Are yo-yos legal in my state?
Please note that the information listed below is only a reference point created for yoyo enthusiasts. This information applies to game fish. Most states have different restrictions for nongame fish, such as gar and buffalo. Wildlife and fishing regulations change constantly. Please contact your local wildlife and fisheries department for more information on yoyo restrictions. The guide below was published on Dec. 10 2007. GOOD LUCK FISHING!!!!
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
http://www.agfc.com/fishing/anglers-corner/rules-regulations-fishing/definitions-regulations-fishing.aspx
Yo-Yo Fishing - Up to 30 yo-yos (or similar mechanical devices) per person may be used as long as they are not left unattended (out of sight or hearing) during daylight hours, and no more than one is hung from a line, wire, limb or support. Yo-yos must be labeled with the owner's name and address or vehicle license number, or current vehicle license number of the person using such equipment
Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks http://home.mdwfp.com/license.aspx
Yo-Yo Tagging Requirements - Yo-Yo's must have a waterproof or metal tag attached to the line above the water surface. The tags shall be furnished by the angler and must contain all of the following information: the angler's full name, full residence address including zip code of the angler. This information must be legibly written with waterproof ink, legibly inscribed or legibly stamped on the tag.
Game fish may be taken only by hook and line with one or more hooks (including rod and reel with artificial bait), trolls or trotlines. Each person having a valid fishing license may use no more than 100 hooks per person
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Is a “Yo-yo” a legal fishing device in Texas?
“No, you cannot use a Yo-yo for taking fish from Texas public waters. See the Outdoor Annual“.http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/annual/fish/legal_devices/
The above quote is found on the TPWD’S website. If you read the summarized report however, you will notice that 100 hooks are allowed fo any type of nongame fishing. So without being able to read the full length version I would have to wonder if yoyos can be used to take nongame fish. Please contact your local representative and petition to throw off the shackles of oppression and give you the opportunity to fish game fish with yoyos
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/fishing/recreational/freshwater/regulations/
Commercial finfish may be taken with any pole, line, the device known as yo-yo, the device known as a triggerdevice, handline, with any trotline wherein hooks are not less than 24 inches apart, with approved slat traps, cans and minnow traps, with legal seines and nets, with bows and arrows or by any skin diver in saltwater or fresh
water, when submerged in the water and using standard spearing equipment, and by no other means.
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
http://www.state.tn.us/twra/
Limblines (including yo-yos)must be tagged above water level and are allowed only
one hook per line. Sport anglers are limited to 25 limb lines
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
http://floridafisheries.com/rules.html
By bush hook, setline or trotline baited with cut bait or other substance; but not including live game fish or any part of any game fish; bush hooks, setlines or trotlines (limited to 25 hooks total) are permitted for taking nongame fish for personal use, but only in those areas where trotlines may be lawfully used in accordance with the Wildlife Code of the State of Florida UNVERIFIED IF SETLINE IN FLORIDA APPLIES TO YOYO
Missouri Department of Conservation
http://mdc.mo.gov/fish/
Regardless of the method or number of poles, you may not use more than a total of 33 hooks at one time. (as pertains to limb lines)
Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division
http:///georgiawildlife.dnr.state.ga.us/content/displaynavigation.asp?TopCategory=13
A "sport trotline" is one line or a combination of lines using less than 51 hooks
Info verified by phone 7709186418
Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission
http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/fishregs2.htm
YO-YO: Yo-yo’s are restricted to no more than 20 per person and shall:
have the owner’s name and address attached;
not be left unattended for more than six (6) hours;
not be strung or suspended from any horizontal line across any channel or navigable waterway;
have no more than 10 yo-yo’s attached from any one line or support;
not have metallic material in lines used for attachment;
South Carolina Department of natural resources
http://www.dnr.sc.gov/regulations.html
Description: A single hook and line attached to bushes, limbs, poles, sticks or similar structures.
