Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: bmynbr on July 24, 2014, 02:02:40 PM

Title: Baitcasting practice
Post by: bmynbr on July 24, 2014, 02:02:40 PM
Random question. A friend of mine wanted to join me on the river this weekend to practice his baitcasting. If he had only a weight on, would he get in trouble for not having a lisense. I told him it's probably a bad idea but now I'm curious to the legalities
Dave
Title: Re: Baitcasting practice
Post by: leapin' tyee on July 24, 2014, 02:24:54 PM
Under 16 of age is ok .
Title: Re: Baitcasting practice
Post by: typhoon on July 24, 2014, 02:28:58 PM
It's a bit sketchy. If he had no hooks or access to hooks then I think he'd be okay. If he's casting beside you and you are fishing then it would be up to the CO.
I wouldn't chance it. Casting in the park is free and easy.
Title: Re: Baitcasting practice
Post by: MetalAndFeathers on July 24, 2014, 04:12:12 PM
Why not buy a 1 day license and put a float rig.He might catch something.
Title: Re: Baitcasting practice
Post by: Tenz85 on July 24, 2014, 06:54:56 PM
One day license? That's a waste of $8. Tell your friend the licence lasts u til alril , to support fresh water fisheries and full commit as he's already got the rod.  ;D
Title: Re: Baitcasting practice
Post by: Flytech on July 24, 2014, 07:42:54 PM
Yeah buy a license and give yourself a reason to practice.
Title: Re: Baitcasting practice
Post by: bmynbr on July 24, 2014, 07:48:19 PM
Lol, that's what I told him. I think he is going to to get his lisense
Title: Re: Baitcasting practice
Post by: Fish Assassin on July 24, 2014, 07:48:26 PM
I don't how it can be construe as being fishing if he only has a weight on
Title: Re: Baitcasting practice
Post by: DanL on July 25, 2014, 12:26:04 AM
Agreed, I dont see how he could be accused of angling if there is no hook unless he's trying to knock the fish out with the lead...

However it seems nuts to me to go to all that trouble to practice and not even have a full rig just in case. What if the bite comes on and he's stuck chucking lead because he has no license? Might as well set him up with a wool tie or jig, you never know.
Title: Re: Baitcasting practice
Post by: FlyFishin Magician on July 25, 2014, 07:56:14 AM
Hmm - this reminds me of a certain joke about three gender specific people with a certain hair colour fishing for steelhead using "magnets".   ;D
Title: Re: Baitcasting practice
Post by: TNAngler on July 25, 2014, 11:04:52 AM
I wouldn't chance it.

I taught my brother in law how to cast out in an open field with just a weight.  That way when we got to the river he was mostly ready.  I would suggest finding an open field that you can practice instead of chancing it.
Title: Re: Baitcasting practice
Post by: Pin-nook on July 25, 2014, 11:17:12 AM
Hate to say it but you would probably get heat even if it's just a weight on the line.  I agree with most of you but look at it this way, would you practice driving without a learners permit or drive a vehicle with no insurance?  Pretty sure most tackle shops will tell you to just buy a license to be safe and if you want to practice then find a field.
Title: Re: Baitcasting practice
Post by: fletcher on July 26, 2014, 07:55:51 AM
I'm from the states but I know first hand down here if you don't have a hook and all you have is a weight, a game officer is NOT going to ticket you.  How could it be considered fishing?  It's called casting and I bet your buddy would get bored of casting after 30-60 minutes anyway.  There have been a few protests on the lower Skagit River during the closed season for Wild Steelhead where a bunch of guys did just that,  casting weights without any hooks.  Not one person was charged with a fishing violation.  However for the very little cost of a one day license who knows,  maybe he could learn to cast and also get lucky and catch a fish!  If he doesn't buy a license and goes casting and gets caught, as long as he doesn't look like some lying, low life white trash I'm sure the game officer will be logical about it.  On the other hand,  if he looks shifty or questionable to start with I'd buy the license as there will be a better chance the officer might think he's full of poo and trying to get away with "fishing" without a license.
Title: Re: Baitcasting practice
Post by: Damien on July 26, 2014, 10:47:59 AM
I wouldn't want all that line on the ground.

Get a license and giver a go, like others have mentioned. 

Practice casting and also a chance to practice fighting and releasing a fish.
Title: Re: Baitcasting practice
Post by: coho13 on July 26, 2014, 11:29:06 AM
Look at it from a CO's point of view guy on the river reels in a float with a weight and a swivel first thought he lost his leader bam ticked rod gone ext.
Title: Re: Baitcasting practice
Post by: clarkii on July 26, 2014, 04:48:03 PM
Go to a field and use a wiffle ball on the end.  Nice and safe and is a good visual aid as well.

In BC you are not allowed to put any fishing gear in the water of a closed area, so I believe he would be in a bad spot if he put any fishing gear in the water and does not have a license. 
Title: Re: Baitcasting practice
Post by: TNAngler on July 28, 2014, 08:07:14 AM
I'm from the states but I know first hand down here if you don't have a hook and all you have is a weight, a game officer is NOT going to ticket you.  How could it be considered fishing?  It's called casting and I bet your buddy would get bored of casting after 30-60 minutes anyway.  There have been a few protests on the lower Skagit River during the closed season for Wild Steelhead where a bunch of guys did just that,  casting weights without any hooks.  Not one person was charged with a fishing violation.  However for the very little cost of a one day license who knows,  maybe he could learn to cast and also get lucky and catch a fish!  If he doesn't buy a license and goes casting and gets caught, as long as he doesn't look like some lying, low life white trash I'm sure the game officer will be logical about it.  On the other hand,  if he looks shifty or questionable to start with I'd buy the license as there will be a better chance the officer might think he's full of poo and trying to get away with "fishing" without a license.

As part of a protest it is obvious what is going on and probably not worth the hassle.  One lone guy out there while others are fishing?  He's likely to get nailed, Fraser, Vedder, Skagit, or anywhere else.  There is a huge difference between writing a couple dozen or hundred tickets and writing one.
Title: Re: Baitcasting practice
Post by: clarkii on July 28, 2014, 08:54:18 AM
There is a huge difference between writing a couple dozen or hundred tickets and writing one.

Exactly.   More revenue in a hundred tickets!.
Title: Re: Baitcasting practice
Post by: TNAngler on July 28, 2014, 11:20:55 AM
Exactly.   More revenue in a hundred tickets!.
More revenue if they get upheld.  Chances of a couple hundred guys joining together to get some great attorney support?  Chances of it making the local news causing more people to get up in arms?  Chance of the bosses or people much higher than the ticker writer not wanting a crap storm of such a large portion happening in their district/during their election period/to take priority away from project x and deciding this needs to go away?  One DFO or game warden in the states can write a ticket to a single individual very easily.  On a large scale protest like that, it would have to be the department deciding.  If one officer did it on their own, they are likely going to lose their job.