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[bmynbr]

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

[leapin' tyee]

Under 16 of age is ok .

[typhoon]

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.

[MetalAndFeathers]

Why not buy a 1 day license and put a float rig.He might catch something.

[Tenz85]

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. 

[Flytech]

Yeah buy a license and give yourself a reason to practice.

[bmynbr]

Lol, that's what I told him. I think he is going to to get his lisense

[Fish Assassin]

I don't how it can be construe as being fishing if he only has a weight on

[DanL]

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.

[FlyFishin Magician]

Hmm - this reminds me of a certain joke about three gender specific people with a certain hair colour fishing for steelhead using "magnets".   

[TNAngler]

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.

[Pin-nook]

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.

[fletcher]

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.

[Damien]

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.

[coho13]

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.