Permits/Regulations: A permit is required to fish 3 to 5 0 hooks (50 hook limit).
Nebraska Game & Parks Commission
http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us/fishing/guides/fishguide/FishGuide.pdf
Our regulations do not say anything specifically about "yo-yo" fishing devices. I do not believe we have anything that says you cannot use them; they would be considered as "set lines" or "limb lines" under our regulations. You can see the regulations covering hook and line limits and set ines on pages 9-11 of the 2007 Fishing Guide, . Set lines can only be used on rivers and streams where a total of 15 hooks are allowed; those 15 hooks can be 15 different set lines with one hook on each line up to 3 different set lines with a maximum of 5 hooks on each line. All set lines must be tagged with the anglers name, address, fishing permit number or driver's license number
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
http://www.ncwildlife.org/pg02_Regs/pg2b.htm
Sent an email
Yoyos are legal in North Carolina and we consider them the same as you stated – the same as a limb line or a jug. There is not a limit on the number that you can put out at this time but there have been some suggestions to limit the number to around 50 a boat.
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
http:///www.outdooralabama.com/fishing/freshwater/regulations/
Sent an email
Yes you may use a yoyo in Alabama . The following regulations apply:
1. the end or ends of any line attached to the bank and within 25 feet of the bank shall be made up of at least six feet of untreated cotton and such line shall be attached to the bank or anchors with said untreated cotton line only.2Any set line or bush hook left unattended for 48 hours may be removed by Game and Fish Division personnel and destroyed.Regular fishing license requirements apply.
Virginia Department of Game and inland fisheries
http://www.dgif.state.va.us/FISHING/regulations/
Sent an emaill
Set poles are legal in Virginia for non-game fish and turtles. There is not a restriction in the code as to how many you can have. However, there are several other restrictions relating to marking the poles, live bait prohibition, daily checks, etc.
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
http:///www.wvdnr.gov/Fishing/Fishing.shtm
Sent an email
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
http://www.kdfwr.state.ky.us/navigation.asp?cid=588&NavPath=C101C203
A set line is a line with one single or multi barbed hook. It may be attached
to a tree limb, tree trunk, bank pole or other stationary object on the bank of a
stream or impoundment. One person may use no more than two
sport fishing trotlines or 50 jug lines(per boat) or 25 set lines at any one
Time.
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
http://www.fish.state.pa.us/mpag1.htm
Unlawful to fish with more than two fishing lines at any time when fishing for game fish baitfish or both
Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife
http://www.ohiodnr.com/wildlife/dow/regulations/fishing_setlines.aspx
Setlines or Banklines - Setlines or Banklines may be used to catch turtles and fish. The name and address of the user must be attached to each line. The maximum is 50 lines, each having a single hook. Treble hooks may not be used. The lines must be attached to the shore above water, but not to a boat, dam, dock, pier, pole, rod, or wall. No more than six set or banklines may be used in public waters of the state of Ohio less than 700 surface acres. All lines must be checked once every 24 hours. All lines must be removed after completion of use.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
http://dnr.state.il.us/admin/systems/fishing.htm
Sent an email
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10364---,00.html
Sent an email
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/news/fishing
Sent an email
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
http://www.iowadnr.gov/fish/index.html
Sent an email
California Department of Fish and Game
http://www.fgc.ca.gov/html/regs.html
Sent an email
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/regulations/Statewideregs.cfm
Sport fishing through the ice is permitted using two closely attended lines, provided only one hook or artificial lure is used on each line, except that additional gear may be used for northern pike and burbot as specified in statewide or area regulations
Arizona
http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/fishing_rules.shtml
anglers may use only one line or pole with no more than two hooks. An artificial lure is considered one hook. T he exception to the use of one line or pole is when an angler purchases a two-pole stamp that allows the angler to fish with two poles or lines simultaneously. In no case are more than two lines allowed to be used simultaneously.
