWER KLAMATH RIVER BASIN).

(A) Hook and Weight Restrictions.
1. Only barbless hooks may be used. (For definitions regarding legal hook types, hook gaps and rigging see Chapter 2, Article 1, Section 2.10).

Then see general Regs chapter 2 ARTICLE 1. FISHING METHODS AND GEAR RESTRICTIONS

(a) Except as otherwise authorized, all fish may be taken only by angling with one closely attended rod and line or one hand line with not more than three hooks nor more than three artificial lures (each lure may have three hooks attached) attached thereto.

chapter 2 article 1 section 2.10 referenced above talks about permissible gapes and some stuff about weight.

Trinity is out of my area (and I could not figure out if the Trinity is covered by the above Regs)
but if you fish a barbless two fly rig you should be OK.

Note that some waters still require single hooks. What I said about dropping the single from the regs referenced the general regs not the special regs.