COLORADO DIVISION OF WILDLIFE
http://wildlife.state.co.us/Fishing/
LEGAL METHODS OF TAKE
1. ONE PERSONALLY ATTENDED LINE: Each line can have no more than 3 common hooks.
Conneticut Department of Enviromental protection
http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2696&q=322688&depNav_GID=1630
Use of setlines in the inland district is prohibited. No more than two lines, with or without rods may be used at one time
Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife
http://www.fw.delaware.gov/Fisheries/FishingInfo.htm
The simultaneous use of more than two rods or poles per person is prohibited, except five tip-ups are permitted while fishing through ice.
Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources
http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar/index.html
Sent an email
Idaho Fish And Game
http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/fish/
Fishing Gear: It is unlawful to fish in any waters of Idaho with
more than one handline or pole with a line attached; or with two
poles or lines without a two-pole validation; or with more than
five poles or lines while ice fishing
Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife
http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/fish/
A limb line (or drop line) involves suspending a fishing line
from a limb extending beyond the bank of a body of water. You
may fish with no more than 10 limb or drop lines at any one
time. Each line may have no more than one single or multibarbed
hook attached to it. Each line must have a readable tag
showing the name and address of the user. All lines must be
checked at least once every 24 hours. It is illegal to use a limb or
drop line within 300 yards of any partial or full dam structure on
any stream, river, ditch, canal or reservoir.
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
http://www.maine.gov/ifw/
Sent an email
Maryland Fisheries Service
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/regulations/regindex.html
Unlawful:
To use more than five (5) rods (hand held devices) or tip-ups for ice fishingTo use more than three (3) rods at one time (except for ice fishing) or more than two (2) hooks per line.
Massachusetts
http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dmf/
Sent an email
© 2007 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/regulations/fishing/index.html
Anglers may use only one line. The exceptions are: a) Two lines may be used through the ice (other than on designated trout lakes and streams); and b) Two lines may be used on Lake Superior more than 100 yards from the point where a tributary stream or river enters the lake.
Angling with an unattended line, a setline, or a trotline is unlawful
Nevada Department of Wildlife
http://www.ndow.org/
fish may be taken only with hook and line attached to rod or reel and
closely attended in the manner known as angling. Unless a person has a valid second rod stamp, only one combination of hooks, line, and rod may be used at any one time. No more than three baited hooks, nor more than three fly hooks, or two lures or plugs irrespective of the number of hooks or attractor blades attached thereto, may be attached to the line. Some waters have further restrictions.
New Hampshire Fish and Game Department
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/fishing.htm
Angling: The taking of fish by line in hand or rod in hand to which is
attached a cast of artificial flies, or an artificial bait, or hooks, or other
devices for the attachment of bait. A person may use up to two lines.
Rod holders are permitted.
New Jersey
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/njregs.htm#fishing
NEW MEXICO STATE GAME COMMISSION
http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/recreation/fishing/index.htm
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/fish_marine_pdf/fishregsguide0608.pdf
An angler may operate no more than two lines with or without a rod, and each line is limited to not more than five lures or baits or a combination of both, and in addition, each line shall not exceed fifteen
hook points in any combination of single, double or treble hooks. Snatching, lifting, hooking and use of
tip-ups are not angling.
North Dakota Game and Fish Department
http://gf.nd.gov/fishing/
Department of Game, Fish and Parks
http://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/fishing/Index.htm
Utah division of wildlife resourses
http://wildlife.utah.gov/proclamations/2007_fishing/2007_fishing.pdf
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department.
http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/lawsdigest.cfm
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
http://dnr.wi.gov/fish/regulations/
Wyoming Game and Fish
http://gf.state.wy.us/fish/fishing/index.asp
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
http://fwp.mt.gov/fishing/regulations/default.html
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/
Department of Environmental Management
http://www.dem.ri.gov/pubs/regs/index.htm#FandW
Washington Fish & Wildlife Commission
http://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/erules/index.jsp